Alekhine Chess Quotes & Sayings

Alekhine evidently possesses the most remarkable chess memory that has ever existed. It is said that he remembers by heart all the games played by the leading masters during the last 15-20 years. — Jose Raul Capablanca

Never before and never since have I seen - and I cannot even imagine, such an amazing rapidity of chess thinking that Capablanca possessed in 1913-14. In blitz games he gave all the St. Petersburg players odds of five minutes to one - and he won. — Alexander Alekhine

For my victory over Capablanca I am indebted primarily to my superiority in the field of psychology. Capablanca played, relying almost exclusively on his rich intuitive talent. But for the chess struggle nowadays one needs a subtle knowledge of human nature, an understanding of the opponent's psychology. — Alexander Alekhine

Combination is a soul of chess. — Alexander Alekhine

Capablanca was snatched too early from the chess world. With his death we have lost a great chess genius, the like of whom we will never see again. — Alexander Alekhine

Playing for complications is an extreme measure that a player should adopt only when he cannot find a clear and logical plan. — Alexander Alekhine

Chess is a matter of vanity. — Alexander Alekhine

Play on both sides of the board is my favourite strategy. — Alexander Alekhine

Sadhana is towards creating a sense of inner fulfillment, where there is no need to lean on anyone anymore. — Jaggi Vasudev

Chess, like other arts, must be practiced to be appreciated. — Alexander Alekhine

Chess is not only knowledge and logic. — Alexander Alekhine

Chess first of all teaches you to be objective. — Alexander Alekhine

For the purpose of securing epithets at once accurate and felicitous, the young author should familiarize himself thoroughly with the general aspect and phenomena of Nature, as well as with the ideas and associations which these things produce in the human mind. — H.P. Lovecraft

For success I consider three factors are necessary: firstly, an awareness of my own strengths and weaknesses; secondly, an accurate understanding of my opponent's strengths and weaknesses; thirdly, a higher aim than momentary satisfaction. I see this aim as being scientific and artistic achievements, which place the game of chess on a par with other arts. — Alexander Alekhine

Chess for me is not a game, but an art. Yes, and I take upon myself all those responsibilities which an art imposes on its adherents. — Alexander Alekhine

Everything God made was good. Man's the one who messed it up, and we've been blaming God for it ever since. — Cathy Bryant

During a Chess competition a Chessmaster should be a combination of a beast of prey and a monk — Alexander Alekhine

You have to elevate yourself to that point and bring your mind into the Godhead, into nirvana, into that perfect and pure radiant knowledge. It will not come to you. It never does. — Frederick Lenz

That which Steinitz gave to the theoretical aspect of the game when he was at his best is very remote to all out home-bred chess philosophers, but with his views on Morphy, whom he tries to discredit completely, it is of course impossible to agree. — Alexander Alekhine

You can become a big master in chess only if you see your mistakes and short-comings. Exactly the same as in life itself. — Alexander Alekhine

There are thousands of people across the country taking photography courses. They'll never be professional photographers. They just want to understand what the photographic process is all about. — Brent Schlender

I see my own style as being a symbiosis of the styles of Alekhine, Tal and Fischer. — Garry Kasparov

During a chess tournament a master must envisage himself as a cross between an ascetic monk and a beast of prey. — Alexander Alekhine

Chess will always be the master of us all. — Alexander Alekhine

I believe that true beauty of chess is more than enough to satisfy all possible demands. — Alexander Alekhine

Be happy that after living so many lives, I finally found something to die for — Stephenie Meyer

I consider chess an art, and accept all those responsibilities which art places upon its devotees. — Alexander Alekhine

Oh-do be careful with that! That's my Buddha hand grenade. Twist the head twice and throw it and anyone within ten yards can say their prayers. — Anthony Horowitz

Botvinnik's right! When he says such things, then he's right. Usually, I prefer not to study chess but to play it. For me chess is more an art than a science. It's been said that Alekhine and I played similar chess, except that he studied more. Yes, perhaps, but I have to say that he played, too. — Mikhail Tal

Psychology is the most important factor in chess. — Alexander Alekhine

As a rule, so-called "positional" sacrifices are considered more difficult, and therefore more praise-worthy, than those which are based exclusively on an exact calculation of tactical possibilities. — Alexander Alekhine

A lifetime in not enough to learn everything about chess. — Alexander Alekhine

Express gratitude for love, joy, and beauty of life, to expand your happiness. — Debasish Mridha

Anyone can do any amount of work provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing at the moment. — Robert Benchley

So poets keep on trying, and sooner or later the consecutive results of their self-dissatisfaction are clipped together with a giant paperclip by literary historians and called their oeuvres. — Wislawa Szymborska

I call the light and high aspects of my being spirit and the dark and heavy aspects soul. — Dalai Lama