cautious (tactics, esp. as a means to wear out an opponent) adj.: Fabian
[This adjective derives from Roman general Quinton Fabius Maximus, who through caution, avoidance of direct confrontation, and harassment, defeated Hannibal in the Second Punic War. Today, it has become synonymous with, alternately, caution or conservativeness, delay or dilatoriness, or guerrilla tactics, and is often used in the phrase “Fabian tactics”].
[After becoming world chess champion in 1960, Mikhail] Tal immediately embarked upon a fresh challenge but at [a tournament in] 1962, instead of the anticipated race between the young lions,Mikhail Tal and Bobby Fischer, the tournament resulted in a narrow victory of attrition for the Fabian tactics of the ultra-cautious Armenian Tigran Petrosian. During this tournament Tal’s health collapsed and he had towithdraw well before the end. (Times [London], “Mikhail Tal,” 6/30/1992.)
