In My Opinion, A Master Is Morally

For Success I Consider Three Factors Are Necessary: Firstly, An Awareness Of My Own Strengths And Weaknesses; Secondly, An Accurate Understanding Of My Opponent's Strengths And Weaknesses; Thirdly, A Higher Aim Than Momentary Satisfaction. I See This Aim As Being Scientific And Artistic Achievements, Which Place The Game Of Chess On A Par With Other Arts.

During A Chess Tournament A Master Must Envisage Himself As A Cross Between An Ascetic Monk And A Beast Of Prey.

For My Victory Over Capablanca I Am Indebted Primarily To My Superiority In The Field Of Psychology. Capablanca Played, Relying Almost Exclusively On His Rich Intuitive Talent. But For The Chess Struggle Nowadays One Needs A Subtle Knowledge Of Human Nature, An Understanding Of The Opponent's Psychology.

I Have Had To Work Long And Hard To Eradicate The Dangerous Delusion That, In A Bad Position, I Could Always, Or Nearly Always, Conjure Up Some Unexpected Combination To Extricate Me From My Difficulties.

Deux Fous Gagnent Toujours, Mais Trois Fous, Non!