I came across the end part of this game in Endgame Strategy by Mikhail Shereshevsky. (A great book):

Shereshevsky refers to Fischer referring to Petrosian's "Cat and Mouse" (Is it tactics or strategy ?): "Petrosian likes to play cat and mouse, hoping that his opponents will go wrong in the absence of a direct threat. The amazing thing is - they usually do !"

IMHO Saidy may be overawed by Fischer and so played too passively. This is where the "better" player can indulge in "Cat and Mouse" tactics/strategy. Is "Cat and Mouse" legitimate ? It must be. Not something I'm aware of ever using myself. In a recent game against a nominally lower rated player I offered a draw in an even position, which offer he didn't see, and I went on to win after he made a bad mistake losing a pawn. My opponent was slightly miffed thinking I had been adopted this "Cat and Mouse" - waiting for a mistake type stratagem when I hadn't.

How many people reading this thread adopt "Cat and Mouse" or have been conscious of been on the receiving end ? As I say, I have never used "Cat and Mouse" myself,  relying on my own "creativity" ( :-) ) and just saying "thank you" for mistakes proffered by my opponent - but perhaps one side of "creativity" is giving  your opponent the opportunity to make mistakes ?

This is a very interesting topic and maybe some titled player reading this thread may wish to write an article on this theme.

I don't think it's all that uncommon.  I can't recall the player now, but I recall a story about a strong player who was asked, during a game, by another player "What are you doing?"  To which he replied "I'm sitting on him."  When pressed for an explanation he said since he didn't have any immediate threats he was just trying to keep the pressure on the poor fellow and wait for him to blunder.

I think players who see moral value (or the lack thereof) in one particular strategy or another are trying to import something into the game which is not there naturally.  The game is what it is, and if you can't take the pressure of the situation, be it someone practicing this cat-and-mouse strategy or whatever, then you've got a hole in your [emotional] game that needs fixing.

I recall playing a blitz game against a Caro-Kann, where the position was totally locked, and all I had was a space advantage. We both just shuffled pieces while I waited to break through, and eventually I did and won. After the game, my opponent told me it was the worst game ever. I guess it's not too fun to be on the receiving end of this strategy.