“When you have finished analyzing all the variations and gone along all the branches of the tree of analysis you must first of all write the move down on your score sheet, before you play it.” WritingFirstsPlayMovingGoneTreeFinishedAnalysisBranchesScoreSheetsVariationAnalyzing Author:Alexander Kotov
“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 there is the slightest suggestion of combinational possibilities on the board, look for unusual moves. Apart from making your play creative and interesting it will help you to get better results.” LooksPlayHelpingMovingInterestingResultsCreativePossibilityChessCombinationGet BetterBoardsUnusualSuggestions Author:Alexander Kotov
“If you study the classic examples of endgame play you will see how the king was brought up as soon as possible even though there seemed no particular hurry at the time.” IfsPlayStudyExampleParticularKingsChessClassicEndgame Author:Alexander Kotov
“Anyone who wishes to learn how to play chess well must make himself or herself thoroughly conversant with the play in positions where the players have castled on opposite sides.” WellsPlayWishSidesLearningPlayerPositionOppositesChess Book:The Art of the Middle Game Source: The Art of the Middle Game
“The main thing that develops positional judgement, that perfects it and makes it many-sided, is detailed analytical work, sensible tournament practice, a self-critical attitude to your games and a rooting out of all the defects in your play.” SelfPlayGamesAttitudePracticeLearningCriticalChessJudgementSensibleDefectsTournaments 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
“It is better to follow out a plan consistently even if it isn't the best one than to play without a plan at all. The worst thing is to wander about aimlessly.” IfsPlayPlansWorstStrategyChessWanderConsistentlyWorst Things Author:Alexander Kotov
“If you can play the first ten or fifteen moves in just as many minutes, you can be in a state of bliss for the rest of the game. If, on the other hand, Bronstein thinks for forty minutes about his first move, then time trouble is inevitable.” IfsThinkingFirstsStatesPlayHandsMovingTimeGamesTroubleMinutesTenChessInevitableBlissFortyFifteen Author:Alexander Kotov
“If your opponent is short (on time), play just as you played earlier in the game. If you are short keep calm, I repeat, don't get flustered. Keep up the same neat writing of the moves, the same methodical examination of variations, but at a quicker rate.” IfsWritingPlayMovingTimeGamesRateCalmChessOpponentsRepeatsExaminationVariationNeatMethodical Author:Alexander Kotov
