“Just as the pianist practices the most complicated pieces to improve the technique of his fingers, so too a grandmaster must keep his vision in trim by daily analysis of positions with sharp possibilities, and this applies whether he prefers such positions in his play or not.” PlayVisionPracticePiecesPossibilityPositionTrainingFingersComplicatedTechniqueChessAnalysisPianist Author:Alexander Kotov
“Once in a Moscow chess club I saw how two first-category players knocked pieces off the board as they were exchanged, so that the pieces fell onto the floor. It was as if they were playing skittles and not chess!” IfsFirstsTwoSawsPiecesPlayerClubsChessBoardsCategoriesMoscowSkittles Author:Alexander Kotov
“In choosing an opening plan players think most of all of harmonious development for the pieces, but sometimes leave the development of the queen out of their considerations. Yet the Queen is the most valuable and important piece and the whole outcome can depend upon how successfully she plays her role.” ThinkingImportantSometimesPlayWholeRolesPiecesPlayerPlansDependsDevelopmentValuableChessOpeningQueensOutcomesConsiderationHarmonious Author:Alexander Kotov
“Once we have chosen the right formation in the centre we have created opportunities for our pieces and laid the foundation of subsequent victory.” OpportunityPiecesVictoryFoundationStrategyChessChosenCentreFormation Author:Alexander Kotov
