By positional play a master tries to prove and exploit true values, whereas by combinations he seeks to refute false values ... A combination produces an unexpected re-assessment of values.
Emanuel LaskerRead
When Alekhine recognizes the weakness in his position he has a tendency to become very aggressive. Patient defence is not for him if he can see the slightest chance of creating an attack. Yet sound strategy often demands that you submit to the opponent's will so as to strengthen your weaknesses and get rid of defects in your game.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Recognizing weaknesses can lead to aggressive tactics, but true strategy requires patience and acceptance.
In the quoted text, Emanuel Lasker discusses the nature of strategic thinking, particularly in chess, where an aggressive mindset can arise from a recognition of one's weaknesses. This highlights the importance of patience and the ability to forego immediate aggression in favor of a stronger position, suggesting that effective strategy often involves understanding your own vulnerabilities and working to strengthen them rather than merely attacking your opponent's weaknesses without a solid foundation.
Themes
StrategyAggressionPatienceChessWeakness
In practice
Example use cases
In a chess tournament, when discussing your game with peers, you might reflect on how recognizing weaknesses in your strategy led to a more aggressive play style.
More from Emanuel Lasker
All quotes →The game gives us a satisfaction that Life denies us. And for the Chess player, the success which crowns his work, the great dispeller of sorrows, is named 'combination'.
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Of my fifty-seven years I have applied at least thirty to forgetting most of what I have learned or read. Since then, I have acquired a certain ease and cheer which I should never again like to be without. (...) I have stored little in my memory, but I can apply that little, and it is of use in many and varied emergencies. I keep it in order, but resist every attempt to increase its dead weight.
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The laws of chess do not permit a free choice: you have to move whether you like it or not.
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Truth derives its strength not so much from itself as from the brilliant contrast it makes with what is only apparently true. This applies especially to Chess, where it is often found that the profoundest moves do not much startle the imagination.
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He who has a slight disadvantage plays more attentively, inventively and more boldly than his antagonist who either takes it easy or aspires after too much. Thus a slight disadvantage is very frequently seen to convert into a good, solid advantage.
Emanuel LaskerRead
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