Outward deception and concealment are inimical to competitive chess.

In fact there is little to hide, as most of what happens—except the move—occurs already inaccessible in the opponent’s head.

As the master of chess epigrams, Savielly Tartakower famously noted: “Only the strong player knows how badly he plays.”

Michael Tal, the “Magician of Riga,” was worried early in his career by the soundness and uncertainty of his own creative play. But he finally realized that it was to his advantage that his opponents were even more unsettled than he.

Often strong players will not directly challenge a surprise and unclear move by their opponent—preferring to avoid a head-on response. The premise is that if their respected adversary has made the move, it is probably OK.

In fact grandmasters rarely bluff with a deliberately unsound play. It is a matter of personal integrity and reputation in the chess community.

And if their bluff is called by a clearheaded opponent, they risk an embarrassing defeat.

As Emanuel Lasker explained: “Lies and hypocrisy do not survive for long on the chess board.

The creative combination lays bare the presumption of a lie, while the merciless fact, culminating in a checkmate, contradicts the hypocrite.”

Below is a win by Alexander Grischuk against Alexander Moiseenko from the World Rapid Tournament in Odessa, Ukraine.