Game 11... yet another 1.d4!

Oh well, Topalov decides not to take the knight.... wants to maintain his bishop pair on the board.

Kramnik thinks how to retake and bot oppotunities have their drawbacks - seems Topalov gets an advantage...

Doubled pawns are not too bad if you're only trying to defend, so if Topalov had decided to take that knight on e6, leaving Kramnik with pawns on e6, g7 and g6, I don't think he would have been able to exploit them.

The real weakness of doubled pawns in an ending is when you have an extra pawn on one side, but it is doubled. This often means that you can't break through on that side.

OOh - I am afraid Kramnik won't hold those pawns 🙁

Originally posted by Vovochka
OOh - I am afraid Kramnik won't hold those pawns 🙁

I am getting confused.

On worldchess.com the sheet says Bxd8, but on chessbase it says Nxd8 (!??!). Who do I believe?

I have a feeling Topalov might want to take that knight after all... looks OK to me... slight advantage.

Well, watch and see. I think they are fine. Topalov will have to give up the bishop pair if he wants to weaken Black's kingside pawns.

I, for one, am happy that every game has begun 1.d4.

LOL...that is a very famous knight.... over so many moves, the game has been revolving on the knight!..... hehehehe.

As always, Topalov has gone for piece activity and more space rather than a small advantage in the ending. His play is so anti-Philidorian!

Originally posted by Wulebgr
I, for one, am happy that every game has begun 1.d4.

what are the time controls (this is the first game i have watched) what time is to be added?

White have so many ways to imrove their pieces and create various threats - seems to me that the thing that holds Black in game is the rook attacking the pawn....

Retrospectively Kramnik's move to f8 with king was very good (I wonder if it was forced)