“I cannot think that a player genuinely loving the game can get pleasure just from the number of points scored no matter how impressive the total. I will not speak of myself, but for the masters of the older generation, from whose games we learned, the aesthetic side was the most important. -” ThinkingImportantMatterGamesSpeakSidesPleasureNumbersBeautyPlayerGenerationsMastersChessAestheticImpressiveOlder Generation Author:Alexander Kotov
“In order to become a grandmaster class player whose understanding of chess is superior to the thousands of ordinary players, you have to develop within yourself a large number of qualities, the qualities of an artistic creator, a calculating practitioner, a cold calm competitor.” OrderUnderstandingNumbersQualityClassPlayerColdOrdinaryCalmCreatorChessSuperiorsArtisticCompetitorsLarge NumbersCalculating 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
“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
“Experience and the constant analysis of the most varied positions builds up a store of knowledge in a player's mind enabling him often at a glance to assess this or that position.” MindLearningPlayerPositionConstantStoresChessAnalysisGlancesEnabling 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
“Sit there for five hours? Certainly not! A player must walk about between moves, it helps his thinking.” ThinkingHelpingMovingSuccessHoursWalksFivePlayerChess Author:Alexander Kotov
