It cannot be too greatly emphasized that the most important role in pawn endings is played by the king.

I have always a slight feeling of pity for the man who has no knowledge of chess, just as I would pity the man who has remained ignorant of love.

If the defender is forced to give up the center, then every possible attack follows almost of itself.

Chess is a terrible game. If you have no center, your opponent has a freer position. If you do have a center, then you really have something to worry about!

One doesn't have to play well, it's enough to play better than your opponent

A form of intellectual productiveness, therein lies its peculiar charm. Intellectual productiveness is one of the greatest joys - if not the greatest one - of human existence. It is not everyone who can write a play, or build a bridge, or even make a good joke. But in chess everyone can, everyone must be intellectually productive, and so can share in this select delight. I have always a slight feeling of pity for the man who has no knowledge of chess, just as I would pity the man who has remained ignorant of love. Chess, like love, like music, has the power to make men happy.

I already came upon the world as a extraordinary human being; to my parents' great horror, I was equipped with a clubfoot which, however, did not hamper my rapid progress.