Wise chess advice from unexpected places

Did you ever hear or read some little tid-bit of chess advice or information that stuck with you and helped you out later down the road? Here are a few that I picked up.

I was once talking to the former Alabama state champion and he told me that a key to being successful was the ability to maintain your concentration for the whole game. That might seem obvious to some, but I think there are many chess players who have gotten lost in the fog of studies and opening theories and engame technique and forgot that basic thing.

So his advice stuck with me. More later.

Anyobdy got any others?

Part 2.

I was once taking a class here on this web site with Chess.com University. During a live lecture the instructor was discussing a position. He said that while one move was best but if you made another move "it won't lose the game". That stuck with me. 

We see so many Grand Master's games analyzed we see where lots of games were lost because of one move. We tend to think that when we play average/club level games EVERY move is either perfect or wrong when actually that is usually NOT the case. Some moves aren't perfect, but are good enough.

Especially below master level, it's better to play moves and positions you understand rather than the theoretically best move.  Of course some moves make you lose instantly, and you should be very careful, but "good enough" is something to keep in mind as you play (especially as your clock starts to get low).

But yeah, tons of stuff.  And usually things that sound obvious like you said, but for whatever reason have a deeper meaning to you at the time.  Maybe because it's a personal weakness.

A few days ago I read this and it really hit home for me.

http://www.chess.com/article/view/responsibility-versus-apathy

"Knights should move forward, but Bishops can be used sideways"

I won a very pretty game by putting that strategic gem to good use.

"To take is a mistake". A Silman quote, I think.

Now, my chess study is zero (not kidding). I occasionally remember a few things from good players here on cc. That simple quote has made me think twice (or more) prior to snatching a pawn, or, exchanging pieces.

"A knight on the edge beats meat and two veg" helped me get the hang of those tricky pieces.

Bill Hartston gave me that nugget.