Isolated Pawn - Principles of Chess Middle Games

"An isolated pawn spreads gloom all over the chessboard."

Savielly Tartakower

Hi chessbros, Welcome to the series where we learn the middle game concepts. Before introducing you to our today's topic, you need to know that this series has already completed the following topics before this blog is uploaded,

Blockade & Restriction ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/blockade-restriction-principles-of-chess-middle-games )

Greek Gift sacrifice ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/greek-gift-sacrifice-principles-of-chess-middle-games )

Opposite Side Castling ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/opposite-side-castling-principles-of-chess-middle-games )

Weak Square & Outpost ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/weak-square-outpost-principles-of-chess-middle-games )

The Bishop Pair ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/the-bishop-pair-principles-of-chess-middle-games )

Prophylaxis ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/prophylaxis-principles-of-chess-middle-games-2 )

Clearance sacrifice ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/clearance-sacrifice-principles-of-chess-middle-games )

Weak Colour Complex (https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/weak-colour-complex-principles-of-chess-middle-games )

Pawn structure (https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/pawn-structure-principles-of-chess-middle-games )

In today's blog, We will consider the most predominant concept of chess. The topic is 'Isolated pawns.' Now are these weaknesses or good things for the position? How to use it? All the questions will be answered shortly in the content section. Moreover, this is the most discussed and watched content when it comes to youtube. 

Isolated Pawn -

• In chess, an isolated pawn is a pawn that has no friendly pawn on an adjacent file.
• Isolated pawns are usually a weakness because they cannot be protected by other pawns.
• The square in front of the pawn may become a good outpost for the opponent to anchor pieces.
• Isolated pawns most often become weaker in the endgame, as there are fewer pieces available to protect the pawn.

The isolated pawn may provide some weakness but it also helps the side by giving it certain advantages. The files adjacent to the isolated pawn are either open or half-open, providing two lanes of attack for the rooks and the queen. The absence of adjacent pawns may also aid the mobilization of the player's knights and bishops.

An isolated pawn on the d-file is called an isolated queen pawn. In addition to the open or half-open c- and e-files, the isolated queen pawn can provide good outposts on the c- and e-file squares diagonally forward of the pawn, which is especially favourable for the player's knights. The isolated queen pawn position favours a kingside attack.

Chess theory has many variations featuring this type of pawn structure, e.g. the Queen’s Gambit Accepted, Caro-Cann and others. In these systems the d4 (for White) and d5 (for Black) pawns become isolated.

Playing with an isolated pawn-

If, you have a permanent structural weakness that is hard to get rid off. Your first and foremost priority should be to gain as much activity as possible and to compensate for the weakness with piece activity. If you trade off pieces and get into an endgame, you are simply going to lose. Generally, the only isolated pawn which is theoretically justified is the isolated queen's pawn. Having a pawn isolated on the d file gives you several advantages-
you have the open or semi-open c and e files, You have outposts on c5 and e4, and you have open diagonals towards the opponent’s king. The IQP is a great attacking asset, but the same principle applies; trade pieces and you lose.

Playing against an isolated pawn -

If the pawn is an IQP, defend your king and try to kill any activity your opponent has. Beware of bishop sacrifices on h7. If you are playing against a weak isolated pawn though, there are two principles to remember. Never attack the pawn unless it’s fixed. When your opponent has a structural weakness, you want to make sure it becomes permanent. The best way to play against an isolated pawn is to blockade it. The best blockading pieces are knights. Once the weakness is fixed, attack it! And don’t rush. Get all of your pieces into play, develop, stop your opponent’s counterplay and capture when the situation is perfect. 

Match 1 -

To discuss positional plays, who will not consider the legend of our era? The goat himself GM Magnus Carlsen.

Magnus Carlsen vs Viswanathan Anand ( 2009 )

Here Anand is black and Carlsen is white.

This is my first time writing about Magnus Carlsen's study. So I would try to go as deep and simple as possible.

Here Anand plays Be6 holding all the weaknesses together. Now Carlsen finds a way to remove that defender by Nc7 forking rook and bishop. Rag8 is played by anand saving rook. Nxe6 by magnus removing the defender of weak IPs. Kxe6 since the pawn is pinned to the king. Rxg8 is played by Carlsen trying to trade as possible as he can. Nxg8 by Anand is played. Carlsen now will try to bring his king closer to weak pawns. Ke2 is played by him.

Here the material is equal but visually vishy is losing due to his isolated weakness. But vishy is a world champion himself, so he will not lose easily. Let's see how he plays. Nge7 is played protecting both the isolated pawns. Kf3 by magnus brings the king closer to the pawns. Rc8 plays Anand trying to infiltrate in position but there are no squares.

Here magnus plays a move you will never think of. He plays a4. This is why he is a great player. Note this game is played in the year 2009, so he is not yet the world champion. The idea of a4 is to block the queenside. Magnus has so many advantages in his position yet, He wants to play everything perfectly on all sides of the board.

Now you will see how magnus slowly blocks all the key squares and Anand has no moves.

Rc7,

a5 ( closing queen side ) - a6 ( waiting move )

h4 ( locking king side also ) - Kf6

h5 - Nc8 ( manoeuvring the knight )

Kf4 ( Blocking g5 ) - Nd6

Rg1- Rc8

f3 ( slowly bringing his pawns )- Ke6

Rg7 - Rh8

Bc2 ( Moving it to better square )- Rc1

Bb3-Rh8

You can see Anand is only moving rooks since there are no other move good moves for him.

knight has to defend f5.
King has to protect all pawns.
Rook has to defend the h6.
Next, magnus did what people say is the Magnesian thing. He slowly captured all the weak pawns.

For anyone who wants to study here is a complete game -

Match 2-

For the second match, we will consider the best defender in the world. The name is GM Hikaru Nakamura.

Hikaru Nakamura vs Nelson Castaneda ( 2004 )

Hikaru is white and Nelson is black.

In this position, If I give you a chance, what move would you play? It's tough to answer it, but GM Hikaru Nakamura had a brilliant plan here with the move g4. 
Isn't it the weakening of our king?
Yes, Of course, but you are allowed to do it when you have a solid plan for it. g4 is such a strong move. He cannot take back with pawn since Bg4 and knight is pinned to the queen. Also, the f5 push is on the way. Rc2- Rg2 is another move. Queen is coming to the king's side for the attack.

( Did a little Hikaru impression there. )
g6 is the move to defend here. gxf5- gxf5 is played by Nakamura creating not one but two isolated pawns for the opponent.
Now this is called a static isolated pawn since it cannot move and it also it makes difficult for opponent pieces to come for a king-side attack. So Nakamura here has time to get his pieces into attacking positions.
Rf3- Kh8
Bd3 - Rf7
Rh3-Rg8
Kh1- c5 ( creating counterplay )
Qh5 - Nd8 
Ne2 - 

Here the Isolated weakness on f5 is acting like a wall which is restricting his own army to get into the attack. Whereas we are building our canons and weapons for the best possible attack.
Now next moves are just converting advantage so here is how Nakamura won the game.

Complete match for those who are intrested in analysing more -

Match 3 -

Salomon Flohr vs Jose Raul Capablanca ( 1935 )

List -

Flohr vs Capablanca, 1935  
(D62) Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox, Rubinstein Attack, 52 moves, 1/2-1/2

Botvinnik vs Vidmar, 1936    
(D60) Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense, 24 moves, 1-0

Smyslov vs Karpov, 1971  
(D41) Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch, 29 moves, 1-0

Portisch vs Karpov, 1975  
(E53) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2

Karpov vs Chandler, 1984  
(D34) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 37 moves, 1-0

L Christiansen vs Karpov, 1993  
(E12) Queen's Indian, 12 moves, 1-0

Steinitz vs Von Bardeleben, 1895  
(C54) Giuoco Piano, 25 moves, 1-0

Karpov vs Yusupov, 1988  
(D31) Queen's Gambit Declined, 43 moves, 1-0

Kramnik vs Anand, 1999  
(D27) Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical, 70 moves, 1-0

Ivanchuk vs Aronian, 2007  
(D38) Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin Variation, 49 moves, 1-0

Karpov vs Illescas Cordoba, 1993  
(D34) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 36 moves, 1-0

Smyslov vs Ribli, 1983  
(D42) Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch, 7.Bd3, 41 moves, 1-0

Smyslov vs Ribli, 1983  
(D42) Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch, 7.Bd3, 42 moves, 1-0

Adams vs Yusupov, 2005  
(C09) French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line, 32 moves, 1-0

This was all about today's topic. I would like to end this by giving a little strategy hint on IQP structure,

Stratergy -

For white -

•  Rooks placed on the open c-file and semi-open e-file.
•  knight ready to jump into the e5-square which the IQP supports.
•  Two pieces controlling the weak d5-square in front of the IQP (queen's knight and light-squared bishop).
•  Three pieces preparing the thematic d4–d5 advance.
•   Pin the f6-knight against the black queen with the dark-squared bishop on g5 reducing Black's control of the crucial d5-square.

For black -

• Three pieces controlling the weak d5-square (king's knight, light-squared bishop, and e6-pawn). This helps to prevent White's thematic d4–d5 advance.
  
• The dark-squared bishop pinnning White's queen's knight to the e1-rook to reduce White's control of the crucial d5-square.
  
• The light-squared bishop well-placed to control the weakened light squares in the centre of the board.

I hope you will love this blog. If it was useful do comment down below. For today I will take your leave.
Till then,
Let us all grow at chess together.

...The End...