I didn't picture myself as even a grandmaster, to say nothing of aspiring to the chess crown. This was not because I was timid - I wasn't - but because I simply lived in one world, and the grandmasters existed in a completely different one. People like that were not really even people, but like gods or mythical heroes.

The truth is that my chess development was nothing out of the ordinary, and it proceeded probably at a pace no faster than others.

Blunders rarely travel alone.

If the opponent offers keen play I don't object; but in such cases I get less satisfaction, even if I win, than from a game conducted according to all the rules of strategy with its ruthless logic.

Chess is a very tough game, and psychologically a tough game. And of course chess needs a lot of qualities, human qualities. And so you must have very strong nervous system and then you must be well prepared, you must be able to work a lot.

No, I do not want to sacrifice four days for two games. My time is too valuable to do that

Combinations with a queen sacrifice are among the most striking and memorable.