If that's the case, then his openings really do need work. Bf4 virtually guaranteed a quick exchange of pieces leading to a draw. They could have agreed to a draw on move 15 if the rules had allowed it.
carlsen vs. kramnik
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Its in the middle probably. They would rather draw than risk losing. Kramnik is so solid with black though that you have to think of something really special to get him off balance. What could actually Magnus go for against the QGD to create something real versus a Kramnik wanting only to draw with black. I don't know.
Given the importance of these matches, along with the heavens giving Kramnik two Blacks...and Carlsen the two strongest players to start, I would say Kramnik would be very happy with two draws to start. Magnus must also be content in his position as well, one would guess that he really could not have planned any charge with white, facing those two.
I agree that carlsen's best chances will be against the fish to come.
I don't think the reasoning is altogether correct. You can't expect Kramnik to go for a draw as white against Carlsen later in the tournament either. But we can think and guess on our own..They just have to play and see how things develop. Sometimes maybe the black player can surprise white and then maybe it is even harder to try going for a win. That these highest rated players has a better chances to win against the lower ones in general is kind of obvious is it not? In the games between the highest rated ones it seems so early in the tournament a draw is quite likely if both players play good moves the whole game and in addition don't take unnecessary risks.. Like I say their attitude is to take their chances if they turn up to exploit and if not a draw will be the result. Maybe a bit later people can go more all out if they know they really need to win e.g. the last two games to have a chance. Its hard to plan any charge with white against Kramnik beforehand you know what Kramnik defends with as black. And if he makes no mistakes maybe no one will beat him or Carlsen or Aronian etc.. As people here get tired mistakes will crop up though and Carlsen is likely to expoit these.
I don't agree. I think he is disappointed not to be able to press with his white game against Kramnik today. Espen Agdestein his manager also said that after the game.