Aduke.1435
net.chess
utzoo!decvax!duke!bcw
Tue Dec  1 22:45:45 1981
Karpov's style
Subject: Karpov's style

I can certainly see what you mean by Karpov's style being
boring;  certainly it isn't as flashy as, for example, Tal
or Korchnoi or Larsen, or even Fischer (who has played his
share of such "boring" games -- the exciting games are often
against weaker opposition, like Morphy's brilliancies).  His
style does have an appealing purity, and it is by no means
devoid of excitement (see his game against Hort when he
demolished the demolished the Hungarian in short order --
against a Caro-Kann!).

I find a match between players like Korchnoi and Karpov
to be very interesting -- the interplay of two diametrically
opposed approaches to the game.  But Karpov really appears
to have a deeper understanding of the game (transcending
mere style), so I'd put my money on Karpov rather than on
Korchnoi every time, even though Korchnoi (because of his
style) can be a very dangerous opponent even at the highest
levels of competition.

It doesn't seem correct to me to term his style as boring;
it is however a style which does not have the universal
appeal of the spectacular tactician.

			Bruce C. Wright @ Duke University