PETROSIAN RULE

PETROSIAN RULE: Sometimes winning is the only acceptable outcome. In such a situation, should you adopt a wild opening, swinging for the bleachers from the first move? The great Petrosian often counseled the young and talented Russian-Armenian master Karen Gregorian. Once Gregorian returned from an important qualifying tournament and showed Petrosian a last-round game in which the young man played some dubious opening moves as Black and lost. Petrosian cross-examined him: Petrosian: "Why did you play such terrible moves? Even you should understand these are bad." Gregorian: "I had to win to qualify." Petrosian: "Make a note. It's much easier to play for a win from an equal position than from a bad position!"