“Tal was a fearless fighter. Nobody could successfully accomplish so…

“Tal was a fearless fighter. Nobody could successfully accomplish so many incorrect maneuvers! He simply smashed his opponents.” – Bent Larsen

About Tal

Other Mikhail Tal Quotes

Just as one’s imagination is stirred by a girl’s smile, so is one’s imagination stirred by the possibilities of chess. - View Quote Details on Just as one’s imagination is stirred by a girl’s smile,…
It’s funny, but many people don’t understand why I draw so many games nowadays. They think my style must have changed but this is not the case at all. The answer to this drawing disease is that my favorite squares are e6, f7, g7 and h7 and everyone now knows this. They protect these squares not once but four times! - View Quote Details on It’s funny, but many people don’t understand why I draw…
“The guy ate and breathed the game. If he wasn’t playing in a tournament he was playing blitz or talking about the latest chess news; nobody adored chess as much as Tal did!” – Jeremy Silman - View Quote Details on “The guy ate and breathed the game. If he wasn’t…
When I lost the title to Botvinnik, chess could be played quietly again! - View Quote Details on When I lost the title to Botvinnik, chess could be…
There are two types of sacrifices - sound ones and mine. - View Quote Details on There are two types of sacrifices - sound ones and…
“The chess story of Mikhail Tal is about the act itself of straining against the leash of limited human imagination to create mammoth combinations on the chessboard. During his games, Tal wished to go where no chess player had ever gone before, choosing the middlegame as his métier for creative expression. He burned energy profligately. A chain-smoker and a heavy drinker, Tal pulsated nervous energy, pacing like a caged tiger in between moves. And as a young man with those famous fierce, hooded eyes and that imposing hooked nose, he bulldozed all before him.” – Larry Parr - View Quote Details on “The chess story of Mikhail Tal is about the act…
“Believe me, playing in such a style, this guy has no chess future.” – Peter Romanovsky (on a young Tal) - View Quote Details on “Believe me, playing in such a style, this guy has…
I’d be glad to get to Heaven, but my sins won’t allow it! - View Quote Details on I’d be glad to get to Heaven, but my sins…
“When Spassky offers you a piece, you may just as well resign, but when Tal offers you a piece, go on playing, he may sacrifice another, and then…who knows?” – Miguel Najdorf - View Quote Details on “When Spassky offers you a piece, you may just as…
The pieces must breathe deeply and with a full chest! - View Quote Details on The pieces must breathe deeply and with a full chest!