--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you don't know what to play, wait…" description: "\"When you don't know what to play, wait for an idea to come into your opponent's mind. You may be sure that idea will be wrong\" — Siegbert Tarrasch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/siegbert-tarrasch-16474_chess_when-you-don-t-know-what-to-play-wait-fo_2768576.jpg" --- # When you don't know what to play, wait for an idea to come… ![“When you don't know what to play, wait for an idea to come into your opponent's mind. You may be sure that idea will be wrong” quote by Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/siegbert-tarrasch-16474_chess_when-you-don-t-know-what-to-play-wait-fo_2768576.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/siegbert-tarrasch-16474_chess_when-you-don-t-know-what-to-play-wait-fo_2768576.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/siegbert-tarrasch-16474_chess_when-you-don-t-know-what-to-play-wait-fo_2768576.jpg) > “When you don't know what to play, wait for an idea to come into your opponent's mind. You may be sure that idea will be wrong” [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. When unsure of a move, wait for the opponent’s plan to reveal weaknesses. **In simple terms:** Wait for opponent’s mistake. Key Takeaway Observe before acting. Themes strategy patience anticipation Mood analytical strategic Type educational practical When to use this quote - tournament play - training - analysis Key Concepts chess theory decision making Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance waiting and action? - What signals indicate a mistake? A Different Perspective Risk of missing opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Come Opponent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-opponent-3225873/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Idea Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-wrong-1550602/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Know Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-play/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Opponent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponent/) [Opponent Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponent-mind-2122887/) [Opponents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponents/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Playing chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-chess/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) ## Related quotes > [“Chess is war over the board. The object is to crush the opponent's mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-fischer/chess-is-war-over-the-board-the-object-is-to-crush-the-opponent-s-mind/) [Bobby Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-fischer/) > [“The ultimate fighter does not rely on his hands or feet to defeat his opponent, but rather his mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-stoddard/the-ultimate-fighter-does-not-rely-on-his-hands-or-feet-to-defeat-his/) [M.J. Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-stoddard/) > [The effect to be sought is the dislocation of the opponent's mind and dispositions - such an effect is the true gauge of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-effect-to-be-sought-is-the-dislocation-of-the-opponent-s-mind-and/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [Once you have an opponent in your mind that you're preparing for, you're working on specifics, and you get guys in to mimic what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/once-you-have-an-opponent-in-your-mind-that-you-re-preparing-for-you/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [My toughest opponent is me. My mind has a tendency to wander during bouts. I tend to focus on things other than the bout.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/my-toughest-opponent-is-me-my-mind-has-a-tendency-to-wander-during/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [“One becomes vulnerable when one stops to think about winning, losing, taking advantage, impressing or disregarding the opponent. When the mind stops, even for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kisshomaru-ueshiba/one-becomes-vulnerable-when-one-stops-to-think-about-winning-losing/) [Kisshomaru Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kisshomaru-ueshiba/) > [That fellow seems to me to possess but one idea, and that is a wrong one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-fellow-seems-to-me-to-possess-but-one-idea-and-that-is-a-wrong/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If you have a truly big idea, the wrong technique won't kill it. And if you don't have a big idea, the right technique…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/if-you-have-a-truly-big-idea-the-wrong-technique-won-t-kill-it-and-if/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [“Right idea, wrong implementation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-rice-jr/right-idea-wrong-implementation/) [Robert A. Rice Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-rice-jr/) > [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/) > [A fervently believed idea, even if wrong, dies hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-hellman/a-fervently-believed-idea-even-if-wrong-dies-hard/) [Hal Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-hellman/) > [“She had an idea, but it was the wrong idea. It was hardly even an idea, just a white idea balloon with no writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/she-had-an-idea-but-it-was-the-wrong-idea-it-was-hardly-even-an-idea/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [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/) > [When anything is pointed out, our only idea is to go from wrong to right; in spite of the fact that it has taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-matthias-alexander/when-anything-is-pointed-out-our-only-idea-is-to-go-from-wrong-to/) [F. Matthias Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-matthias-alexander/) > [He was distinguished for ignorance; for he had only one idea, and that was wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/he-was-distinguished-for-ignorance-for-he-had-only-one-idea-and-that/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## 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": "When you don't know what to play, wait for an idea to come into your opponent's mind. 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