Kramnik's strange move

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Avatar of burnt_end

What's up with 14...Rc8 in Kramnik's game today versus Andreikin?  I don't understand the purpose of this.  The closest thing it has to a function is to overprotect c7, but that pawn doesn't seem to be a target.  What am I missing here?



Avatar of MervynS

Analysis of this game on www.chessbase.com is here, they are asking the same question you are asking.

http://www.chessbase.com/Home/TabId/211/PostId/4011440/russian-super-final-03-andreikin-topples-kramnik-081013.aspx

I suppose Rc8 could also have been part of a plan to advance the c-pawn.

Added: Reading that chessbase analysis, it could well be that Rc8 was the losing move.

Avatar of burnt_end

That sheds some light on things.

Maybe Kramnik saw something in some lines with Nb5 and Qg3 that didn't sit well with him.  The idea of c7 being weak no longer seems crazy to me.  Thanks for the link!