Chess Masters and Chess Strategy

This article will list some chess masters and their theories. In some cases I will quote from these chess giants.

Purdy

The Australian master Purdy wrote that you should look for moves that "smite". This is Purdy good advice.

Fischer

The late Bobby Fischer was brilliant at chess but eccentric at life. After winning the world title from Spassky in 1972, Fischer seems to have lost his mind. Something similar happened to Morphy, who refused to play after he had a breakdown. Alekhine started drinking heavily after he became world champion, but he died with the title. As far as I know, he was the only player who died while world champion.

Fischer was paranoid about the Russians except for Spassky. He thought that the Russians fixed tournaments by agreeing to grandmaster draws.

Nevertheless his views on chess were brilliant in terms of strategy.

"Chess is like war on a board."
(Bobby Fischer)

Lasker

"I have added these principles to the law: get the Knights into action before both Bishops are developed"
(Emanuel Lasker)

"Without error there can be no brilliancy"
(Emanuel Lasker)

Lasker, like Steinitz, was world champion for three decades.

Capablanca

It was the Cuban genius Capablanca who beat Lasker.

"In order to improve your game, you must study the endgame before everything else, for whereas the endings can be studied and mastered by themselves, the middle game and the opening must be studied in relation to the endgame"
(Jose Raul Capablanca)

Reti

Richard Reti was considered a "hypermodern". His theory was to attack the center with pieces from the wings. The classical players occupied the center with pawns. Reti attacked these pawns.

"It is the aim of the modern school, not to treat every position according to one general law, but according to the principle inherent in the position."
(Richard Reti)

Edwards

Jon Edwards is not to be confused with the disgraced fromer Presidential candidate. I am writing about the Princeton chess master.

"Nearly all masters and experts begin their chess courses in the same way ... they start with the endgame!" Edwards

Conclusions

We have only scratched the surface here. If this article is popular, I will write a sequel discussing other masters and chess strategy in more depth. There is a "barrier" tactic in the endgame. Your Rook can provide a barrier to the enemy King. Endgame strategy is somewhat different than opening strategy because the Rook becomes more powerful. It is not obstructed as much as in the opening. Also the King can be used as a piece in certain endgames.

The center is important in all phases of the game. In the endgame the King often does well in the center. This would be disastrous in the opening. The Knights do best in the center. Try to control the center. This is also true in checkers.