Mikhail Tal Quotes

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…
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…
“He was like a man from another planet! That’s why he played “unidentifiable” chess. Analyzing his chess games is tantamount to discussing what God looks like.” — Vladimir Kramnik - View Quote Details on “He was like a man from another planet! That’s why…
“I was surprised by his ability to figure out complex variations. Then the way he sets out the game; he was not interested in the objectivity of the position, whether it’s better or worse, he only needed room for his pieces. All you do then is figure out variations which are extremely difficult. He was tactically outplaying me and I made mistakes.” – Mikhail Botvinnik - View Quote Details on “I was surprised by his ability to figure out complex…
“Tal doesn’t move the pieces by hand; he uses a magic wand.” – Viacheslav Ragozin - View Quote Details on “Tal doesn’t move the pieces by hand; he uses a…
“The chess pieces in Tal’s hands radiated magical energy. Tal quickly became the favorite of chess fans all around the world. People attended the games of the “chess magician” for the same reasons the spectators had listened to the violinist-virtuoso Paganini.” – Valery Tsaturian - View Quote Details on “The chess pieces in Tal’s hands radiated magical energy. Tal…
“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…
“Tal enjoys excitement and hair-raising complications, and in that kind of game he can find his way around better than anyone else.” – Paul Keres - View Quote Details on “Tal enjoys excitement and hair-raising complications, and in that kind…
They compare me with Lasker, which is an exaggerated honor. Lasker made mistakes in every game and I only in every second one! - View Quote Details on They compare me with Lasker, which is an exaggerated honor…
The pieces must breathe deeply and with a full chest! - View Quote Details on The pieces must breathe deeply and with a full chest!
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. - View Quote Details on Usually, I prefer not to study chess but to play…
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…
“If Tal would learn to program himself properly, then it would become quite impossible to play against him.” – Mikhail Botvinnik - View Quote Details on “If Tal would learn to program himself properly, then it…
There are two types of sacrifices - sound ones and mine. - View Quote Details on There are two types of sacrifices - sound ones and…
Chess is better than checkers. In the very least it has a more interesting cast of characters. - View Quote Details on Chess is better than checkers. In the very least it…
I like to grasp the initiative and not give my opponent peace of mind. - View Quote Details on I like to grasp the initiative and not give my…
“I realized that you cannot tackle him if the pieces are mobile and active. I played closed positions in which Tal could gain no advantage. Tal had no positional understanding for closed games.” – Mikhail Botvinnik (on their ‘61 rematch) - View Quote Details on “I realized that you cannot tackle him if the pieces…
“Tal was a fearless fighter. Nobody could successfully accomplish so many incorrect maneuvers! He simply smashed his opponents.” – Bent Larsen - View Quote Details on “Tal was a fearless fighter. Nobody could successfully accomplish so…
If you wait for luck to turn up, life becomes very boring. - View Quote Details on If you wait for luck to turn up, life becomes…
Extraordinarily tense, full-blooded struggles that are absolutely without any mistakes are only to be found in distant interplanetary chess tournaments. - View Quote Details on Extraordinarily tense, full-blooded struggles that are absolutely without any mistakes…
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,…
“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…
“In a world where most players have grudges against most other players - Korchnoi hates everyone, Kasparov hates Karpov, Shirov hates Kasparov, Fischer thinks everyone is out to get him, etc., etc. - Tal was the only chess personality who appeared to be loved by virtually everyone. Even Fischer adored the guy.” – Jeremy Silman - View Quote Details on “In a world where most players have grudges against most…
“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…
“First, how to sac my queen, then rook, then bishop, then knight, then pawns.” (on what he thinks about after his opponent moves) - View Quote Details on “First, how to sac my queen, then rook, then bishop,…
“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…