Mighty Pawns

Posted on February 21, 2012 by iPlayooChess in Beginner's Corner, General Chess Articles

At each move we have to make a sober evaluation of the course of the struggle. Chess books and authorities teach us it requires a consideration of many static and dynamic factors (position of the kings, material (im)balance, the center, weak and strong points, space, who owns the initiative, etc).

The pawn formation ranks high and most times deserves priority among these elements. Though pawns are the “weakest” army units, they have special qualities that often determine the character of the position and the strategic plan, or combinative assault to follow.

Let’s face it, one of the trickiest things in chess is to truly understand the role and power of the pawns.

Characteristics of the position, or getting an idea what the position is calling for, is primarily created by the relationships among pieces and pawns and how they coordinate their action to fulfill some designated objective. It is arrangement of pawns that determines whether you will have good piece play or not. Whether your rooks will have files and your bishops diagonals.

We have to understand those “hidden” relationships between pawns and pieces that condition any serious plan on the board.

Pawn structure is the terrain of a battlefield. The stronger center offers the high ground that every general desires. The absence of pawns creates open files and diagonals — the valleys and ridges that deliver access routes into the hands of the attacking army. — Andrew Soltis

Studying pawn structures is of high importance for your chess improvement. How the structures are brought about and what comes out of them. And identify the causes behind the process. The result is inevitably rewarding.

When a pawn structure changes, it forces the players to reconsider their previous plans. Even one-square advance of a single pawn will often demand a change in your way of thinking about the future course of the game. Mastering those subtleties will pay off in your chess results over the board.

Pawns are usually better suited for guarding important squares and pieces than are the pieces themselves. They are the best means of blockading enemy pawns, or, by advance, opening vital files and diagonals, creating weaknesses in the opposite camp and taking important squares away from the enemy pieces.

Let’s examine the following position from Boleslavsky-Stoltz, Stockholm 1948:

Black just initiated a flank pawn attack. The idea is to put pressure on the e5-pawn by threatening the f3-knight.

10.c4! The pawn is bravely jumping on a square attacked three times! This is a test for the black center and how solid it is. You don’t go on the wings unless your center is securely protected. That’s one of the chess axioms

10…bxc4 On the intended 10…g4 follows 11.cxd5! Bxd5 12.Ng5!
If 10…dxc4 then 11.Rd1 (not 11.Qxe4? Bd5!), or maybe even stronger (as Boleslavsky pointed out) 11.Bc2 Nc5 12.Rd1 Qc8 13.B(orN)xg5 with a dangerous attack.

11.Ba4 Bd7 12. e6! Another pawn strike opening the black king’s position and clearing e5 for the knight

12…fxe6 13.Bxc6 Bxc6 14.Ne5 Double attack: the bishop is in danger while the queen is ready to strike from h5

14…Qd6 15.Qh5+ Ke7 16.Bxg5+ Nxg5 17.Qxg5+ Ke8 18.Qh5+ Ke7 19.Qf7+ Kd8 20.Qf6+ Kc8 21.Qxh8 and the rest is easy.

Without the help of mighty pawns White wouldn’t be able to refute the Black’s flank diversion by the counter-strike in the center (a usual procedure in similar situations). The two pawns gave their life for the fatherland to clear out the way for the white bishop, knight and queen to deliver a heavy blow to the enemy king.

Pawns are the very Life of this game. They alone form the Attack and the Defense. — Philidor