Chess, as in Life
It is the boldness, the imagination, the endurance, the playing on nerves, that eventually decides the contest. The essential personal factors of character and the temperament make the ultimate difference between two combatants who have identical weapons.
The level of masters is beyond technique, aiming to exploit a personal weakness more than a technical defect. To move the opponent into an area where his self confidence crumbles and his particular flaw is exposed to relentless attack. This flaw may be vanity, timidity, rashness, anger, or arrogance—but it is always, at this level, a psychological weakness.
And this is what Smyslov, a (past) world champion alluded to when replying to the question, "Who is your most dangerous opponent?" He answered, "In chess, as in life, a man is his own most dangerous opponent."
For in every contest, more points and more game are lost by the loser, than won by the victor.
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Submitted by
Max Bell
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