"I haven't played a chess match for several decades. At one point I lost most of my chess games. Then I realized many of my competitors were memorizing the best moves and I was unwilling to do this"

In this quote, John Harsanyi is assessing his experiences with playing chess and the difficulties he faced. His statement can be analyzed as a wider commentary on the nature of knowledge, learning, and tactical thinking.

Initially, Harsanyi discusses not having played chess for "several years", showing a substantial passage of time considering that he last participated in the video game competitively. This recommends a distancing or a deliberate disengagement from the activity, potentially due to the experiences and awareness he describes next.

He confesses to losing most of his chess video games at one point, which might be analyzed as a humbling experience. This acknowledgment of repeated failure mean a duration of battle or aggravation. However, Harsanyi does not simply associate his losses to a lack of ability or skill; rather, he determines a specific factor adding to this outcome: his rivals' memorization of the very best relocations.

This awareness highlights a vital aspect of competitive chess, where preparation and memorization of established techniques and openings can substantially affect the outcome of a game. Harsanyi indicates that a number of his challengers were investing effort and time in remembering optimum sequences of play, thereby acquiring a competitive benefit.

Crucially, Harsanyi notes his own objection to participate in this practice of memorization. This could be seen as a philosophical or individual position, where he values a different method to discovering and playing chess. Rather than relying exclusively on rote memorization, Harsanyi may have preferred a more intuitive or creative approach to the game.

Overall, the quote suggests a tension in between different methods of accomplishing success in chess. While memorization and preparation are undoubtedly essential, Harsanyi appears to reveal a choice for development and tactical flexibility. His hesitation to comply with a pattern of rote learning perhaps shows a belief in the worth of initial idea and the significance of evolving one's own design and methodology, even in a domain as structured as chess.