Pawn Play
by IM John Grefe
Pawn play is a vast subject. In this course we're going to cover its most typical - and some atypical - aspects. Some puzzles will focus on tactics, others on strategy.
A few of the ideas covered: Strong and weak pawns; the overall pawn structure; understanding how the characteristic pawn formations of various openings determines the middlegame plan; the fight for the center; pawns attacking and defending the King; advanced passed pawns, etc. etc.
One final note: Even the slightest change in the pawn formation can have sweeping consequences, one example being when a fluid pawn formation suddenly becomes blocked by a simple pawn advance.
Lessons: