Pawn Play and Structure - for Beginners and Beyond
According to the famous quote by Francoise Andre Philidor (1727-1795) "Pawns are the soul of chess".
The implications of pawn structure are one of the most important aspects of chess to learn well - especially as pawn structure essentially provides the road map for planning in the opening and middlegame, and often in the early endgame as well.
Positional Play : Pawn Structure - Basic Pawn Formations...
https://www.mark-weeks.com/aboutcom/aa03j11.htm
Pawn Structure Wiki.....the major pawn structures arising out of the openings...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pawn_structure
The Complete Guide To Pawn Structures...
https://simplifychess.com/pawn-structures/complete-guide-chess-pawn-structures/index.html
Pawn-structures: Why pawns are the soul of chess...
https://chessfox.com/pawn-structures-why-pawns-are-the-soul-of-chess/
https://chessfox.com/why-a-strong-pawn-structure-is-a-valuable-asset/
15 Ways To Win With Pawns - Chess Vibes...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmOTovPOvJ0
Objectives in Chess: Keep a strong pawn-structure...
https://chessfox.com/objectives-in-chess-keep-a-strong-pawn-structure/
https://chessfox.com/5-ways-to-achieve-your-pawn-structure-objectives/
7 Pawn Structure Master Classes by 'ChessGeek'...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL15dAZGzEY&list=PLOaFVRf_8WkQEz0fcHHmUzPqpDPCe9g0R
Understanding Pawn Structure | Chess Middlegames by 'Hanging Pawns'...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed7YLNLm8iY
10 Concepts About Pawn Tension - Chess Vibes...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA-ybJodO70&ab_channel=ChessVibes
Minority Attack Ideas, Concepts and Examples - A Clever Positional Strategy - Chess Vibes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx-bKo7XB-w
The Minority Attack | Chess Middlegames - Hanging Pawns...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAQife0dSqc
Every Pawn Structure Explained - Johan Hellsten...
https://www.chess.com/lessons/every-pawn-structure-explained
Pawn Breaks.....initiating an attack
"No pawn exchanges, no file-opening, no attack" - Aron Nimzowitsch
A pawn break (aka, break move) is a pawn advance where the advancing pawn makes contact with an enemy pawn residing on an adjacent file and rank such that an exchange of pawns is made possible. For example a White pawn advance c2-c4 which opposes an opponent's pawn on d5, when either player could subsequently initiate a pawn capture (e.g., either c4xd5 by White, or ...d5xc4 by Black). Such a position has also been referred to as a 'lever', a term invented by Hans Kmoch in his classic text on pawn play "Pawn Power In Chess" (Sections 1-9 through 1-12).
Pawn breaks can be employed in any phase of the game, however they are most often associated with the opening or early middlegame. The purpose of a break move is to effect a subsequent pawn exchange whereby the scope/mobility/activity of the advancing player's pieces is improved, and which may be a precursor to a tactic or attack. For example to open files and/or diagonals for rooks. bishops, queen; to gain space for the pieces; to create a weakness in the opponent's position or, in the endgame to create a passed pawn.
Break Moves: Opening Lines to Increase Mobility by Dan Heisman (from Heisman's 'Novice Nook' section of the ChessCafe.com archives - a gold mine of instructive chess articles). I recommend to study this article first...
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627102254/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman17.pdf
Break Moves - Pawn Breaks - Dan Heisman...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbrtCGOyFUI
Chess Lesson | Pawn Play and Initiative | Pawn Breaks - Coach Kestony...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmOd0ncZdjs
Chess Fundamentals #4: Pawn Play - John Bartholomew....an instructive introduction to pawn breaks (beginning @15:55 of video), illustrated with instructive example games...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-JGqEiNs-I
Pawn Breakthroughs | Chess Middlegames - Hanging Pawns...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibe2x66VEdQ
Understanding Pawn Structure | Chess Middlegames - Hanging Pawns (discussion of pawn breaks begins @4:18 of video)...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed7YLNLm8iY
Pawn Breaks | Chess Endgames - Hanging Pawns...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G15C1Qudpx4
Pawn Breakthroughs | Principles of Chess Endgames - GM Naroditsky...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyl_vVXeFuI
Pawn Chains
Pawn Chains Introduction - Chess.com...
https://www.chess.com/lessons/reading-the-board/pawn-chains
Best Ways to attack Pawn Chains | Key Strategies & Ideas - Chessfactor...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULKs5mrtHUk
Pawn Structure 101: d5 chain - Chess Simplified...
https://simplifychess.com/pawn-structures/pawn-structure-101-d5-chain/index.html
Pawn Structure 101: e5 chain - Chess Simplified...
https://simplifychess.com/pawn-structures/pawn-structure-101-e5-chain/index.html
Pawn Storm
Pawn Storm Introduction - Chess.com....
https://www.chess.com/lessons/attacking-the-king-1/pawn-storms
Pawn Storm Principles You Need To Know - Chess Vibes...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3omrdCztGnE
The Pawn Storm - GM BryanSmith...
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-pawn-storm
Books that deal instructively with pawn play and structure are a valuable resource for learning the essential art of strategy and planning in chess. The following are what I believe to be some of the more instructive books on the subject of pawn play. The first three or four books listed are targeted principally to the beginner-intermediate, improving chess amateur and which I suggest studying in the order presented.
For the beginner-novice I recommend, as a first step, to become familiar with the concepts presented in...
"Play Winning Chess" by Yasser Seirawan
Targeted primarily to the beginner-novice player (though any player who has not yet developed proficiency with the concepts below would benefit), this book focuses on explaining the fundamental principles and application of what GM Seirawan posits to be the four primary elements which must be considered when objectively evaluating a chess position – Force, Time, Space and Pawn Structure. Understanding how to properly evaluate and use these critical elements is fundamental to the process of formulating plans and strategies which will enable you to significantly improve the chances for a successful result in your games. The importance of the concepts presented in this instructive book cannot be overstated.
An instructive supplement or follow-on to Seirawan's book would be...
"New Ideas In Chess" by 5-time U..S Chess Champion Larry Evans (Dover Pub. edition, ISBN 0486283054, in Descriptive notation), which was, in fact, the first book to extensively elaborate on the four primary elements. In particular see Chapter 2 - Pawn Structure.
Having been exposed to the four primary principles in the books above, you will be ready to increase your knowledge base and skill set with.....
"Weapons of Chess" by Bruce Pandolfini
The book provides an excellent introduction to the basic concepts and techniques of positional chess, including extensive instruction in the fundamentals of pawn play. A nice thing about "Weapons..." is that you can read the chapters in any order you choose, as the topics inspire you - it is not necessary to read the book linearly, from beginning to end. But it is important to study ALL of the lessons as the concepts discussed are fundamental to developing skillful positional technique (there is no such thing as an unimportant positional chess concept). I consider this along with Seirawan's book above to be must-reads for all improving amateurs who aspire to play chess at a higher level.
After studying Pandolfini's "Weapons of Chess" you will be well-prepared for the following classic book...
"Simple Chess" by Michael Stean
A classic. An excellent introduction to the application of the most important positional-strategic concepts in practice, of which accurate pawn play is an integral part. Don't let the title fool you - the book will be "simple" only if one has adequately prepared oneself to study it through exposure to appropriate prerequisite material such as suggested above.
"Chess Secrets: The Giants of Strategy"
By Neil McDonald Here are xceptionally instructive examples of positional-strategic and pawn play taken from the games of Kramnik, Karpov, Petrosian, Capablanca and Nimzowitsch. The chapters are thematically organized by topic as: 1. The Seventh Rank 2. The Outpost and the Open File 3. Planning on a Grand Scale 4. Understanding Pawn Majorities 5. The Power of Pawn Breaks 6. How to Use the Pawn Ram 7. Restraint 8. Blockade 9. Provocation and Prophylaxis. This is an outstanding chess book where Neil McDonald's gift for elucidating the why's and wherefore's underlying the chess moves will be welcomed by the improving chess amateur.
Having absorbed the lessons in the books above, for a comprehensive treatment of the elemental concepts and techniques of pawn play in general, the following classic book is highly recommended...
"Pawn Power In Chess" by Hans Kmoch
A classic. In my opinion, this is an immortal masterpiece of the chess literature, and every serious chess player would be well served by studying it - in particular the first 6-7 chapters, which embody the essence of the text. The book is concerned with the fundamental elements, principles and techniques underlying correct pawn play, primarily, though not only, within the context of middlegame strategy. Although its usage of the older "Descriptive" chess notation and the somewhat quirky, but apt, terminology used to describe structures and concepts may require getting acclimated to, exposure to the lessons in this book will continue to pay dividends throughout your chess career.
For more commentary on Kmoch's book, see my blog article....
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/pawn-power-in-chess-by-hans-kmoch
The following books would be good follow-on's or supplements to the books above, providing instructive examples of pawn play in practice. They are targeted primarily to the experienced, intermediate and above player, who have acquired familiarity with basic positional chess concepts...
"The Power of Pawns: Chess Structure Fundamentals for Post-beginners" by Jorg Hickl
"Understanding Pawn Play In Chess" by Drazen Marovic
"Dynamic Pawn Play In Chess" by Drazen Marovic
The following three books deal specifically with the generalized pawn structures arising out of the major opening systems, and the plans, strategies and typical play associated with each....
"Pawn Structure Chess" by Andrew Soltis (I recommend the 2013 Batsford edition for its superior binding).
"Chess Structures - A Grandmaster Guide" by Mauricio Flores Rios
"Winning Chess Middlegames: An Essential Guide to Pawn Structures" by Ivan Sokolov
The following two books are very advanced treatments, appropriate primarily for players rated Elo 1800+...
Small Steps to Giant Improvement: Master Pawn Play in Chess by Sam Shankland
Small Steps 2 Success: Mastering Passed Pawn Play by Sam Shankland
The following is the best book on the topic of pawn endings. Covers everything you need to know, and more...
"Secrets of Pawn Endings" by Karsten Müller & Frank Lamprecht
Throughout your chess career, study everything you can relating to pawn play, pawn structures and positional concepts. These, along with tactics, endgame basics and opening principles are the most important fundamental aspects of chess to become skilled in.
Pawn play and pawn structure are fundamental elements of positional-strategic chess. As such, the concepts and techniques comprising these aspects of chess play work together, hand-in-hand. For more on positional play in general see my blog article....
Good Positional Chess, Planning & Strategy Books for Beginners and Beyond
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Discover other helpful and instructive chess resources, including more book recommendations, in my Chess.com blog.
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