Top diagram.
First black's pawn structure:
If white can trade off the bishop black's dark squares around the king become weak, and can be occupied by white's pieces, for example a knight on f6, queen on h6, for a mate on the h7 square. Also, the g pawn being extended gives white an anchor point: a target for pawn storms. White will often castle queenside, rush the h pawn to open the h file for a rook and create lines of attack against the king.
White's pawn structure has another weakness, not only is the h pawn unsupported, and a potential target, but the advance leaves squares that can be occupied by the opponents pieces. For example a knight on g4 can't easily be chased away, it's often hard to advance the f pawn, especially if a bishop is pinning it to the king. This pin may mean a piece can come to g3 as well.
Basically, any advance means a square is no longer controlled, and advances around the king may give targets for sacrifice. e.g. if black advances the h pawn to h6 white may sacrifice the bishop for this pawn to open up the opposing king, if it works tactically.
Hi I was wondering if someone could help with these two pawn strucutres protecting the king.
Ok, the first one is this:
I've seen this position quite a few times now with white hoping to advance the h-pawn to destory the Fianchetto structure. I would like to know, what weakness does white create in advancing his h-pawn, so bascially how to attack if you are black. Is it even safe to do so when castled on the King-side?
My question is, what should white do next to protect his king. Every game I've played, where I was white, and black sacrificed his bishop in this way I have lost. If there isn't a way to effectively defend, shoudl white never play h3 if black's light-squared bishop is still in the game?
Would be great if I could have some feedback. Couldn't find much/anything on these two positions on this website.