A bit late as usual to answer:
Gerbarts wrote on 05/02/08 at 15:44:34:
I know very little of the strategy for both players in this position. It seems natural to play f4-f5 when the bishop has gone to e6. Against this black usually seems to play Qc7 and Bc4 (10.f4 Qc7 11.f5 Bc4). I suppose whites task here is to control the centre square d5 so why not take the bishop 12.Bxc4 Qxc4 13.Qf3 But it might be better to play 12.a4 before taking the bishop.
Most of the time I come across this idea but according databases it is more common to take on f4 10...exf4 11.Rxf4 I suppose I should occupy d5 by Nc3 and perhaps play Nd4 back again to exchange it off now that there is no pawn on e5. But I don't feel there is a straightforward plan for white (or is there?).
Black usually counters the f4-f5 idea in 3 ways:
a) Prefers developing with b5 and Bb7 (controlling d5 & pressurising the e4 pawn). However, I hasten to add that developing the Bishop at e6 seems more natural as it costs 1 tempo less and also controls a few additional important squares (like f5 and c4). Black also avoids the undermining thrust a2-a4, which can be a real threat if White has still a stable K-side (i.e. before the weakening f2-f4).
b) Counters f4-f5 with Qc7 & Bc4 as you mention (this is the old-fashioned way, but it always worked well for me
). If you manage to keep your Knights (e.g. play the protective h6 if appropriate), d5 remains under control.
c) Another way is to postpone Nb8's development. White plays f4 you counter with exf4, White recaptures (Rxf4 as you mention or with Bxf4) and then you play Nc6. Nc6 covers d4, else White can harass your Be6 with Nd4. So, this is an important idea before deciding on e5xf4.
Moreover, a simple rule of thumb regarding when to play a4 as White is this one: a2-a4 weakens the square b4 which Black may take advantage of with the manoeuvre Nb8-Nc6-Nb4 (controlling d5 amongst other). So, as White you may wish to wait until Black plays first Nbd7 and then continue with your planned a4.
I also agree with the games and ideas given by the other posters. Karpov's 2 most impressive (for me) ideas were a) to play Rfd1 and a Knight manoeuvre Nb3-Nc1-Na2-Nb4 and take control of d5 (see Karpov-Nunn), and b) to alter the Q-side pawn structure with Rfc1 and a timely Nd5 (recapturing with the e4-pawn) (see Karpov-Portisch). Svidler mentions another strange White Knight manoeuvre while commenting on his recent game with Adams (check out this link:
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=4600). See also Radjabov-Shirov (2008) if you like the idea mentioned above by 'MartinC' with Bg5xNf6.
Playing this system with Black or White is interesting as it is sometimes difficult to find a plan, but you get a chance to play chess..