Boris Spassky Quotes.
There is only one thing Fischer does in Chess without pleasure: to lose!
Nowadays it would be reasonable to have an annual world championship.
I also follow chess on the Internet, where Kasparov’s site is very interesting.
Often, in the Ruy Lopez, one must be patient, wait and carry on a lengthy and wearisome struggle.
A man who is willing to commit suicide has the initiative.
The power of hanging Pawns is based precisely in their Mobility, in their Ability to create acute situations instantly.
The best tournament that I have ever played in was in 1950. It was great – a waiter came to you during the game, and you could order anything you wanted to drink (even some vodka, if you liked). Pity, there are no longer tournaments organized in this manner.
When I am in form, my style is a little bit stubborn, almost brutal. Sometimes I feel a great spirit of fight which drives me on.
We were like bishops of opposite color.
In my country, at that time, being a champion of chess was like being a King. At that time I was a King – and when you are King you feel a lot of responsibility, but there is nobody there to help you.
Recently I saw Kasparov and he looked to me as still young and potent champion.
Nowadays there is more dynamism in chess, modern players like to take the initiative. Usually they are poor defenders though.
The place of chess in the society is closely related to the attitude of young people towards our game.
I think that the World Champion should try to defend the quality of play more than anyone else.
The computer age has arrived, and it influences everything: analysis, preparation, information. Now a different talent is required – the ability to synthesize ideas.
The Soviet Union was an exception, but even there chess players were not rich. Only Fischer changed that.
In my country, at that time, being a champion of chess was like being a King. At that time I was a King and when you are King you feel a lot of responsibility, but there is nobody there to help you.
When you play Bobby, it is not a question if you win or lose. It is a question if you survive.
My forte was the middlegame. I had a good feeling for the critical moments of the play. This undoubtedly compensated for my lack of opening preparation and, possibly, not altogether perfect play in the endgame. In my games things often did not reach the endgame!
Nowadays the dynamic element is more important in chess – players more often sacrifice material to obtain dynamic compensation.
For example, computer defends well, but for humans its is harder to defend than attack, particularly with the modern time control.
Bobby Fischer has an enormous knowledge of chess and his familiarity with the chess literature of the USSR is immense.
Which do I prefer? Sex or chess? It depends on the position.
When I played Bobby Fischer, my opponent fought against organizations – the television producers and the match organizers. But he never fought against me personally. I lost to Bobby before the match because he was already stronger than I. He won normally.
I don’t want ever to be champion again.
After I won the title, I was confronted with the real world. People do not behave naturally anymore – hypocrisy is everywhere.
The best indicator of a Chess Player’s form is his ability to sense the Climax of the game.
Time control directly influences the quality of play.
I still hope to kill Fischer
I don’t play in tournaments, but I follow some.
I try to help developing junior chess. When I lived in USSR, I got a lot of free help from very good coaches – now I am trying to repay that debt.
The shortcoming of hanging pawns is that they present a convenient target for attack. As the exchange of men proceeds, their potential strength lessens and during the endgame they turn out, as a rule, to be weak.
