Demo # 5

This is a demo for the game.

The focus of this topic will be the pawns.

Double steps and double drops were introduced to the game to speed things up.

The problem with double steps however is that it allows pawns to pass over or through a square that is attacked by an advanced opposing pawn as indicated by the red markers in the above diagram.

For this reason a rule has been introduced that states that a double step is not allowed when the square in front of the pawn is attacked by an opposing pawn.

This rule only applies to pawn double steps on the game board, it does not apply to pawn drops or double drops.

1. a4??

The white move is not legal, the white pawn jumped over the attacked square a3.

Note that the white pawns on that flank are located on whites 2nd rank in the original diagram.

1. a3  h6??

The white move is legal, the white pawn can step forward one square.

The black move however is not legal, the black pawn jumped over the attacked square h7.

Note that the black pawns on that flank are located on blacks 1st rank in the original diagram.

1. a3  h7

Both players created pawn tension in the position with their first move.

Both players now have the option to maintain pawn tension in the position by say moving the kings.

Both players now have the option to release the pawn tension in the position by trading pawns should they wish.

Both players also have the option to close the pawn position on a flank but note that it takes two moves to do this.

The following examples show how pawn tension is created and maintained using positions that include bishops and knights.

A double step is blocked even when the advanced opposing pawn is pinned, there are no exceptions to the rule.

In the following diagram:

The white pawn on e5 is pinned by the black bishop on c7.

The white pawn still blocks the black pawn double step f7-f5 even when it is pinned.

1. ...  f6

Black exploits the pin and increases the pawn tension in the position.

Note that the next example with the knights uses the exact same positions for the kings and pawns.

2. d4  Kf7

The main point of this example was to show that pins are not a consideration.

Whites options are very limited due to the pin, the only decent moves available are d4 and Bd4.

Note that Black did not close the position with f6-f5 or release the tension with fxe5 but instead maintained the pawn tension with Kf7.

What do you think will happen when the exact same position is used in the next example but with knights and no pin to consider?

This example uses knights not bishops.

It requires a deeper understanding of the position due to the absence of the pin.

When checking the position with a chess engine what is the most important factor in the position?

The dominating white knight on the central square in which case the chess engine would prefer the double step f7-f5 to kick it away and force an immediate decision by white to either capture the black pawn or move the knight, or

To simply play f7-f6 like the previous example to:

Create space for the black king to move towards the centre, and

To increase pawn tension and keep the pawns on f6 and g6 flexible for the future.