It was a blindfold game btw...
Strange move by Vladimir Kramnik
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Good question. My answer is: I'm not sure. My computer program prefers Bxc3 in this position, taking another pawn, but holding up development. However, in the chess.com database, I can't find a single game in which it has been played (Be7 has been played 5 times, according to the database, which is missing the Carlsen-Kramnik game.
My only hunch is that black, already up a pawn with a better pawn structure, is looking to consolidate, get developed, and not get overwhelmed by a white attack. White's only real advantage in the position is that his pieces are more developed and more active. Bxc3 would be followed by Rb1 from white, putting the rook on the open file and gaining even more activity.
By the way, when looking through the database games for this forum post, I found this game in which black played 8 ... Be7. White later won the game, and the final position was a couple moves from a cute Zugzwang. I thought I'd share it. Here is the final position, with some continuations from me.
Not sure, I've found several GM games in this line where the pawn is not taken. One game was annotated by GM Alex Baburin, and he too wonders why not, saying 8...Bxc3 9.Rb1 might be playable for Black. OTOH, it was a blindfold tournament, so probably Kramnik wouldn't want to delve into the unknown so early in the game?
Here is the game you mentioned, along with one possible line of play that I looked at:
Hi i was just looking through a game between Carlsen and Kramnik which took place earlier this year.However in move 8 Kramink played Be7.Could somebody please explain to me why he did not take the pawn to c3 with his bishop.The link to the game is below.Thanks in advance.
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1578364