By some ardent enthusiasts Chess has been elevated into a science or an art. It is neither; but its principal characteristic seems to be – what human nature mostly delights in – a fight.
In mathematics, if I find a new approach to a problem, another mathematician might claim that he has a better, more elegant solution. In chess, if anybody claims he is better than I, I can checkmate him.
The combination player thinks forward; he starts from the given position, and tries the forceful moves in his mind.
To find the right plan is just as hard as looking for its sound justification.
He who has a slight disadvantage plays more attentively, inventively and more boldly than his antagonist who either takes it easy or aspires after too much. Thus a slight disadvantage is very frequently seen to convert into a good, solid advantage.
On the chessboard, lies and hypocrisy do not survive long.
By what right does White, in an absolutely even position, such as after move one, when both sides have advanced 1. e4, sacrifice a pawn, whose recapture is quite uncertain, and open up his kingside to attack? And then follow up this policy by leaving the check of the black queen open? None whatever!
The range of circumstances in which it is possible to presuppose the presence of a combination is very limited. The presence of such circumstances is the reason for the genesis of the idea in the master’s brain.
Do not permit yourself to fall in love with the end-game play to the exclusion of entire games. It is well to have the whole story of how it happened; the complete play, not the denouement only. Do not embrace the rag-time and vaudeville of chess.
Chess is, above all, a fight.
In Chess, as it is played by masters, chance is practically eliminated.
A chess game, after all, is a fight in which all possible factors must be made use of, and in which a knowledge of the opponent’s good and bad qualities is of the greatest importance.
Truth derives its strength not so much from itself as from the brilliant contrast it makes with what is only apparently true. This applies especially to Chess, where it is often found that the profoundest moves do not much startle the imagination.
Show me three variations in the leading handbook on the openings, and I will show you two of those three that are defective.
I have known many chess players, but among them there has been only one genius – Capablanca!
The fatal hour of this ancient game is approaching. In its modern form this game will soon die a drawing death – the inevitable victory of certainty and mechanization will leave its stamp on the fate of chess.
The attack is that process by means of which you remove obstructions.
Loss generally occurs when a player overrates his advantage or for other reasons seeks to derive from a minute advantage a great return such as a forced win.
To refer to the oft mooted question, “Which piece is stronger, the Bishop or the Knight?” it is clear that the value of the Bishop undergoes greater changes than that of the Knight.
The intelligent perusal of fine games cannot fail to make the reader a better player and a better judge of the play of others.
An advantage could consist not only in a single important advantage but also in a multitude of insignificant advantages.