Most popular pawn structures

Pawn Structure Classification Codes are defined here:

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/pawn-structure-classification-codes

The PSCC of the initial position will be denoted by I. I divide the set of all chess positions in 96 strata by the pawn height (h). Let's start with the initial pawn structure I, knight moves don't change it. I indicate the number of master games and statistical evaluations. The sharpness is also indicated when sh1 (or sh2) is < 0.5 or >1. At the moment, only pawn structures with 10K+ (K=1000) master games will be listed.

I (h=0)

• 1. Nf3 Réti, 196K+, sev=+0.47
• 1. Nf3 Nf6 Réti: Symmetrical, 94K+, sev=+0.57

Transitions: I --> 1G,1g, 2C, 2D, 2c, 2d

h=0+1:

1g

• 1. Nf3 g6 Réti: KF, 11K+, sev=+0.17

h=1+0:

1G

• 1. g3 Benko, 16K+, sev=+0.42
• 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 KIA, 26K+, sev=+0.43

Transitions: 1G --> 1Gg, 2d1G

h=0+2:

2c

• 1. Nf3 c5 Réti: Sicilian, 23K+, sev=+0.28

Transitions: 2c --> 2Ec, 2Cc

2d

• 1. Nf3 d5 Réti: QP, 50K+, sev=+0.42

Transitions: 2d --> 2Cd, 2Dd, 2d1G

h=1+1:

1Gg

• 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 KIA: Symmetrical, 12K+, sev=+0.48, sh2=0.50

h=2+0:

2C

• 1. c4 English,142K+, sev=+0.48
• 1. c4 Nf6 Anglo-Indian, 44K+, sev=+0.61
• 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 Anglo-Indian: KK, 62K+, sev=+0.71, sh2=+0.47
• 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 Anglo-Indian: QK, 27K+, sev=+0.73

Transitions: 2C --> 2CD, 2Cc, 2Cc, 2C1c, 2C1e, 2C1g

2D

• 1. d4 QP, 693K+, sev=+0.46
• 1. d4 Nf6 Indian, 416K+, sev=+0.39
• 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 Indian: KK, 103K+, sev=+0.27

Transitions: 2D --> 2CD, 2Dd, 2Df, 2D1d, 2D1e, 2D1g

2E

• 1. e4 KP, 395K+, sev=+0.30
• 1. e4 Nf6 Alekhine, 19K+, sev=+0.41, sh1=1.05

Transitions: 2E --> 2Ec, 2Ed, 2Ee, 2E1c, 2E1d, 2E1e, 2E1g

h=1+2:

2d1G

• 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 KIA: Yugoslav, 14K+, sev=+0.56

h=2+1:

2D1d

• 1. d4 d6 Loewe, 21K+, sev=+0.32
• 1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 Tartakower, 12K+, sev=+0.41

2D1g

• 1. d4 g6 QP: Modern, 19K+, sev=+0.38, sh1=1.15
• 1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 g6 East Indian, 43K+, sev=+0.32

2D1e

• 1. d4 e6 Horwitz, 31K+, sev=+0.46

2E1c

• 1. e4 c6 Caro-Kann, 65K+, sev=+0.37

2E1d

• 1. e4 d6 Pirc, 37K+, sev=+0.46, sh1=1.07

2E1e

• 1. e4 e6 French, 114K+, sev=+0.41

2E1g

• 1. e4 g6 KP: Modern, 29K+, sev=+0.24, sh1=1.14

h=3+0:

3E

• 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Alekhine: Advance, 15K+, sev=+0.49, sh1=1.10
• 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 Alekhine: Normal, 15K+, sev=+0.49, sh1=1.10

h=2+2:

2Dd

• 1. d4 d5 QPG, 170K+, sev=+0.67, sh2=0.49

2Ec

• 1. e4 c5 Sicilian, 395K+, sev=+0.19

2Ee

• 1. e4 e5 KPG, 190K+, sev=+0.40
  

(to be continued)

At the moment, we have trivial pawn structures but it will become more interesting at higher heights.

Hey Yigor, what is Reti Gambit Accepted's PSCC ? ( 1.Nf3 d5 2. c4 dxc4 )

It's 6C3c*0d in my current notations, the height h=6+3=9. The sign * in 3c* means that this pawn is doubled and there is still a pawn on c7. The white c-pawn is missing which corresponds to the height 6 and notation 6C. The black d-pawn is not missing but passed to the c-file. Since there is no black pawns in the d-file it's noted by 0d.

thanks.

I am interested in finding out the best middle game strategy relating to each pawn structure. 

I'm interested in it too. It's one of reasons why I started this project. Well, such strategies related to pawn structures would be a long and complex story.

Then you may enjoy reading IM Shereshevsky's books Mastering the endgame Volume 1: open & semi open games and Mastering the endgame Volume 2: closed games.

Despite the title, they are basically strategy manual according to each pawn structure (a must-have).

Merovwig, thanks for this reference!

Obviously, talking about pawn structure, you may be more interested in Volume 2 rather than open games.

Current status: 10K+ games, h=0 --> h=4. I started to indicate transitions of pawn structures.

you guys do now that the structure will change depending on the opponents opening

I consider it for both sides simultaneously, not separately for white and black.

I continue to add pawn structures and transitions. I'm planning to complete here the case of 10K+ games and pawn structures up to height 4.

I've added structures of height h=2+1 with 10K+ master games.

I've added KIA: Symmetrical of height h=1+1, KIA: Yugoslav of height h=1+2 and Alekhine: Advance of height h=3+0.

It isn't really necessary for you to create a new classification system because there already is one, although it's not as strict I guess. Why not use a book like "Pawn Structure Chess," "Understanding Pawn Play in Chess," or the new and maybe even more thorough in some places, "Chess Structures: A Grandmaster Guide" by Mauricio Flores Rios and look into the typical pawn structures that the books go over? Rios' book seems to cover a lot more structures than the other books. You can see a snippet here:

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/2/235/chess_structures_-_a_grandmaster_guide_by_mauricio_flores_rios/

You could use chessbase (I don't know if other database programs do this) to search games by structure and chart statistics this way.

penandpaper0089: Yes, it's not necessary as well as it's not necessary to play chess. I'm on holidays, alone at home, and it's my way to spend time. "Chess Structures" is a good book, I looked at pdf, thanks for references btw.  However, there is no codification of pawn structures and no classification of openings by pawn structures. In addition, I prefer to do everything myself, that's my way to study things.

Transitions from 2C, 2D and 2E are added.