[chessmind] Dennis Monokroussos: Kramnik 4, Topalov 4

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Posted by Dennis Monokroussos:
Kramnik 4, Topalov 4
http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/posts/1160067794.shtml


   The "[1]prevent defense" failed, as it almost always does (see the
   last sentence of the "prevent" link), and so both players are back to
   square one.
   Kramnik, with White at last, was outprepared by Topalov in the Meran
   Defense, and quickly bailed out to an endgame with two rooks and a
   pawn against Topalov's rook and two knights (both sides had additional
   pawns). The position was probably approximately equal at the start of
   that ending, but not a safe equality for Kramnik. Unless he could find
   a way to maintain the initiative, Topalov's 3-2 advantage in pieces
   would tip the balance in his favor - and so it did.
   I'll attempt to puzzle my way through this game later; for now, IM
   Andrey Deviatkin's note on the [2]Chess.pro site are worth a look
   (click on the "Live (English)" link).

References

   1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football_strategy#Prevent
   2. http://chesspro.ru/match/