José Raúl Capablanca quotes

José Raúl Capablanca was a Cuban chess grandmaster, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history. His intuitive style and remarkable endgame technique set him apart from his contemporaries. He became World Chess Champion and is remembered for his profound influence on modern chess. Here are 7 of his quotes:

In order to improve your game you must study the endgame before anything else; for, whereas the endings can be studied and mastered by themselves, the middlegame and the opening must be studied in relation to the endgame.

José Raúl Capablanca

You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win. You will have to lose hundreds of games before becoming a good player.

José Raúl Capablanca

Morphy's principal strength does not rest upon his power of combination but in his position play and his general style.... Beginning with la Bourdonnais to the present, and including Lasker, we find that the greatest stylist has been Morphy. Whence the reason, although it might not be the only one, why he is generally considered the greatest of all.

José Raúl Capablanca

Chess is something more than a game. It is an intellectual diversion which has certain artistic qualities and many scientific elements.

José Raúl Capablanca

During the course of many years I have observed that a great number of doctors, lawyers, and important businessmen make a habit of visiting a chess club during the late afternoon or evening to relax and find relief from the preoccupations of their work.

José Raúl Capablanca

The best way to learn endings, as well as openings, is from the games of the masters.

José Raúl Capablanca