27 Most Powerful Quotes That Describes Chess by Skimike

Skimike On Thursdays

This is a list of 27 most important chess traits represented in form of quotes from the greatest chess players of all times: Kaparov, Fischer, Karpov, Lasker, Tarrasch and many others. To be good at something we need to understand what and how the greatest think about the subject. That applies to chess as well; by exploring minds of greatest chess players it is possible to better understand the nature of this game. Enough philosophy, enjoy the quotes!

1. “The laws of Chess do not permit a free choice: you have to move whether you like it or not” (Emanuel Lasker)

2. “I look one move ahead... the best!” (Siegbert Tarrasch)

3. “First-class players lose to second-class players because second-class players sometimes play a first-class game” (Siegbert Tarrasch)

4. “Weak points or holes in the opponent's position must be occupied by pieces not Pawns” (Siegbert Tarrasch)

5. “In Chess, as it is played by masters, chance is practically eliminated” (Emanuel Lasker)

6. “The passion for playing Chess is one of the most unaccountable in the world” (H.G. Wells)

7. “The older I grow, the more I value Pawns” (Keres)

8. The sign of a great Master is his ability to win a won game quickly and painlessly” (Irving Chernev)

9. “Those who say they understand Chess understand nothing” (Robert Hubner)

10. “One bad move nullifies forty good ones” (Horowitz)

11. “Every Pawn is a potential Queen” (James Mason)

12. “I prefer to lose a really good game than to win a bad one” (David Levy)

13. “Chess is a terrific way for kids to build self-image and self-esteem” (Saudin Robovic)

14. “When you are lonely, when you feel yourself an alien in the world, play Chess. This will raise your spirits and be your counselor in war” (Aristotle)

15. “Pawns: they are the soul of this game, they alone form the attack and defense” (Philidor)

16. “Chess is 99 percent tactics” (Teichmann)

17. “Chess is war over the board. The object is to crush the opponents mind” (Bobby Fischer)

18. “Chess demands total concentration” (Bobby Fischer)

19. “Chess is everything: art, science and sport” (Anatoly Karpov)

20. “Chess is the art which expresses the science of logic” (Mikhail Botvinnik)

21. “A bad plan is better than none at all” (Frank Marshall)

22. “Chess is life” (Bobby Fischer)

23. “The mistakes are there, waiting to be made” (Savielly Tartakower)

24. “Chess is mental torture” (Garry Kasparov)

25. “When you see a good move, look for a better one” (Emanuel Lasker)

26. “The Pin is mightier than the sword” (Fred Reinfeld)

27. “Without error there can be no brilliancy” (Emanuel Lasker)