More often we should break routine by doing more analysis, not less. This is rare, however, and it is often when we assume something is obvious and react hastily that we make a mistake. The best move might be so obvious that it's not necessary to spend time working out the details, especially if time is of the essence. Most of the time we eventually discovered that there was a powerful idea behind each Grandmaster move, but we also found improvements. All of Botvinnik's students learned to become great sceptics, even of the moves of the best players. Mikhail Botvinnik…insisted that we must recognize the rationale behind every move.

…we have to be able to take a wider view so that we can evaluate the deeper consequences of our tactical decisions. We all make our decisions based on a combination of analysis and experience. If we have sacrificed material for an attack we will almost certainly lose the endgame if the attack fails in the middlegame. We must also play the middlegame with an eye on the endgame. What sort of middlegame is our opening going to lead to? Is it one we are prepared for? Is it the type…we have experience with? Although the area narrows each year there remains a great deal of unexplored territory.

You can find something that no one else has found. The openings are the only phase in which there is the possibility of unique application. This can also mean manoeuvring for the type of game your opponent doesn't want.īy the time a player becomes a Grandmaster almost all of his training time is dedicated to work on this first phase. The purpose of the opening isn't just to get through it, it's to set the stage for the type of middlegame you want. The first phase in a chess game: The opening You must be aware of your limitations and also of your best qualities. – Garry Kasparov, How Life Imitates ChessĪ key to developing successful strategies is to be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses, to know what you do well. Self-awareness is essential to being able to combine your knowledge, experience and talent to reach your peak performance.

Kasparov chess quotes