[blind-chess] Chess Article #45 Chess Strategy: Pawn Structure

• From: Roderick Macdonald <rmacd@xxxxxxxx>
• To: Blind Chess Mailing List <blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2010 18:43:28 -1000 (HST)

Chess Article #45
Chess Strategy: Pawn structure
Adapted and Condences From
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

1. The soul of the game

In every chess primer, there seems to be one bit of wisdom that is
quoted over and over again. This is the quote by the French master
Philidor, who said, two hundred and fifty years ago, "Pawns are the
soul of chess." But what does it mean? GM Andrew Soltis expresses
everyone's feelings in his excellent book, Pawn Structure Chess:
"There always used to be one bit of advice that was always fobbed
off by the authors. 'As Andre Philidor once said, the pawns are the
soul of the game.' 'Great,' I'd say to myself every time I read
this. 'A Frenchman who's been dead for two hundred years is saying
I shouldn't worry about losing my queen or being checkmated. I
should be worried about pawns.'"

He then goes on to explain why pawns are so important in chess
strategy. The answer is simple. Pawns are very immobile, almost
motionless for the majority of the game. But it is this immobility
that gives the position its character. The pawn structure lays out
the terrain for the coming battle, providing lines for your army.
Pawn Structure Chess is more about characteristic, specific
structures that can arise from certain openings and the basic plans
for each side. However, we are not going to go so in-depth in this
book.

2. "Weak" pawns

Often the amateur will cringe in horror when noticing "weak" pawns.
They notice the doubled pawns on c3 and c2 and immediately favor
the other side. This is not right! Chess is a game of dynamics.
While "textbook weak", "weak" pawns may not really be weak and in
fact may offer dynamic chances for one side or another! To
illustrate this point, let's look at a generalized example, Hammie-
-Silman, San Francisco 1975.

1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 g6

The popular Accelerated Dragon.

5. Nc3 Bg7
6. Be3 Nf6
7. Bc4 Qa5
8. 0-0 0-0
9. Nb3 Qc7
10. f4 d6
11. Be2 b6
12. Bf3 Bb7
13. Rf2


FEN: r4rk1/
     pbq1ppbp/
     1pnp1np1/
     8/
     4PP2/
     1NN1BB2/
     PPP2RPP/
     R2Q2K1/
Hammie-Silman
San Francisco, 1975 Position after White's 13th move

Black is cramped. He would like to get his natural play on the
queenside (since that is usually where Black plays in the
Sicilian), but it seems that White's knights are hampering him. So,
what does he play?

13. ... Na5!

Black is willing to accept doubled pawns in exchange for dynamic
play on the queenside. In this case, the pawns cannot be easily
attacked, so what's the big deal? However, the challenging reader
may ask, "What's so great about the doubled, isolated pawns? Did
they play a part in the fight?" Silman gives us an instructive
lesson.

14. Nxa5 bxa5
15. Bd4 Nd7
16. Nd5 Bxd5
17. exd5 Bxd4
18. Qxd4 Qc5!

Black wishes to trade queens, because then White will be deprived
of any counterplay on the kingside.

19. Rd1 Rab8
20. c3 Rb7!

Black eventually won. Now suppose, for instructional purposes, the
game went on:

21. Qxc5 Nxc5
22. b3 Rb4
23. Rb2 Rab8
24. Rab1 Kf8
25. g3

The sharp reader might be saying that the doubled pawns did not
actually give Black the advantage; it was the open b-file. He would
be proved wrong after

25. ... a4!
26. Bd1 a3!

The typical idea is to take on b3 and advance the other pawn.
However, another equally strong idea is available in the position.

27. Rc2 a5
28. Rc3 a4

Now we see the point - after ... axb3 axb3, the "weak" pawn on a3
has been turned into a powerful passed pawn.

3. The different types of structure

These structures have dynamism to them; they can be classified as
either good or bad.

3.1 Doubled pawns

Doubled pawns are most commonly seen on c2-c3, f2-f3, c6-c7, or f7-
f6. This occurs when a bishop exchanges itself for a knight on one
of those natural developing squares. Doubled pawns are not always
weak. However, it is true that the flexibility of a pair of pawns
is significantly decreased if they are doubled. Let's look at a
line in the Nimzo-Indian Defense: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3
Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 White has doubled pawns now. The pawn on c3 is safe
from harm, but the pawn on c4 is a target for Black's pieces. Or,
in a famous game from their 1972 World Championship match, between
Spassky and Fischer, the doubled pawns ensured that White's
queenside play was shut down and Black could freely proceed on the
kingside. He eventually won.

3.2 The isolani

When we talk about an isolated pawn we are usually speaking of a d-
pawn. This IQP (Isolated Queen's Pawn) formation usually occurs in
the Queen's Gambit. The main negative of an isolated pawn is that
it itself is weak and has no neighboring pawns to guard it. In
addition, the square in front of an isolated pawn becomes an
excellent outpost for a knight, since there are no neighboring
pawns to kick out the rude knight.

However, isolated pawns have their pluses, too. An isolated queen
pawn, especially, has additional pluses. Isolated queen pawns stake
out a slight central space advantage, give its owner play down the
open c- and e-files, and provide chances for a dynamic attack. The
sacrifice on d5 of a pawn on d4 is the same as converting potential
energy into kinetic energy. Let's look at an example.

Keene-Miles
Hastings, 1975-76
1. Nf3 Nf6
2. c4 c5
3. Nc3 Nc6
4. e3 e6
5. d4 d5
6. cxd5 Nxd5
7. Bd3 cxd4
8. exd4 Be7
9. 0-0 0-0
10. Re1 Nf6
FeN: r1bq1rk1/pp2bppp/2n1pn2/8/3P4/2NB1N2/PP3PPP/R1BQR1K1/
Position after Black's 10th move


This is Keene--Miles, Hastings 1975. White has an isolated queen
pawn. However, Black has no really great way to make use of this
fact.

11. Bg5

Note that Black cannot take on d4 because of 11. ... Nxd4 12. Nxd4
Qxd4 13. Bxh7+ winning the queen.

11. ... Nb4?!

Black should have taken time to develop his bishop.

12. Bb1 b6
13. Ne5

The e5-outpost is another benefit that is derived from the isolated
d-pawn.

13. ... Bb7
14. Re3!

White plays for mate. He must play actively, lest the pawn on d4
becomes a problem for him.

14. ... g6
15. Rg3 Rc8?

Black does not sense the danger. Instead, he plays a move which
wastes time. According to Keene, Black should have sacrificed the
Exchange with 15. ... Nc6 16. Bh6 Qxd4! 17. Qxd4 Nxd4 18. Bxf8
Kxf8, with only a slight advantage to White.

16. Bh6 Re8
17. a3 Nc6

Now a series of sacrifices tear apart the Black king.

18. Nxg6! hxg6
19. Bxg6! fxg6
20. Qb1! Ne5
21. dxe5 Ne4
22. Nxe4 Kh7
23. Nf6+ Kh8
24. Bg7+! Kxg7
25. Qxg6+

with mate to follow.

As you can see, this was not a really great example of the
"weakness" of the isolated queen pawn. Instead, it was a perfect
illustration of the active piece play that such an isolani gives
its opponent.

3.3 Other isolated pawns

Isolated pawns are not always on d4. Sometimes Black has them on
d6, which makes the weakness look even bigger than usual because
now White has an outpost on d5, not d4--which is even further
advanced then the post given to White in a normal IQP position.
However, these pawns have their pluses, too. d5 is more easily
guarded by Black pieces, so a White knight will find it hard to
occupy without being exchanged. For example, d5 in the Najdorf
Sicilian is usually guarded by a knight on f6, a bishop on e6, and
occasionally, a knight on b6. A d6-pawn also covers the important
e5- and c5-squares.

3.4 Hanging pawns and the isolated pawn couple

A structure that can easily derive from the IQP is what Nimzowitsch
dubbed "the isolated pawn couple", with pawns on c3 and d4. A
formation like this gives the second player good outposts on the
squares in front of the isolated pawn couple (for an example, refer
back to Rubinstein--Salwe, L/sdz 1908). However, this is not the
whole story. These pawns have the potential to become "hanging
pawns", on c4 and d4. In addition, the pawn on d4 is no longer weak
with the c-pawn there, and White still gets his kingside chances as
in the IQP.

Hanging pawns on c4 and d4 are very hard to evaluate. Nimzowitsch
once said that the hanging pawns must be advanced, but most players
advance it either too early or too late, that the human
consciousness is not used to the idea of "being in the air". In
addition, the advance of either pawn leaves weak squares in its
wake. Either way, the hanging pawns on c4 and d4 gain space, but
are subject to pummeling down the open c- and d-files. Let's look
at an example.

Ogaard-Flesch
Oslo 1974
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Bb4
4. e3 c5
5. Bd3 0-0
6. Nf3 d5
7. 0-0 cxd4
8. exd4 dxc4
9. Bxc4 Bxc3
10. bxc3 Qc7
11. Qe2 Nbd7
12. Bd2 b6
13. Bd3 Bb7
14. c4 Rac8
15. Rac1 Bxf3
16. Qxf3
FEN: 2r2rk1/
     p1qn1ppp/
     1p2pn2/
     8/
     2PP4/
     3B1Q2/
     P2B1PPP/
     2R2RK1/
Position after White's 16th move

Black is playing against the hanging pawns, which take away the
knights' posts on c5, d5, and e5. If he could get one to advance he
would have nice outposts for his knights. Therefore, he plays

16. ... e5!

This forces the d-pawn to leave.

17. Be3 exd4
18. Bxd4 Ne5
19. Qf5 Nxd3

Now Black eliminates White's bishop pair advantage.

20. Qxd3 Rfd8
21. Qc3 Ne4

Heading for c5. It's clear that Black has taken the upper hand.

22. Qb2 Nc5
23. Qc3 Ne6

Black's nimble knight dominates the clearly worse bishop on d2.

24. Be3 Rd6
25. Rc2 Qd7
26. Qb4 Rd3
27. a4

It may seem as if White has made progress. He is about to play a4-
a5 when Black's queenside is weak. However, Black gets a strong
attack on White's king by marching forward his f-pawn. The knight
on e6 is also useful in this respect, guarding f4.

27. ... f5
28. g3 f4
29. gxf4 Nd4!
30. Bxd4 Qg4+
31. Kh1 Qf3+
32. Kg1 Rc6!

Lifting the rook to assist in the devastation.

33.f5 Rxd4
34.h3 Rg4+!

and White had to resign (35. hxg4 Qxg4+ 36. Kh2 Rh6#, checkmate).

Note how masterfully Black played against the hanging pawns. First
he isolated one, then eliminated the advantage of two bishops. With
White advancing on the queenside, Black was able to launch a
successful attack on a weakened White king while White's forces
were distracted on the queenside. Eventually Black converted his
structural and minor piece advantage into victory.

3.5 Backward pawns

A backward pawn is a pawn whose neighbors have advanced ahead of it
and cannot advance. In the past, backward pawns were always looked
down upon as weaknesses. However, today they are considered an
intrinsic part of modern opening theory. For example, in the 6.Be2
variation of the Najdorf Sicilian, Black often accepts a backward
pawn on d6 after the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5! Black voluntarily takes a backward pawn on d6.
Although the knight will move, Black's pawn on e5 controls d4 and
f4 and also blockades e4, giving Black pressure there. In addition,
Black is also threatening to play the thematic ...d6-d5 at any
moment in the game, giving White something to worry about. The move
...e7-e5 also kicks back the White knight to a less enticing
square.

However, backward pawns can be weak. Specifically, although the
pawn itself may be easily defensible, the square in front of it is
a tasty outpost for the enemy pieces, especially a knight. Also,
due to its inability to advance, the backward pawn is an easy
target for heavy pieces.

Unzicker-Taimanov
Saltsjobaden, 1952
1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 d6
6. Be2 e5
7. Nf3 h6
8. 0-0 Be7
9. Re1 0-0
10. h3 a6
11. Bf1 b5
12. a3 Bb7
13. b3
FEN: r2q1rk1/
     1b2bpp1/
     p1np1n1p/
     1p2p3/
     4P3/
     PPN2N1P/
     2P2PP1/
     R1BQRBK1/
Position after White's 13th move

White has just played 13. b3?, a move which weakens the knight on
c3 and thus, the pawn on e4. This is the kind of pressure I was
talking about earlier - if Black can line up his queen and bishop
to target e4, White will be forced to defend passively to preserve
material equality. Black also has a backward pawn. However, it can
hardly be considered a weakness, since it is securely defended by
a bishop and queen, while White cannot muster enough force to take
the pawn. Nor can he move his knight to d5, since then Black would
take it, retreat his knight to b8, advance the kingside pawns,
redeploy his knight to f6, and have good kingside chances due to
his space advantage in that area and active bishop pointing in that
direction. So in this position Black played

13. ... Rc8
14. Bb2 Rc7!

A multi-purpose move. The first purpose is to gang up on the c3-
knight with ...Rf8-c8, after Black moves his queen to a8 to target
the e4-pawn.

15. Nb1 Qa8
16. Nbd2 Ne8!

Black redirects his knight to e6, where it can choose from c5 and
f4 as squares. In addition, Black has opened the long, light
diagonal for his queen-and-bishop battery, and opened the c-file
for his rooks.

17. Bd3 Ne6
18. Rc1 Rfc8
19. Nh2 Nd7
20. Nhf1 Ndc5
21. Ng3 g6

White was aiming for f5, where he would exert pressure on d6 and
its only defender, the bishop on e7.

22. Ne2 Bg5!

After 22. ... Nxe4 23. Nxe4 Bxe4 24. Bxe4 Qxe4 25. Nc3 White has
lost a pawn, but he has gained use of d5 and e4 as outposts.
Black's move is stronger, keeping White tied down.
23. Nc3 Nd4
24. Ncb1 d5!

Breaking open the center and exposing White's confused pieces. All
of Black's pieces are active.

25. exd5 Nxd3
26. cxd3 Rxc1
27. Bxc1 Bxd5
28. f3 Rc2
29. a4

If 29. Rxe5? Qc6 30. Re1 Rxc1 31. Rxc1 Qxc1 32. Qxc1 Ne2+ and Black
wins.

29. ... b4
30. Kh1 Qc6

and White resigned! He has no good way to prevent ... Nxb3.

So the backward pawn was not really "bad", but what good did it do
for Black's position? For one thing, it protected e5 for a while.
Second, without the backward pawn on d6, Black would never have
been able to force in the line-opening 24...d5!. The result of the
game depended on this advance--without it, Black could not have
broken through. The reason this advance was so effective is that
White's pieces were confused and passive. There was no way to get
to them except through the center. After the center was open,
White's ranks were in chaos and they were subject to attack by
Black's active, well-coordinated army. As any general knows, this
is a recipe for disaster.

3.6 Passed pawns

Most players think passed pawns are always good. In the endgame,
this is certainly true. However, this is sometimes not true,
especially in the middlegame. Passed pawns can get in the way of
their own pieces and become a bottleneck. This is especially true
when a knight blockades it. Knights are excellent blockading pieces
because, although relegated to the role of defensive barricade,
their ability to jump over pieces allows them to exert pressure on
the squares behind the pawn. The American World Champion, Bobby
Fischer, played a famous game against the then-World Champion,
Boris Spassky, in the World Championship match in 1972, with a
passed pawn.

Spassky-Fischer
Reykjavmk 1972
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Bb4
4. Nf3 c5
5. e3 Nc6
6. Bd3 Bxc3+
7. bxc3 d6
8. e4 e5
9. d5 Ne7
10. Nh4 h6
11. f4 Ng6
12. Nxg6 fxg6
13. fxe5 dxe5
14. Be3 b6
15. 0-0 0-0
16. a4 a5
17. Rb1 Bd7
FEN: r2q1rk1/
     3b2p1/
     1p3npp/
     p1pPp3/
     P1P1P3/
     2PBB3/
     6PP/
     1R1Q1RK1/
Position after Black's 17th move

Most master of the early twentieth century would here conclude that
White has a large advantage. After all, he has more central space,
a protected passed pawn on d5, two bishops, and a weak pawn on b6
to target! The opposit is in fact true: Black has the advantage
because he has a knight versus a bishop in a closed position; the
pawn on b6 is easily defended, White has weak pawns on c4, c3, and
a4, and the d-pawn only serves to block White's actions on the d-
file. As a result, White has no plan.

18. Rb2 Rb8
19. Rbf2

Spassky correctly transfers the rooks to the kingside, which is
where all the action is taking place.

19. ... Qe7
20. Bc2 g5
21. Bd2

Notice how White is playing planlessly, due to the passivity of his
two bishops. However, Black has a clear plan of playing his knight
to f4 while exchanging White's best pieces, the rooks. Then he will
target the weak White pawns. Thus, he plays:

21. ... Qe8
22. Be1 Qg6
23. Qd3 Nh5!

Trading off the rooks and swinging the knight into f4.

24. Rxf8+ Rxf8
25. Rxf8+ Kxf8
26. Bd1 Nf4
The difference between minor pieces is clear. Here Spassky
blundered with 27. Qc2 and promptly resigned after 27. ... Bxa4!

which wins two pawns and crashes through. However, it is more
instructive to see what would have happened had Spassky played 27.
Qb1.

27. Qb1 Qf6
28. g3 Ng6
29. Bf2 Ne7
30. Bc2 Nc8
31. Qd1 Ke7
32. Be3 Kd8
33. Kg2 Nd6
34. Qe2 Qf7!

There is little that White could do about Black reaching this
setup. Black's knight sits unassailably on d6. Were the pawn on d5
not there, White could play Qd2 and chase it away. However, the
pawn is there, and it sits on its outpost attacking both c4 and e4.
This shows the disadvantage of White's passed pawn - it blocks the
actions of his pieces. Black's next move will be 35. ... Qe8,
winning a pawn. So White probably would have lost the game in any
case.

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