Explore Quotes by Anatoly Karpov

The days when it was possible to win a serious game only by merit of sporting character or depth of chess understanding have vanished forever. Chess knowledge has become dominant, bypassing all the other factors that contribute to success.

But how difficult it can be to gain the desired full point against an opponent of inferior strength, when this is demanded by the tournament position!

This whole fuss did not only damage Fischer's image, but that of the USA as well. The way the Americans treated one of their most popular citizens did not make a positive impression worldwide.

It is dangerous to maintain equality at the cost of placing the pieces passively.

Playing black, I put great stake in the Ruy Lopez: I liked it, feel it, and understand it; in matches with Hjartarson and Timman it served me well. - on preparing for World Championship versus Garry Kasparov

An amusing fact: as far as I can recall, when playing the Ruy Lopez I have not yet once in my life had to face the Marshall Attack!

It doesn't require much for misfortune to strike in the King's Gambit - one incautious move, and Black can be on the edge of the abyss.

Happiness should always remain a bit incomplete. After all, dreams are boundless.

I like 1.e4 very much, but my results are better with 1.d4.

I have found after 1.d4 there are more opportunities for richer play.

I lost the match. I blame only myself for this. There were many opportunities to win. But I missed them, no one else.

The truth is that my chess development was nothing out of the ordinary, and it proceeded probably at a pace no faster than others.

The fact that a knight is temporarily on the edge of the board is of no great significance.

I still remember Botvinnik's reaction to each of my games, right from the opening moves. At first he would express amazement, then annoyance, and, finally irritation.

No, no, it is obvious that the ECU should act as a close alliance for the benefit of chess.

Style, I've got no style.

You can't play chess if you're groggy from pills.

I didn't picture myself as even a grandmaster, to say nothing of aspiring to the chess crown. This was not because I was timid - I wasn't - but because I simply lived in one world, and the grandmasters existed in a completely different one. People like that were not really even people, but like gods or mythical heroes.

Furman astounded me with his chess depth, a depth which he revealed easily and naturally, as if all he were doing was establishing well-known truths.

My studies with Botvinnik brought me immense benefit, particularly the homework assignments which forced me to refer to chess books and to work independently.

Like dogs who sniff each other when meeting, chess players have a ritual at first acquaintance: they sit down to play speed chess.