Boris Spassky

Boris Spassky on Writing

“I also follow chess on the Internet, where Kasparov’s site is very interesting.”

“I don’t want ever to be champion again.”

“Computer defends well, but for humans it is harder to defend than attack, particularly with the modern time control.”

“Time control directly influences the quality of play.”

“I lost to Bobby [Fischer] before the match because he was already stronger than I. He won normally.”

“We were like bishops of opposite color.”

“The power of hanging pawns is based precisely in their mobility, in their ability to create acute situations instantly.”

“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.”

“Nowadays the dynamic element is more important in chess – players more often sacrifice material to obtain dynamic compensation.”

“If they had played 150 games at full strength, they would be in a lunatic asylum by now.” – (on Kasparov and Karpov, 1987)

“The place of chess in the society is closely related to the attitude of young people towards our game.”

“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.”

“The best indicator of a chess player’s form is his ability to sense the climax of the game.”

“I don’t play in tournaments, but I follow some.”

Craft Notes / 4 Comments
September 6th, 2011 / 5:31 pm