The Backward Pawn - Principles of Chess Middle Games

“The greatest compliment one can pay a master is to compare him with [Jose] Capablanca.”

- Irving Chernev

# Introduction

Hi classmates,
Welcome to the series "Principles of Chess Middle Games". Here we discuss the most fundamental theoretical concepts of chess. The intention is to make you aware that the middle game is the same as the endgame. Like we say, Two rooks endgame or Bishop knight mate similarly, we in the middlegame say an outpost or weak squares or blockade and restriction. When we put this in this way chess becomes simple and more understandable.

# Topic for today 

The most important lesson to learn when it comes to chess middlegame play is how to create and exploit weaknesses. The backward pawn is a perfect example of that. There are two types of weaknesses;

• Static.
  
• Dynamic ones. 
  

Dynamic weaknesses (such as tactical opportunities) go away and should be exploited. Otherwise, You will miss your chance. Static weakness, on the other hand, stays put and you can go about exploiting them slowly, without having to rush. Backward pawns are static weaknesses and the best approach to either winning them or using them is to slowly manoeuvre. Take time and be patient.

# Significance 

Understanding the opponent's weakness makes the middlegame plan simpler. Also, it helps us to understand the weakness in our position.

# What Will we see...

#Definition 

The chess literature will show us that it is a pawn placed behind its neighbor pawn that cannot be defended by another pawn, nor safely advanced.

# Disadvantages

Backward pawns are usually at a positional disadvantage because they are unable to be defended by other pawns. Also, the opponent can place a piece, usually a knight, on the hole in front of the pawn without any risk of a pawn driving it away. The backward pawn also prevents its owner's rooks and queen on the same file from attacking the piece placed in the hole.

If the backward pawn is on a half-open file, the disadvantage is even greater, as the pawn can be attacked more easily by an opponent's rook or queen on the c-file. Pieces can become weak when they are devoted to protecting a backward pawn since their obligation to defend the pawn keeps them from being deployed for other uses.

# Things to remember 

1.  A backward pawn is normally a weak pawn. The side playing against it will have a clear plan of attacking and capturing it, while the defending side can end up fighting to hold the position together in passivity;
2. It is very important to keep in mind that you should first fix the weakness, and only then attack it;
3. The pawn can often be defended, so a typical method used by grandmasters to win the game is to create a second weakness in the opponent’s camp;
4. Try to exploit not only the weakness of the pawn but also of the square in front of it. A powerful piece on this square will make your opponent’s position very uncomfortable to play ;
5. If you end up playing with a backward pawn, always seek the initiative and try to compensate with a powerful piece of play.

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# Five key steps by hanging pawn

1. Does your opponent have counterplay? The most important thing to consider while going after a positional weakness is whether your opponent can harm you in the meantime. Firstly, make sure you have prevented your opponent from gaining a dangerous initiative.
2. Fix the weakness first. Static weaknesses need to be fixed, and only then attacked. Make the pawn immobile, and prepare your troops for the attack.
3. Use the weak square in front of the pawn! The outpost in front of the backward pawn is a huge positional weakness. Having a knight on it would greatly damage your opponent’s position.
4. Force a second weakness. This is a concept that can be applied to chess in general. It is said that one requires two weaknesses to win the game. If you are playing against a backward pawn, a good idea might be to fix it and go about creating a second weakness, thus forcing your opponent to lose focus and fight on two fronts.
5. Attack with all your pieces.

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# Identifying backward pawn

# Grand Master games

Anatoly Karpov vs Andrei Istratescu
Grand Prix d'Echecs (2004), GP, rd 3, Dec-11
Queen's Indian Defense: Fianchetto. Nimzowitsch Variation Quiet Line (E15)  ·  1-0

Garry Kasparov vs Peter Svidler
Russian Championship Superfinal (2004), Moscow RUS, rd 8, Nov-24
Slav Defense: Slav Gambit. Alekhine Attack (D10)  ·  1-0

# LIST

V Malakhatko vs S Haslinger, 2008  
(A28) English, 40 moves, 1-0

Kasparov vs Karpov, 1990  
(C45) Scotch Game, 102 moves, 1-0

Dominguez Perez vs G Vescovi, 2005  
(C98) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 74 moves, 1-0

V Nevednichy vs Korchnoi, 2004  
(C07) French, Tarrasch, 61 moves, 0-1

This brings us to the end of our small topic on Backward pawns. Well, I didn't go to a deeper analysis since anyone at our level, at least till 2100 Plays concerning this theory. Only having an understanding of this will improve your positional play to a better extent. So for now I would conclude this topic here and till then,
Let us all grow at chess together.

If you are seeing this for the first time we have completed the following concepts in this series,

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 )

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

Attacking the uncastled king ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/attacking-the-uncastled-king-principles-of-chess-middle-games )

Pawn Majorities ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/pawn-majorities-principles-of-chess-middle-games-2 )

The Minority Attack ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/the-minority-attack-principles-of-chess-middle-games )

H-File Attack ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/h-file-attack-principles-of-chess-middle-games )

If you're HERE TILL END...