--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A win by an unsound combination, however…" description: "\"A win by an unsound combination, however showy, fills me with artistic horror\" — Wilhelm Steinitz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_art_a-win-by-an-unsound-combination-however_1745407.png" --- # A win by an unsound combination, however showy, fills me… ![“A win by an unsound combination, however showy, fills me with artistic horror” quote by Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_art_a-win-by-an-unsound-combination-however_1745407.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_art_a-win-by-an-unsound-combination-however_1745407.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_art_a-win-by-an-unsound-combination-however_1745407.png) > “A win by an unsound combination, however showy, fills me with artistic horror” [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A flashy but unsound chess tactic can be aesthetically disturbing despite its showiness. **In simple terms:** Showy but weak moves feel unsettling. Key Takeaway Avoid relying on flashy tactics. Themes chess strategy aesthetics Mood reflective critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - tournament play - training - analysis - coaching Key Concepts unsoundness artistic horror psychology Questions to Reflect On - Do you prioritize beauty over solidity? - How does aesthetic discomfort affect decision making? A Different Perspective It may still win a game, but risks long‑term position. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artistic/) [Artistic Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artistic-horror-1556484/) [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Combination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combination/) [Combination Showy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combination-showy-1556485/) [Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror/) [Showy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/showy/) [Showy Fills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/showy-fills-1556487/) [Unsound Combination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unsound-combination-1556486/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [Atrocities are now shown in 30-second bites. Hardcore artistic horror is an expression of hating your neighbour. The gruesome imagination feeds on vanity, lust,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-seerveld/atrocities-are-now-shown-in-30-second-bites-hardcore-artistic-horror/) [Calvin Seerveld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-seerveld/) > [Some believers tend to forget God's persistent faithfulness in the face of the spectacular and showy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/some-believers-tend-to-forget-god-s-persistent-faithfulness-in-the/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [Does such a thing as "the fatal flaw," that showy dark crack running down the middle of a life, exist outside literature?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/does-such-a-thing-as-the-fatal-flaw-that-showy-dark-crack-running/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [Other times you can get showy for three minutes, and that's OK with certain films. 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The legend children fear will devour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/you-arrogant-overpublicized-showy-old-bat-what-are-you-waiting-for/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Some ghosts tried to be showy. These were the kinds to avoid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-howarth/some-ghosts-tried-to-be-showy-these-were-the-kinds-to-avoid/) [Lesley Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-howarth/) > [Showy displays of love don't come naturally to everyone. They don't come naturally to me. They also come with a risk: a risk of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-flock/showy-displays-of-love-don-t-come-naturally-to-everyone-they-don-t/) [Elizabeth Flock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-flock/) ## More by Wilhelm Steinitz > [The King is a fighting piece. 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To get to the bottom of this game, he has to give himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/chess-is-not-for-the-faint-hearted-it-absorbs-a-person-entirely-to/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Chess is intellectual gymnastics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/chess-is-intellectual-gymnastics/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [When you have an advantage, you are obliged to attack; otherwise you are endangered to lose the advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/when-you-have-an-advantage-you-are-obliged-to-attack-otherwise-you/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [No great player blundered oftener than I done. I was champion of the world for twenty-eight years because I was twenty years ahead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/no-great-player-blundered-oftener-than-i-done-i-was-champion-of-the/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Chess is so inspiring that I do not believe a good player is capable of having an evil thought during the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/chess-is-so-inspiring-that-i-do-not-believe-a-good-player-is-capable/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Chess is difficult, it demands work, serious reflection and zealous research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/chess-is-difficult-it-demands-work-serious-reflection-and-zealous/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Have you ever seen a monkey examining a watch?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/have-you-ever-seen-a-monkey-examining-a-watch/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [I do not believe a good player is capable of having an evil thought during the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/i-do-not-believe-a-good-player-is-capable-of-having-an-evil-thought/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [I would rather die in America than live in England. I would rather lose a match in America than win one in England. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/i-would-rather-die-in-america-than-live-in-england-i-would-rather/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Chess is not for timid souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/chess-is-not-for-timid-souls/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [I am not a chess historian - I myself am a piece of chess history, which no one can avoid. I will not write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/i-am-not-a-chess-historian-i-myself-am-a-piece-of-chess-history-which/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) [Explore all 26 Wilhelm Steinitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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