Like others I too am enjoying this thread, probably a bit more than I should, and for all the wrong reasons to boot. No doubt I will later regret this, but let’s do some reflection and perhaps toss some more wood on the proverbial fire.
Sloughter: You are right that I don't play well OTB, but in the only blitz game I have ever played against a Grandmaster, I did manage to draw GM Alburt on the Black side of a Blumenfeld Counter Gambit over the phone. Lev later said that I stood better for most of the middlegame, but I decided not to get greedy (When you are a 1600 player and a GM offers you a draw, it is a good idea to take it!) –
END Really? I never would have guessed, you being so impressive in phone blitz and all.
Sloughter: The concept of controlled space is epitomized by Anatoly Karpov---that is why he likes the Saemisch. His theories are so poorly understood that GM Seirawan made the following statement, "Karpov is the most confounding player I have ever known. Take a look at this position. All of White's pieces are on their first two ranks, but it is Black who has the problems!" What Karpov understands is that controlled space is disguised time i.e controlled space is time. When a player has more maneuvering room, he/she can rearrange their pieces more effectively compared to their opponent, hence they wind up with superior piece placement i.e. desirable development.-
ENDI managed to dig up a striking Kings Indian example of Slougter’s controlled space theory in action, using the doyen himself, Karpov, on the white side of the fearsome Saemisch. The example aptly features “All of White's pieces on their first two ranks” controlling Space disguised as, errrrr…… Time. Well enough talk, after all, a diagram speaks a thousand words:
POSITION AFTER BLACK’S 19TH MOVEKarpov,A (2725) - Kasparov,G (2805) [E86]
Linares 11, 1993
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2 Nbd7 8.Qd2 c6 9.Rd1 a6 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.b3 b5 12.cxb5 axb5 13.Qxd6 Nfd7 14.f4 b4 15.Nb1 Ng4 16.Bd4 Bxd4 17.Qxd4 Rxa2 18.h3 c5 19.Qg1 Ngf6 20.e5 Ne4 21.h4 c4 22.Nc1 c3 23.Nxa2 c2 24.Qd4 cxd1Q+ 25.Kxd1 Ndc5 26.Qxd8 Rxd8+ 27.Kc2 Nf2 0-1 Ignorance is bliss so perhaps Kasparov was blissfully unaware of these new fandangled Controlled Space, Inner Space and Outer Space theories and saw only an opponent undeveloping pieces and begging to be crushed. Whatever the reason, eight moves later, as if by
MAGIC, Black Magic that is, Karpov was forced to resign.
Interestingly enough on the only documented occasion of Karpov playing the King’s Indian, was when he was 99% certain of facing the
fearsome Saemisch. Further food for thought eh slought, although I’m sure you can find a way to rationalize this also.
Toppy