Louis Paulsen Method: Paulsen Pawns

Louis Paulsen Method: Paulsen Pawns

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Today we shall be looking at a strong GM from the 1800's. Louis Paulsen was amongst the strongest chess players of his time. Paulsen was one of the first players to challenge the notion that an attack could be constructed out of brilliance. He put forward the idea that any brilliant attack would have failed against correct defence. This was later grasped by Steinitz and even Nimzowitsch quoted Paulsen is amongst one of the top defending players.

"Paulsen pawns" is a term coined by Nimzowitsch for a restricted pawn center with two pawns on squares d6 and e6 for Black or d3 and e3 for White, often coupled with an open c-file. This restricted center makes it difficult for the opponent to start a quick attack by advancing his centre. Paulsen pawns are the stalwart of the Paulsen Variation of the Sicilian Defence. Since this is Paulsen's style of play in many games and he started this idea, we shall look at this method in this article.

In the figure above the power of the Paulsen Pawns are clearly seen. The pawns on e6 and d6 restrict white's knights from coming to the 5th rank. Thus it stops quick attacks. Secondly it allows black the option of choosing in which way he wants to break in the center. Either via e5 or d5, sometimes even f5. In modern play black usually first develops as far as possible before choosing a break that is advantageous to him.

Thus we can summarize the Paulsen Pawns in the following way,

Paulsen Method:

1. Obtain Paulsen Pawns (e6,d6)      
2. Develop Pieces as far as Possible.
3. Expand on the Queenside             
4. Pawn Break! (e5,d5)                      
5. Attack the center or flank             

From my investigations I have noticed the main  advantage that the Paulsen Pawns offer is flexibility.

In this example we will look at Paulsen's earlier games with this idea. He later improved on his play and modern players have improved the idea even further.

As mentioned this is Paulsens earlier attempts and he experimented with this before later improving the play.

• Knight on c4
• Importance of closing kingside

• Knight on c4 post
• c-file pressure
• Rerouting the dark squared bishop 
• Attacking e4

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Example 6:

The legendary Tal used this variation a number of times. Look closely at how Tal plays the system and also at the entertaining sacrifices Tal could come up with. 

Key Concepts

• Bishop on a7-g1 diagonal
• e5! break
• Knight on c4 post
• c-file pressure

Example 7:

Tal playes illustrative games of this variation. If the reader has come this far I'd like to pause and speak one more time of the basics behind this method. In the Sicilian White gives up a central pawn for open play. Thus if black can use his central majority of pawn to perhaps control the center he may walk away with an advantage. Secondly in often occurs that White is stuck with a weakness on c2. Black often uses the c-file pressure from rooks to attack the c2 pawn or point.

Key Concepts

• e5! break
• d5! break
• Attacking the base , e4-pawn
• Knight on c4 post
• Rook on c-file pressure
• c2 weakness
• White tries queenside play

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Summary:

We conclude this article with the following points of the Paulsen Pawns,

• Flexible Pawn Breaks.
• Pressure on the c-file.
• Keep kingside closed.
• Attack the base e4 pawn.
• Powerful post on c4 for the knight is optimal.
• Typically the dark squared bishop is used for either a pin or a7-g1 diagonal attack.
• Queenside expansion should be used in conjecture with the center break.
• White has usually the weakness on c2