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.

Patience is the most valuable trait of the endgame player.

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.

Sometimes players need to gain time on the clock by repeating the position, but most often its purpose is to wear down the opponent psychologically.

There is nothing wrong with trying to exploit the natural human tendency to become impatient when forced to play a boring position.

There is no doubt that Bronstein's shrewd understanding of chess psychology was crucial to his success. Without it, his impetuous style and technical flaws might have relegated him to a minor career.