Some types of Pawn structure are so common that they have been given names.

Since both players manipulate a separate formation of Pawns, many common configurations come from how the two Pawn structures relate to each other. A Pawn is passed because there are no opposing Pawns; another Pawn is backward because it has no opposing Pawn on the same file. Passed Pawn Our first example is a key factor in the endgame. In our series on elementary endgames (link box again) we say, 'An extra Pawn is an advantage; when it's an outside passed Pawn, it's a big advantage.' A passed Pawn is a Pawn which has no opposing Pawn in front of it or on a file to the side. The b-Pawn in our diagram is an example of a passed Pawn. The two d-Pawns are not passed, because they stand in the way of each other. The advantage of a passed Pawn is that it constantly threatens to advance to its eighth rank where it will promote to a more powerful piece, usually a Queen. It requires constant attention by the enemy pieces.