Originally posted by BedlamI think with this many pawns on the board it's harder for the side with the minors to defend them + White's rooks are very well placed.
White seems to have the initiative for now certainly pressuring black a bit and receiving none himself, black should get back into the game a bit as time goes on......one things for sure this wont be a short game.
Id probably play white too if only because rooks are easier to use than knghts 🙂
Originally posted by no1marauderA rook and pawn against two minor pieces is a critical imbalance. The minor pieces are usually better with more pawns, and other pieces on the board, but the rook gets better as things get exchanged. A pair of knights, however, is the weakest combination of two minor pieces.
Back to the game: it's quite fascinating with Kramnik playing with 2 Rooks and a Bishop (+ an extra pawn) versus Rook, Bishop and Two Knights. My Fritzie gives Black a slight advantage, but I think most human players would prefer White. This game has a real chance of having a decisive result with such an imbalance.
At this moment, Topalov appears to be building a fortress. However, a fortress made of knights often finds itself in zugzwang.
I'm hoping for 1-0, and given Kramnik's endgame skill see this as a possible result. Probable? I don't know.
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Originally posted by no1marauderI think its importaint that Kramnik keeps the option of queenside and kingside play open, if the queen side pawns were to go then the knights only having to play in a smallish space on the kingside would give black quite an advantage.
I think with this many pawns on the board it's harder for the side with the minors to defend them + White's rooks are very well placed.
Originally posted by BedlamOne of the draws between Kramnik and Kasparov in their match featured a rook vs. a knight and all the pawns on the kingside.
I think its importaint that Kramnik keeps the option of queenside and kingside play open, if the queen side pawns were to go then the knights only having to play in a smallish space on the kingside would give black quite an advantage.
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I dont doubt he could draw it but I think all of us given the chance from the rooks point of view would prefer pawns on both sides of the board. Im not sure how to precisely assess whites winning chances, draw and blacks winning chances here but for me if the queenside pawns were to go and maybe one of blacks kingside pawns then the favor would slide blacks way in terms of black win or draw.
At this stage (move 40) of game 8, looks to me black has at least secured a draw. The way I see it, nothing much white can do with his two rooks. The black pawn on g3 might be something black has to worry about. But perhaps even if that pawn is gone, it's difficult to see how white can make something out of it. I have a feeling both are going to agree to a draw very soon.
Originally posted by bosintangbosintang, the b & e pawns are not important anymore. There isn't time for white to do anything with them anyway. 43. ... Rg8+ is much stronger. Once white's kingside pawns are finished, black can cause damage with his own kingside pawns.
I'm following game #8 right now...
A move I can't comprehend is 19...Bxd8 instead of 19...Kxd8. Can anyone explain this?