[blind-chess] Reposting: Pawn Structure & Chess Strategy: Pawn structure
- From: "Roderick Macdonald" <rjmacdonald@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Blind-Chess Mailing List" <blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 4 Aug 2013 11:22:54 -1000
(Originally posted as articles #33 & #45)
Chess Article #33
Pawn structure
Adapted and condensed from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In chess, the pawn structure (sometimes known as the pawn skeleton)
is the configuration of pawns on the chessboard. Since pawns are
the least mobile of the chess pieces, the pawn structure is
relatively static and thus largely determines the strategic nature
of the position.
General observations
Weaknesses in the pawn structure, such as isolated, doubled or
backward pawns and holes, once created, are usually permanent. Care
must therefore be taken to avoid them (but there are exceptions --
for instance see Boleslavsky hole below). In the absence of these
structural weaknesses, it is not possible to classify a pawn
formation as good or bad -- much depends on the positions of the
pieces. However, the pawn formation does determine the overall
strategies of the players to a large extent, even if arising from
unrelated openings. Pawn formations symmetrical about a vertical
line (such as the e5 Chain and the d5 Chain) can be deceptively
similar, but they tend to have entirely different characteristics
because of the propensity of the kings to castle on the kingside.
Pawn structures often transpose into one another, such as the
Isolani into the Hanging Pawns and vice versa. Such transpositions
must be considered carefully and often mark shifts in game
strategy.
The major pawn formations
Andrew Soltis, in his book Pawn Structure Chess, classifies the
major pawn formations into 16 categories, discussed below. It is to
be noted that for a formation to fall into a particular category,
it need not have a pawn position identical to the corresponding
diagram, but only close enough that the character of the game and
the major themes are unchanged. It is typically the center pawns
whose position influences the nature of the game the most.
Structures with mutually attacking pawns are said to have tension.
They are ordinarily unstable and tend to transpose into a stable
formation with a pawn push or exchange. Play often revolves around
making the transposition happen under favorable circumstances. For
instance, in the Queen's Gambit Declined, Black waits until White
develops the king's bishop to make the d5xc4 capture, transposing
to the Slav formation (see below).
#1 The Caro Formation
Black pawns at 17, b7, c6, e6, f7, h7
White pawns at 12, b2, c2, d4, f2, g2, h2
Openings:
Primary: Caro-Kann.
Other: French, Scandinavian, QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED.
Character:
Slow-paced game.
Themes for White:
Outpost on e5, kingside space advantage, d4-d5 break,
possibility of queenside majority in the endgame (typically
after the exchange of White's d pawn for Black's c pawn).
Themes for Black:
Weakness of the d4 pawn, c6-c5 and e6-e5 breaks. The latter
break is usually preferable, but harder for Black to achieve.
#2 The Slav formation
Black pawns at 17, b7, c6, e6, f7, h7
White pawns 12, b2, d4, e3, f2, g2, 82
Openings:
Primary: Slav.
Other: Catalan, Gruenfeld, Colle system (with colors
reversed).
Character:
Slow-paced game.
Themes for White:
Pressure on the c file, weakness of Black's c pawn (either
after Black's b7-b5 or after d4-d5xc6 in response to e6-e5),
the d4-d5 break.
Themes for Black:
e6-e5 and c6-c5 breaks.
#3 The Sicilian - Scheveningen Formation
black Pawns: a7, b7, d6, e6, f7, g7, h7
White Pawns: a2, b2, c2, e4, f2, g2, h2
Openings:
Primary: Sicilian Najdorf, Richter-Rauzer and Sozin
variations), Sicilian Scheveningen, and several other Sicilian
variations.
Character:
Complex, dynamic, sharp middlegame.
Themes for White:
Pressure on the d file, space advantage, e4-e5 break (often
prepared with f2-f4), f2-f4-f5 push, g2-g4-g5 blitz (see Keres
attack).
Themes for Black:
Pressure on the c file, minority attack (and counterplay in
general) on the queenside, pressure on White's pawn on e4 or
e5, d6-d5 break, e6-e5 transposing into the Boleslavsky hole
(see below).
It is often unwise for White to exchange a piece on c6 allowing the
recapture bxc6, because the phalanx of Black's center pawns becomes
very strong.
#4 The Sicilian - Dragon
black Pawns: a7, b7, d6, e7, f7, g6, h7
White Pawns: a2, b2, c2, e4, f2, g2, h2
Openings:
Primary: Sicilian Dragon.
Other: English Opening (with colors reversed).
Character:
Either a razor sharp middlegame with opposite side castling or
a moderately sharp game with same side castling. The Sicilian
Dragon requires a high level of opening memorization to play
properly. This is especially true when it comes to the
Yugoslav Attack in which White plays the moves Be3, f3, Qd2
and 0-0-0. Other variations are: The Classical Dragon where
White plays Be2 and 0-0; The Tal attack is defined by Bc4 and
0-0, and the Fianchetto Defense where White plays g3, Bg2 and
0-0. These less common variations lead to less tactical
positions, with a potentially technical endgame.
Themes for White:
Outpost on d5, kingside attack (either f2-f4-f5 with kingside
castling or h2-h4-h5) with queenside castling, weakness of
Black's queenside minority (of pawns) in the endgame.
Themes for Black:
Pressure on the long diagonal, queenside counterplay,
exploiting White's often overextended kingside pawns in the
endgame.
#5 The Sicilian - Maroczy bind
black Pawns: a7, b7, d6, e7, f7, g7, h7
White Pawns: a2, b2, c4, e4, f2, g2, h2
Openings:
Primary: Sicilian.
Character:
Semi-open game.
Themes for White:
Nd4-c2-e3, Fianchettoing one or both Bishops, the Marsczy hop
(Nc3-d5 followed by e4xd5 with terrific pressure on the e-
file), kingside attack, c4-c5 and e4-e5 breaks.
Themes for Black:
b7-b5 break, f7-f5 break (especially with a fianchettoed King
bishop), d6-d5 break (prepared with e7-e6).
The Maroczy bind, named after Giza Maroczy, has a fearsome
reputation. Chess masters once believed that allowing the bind as
Black always gave White a significant advantage. Indeed, if Black
does not quickly make a pawn break, his pieces will suffocate to
death. Conversely, the formation takes time to set up and limits
the activity of White's light-squared bishop, which can buy Black
some breathing room to accomplish this break.
#6 The Sicilian - Boleslavsky hole
black Pawns: a7, b7, d6, e5, f7, g7, h7
White Pawns: a2, b2, c2, e4, f2, g2, h2
Openings:
Primary: Sicilian Najdorf, Classical, Sveshnikov, Kalashnikov.
Other: Sicilian O'Kelly (2. ... a6).
Character:
Open, dynamic game.
Themes for White:
taking control the d5 hole, exploiting the backward d6 pawn,
f2-f4 break.
Themes for Black:
d6-d5 break, queenside minority attack, the c4 square.
It is a paradoxical idea that Black can strive for equality by
voluntarily creating a hole on d5. The entire game revolves around
control of the d5 square. Black must play very carefully or White
will place a knight on d5 and obtain a commanding positional
advantage. Black almost always equalizes, and might even obtain a
slight edge, if the d6-d5 break can be made. Black has two options
for his queen bishop: on e6 and on b7 (after a7-a6 and b7-b5).
Unusually for an open formation, bishops become inferior to knights
because of the overarching importance of d5: White will often
exchange Bg5xf6, and Black usually prefers to give up his queen
bishop rather than a knight in exchange for a white knight if it
gets to d5.
When white castles queenside, Black often delays castling because
his king is quite safe in the center.
#7 The d5 chain formation
black Pawns: a7, b7, c7, d6, e5, f7, g7, h7
White Pawns: a2, b2, c2, d5, e4, f2, g2, h2
Openings:
Primary: King's Indian. Other - Benoni, Ruy Lopez (Spanish).
Character:
Closed game with opposite side activity.
Themes for White:
Massive queenside space advantage, c2-c4-c5 break (optionally
prepared with b2-b4), prophylaxis with g2-g4 (after f2-f3),
f2-f4 break.
Themes for Black:
kingside attack, f7-f5 break, g7-g5-g4 break (after f2-f3),
c7-c6 break, prophylaxis with c6-c5 or c7-c5 transposing to a
Full Benoni formation.
The chain arises from a variety of openings but most commonly in
the heavily analyzed King's Indian Classical variation. The theme
is a race for a breakthrough on opposite flanks - Black must try to
whip up a kingside attack before White's heavy pieces penetrate
with devastating effect on the c file. The position was thought to
strongly favour White until a seminal game (Taimanov-Najdorf 1953)
where Black introduced the maneuver Rf8-f7, Bg7-f8, Rf7-g7. When
the chain arises in the Ruy Lopez, play is much slower with tempo
being of little value and featuring piece maneuvering by both
sides, Black focusing on the c7-c6 break and White often trying to
play on the kingside with the f2-f4 break.
#8 The e5 chain formation
black Pawns: a7, b7, c7, d5, e6, f7, g7, h7
White Pawns: a2, b2, c2, d4, e5, f2, g2, h2
Openings:
Primary: French.
Character:
Closed/semi-open but sharp game.
Themes for White:
kingside mating attack, f2-f4-f5 break.
Themes for Black:
Exchanging the hemmed-in QB, c7-c5 and f7-f6 breaks.
Due to White's kingside space advantage and development advantage,
Black must generate counterplay or be mated. Novices often lose to
the sparkling Greek gift sacrifice. Attacking the head of the pawn
chain with f7-f6 is seen as frequently as attacking its base,
because it is harder for white to defend the head of the chain than
in the d5 chain. In response to exf6, Black accepts a backward e6
pawn in exchange for freeing his position (the b8-h2 diagonal and
the semi-open f-file) and the possibility of a further e6-e5 break.
If White exchanges with d4xc5 it is called the Wedge formation.
White gets an outpost on d4 and the possibility of exploiting the
dark squares while Black gets an overextended e5 pawn to work on.
#9 The King's Indian - Rauzer formation
black Pawns: a7, b7, c6, e5, f7, g7, h7
White Pawns: a2, b2, c4, e5, f2, g2, h2
Openings:
Primary: King's Indian, Old Indian (colors reversed), Ruy
Lopez.
Other: Ruy Lopez (colors reversed). The notation in the rest
of this section refers to the colors reversed version.
Character:
Semi-open game.
Themes for White:
d6 weakness, c4-c5 push, a3-f8 diagonal, queenside pawn storm.
Themes for Black:
d4 weakness, a1-h8 diagonal, f4 square, kingside attack,
trading pieces for a superior endgame.
The Rauzer formation is named after Rauzer who introduced it in the
Ruy Lopez. It can also rarely occur in the Ruy Lopez with colors
reversed.
Example of the Rauzer formation
Tarrasch - Euwe, Pistyan 1922
ECO E61
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 d6
3. Nf3 Nbd7
4. Nc3 e5
5. e4 g6
6. Be3 Bg7
7. dxe5 dxe5
8. h3 c6
9. Qd2 Qe7
10. 0-0-0 0-0
11. Qd6 Qxd6
12. Rxd6 Re8
FeN:
r1b1r1k1/
pp1n1pb1/
2pR1np1/
4p3/
2P1P3/
2N1BN1P/
PP3PP1/
2K2B1R/
13. Bg5 Bf8
14. Rd2 Kg7
15. Bd3 Bb4
16. Kc2 Nc5
17. a3 Bxc3
18. Bxf6+ Kxf6
19. Kxc3 Rd8
20. Bc2 Rxd2
21. Nxd2 Ne6
22. g3 a5
23. Nf3 c5
24. Ba4 Ra6
25. Rd1 Nd4
26. Nxd4 exd4+
27. Kd3 Bxh3
28. Bb5 Rd6
29. Rh1 Bg2
30. Rxh7 Re6
31. Rh4 g5
32. Rh6+ Ke5
33. f4+ gxf4
34. Rh5+ Kd6
35. gxf4 Bxe4+
36. Kd2 Rg6
37. Rh2 Rg2+
38. Rxg2 Bxg2
39. Ke2 Bc6
0-1
It is considered to give Black excellent chances because d6 is much
less of a hole than White's d4. If the black king's bishop is
fianchettoed it is common to see it undeveloped to f8 to control
the vital c5 and d6 squares, or remove White's dark-squared bishop,
the guardian of the hole.
The Rauzer formation is often misjudged by beginners. In the
position on the left, White appears to have a development lead
while Black's position appears to be riddled with holes. In
reality, it is Black who stands clearly better, because White has
no real way to improve his position while Black can improve by
exploiting the d4 square.
#10 The King's Indian - Boleslavsky Wall formation
black Pawns: a7, b7, c6, d6, f7, g7, h7
White Pawns: a2, b2, c4, e5, f2, g2, h2
Openings:
Primary: King's Indian.
Other: English, Pirc, Ruy Lopez.
Character:
Semi-open game, slow buildup.
Themes for White:
d6 weakness, e4-e5 and c4-c5 breaks, minority attack with
b2-b4-b5.
Themes for Black:
attacking the e4 and c4 pawns, d6-d5 and f7-f5 breaks,
queenside play with a7-a5-a4.
The wall is yet another structure that leaves Black with a d-pawn
weakness, but prevents White from taking control of the center and
gives Black active piece play and an opportunity to play on either
side of the board.
#11 The Isolani formation
black Pawns: a7, b7, e6, f7, g7, h7
White Pawns: a2, b2, d4, f2, g2, h2
Openings:
Primary: Queen's Gambit.
Other: French.
Character:
Open game.
Themes for White:
d4-d5 break, sacrifice of the isolani, outpost on e5, kingside
attack.
Themes for Black:
Blockading the isolani, trading pieces for a favorable
endgame.
#12 The Hanging Pawns formation
black Pawns: a7, b7, e6, f7, g7, h7
White Pawns: a2, c4, d4, f2, g2, h2
Openings:
Primary: Queen's Gambit Declined.
Other: Queen's Indian Defense.
Character:
Open game.
Themes for White:
Line opening advance in the center, kingside attack.
Themes for Black:
Forcing a pawn advance and blockading the pair, conversion to
isolani.
Like the isolani, the hanging pawns are a structural weakness and
must not be entered into unless the piece position offers some
compensation. The play revolves around Black trying to force one of
the pawns to advance. If Black can establish a permanent blockade
the game is positionally won. On the other hand, White aims to keep
the pawns hanging, trying to generate a kingside attack leveraging
off of their superior center control. Other themes for White
include tactical possibilities and line opening breaks in the
center.
#13 The Queen's Gambit - Orthodox Exchange formation
black Pawns: a7, b7, c6, d5, f7, g7, h7
White Pawns: a2, b2, d4, e3, f2, g2, h2
Openings:
Primary: Queen's Gambit Declined.
Other: Caro-Kann (colors reversed).
Character:
Semi-open game.
Themes for White:
Minority attack, e3-e4 break.
Themes for Black:
e4 outpost, kingside attack.
#14 The Panov formation
black Pawns: a7, b7, d5, e6, f7, g7, h7
White Pawns: a2, b2, c5, d4, f2, g2, h2
Openings:
Primary: Queen's Gambit Declined, Caro-Kann.
Other: Alekhine Defense, QGD Tarrasch Defense (colors
reversed).
Character:
Semi-open, dynamic game.
Themes for White:
Exploiting the dark squares, queenside majority in the
endgame, with an advanced pawn.
Themes for Black:
e4 outpost, kingside attack, White's overextended pawn, e6-e5
and b7-b5 breaks.
#15 The Stonewall formation
black Pawns: a7, b7, c7, d5, e6, f5, g7, h7
White Pawns: a2, b2, c2, d4, e3, f4, g2, h2
Openings:
Primary: Dutch Defense.
Other: Colle system, English.
Character:
Closed game, uncomplicated strategy.
Themes:
Exchanging the bad bishop, e4/e5 outposts, breaks on the c and
g files.
Players must carefully consider how to recapture on the e4/e5
square, since it alters the symmetric pawn formation and creates
strategic subtleties. This structure also appears in one of
Botvinnik's treatments of the English. Adding the typical White
fianchetto of the king's bishop to this structure provides
significant pressure along the long diagonal, and usually prepares
the f2-f4-f5 break.
#16 The Closed Sicilian formation
black Pawns: a7, b7, c5, d6, e7, f7, g7, h7
White Pawns: a2, b2, c2, d3, e4, f2, g2, h2
Openings:
Primary: Closed Sicilian, Closed English (colors reversed).
Character:
Closed, complicated position.
Themes for White:
kingside pawn storm, c2-c3 and d3-d4 break.
Themes for Black:
queenside pawn storm, a1-h8 diagonal
--------------------
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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