I had a slightly inferior endgame that probably should have been drawn, but Kortchnoi kept torturing me with little threats until finally, exhausted and exasperated, I made a losing mistake.

The business of the endgame is maneuvring to control critical squares, advancing or blockading passed pawns, preparing a breakthrough by the king, or exploiting the subtle superiority of one piece over another.

I remember being with a girlfriend who asked me to look over some chess openings with her. I instantly fell asleep. I found that I could always take a nap in any situation by just looking at some opening variation - my eyes would shut right away.

Since your mental state can have such dramatic effects on your body, obviously your physical condition can affect your mental well-being. It follows that regular physical conditioning should be part of your overall chess training.

Under no circumstances should you play fast if you have a winning position. Forget the clock, use all your time and make good moves.

In the Soviets' view, chess was not merely an art or a science or even a sport; it was what it had been invented to simulate: war.

When you defend, try not to worry or become upset. Keep your cool and trust your position - it's all you've got.