Choosing Styles...

Choosing styles... (for intermediate to strong players)

I sometimes stare at a chessboard, trying to see what the quality is of a specific position. And, what I can conclude after playing several hundred games this past decade is that I never did have a style. Further, unless your style is defined by a particular position on the board then you probably do not have a style. What does this mean? This means that you will probably have to continue seeking, trying to find the perfect match, or a good one at least.

A chess style is not about winning, it is about defining your boundaries by establishing a firm presence. Generally speaking, a chess style will often lie between a very aggressive and an overly defensive game plan. Some players are extremely well balanced while others tend to stick to one extreme or the other. That is a personal choice!

One particular chess style I have become more familiar with this past year is one whose name is as striking as its actual bite on the chessboard. One player who is well known for employing such a style is Anatoly Karpov (World Chess Champion from 1975 to 1985 and from 1993 to 1999).

The style name is: The 'Boa Constrictor'.

Definition (From Wikipedia)

Karpov's "boa constrictor" playing style is solidly positional, taking no risks but reacting mercilessly to any tiny errors made by his opponents. As a result, he is often compared to his idol, the famous Jose Raul Capablanca, the third World Champion. Karpov himself describes his style as follows:

Let us say the game may be continued in two ways: one of them is a beautiful tactical blow that gives rise to variations that don't yield to precise calculation; the other is clear positional pressure that leads to an endgame with microscopic chances of victory.... I would choose the latter without thinking twice. If the opponent offers keen play I don't object; but in such cases I get less satisfaction, even if I win, than from a game conducted according to all the rules of strategy with its ruthless logic.

Has anyone out there employed or explored the boa constrictor? What do you like or dislike about this styleI!

Are there any other styles similar to this one! This style is one of my favorites yet, I find it is a tough game plan to stick to!!!

KP

Not familiar with it myself, I will have to look into it and see what I think. Good post!