The Chessmill» Chess Quotes

On The Importance of Opening Theory

Arlen Walker — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:48:03 +0000

“The importance of opening theory is grossly overestimated. Obviously, the knowledge of opening moves comes in handy when setting up a chess game, but this knowledge alone does not bring universal happiness. After this, you still have to play chess, and for that, other things will crop up.” ~ Herman Grooten (Dutch trainer of, among others Loek van Wely)

Dvoretsky on Training

Arlen Walker — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:49:24 +0000

“Alas, there are very few chessplayers who train. The majority of them merely process information.” ~ Mark Dvoretsky

On The Importance Of Openings

Arlen Walker — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 17:10:37 +0000

the source

“…Many players think they could play a good game ‘if they only knew the openings.’ This idea is really crazy. You can improve your opening play at any stage of your career. Make the most of your early years by using them to improve your intrinsic chess skill, rather than memorizing moves, which has very little to do with chess skill…” ~ C. J. S. Purdy (Who else?)

David Norwood strikes again

Arlen Walker — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 15:43:42 +0000

“…certain people do improve their chess. In the main though these people are smaller than grown-ups. Children seem to have no problem improving their chess and I do not believe that this is due to a greater capacity for hard work. The key is that adults become stubborn. They refuse to keep their minds open – especially on the chess board.”

Position or Material?

Arlen Walker — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 14:46:54 +0000

“Don’t look at chess this way because it is romantic. It is, but look at chess this way because it is the way to win. Contrary to the general notion, a positional advantage — that is, a better disposition of your forces generally — is always easier to exploit than an equivalent advantage in material, even for the weakest player.” ~ C. J. S. Purdy

The Tyranny of Pawns

Arlen Walker — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 14:44:21 +0000

[Speaking of players who grab a pawn and head for the endgame]“Here we see the tyranny of the pawn in its vilest and most nauseating form. But there are degrees, and even in master play we find weak moves being made through an insufficient contempt for pawns.” ~ C. J. S. Purdy

Three Kinds of Chessplayers

Arlen Walker — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 04:03:02 +0000

“Chess players may be divided into three classes: those who don’t know the principles, and are therefore very weak; those who know the principles and are less weak; and those who know how weak the principles are, and are strong.” ~C. J. S. Purdy

They Said It (Howell/Young feud)

Arlen Walker — Tue, 18 May 2004 14:00:56 +0000

We read in Checkmate (v1 #10, 1901) of a challenge issued by C S Howell to Franklin K Young. The reporter quoted Young’s rather acidic response as, “As to the matter of stakes, you can put your money in your pocket. When I play for money, I play poker.”(Howell had suggested a modest stake to be placed on the match, probably expecting it would irritate Young, who was, perhaps, a bit too proud of his amateur status.)

Howell’s response to Young? “I admire your wisdom in preferring to back your luck rather than your skill.”

Ouch! And they say chess is a dignified game.