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!

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.

My achievements in the field of chess are the result of immense hard work in studying theory.

In analysing complicated variations one must examine each branch of the tree once and once only.

The placing of the centre pawns determines the "topography" of a game of chess.

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.

Once we have chosen the right formation in the centre we have created opportunities for our pieces and laid the foundation of subsequent victory.