It often is. (Source: bitter experience) More seriously, other good maxims include: "Speed 'chess' is not real chess,"; "Blitz is bad for your chess health,"; and my favorite, from Botvinnik: "Yes, I have played a blitz game once. It was on a train, in 1929."
Tal liked speed chess because he was good at it. Botvinnik did not like it because he wasn't. Sour grapes is part of the human condition. They both became world champions. It's too small to be considered a sample, but it does not appear to be a relevant factor to achieving the championship either way.
It often is. (Source: bitter experience)
ReplyDeleteMore seriously, other good maxims include:
"Speed 'chess' is not real chess,"; "Blitz is bad for your chess health,"; and my favorite, from Botvinnik: "Yes, I have played a blitz game once. It was on a train, in 1929."
Tal liked speed chess because he was good at it. Botvinnik did not like it because he wasn't. Sour grapes is part of the human condition.
ReplyDeleteThey both became world champions. It's too small to be considered a sample, but it does not appear to be a relevant factor to achieving the championship either way.