--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Chess is a terrible game. If you have no…" description: "\"Chess is a terrible game. If you have no center, your opponent has a freer position. If you do have a center, then you really have something to worry a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/siegbert-tarrasch-16474_chess_chess-is-a-terrible-game-if-you-have-no_1978704.jpg" --- # Chess is a terrible game. If you have no center, your… ![“Chess is a terrible game. If you have no center, your opponent has a freer position. If you do have a center, then you really have something to worry about!” quote by Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/siegbert-tarrasch-16474_chess_chess-is-a-terrible-game-if-you-have-no_1978704.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/siegbert-tarrasch-16474_chess_chess-is-a-terrible-game-if-you-have-no_1978704.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/siegbert-tarrasch-16474_chess_chess-is-a-terrible-game-if-you-have-no_1978704.jpg) > “Chess is a terrible game. If you have no center, your opponent has a freer position. If you do have a center, then you really have something to worry about!” [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Chess strategy hinges on controlling the center; lacking it gives opponents freedom, while having it creates concerns. **In simple terms:** Center control is crucial in chess strategy. Key Takeaway Prioritize central control in gameplay. Themes strategy control chess position risk Mood analytical strategic Type game education When to use this quote - tournament play - learning chess - analysis Key Concepts tactics spatial dominance planning Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance center control with piece activity? - When might a non‑central strategy be advantageous? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on center can neglect other aspects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Center Opponent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/center-opponent-3365732/) [Center Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/center-really-3365735/) [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Chess game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess-game/) [Chess Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess-terrible-3365733/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Opponents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponents/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Position Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position-center-3365734/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [Position yourself as a center of influence, the one who knows the movers and shakers. People will respond to that, and you'll soon become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-burg/position-yourself-as-a-center-of-influence-the-one-who-knows-the/) [Bob Burg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-burg/) > [My center is not really my singing so much as my guitar playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/my-center-is-not-really-my-singing-so-much-as-my-guitar-playing/) [Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/) > [Later, I began to succeed in decisive games. Perhaps because I realized a very simple truth: not only was I worried, but also my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-tal/later-i-began-to-succeed-in-decisive-games-perhaps-because-i-realized/) [Mikhail Tal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-tal/) > [Because of the level of my chess game, I was able - even against a weak opponent, such as my younger brothers or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/because-of-the-level-of-my-chess-game-i-was-able-even-against-a-weak/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [I had a toothache during the first game. In the second game I had a headache. In the third game it was an attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/i-had-a-toothache-during-the-first-game-in-the-second-game-i-had-a/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [What is the object of playing a gambit opening?... To acquire a reputation of being a dashing player at the cost of losing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/what-is-the-object-of-playing-a-gambit-opening-to-acquire-a/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [He who fears an isolated Queen's Pawn should give up Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/he-who-fears-an-isolated-queen-s-pawn-should-give-up-chess/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [Before the endgame, the Gods have placed the middle game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/before-the-endgame-the-gods-have-placed-the-middle-game/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [First-class players lose to second-class players because second-class players sometimes play a first-class game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/first-class-players-lose-to-second-class-players-because-second-class/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [Chess is a game where all different sorts of people can come together, not a game in which people are divided because of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hikaru-nakamura/chess-is-a-game-where-all-different-sorts-of-people-can-come-together/) [Hikaru Nakamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hikaru-nakamura/) > [Human affairs are like a chess game. Only those who do not take it seriously can be called good players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/human-affairs-are-like-a-chess-game-only-those-who-do-not-take-it/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [I stopped taking notes on my Palm Pilot and started playing the little chess game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/i-stopped-taking-notes-on-my-palm-pilot-and-started-playing-the/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Blessed be the memory of him who gave the world this immortal game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-george-gardiner/blessed-be-the-memory-of-him-who-gave-the-world-this-immortal-game/) [Alfred George Gardiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-george-gardiner/) > [Modern Chess is too much concerned with things like Pawn structure. Forget it, Checkmate ends the game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-short/modern-chess-is-too-much-concerned-with-things-like-pawn-structure/) [Nigel Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-short/) > [For 'Inhuman,' it's a 'chess game' series. You have a lot of pieces moving different ways at once, and it's about what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-soule/for-inhuman-it-s-a-chess-game-series-you-have-a-lot-of-pieces-moving/) [Charles Soule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-soule/) ## More by Siegbert Tarrasch > [A thorough understanding of the typical mating continuations makes the most complicated sacrificial combinations leading up to them not only not difficult, but almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/a-thorough-understanding-of-the-typical-mating-continuations-makes/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [When you see a good move, sit on your hands and see if you can find a better one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/when-you-see-a-good-move-sit-on-your-hands-and-see-if-you-can-find-a/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [The future belongs to he who has the bishops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/the-future-belongs-to-he-who-has-the-bishops/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [It is not enough to be a good player... you must also play well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/it-is-not-enough-to-be-a-good-player-you-must-also-play-well/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [I had a toothache during the first game. In the second game I had a headache. In the third game it was an attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/i-had-a-toothache-during-the-first-game-in-the-second-game-i-had-a/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [White has no positional equivalent for the centralized pawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/white-has-no-positional-equivalent-for-the-centralized-pawn/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [Here are some of the questions and answers to an examination paper in chess that was given some time ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/here-are-some-of-the-questions-and-answers-to-an-examination-paper-in/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [I look one move ahead... the best!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/i-look-one-move-ahead-the-best/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [A form of intellectual productiveness, therein lies its peculiar charm. Intellectual productiveness is one of the greatest joys - if not the greatest one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/a-form-of-intellectual-productiveness-therein-lies-its-peculiar-charm/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [Many have become chess masters - no one has become the master of chess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/many-have-become-chess-masters-no-one-has-become-the-master-of-chess/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [As Rousseau could not compose without his cat beside him, so I cannot play chess without my king's bishop. In its absense the game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/as-rousseau-could-not-compose-without-his-cat-beside-him-so-i-cannot/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [I have always had a slight feeling of pity for man who has no knowledge of chess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/i-have-always-had-a-slight-feeling-of-pity-for-man-who-has-no/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [I have always a slight feeling of pity for the man who has no knowledge of chess, just as I would pity the man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/i-have-always-a-slight-feeling-of-pity-for-the-man-who-has-no/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [First-class players lose to second-class players because second-class players sometimes play a first-class game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/first-class-players-lose-to-second-class-players-because-second-class/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [Always put the rook behind the pawn… Except when it is incorrect to do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/always-put-the-rook-behind-the-pawn-except-when-it-is-incorrect-to-do/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) [Explore all 39 Siegbert Tarrasch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) ## More Chess quotes > [I have known many chess players, but among them there has been only one genius - Capablanca!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-lasker/i-have-known-many-chess-players-but-among-them-there-has-been-only/) [Emanuel Lasker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-lasker/) > [Real chessplayers think about chess more or less 24 hours a day. It is a passion and a fate that one has to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simen-agdestein/real-chessplayers-think-about-chess-more-or-less-24-hours-a-day-it-is/) [Simen Agdestein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simen-agdestein/) > [It's interesting that the greatest minds of computer science, the founding fathers, like Alan Turing and Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, they all looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/it-s-interesting-that-the-greatest-minds-of-computer-science-the/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [“Relationships are chess for women," he said. "They can see the whole board, plan way ahead. They're the queens, after all. We're the kings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/relationships-are-chess-for-women-he-said-they-can-see-the-whole/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [The election of Trump threw the chess board up. The pieces are all over the place. That's upsetting to a lot of people, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/the-election-of-trump-threw-the-chess-board-up-the-pieces-are-all/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [Playing for complications is an extreme measure that a player should adopt only when he cannot find a clear and logical plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-alekhine/playing-for-complications-is-an-extreme-measure-that-a-player-should/) [Alexander Alekhine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-alekhine/) > [“the shadows. “Why do you think they invented chess?” “He’s got you there,” said the captain, following Fletcher. Jake jogged slightly to catch up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-blake/the-shadows-why-do-you-think-they-invented-chess-he-s-got-you-there/) [Russell Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-blake/) > [ \[Photographer Julian Wasser\] had this great idea that I should play chess naked with Marcel Duchamp and it seem to be such a great… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-babitz/photographer-julian-wasser-had-this-great-idea-that-i-should-play/) [Eve Babitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-babitz/) > [Chess is a good mistress but a bad master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-abrahams/chess-is-a-good-mistress-but-a-bad-master/) [Gerald Abrahams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-abrahams/) > [I am not some sort of freak. I might be very good at chess but I'm just a normal person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/i-am-not-some-sort-of-freak-i-might-be-very-good-at-chess-but-i-m/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [Some sacrifices are sound; the rest are mine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-tal/some-sacrifices-are-sound-the-rest-are-mine/) [Mikhail Tal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-tal/) > [My parents were very supportive of my chess. When I got home after a game of chess, having missed school or something, they always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/my-parents-were-very-supportive-of-my-chess-when-i-got-home-after-a/) [Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/) > [Amberley excelled at chess - a mark, Watson, of a scheming mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/amberley-excelled-at-chess-a-mark-watson-of-a-scheming-mind/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [In high school, my sister went out with the captain of the chess team. My parents loved him... They figured that any guy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kiley/in-high-school-my-sister-went-out-with-the-captain-of-the-chess-team/) [Brian Kiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kiley/) > [The King is a fighting piece. Use it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/the-king-is-a-fighting-piece-use-it/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) [Browse all 2,003 Chess quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Chess is a terrible game. If you have no center, your opponent has a freer position. 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