After 8... Nec6 he writes (using the descriptive notation of the day instead of the algebraic text shown here): "Is Korchnoi thinking of developing the Queen Knight to f6? In that case the Knights reach the squares c6 and f6 in four moves instead of the possible two." After 15.Bc1: "While Korchnoi has no plan, Petrosian steadfastly improves the position of his pieces." 19...Rad8: "One gets the impression that Black is not coordinating his moves as a single entity."

Fischer played ....Nec6 in a similar position later that year against Petrosian. Do you think he was trying to throw the game?

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Petrosian vs Fischer, 1971

Petrosian here took two moves to play e4, developed his QB to b2 then played it back to c1, and played Bf1-g2-f3-g4 and then moved it back to g2. That was all in the first 20 moves. Do you think <he> was trying to throw the game?

42.♕e6 and it's cooked or else white checks on h6 followed by mate.> To be a little more specific, 42 Qe6 threatens, in addition to 43 Qxd7, 43 Qh6+ and in reply to either 42...Kf7 or 42...Kg8, 43 Qg7 mate.

Not sure I totally agree with Spassky here. Appears Korchnoi did have some plan. A weak plan maybe but something.

Seems pretty clear from 15.Bc1 Qe7 16.Bg4 f5 17.exf5 gxf5 18.Bf3 Nf6 19.Bg2 Rad8 20.Ra2 Bc8 black is going for some sort of break up the middle. But the setup took three tempo if counting 21...Kh8. That seems a lot of time to set up a break. Yeah, it's from a decently good position. But not one without own weaknesses.

Think Korchnoi might've missed 23. Nb3. Now this results in two more lost tempo and a couple of pieces that might've been useful in the center break aren't in a position to participate. Apparently, Korchnoi tries to force the break anyway and things just get bad.

Does seem a strange game by Korchnoi, taking all that time from 15. for his center break plan. Maybe he just figured Petrosian had nothing and just expected 23. axb4 and being better from there?>

This suggests an interesting question.

Black can choose more than one possible aim for his moves. Moreover Black can choose which aims to concentrate on. The question is: Which choices enable one to say that Black is <coordinating his moves as a single entity>?

One example of a possible answer is as follows.

The sequel to Petrosian’s breakthrough 22 b4! helps to suggest that if Black keeps his king’s bishop on a5 his queen’s rook is not placed best on d8; whereas if Black chooses to play his queen’s rook to d8 his king’s bishop is not placed best on a5.

This suggests that Black’s “investment choice” of the square a5 for Black’s king bishop does not assist the most Black’s “investment choice” of the square d8 for Black’s queen’s rook, while Black’s “investment choice” of the square d8 for Black’s queen’s rook does not assist the most Black’s “investment choice of the square a5 for Black’s king bishop.

This suggests that in order for Black to <coordinate his moves as a single entity> the various “investment choices” he makes for his choices of piece emplacements have be such that they assist each other the most.

Perhaps this is what Spassky means by <coordinating his moves as a single entity> or what Capablanca means by <coordinating the actions of one’s pieces>.

But have a feeling Korchnoi took so slow because he believed Petrosian would linger and maneuver a bit longer. Maybe expecting something like 22. Re2, getting out of the pin, ...Rfe8 then 23. b4 cxb4 24. axb4 Bxb4 25. Nb3, then he can break up the center ...e4 with 26. dxe4 fxe4.

A position where Korchnoi looks pretty well coordinated and one he probably would be comfortable with.

In my last message <This suggests that in order for Black to <coordinate his moves as a single entity> the various “investment choices” he makes for his choices of piece emplacements have be such that they assist each other the most.> should read <This suggests that in order for Black to <coordinate his moves as a single entity> the various “investment choices” he makes for his choices of piece emplacements have <to> be such that they assist each other the most.>

Raymond Keene has said of the move 24 Bxc6!! <A remarkable move but without it White would have nothing> This move is only one of an entire group of moves including 22 b4 and 23 Nb3.

One example of a reason why Korchnoi may have not seen it is that White concedes his white squared bishop. Another example of a reason why Korchnoi may have not seen it is that he was not looking for it whereas Petrosian was looking for a group of moves that would serve to attack Black's centre. To quote Anand < You see what you are looking for>

After 32...Rc8, white has 33. Ne2, heading for f4. One amusing line from the Fish is:

32...Rc8 33. Ne2 Be6 34. dxe4 Nxe4 35. Nf4 Bb3 36. Qf3 Nxd2 37. Qc3 and the black emperor has no clothes. That white bishop is awesome.

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<Victor Korchnoi may be described as a searching chess player. To me, he seems more a destroyer of the other player's plans and positions rather than a creator. His strength is most evident in counterattacks. [...]