Answers.Body: <p><strong>The short answer is:</strong> white's making it difficult for black to challenge the center with their central pawns. But that's not really revealing much, so let us dig deeper into this beautiful middlegame.</p>
  
  <p>The rook doubling is in fact part of a grander scheme that Kramnik has in mind. Once black commits to <code>d6</code>, Kramnik targets a very concrete objective: </p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>To undermine black's control over the <code>d5</code> square in order to establish a <em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight_(chess)#Value" rel="noreferrer">centralised knight</a></em> on <code>d5.</code> Ultimately, the plan stems from the <em>asymmetry</em> between the light square control provided by white's center compared to black's central pawn setup (<code>d6-e7</code>). The plan is quite simple in appearance but becomes rather involved once we try to see how it ought to be executed.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Let's now visually unravel the whole thought process behind this plan, but given the question appears to be asked at a basic level, I'll skip certain concrete (tactical) details and only cover the gist of the involved strategic ideas.</p>
  
  <p>So the question is now re-iterated to: How can we establish a knight on <code>d5</code> without allowing black to easily prevent or trade on <code>d5</code>? and if a trade is to happen on <code>d5,</code> we definitely don't want to have to re-capture with a pawn, which would block a useful central square and potentially gift black a target on <code>d5.</code> Alternatively, you can reformulate the question: How can we turn the <code>d5</code> square into a safe <strong>knight outpost?</strong></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>Black's control over <code>d5</code>:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/4lplvb.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/4lplvb.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Kramnik's surgical strategy:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p><strong>Left:</strong> Reroute knights to <code>d5</code>| <strong>Mid:</strong> pin the <code>f6</code> knight | <strong>Right:</strong> Pressure <code>d6</code></p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/WDHRBb.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/WDHRBb.png" alt="enter image description here"></a>
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/LiVy7b.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/LiVy7b.png" alt="enter image description here"></a>
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/v67Grb.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/v67Grb.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p></li>
  <li><p><strong>Left:</strong> We need both knights in range of <code>d5</code> as otherwise in principle black could trade the light square bishop for the knight landing on <code>d5</code> and white would have to recapture with the pawn, which is exactly what we want to avoid as explained earlier.</p></li>
  <li><strong>Mid:</strong> One of the best defenders of <code>d5</code> is the well placed knight on <code>f6</code>, and one way to undermine its defense is to pin the knight by creating a battery along the long diagonal against the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fianchetto" rel="noreferrer">fianchetto'ed bishop</a>.</li>
  <li><strong>Right:</strong> If black is able to play <code>e6</code> without any drawbacks, then they'll have permanently secured control over <code>d5</code>, therefore, by pressurizing the <code>d6</code> pawn white is making it more difficult for black to play <code>e6</code> as it would weaken an already targeted <code>d6</code> pawn.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Notice that in contrast to <code>d5,</code> the <code>b5</code> square is not as good a post for a knight since not only it is not a central square (knights are strongest when centralised), it is also a square that is quite easy to cover for black as <code>a6</code> is playable in most cases (unlike <code>e6</code>) thanks to the closed b-file which makes it difficult for <code>b6</code> to be put under pressure (and thus stop <code>a6</code>). </p>
  
  <p>In summary, with black's <code>11...d6</code> commitment, white sets out to establish a well centralised knight on <code>d5</code>, which was harmoniously achieved on move <code>22.Ncd5:</code></p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/LlR6bb.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/LlR6bb.png" alt="enter image description here"></a> ---->
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Ar1MCb.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Ar1MCb.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p>It must be noted that the knight post on <code>d5</code> is not permanent, but for as long as the knight can stand centralised without black being able to reciprocate a similar level of minor-piece-activity, white stands favourable - with constant pressure on key squares in black's structure (<code>c7, e7, f6...</code>). That's why Grischuk has tried to counter white's threats by mounting a direct attack on white's king with the rook lift.</p>
  
  <p>Although there's a slight positional edge for white in that final position after <code>Ncd5,</code> it's by no means winning for white, in fact it's just about to get ignited [*], but it is a prime example of Kramnik's positional approach to the game, he always plays with a clear <strong>plan</strong> in mind, enabled not only by his great strategic intuition for exploiting/spotting weaknesses and calculation capabilities, but also by his tirelessness and resourcefulness in finding ways to improve his pieces. His games cannot be recommended enough to be studied, his purposeful play-style is a unique portrayal of harmony in chess.</p>
  
  <p>[*]: there are many tactical lines that can ensue from the reached position, e.g., <code>Nxd5 Bxd5 Bxb2 Qxb2 Bxd5 Nxd5</code> and neither <code>Nb6</code> nor <code>Nf6</code> are immediately playable (try to figure out for yourself as an exercise). Or <code>Nxd5 Bxd5 Bxb2 Qxb2 Nf6 Bxa8 Qxa8 Rxd6 exd6 Qxf6</code> (with interesting positional compensation). Or <code>Ne5 Be2 Ne4 ...</code> which is what happened in the game. </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-03-05T08:55:46.750Z
Answers.Text: TL;DR : d5 is the most important square on the board.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Evargalo
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-03-04T16:19:06.033Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-03-04T16:19:06.033Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ellie
Answers.Body: <p>The doubled rooks on the d-file prevent black's pawn activity in the center (e6, e5 and d5). This reduces black's counterplay. It also allows white to post a knight on d5 or d4 without having to worry about a pawn kicking it out of there, as this would create a weakness on d6, if not lose the pawn. In the game we see white establish a knight on d5, but also after 17... Ne4 18. Nxe4 Bxb2 19. Qxb2 Bxe4 20. Nd4 white establishes a knight on d4. The loss of dark squared bishops would favor white as black's king is a little weaker.</p>
  
  <p>Since black's center pawns are immobile, his most logical pawn break is b5. It takes black some time to achieve this, which gives white time to re-route his knight with Ng5-Nh3-Nf4.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-03-04T23:46:59.073Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-03-04T23:46:59.073Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: ktm5124
Answers.Body: <p>Knight is dim on the rim on d2 (on c3 it controls 8 squares which are further forward, on d2 only 6).The position is quiet so time is not so important (within reason!)</p>
  
  <p>d5 is also a good square for the knight as ...e6 would give black a dodgy pawn on d6 - this is why doubling the rooks is useful too as it discourages ...e6 even more.</p>
  
  <p>White is just trying to improve his pieces - an opportunity to use his pieces will come along if they are on good squares.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-03-21T22:32:09.027Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-03-21T22:32:09.027Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Hamish
Body: <p>The position I'm studying is the middlegame part of the <a href="https://chess24.com/en/embed-tournament/fide-berlin-candidates-2018/1/1/1" rel="noreferrer">game 1 of Berlin Candidates 2018 between Kramnik and Grischuk</a>, which Kramnik won with the white pieces.</p>
  
  <p>In particular, I'm interested in understanding what Kramnik's idea is with the patient knight re-routes and doubling of rooks against a well protected <code>d6</code> pawn! Intuitively, I would try to use the rooks to prepare or anticipate the opening of a central file in such a position, but instead he opts for a doubling along the semi-open d-file which is a bit odd at first glance, as it seems the rooks are facing a wall. Additionally, Kramnik seems to strongly emphasize the positioning of a knight on <code>d5</code> as he invests at least 5 tempi to reconfigure his already developed knights (<code>Nb1-Nc3</code> and <code>Ng5-Nh3-Nf4).</code></p>
  
  <p>Any insight into what white's ideally trying to achieve would be very useful. Below is the position after the rooks are doubled along the d file.</p>
  
  <pre><code> [title "Game 1 - Kramnik vs Grischuk - Candidates 2018"]
   [fen "1qr1r1k1/1b1nppbp/pp1p1np1/8/2P5/1PN1PN2/PB1RBPPP/Q2R2K1 w - - 3 17"]
  </code></pre>
  
Tags: <strategy><positional-play><middlegame><candidates><kramnik>
Title: Understanding Kramnik's play in game 1 of Candidates 2018
ThreadText: # Understanding Kramnik's play in game 1 of Candidates 2018
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2019-03-04)
  
  The position I'm studying is the middlegame part of the game 1 of Berlin Candidates 2018 between Kramnik and Grischuk, which Kramnik won with the white pieces.
  In particular, I'm interested in understanding what Kramnik's idea is with the patient knight re-routes and doubling of rooks against a well protected d6 pawn! Intuitively, I would try to use the rooks to prepare or anticipate the opening of a central file in such a position, but instead he opts for a doubling along the semi-open d-file which is a bit odd at first glance, as it seems the rooks are facing a wall. Additionally, Kramnik seems to strongly emphasize the positioning of a knight on d5 as he invests at least 5 tempi to reconfigure his already developed knights (Nb1-Nc3 and Ng5-Nh3-Nf4).
  Any insight into what white's ideally trying to achieve would be very useful. Below is the position after the rooks are doubled along the d file.
   [title "Game 1 - Kramnik vs Grischuk - Candidates 2018"]
   [fen "1qr1r1k1/1b1nppbp/pp1p1np1/8/2P5/1PN1PN2/PB1RBPPP/Q2R2K1 w - - 3 17"]
  
  **Tags:** strategy, positional-play, middlegame, candidates, kramnik
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 3 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2019-03-04. Score: 21
  
  **The short answer is:** white's making it difficult for black to challenge the center with their central pawns. But that's not really revealing much, so let us dig deeper into this beautiful middlegame.
  
  The rook doubling is in fact part of a grander scheme that Kramnik has in mind. Once black commits to `d6`, Kramnik targets a very concrete objective:
  
  * To undermine black's control over the `d5` square in order to establish a *[centralised knight](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight_(chess)#Value)* on `d5.` Ultimately, the plan stems from the *asymmetry* between the light square control provided by white's center compared to black's central pawn setup (`d6-e7`). The plan is quite simple in appearance but becomes rather involved once we try to see how it ought to be executed.
  
  Let's now visually unravel the whole thought process behind this plan, but given the question appears to be asked at a basic level, I'll skip certain concrete (tactical) details and only cover the gist of the involved strategic ideas.
  
  So the question is now re-iterated to: How can we establish a knight on `d5` without allowing black to easily prevent or trade on `d5`? and if a trade is to happen on `d5,` we definitely don't want to have to re-capture with a pawn, which would block a useful central square and potentially gift black a target on `d5.` Alternatively, you can reformulate the question: How can we turn the `d5` square into a safe **knight outpost?**
  
  * Black's control over `d5`:
  
    [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/4lplvb.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/4lplvb.png)
  
  Kramnik's surgical strategy:
  
  * **Left:** Reroute knights to `d5`| **Mid:** pin the `f6` knight | **Right:** Pressure `d6`
  
    [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/WDHRBb.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/WDHRBb.png)
    [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/LiVy7b.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/LiVy7b.png)
    [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/v67Grb.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/v67Grb.png)
  * **Left:** We need both knights in range of `d5` as otherwise in principle black could trade the light square bishop for the knight landing on `d5` and white would have to recapture with the pawn, which is exactly what we want to avoid as explained earlier.
  * **Mid:** One of the best defenders of `d5` is the well placed knight on `f6`, and one way to undermine its defense is to pin the knight by creating a battery along the long diagonal against the [fianchetto'ed bishop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fianchetto).
  * **Right:** If black is able to play `e6` without any drawbacks, then they'll have permanently secured control over `d5`, therefore, by pressurizing the `d6` pawn white is making it more difficult for black to play `e6` as it would weaken an already targeted `d6` pawn.
  
  Notice that in contrast to `d5,` the `b5` square is not as good a post for a knight since not only it is not a central square (knights are strongest when centralised), it is also a square that is quite easy to cover for black as `a6` is playable in most cases (unlike `e6`) thanks to the closed b-file which makes it difficult for `b6` to be put under pressure (and thus stop `a6`).
  
  In summary, with black's `11...d6` commitment, white sets out to establish a well centralised knight on `d5`, which was harmoniously achieved on move `22.Ncd5:`
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/LlR6bb.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/LlR6bb.png) ---->
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/Ar1MCb.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/Ar1MCb.png)
  
  It must be noted that the knight post on `d5` is not permanent, but for as long as the knight can stand centralised without black being able to reciprocate a similar level of minor-piece-activity, white stands favourable - with constant pressure on key squares in black's structure (`c7, e7, f6...`). That's why Grischuk has tried to counter white's threats by mounting a direct attack on white's king with the rook lift.
  
  Although there's a slight positional edge for white in that final position after `Ncd5,` it's by no means winning for white, in fact it's just about to get ignited [\*], but it is a prime example of Kramnik's positional approach to the game, he always plays with a clear **plan** in mind, enabled not only by his great strategic intuition for exploiting/spotting weaknesses and calculation capabilities, but also by his tirelessness and resourcefulness in finding ways to improve his pieces. His games cannot be recommended enough to be studied, his purposeful play-style is a unique portrayal of harmony in chess.
  
  [\*]: there are many tactical lines that can ensue from the reached position, e.g., `Nxd5 Bxd5 Bxb2 Qxb2 Bxd5 Nxd5` and neither `Nb6` nor `Nf6` are immediately playable (try to figure out for yourself as an exercise). Or `Nxd5 Bxd5 Bxb2 Qxb2 Nf6 Bxa8 Qxa8 Rxd6 exd6 Qxf6` (with interesting positional compensation). Or `Ne5 Be2 Ne4 ...` which is what happened in the game.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: TL;DR : d5 is the most important square on the board.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2019-03-04. Score: 1
  
  The doubled rooks on the d-file prevent black's pawn activity in the center (e6, e5 and d5). This reduces black's counterplay. It also allows white to post a knight on d5 or d4 without having to worry about a pawn kicking it out of there, as this would create a weakness on d6, if not lose the pawn. In the game we see white establish a knight on d5, but also after 17... Ne4 18. Nxe4 Bxb2 19. Qxb2 Bxe4 20. Nd4 white establishes a knight on d4. The loss of dark squared bishops would favor white as black's king is a little weaker.
  
  Since black's center pawns are immobile, his most logical pawn break is b5. It takes black some time to achieve this, which gives white time to re-route his knight with Ng5-Nh3-Nf4.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2019-03-21. Score: 0
  
  Knight is dim on the rim on d2 (on c3 it controls 8 squares which are further forward, on d2 only 6).The position is quiet so time is not so important (within reason!)
  
  d5 is also a good square for the knight as ...e6 would give black a dodgy pawn on d6 - this is why doubling the rooks is useful too as it discourages ...e6 even more.
  
  White is just trying to improve his pieces - an opportunity to use his pieces will come along if they are on good squares.
  
  
  ---
  
  