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Positional Player Take Down

Positional Player Take Down

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Originally posted by wormwood
different styles doesn't mean they couldn't do every aspect of chess equally well.
So are you saying that Karpov could play the Black side of the King's Indian Defence and Sicilian Najdorf as well as Kasparov could? And that Kasparov could play the Caro-Kann equally as well as Karpov? I don't think so. Kasparov has said himself that he excels best in dynamic positions and everyone knows Karpov's main strength is to slowly "squeeze opponents to death". If they were equal in all aspects of the game then why did they both consistently play in different ways!

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Originally posted by wormwood
... however that is an entirely different can of worms.
i chuckled at this...

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Originally posted by Varenka
So are you saying that Karpov could play the Black side of the King's Indian Defence and Sicilian Najdorf as well as Kasparov could? And that Kasparov could play the Caro-Kann equally as well as Karpov? I don't think so. Kasparov has said himself that he excels best in dynamic positions and everyone knows Karpov's main strength is to slowly "squeeze oppon ...[text shortened]... qual in all aspects of the game then why did they both consistently play in different ways!
because. of. different. styles! 🙂

it never was like kasparov could just dominate karpov, instead they were always almost equal. after a little googling, their lifetime match score was 73-71 slightly better for kasparov. I think that's remarkably even, and shows that no matter what the other could throw on the board, the other could handle.

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Originally posted by wormwood
because. of. different. styles!

So style has nothing to do with strengths and weaknesses? Of course it does!

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In almost any opening there are positional, sharp, tactical, and sharp positional lines which can be played.

The player which dictates where the game goes has the better chance.

If you really are a "tactical" player then don't mind playing moves which give you IQP's or doubled pawns(with comp for the weaknesses of course) look over fischer's games especially to see how the dynamics can be played out. On youtube there are some great videos by letsplaychess.com on youtube(specifically kingscrusher or kingcrusher videos are the best imhop

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Originally posted by erikido
On youtube there are some great videos by letsplaychess.com on youtube(specifically kingscrusher or kingcrusher videos are the best imhop
Agree. Plus kingcrusher has the best accent to boot.

It would be like playing a game in a pub and somebody comes over and says "Ouu I dont think you wanna be doin' that".

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Not long ago I had a chess epiphany. I've realized that for the most part "style" is a myth.


There are times when you must strengthen your position, there are times you must attack, and there are times when you must circle the wagons and defend.



A master attacks!

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1.d4Nf6
2.c4g6
3.Nc3d5
4.Nf3Bg7
5.Qb3dxc4
6.Qxc4O-O
7.e4a6
8.e5Nfd7
9.Be3Nb6
10.Qc5Be6
11.Ng5Bf5
12.Be2Kh8
13.g4Bc8
14.O-O-Of6
15.Nge4f5
16.gxf5Bxf5
17.h4N8d7
18.Qa3Nd5
19.Ng5N7b6
20.h5Nxe3
21.fxe3Bh6
22.Nce4Qd7
23.hxg6Qc6
24.Kd2Qxg6
25.Rdg1Rad8
26.e6Rxd4
27.exd4Bxe4
28.Rxh6Qxh6
29.Qe3

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      A master improves his position and trades down to a won endgame!
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      1.c4Nf6
      2.Nc3c5
      3.Nf3Nc6
      4.e3e6
      5.d4d5
      6.cxd5exd5
      7.Bb5Bd6
      8.O-OO-O
      9.dxc5Bxc5
      10.b3a6
      11.Bxc6bxc6
      12.Bb2Bd6
      13.Rc1Bg4
      14.Ne2Bxf3
      15.gxf3Rc8
      16.Qd3Nd7
      17.Ng3Be5
      18.Ba3Re8
      19.f4Bf6
      20.Rc2Qa5
      21.Bc1g6
      22.Rd1h5
      23.Bd2Qb5
      24.Bc3Qxd3
      25.Rxd3Bxc3
      26.Rcxc3Kf8
      27.Rd4h4
      28.Ne2Nf6
      29.Rc5Nd7
      30.Ra5Ra8
      31.Kg2Ke7
      32.Rda4Nb8
      33.e4dxe4
      34.Rxe4Kd7
      35.Rxe8Kxe8
      36.Nd4Ke7
      37.Nf3Kd6
      38.Ne5Ra7
      39.Nc4Ke6
      40.Kh3Nd7
      41.Kxh4c5
      42.f3Kd5
      43.Kg5Nf8
      44.f5gxf5
      45.Ne3Kc6
      46.Nxf5Ne6
      47.Kf6Nd4
      48.h4Nxf5
      49.Kxf5Kb6
      50.Ra4Rd7
      51.Kf6Rd4
      52.Rc4Rd2
      53.h5Rf2
      54.Rh4Rxf3
      55.Ke7Re3
      56.Kf8

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          Is what we call "style" something that is inherent in a player, or is it just the right answer to a position OTB?


          I came to this conclusion after reading over Tal and realizing the depth of his positional knowledge. Sure he would sac if it looked promising, but he had to had very deep positional knowledge to create that situation.


          I'd say that there are two actually kinds of chess "style" and I don't admire either one of them as a stand alone way to play.

          There is Shirov's method of Chaos Magic where he intentionally creates unclear complications in the hope he trips his opponent up.

          And there is Petrosian who spends so much time equalizing his opponent's attacks that he neglects to create one for himself.


          Shirov gets punished for his manner of play often by losing to weaker opponents, and inconsistent results.


          Petrosian's method has it's drawbacks as well in the fact that he scored more draws than wins and losses combined. One would think that if he took a creative risk, he would win more.

          I think the ideal player is one who could play like Petrosian some times, and Shirov at others, just depending on what the situation called for.

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