“When everything on the board is clear it can be so difficult to conceal your thoughts from your opponent.” Quote by David Bronstein
“It is dangerous to maintain equality at the cost of placing the pieces passively.” PiecesDangerousCostStrategyChess Author:Anatoly Karpov
“One charming characteristic of many flank attacks I could mention is that they do not very often lead to simplification: if the attack is parried, there usually are still opportunities left for initiating action in another sector.” IfsStillsActionOpportunityLeftStrategyChessCharacteristicsCharmingSimplification Author:Bent Larsen
“Strategically important points should be overprotected. If the pieces are so engaged, they get their regard in the fact that they will then find themselves well posted in every respect.” IfsShouldWellsImportantFactsPiecesRegardStrategyChessEngaged Author:Aron Nimzowitsch
“If in a battle, I seize a bit of debatable land with a handful of soldiers, without having done anything to prevent an enemy bombardment of the position, would it ever occur to me to speak of a conquest of the terrain in question? Obviously not. Then why should I do so in chess?” IfsShouldDoneSpeakBitsEnemyLandPositionBattleStrategySoldierChessShould IConquestHandfulTerrain Author:Aron Nimzowitsch
“When I today ask myself whence I got the moral courage, for it takes moral courage to make a move (or form a plan) running counter to all tradition, I think I may say in answer, that it was only my intense preoccupation with the problem of the blockade which helped me to do so.” ThinkingMayProblemRunningTodayMovingFormAsksAnswersMoralPlansTraditionStrategyChessIntensePreoccupationMoral CourageMake A MoveBlockades Author:Aron Nimzowitsch
“The infallible criterion by which to distinguish the true from the would-be strategist is the degree of originality of his conceptions. It makes little difference whether this originality is carried to excess, as was the case with Steinitz and Nimzowitsch.” LittlesWould BeDifferencesCasesDegreesStrategyChessConceptionExcessOriginalityCriteriaInfallibleStrategist Author:Alexander Alekhine
“During a chess tournament a master must envisage himself as a cross between an ascetic monk and a beast of prey.” MastersCrossesStrategyChessBeastMonkPreyTournaments Author:Alexander Alekhine
“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
“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