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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

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