Puzzles XIX
Pawns by meaning
“Pawns : They are the very Life of this Game : They alone form the Attack and the Defence ; on their good or bad Situation depends the Gain or Loss of each Party.” (Philidor).
The pawn is the weakest unit, but as the endgame approaches, its value increases. After all, pawn can be promoted to a queen.
In the opening and in the middlegame it is advantageous to capture the center with the help of pawns. This hampers the opponent's position. In the endgame, one must strive to promote pawns to queens. It can immediately give one side a decisive advantage.
Depending on their location, pawns can be passed, connected, isolated, backward and doubled.
A passed pawn - a pawn that doesn`t have opponent`s pawns in its way.
In the middle game, a far advanced pawn can become the basis for executing typical combinations.
A passed pawn on 7th horizontal can be promoted to a queen effectively for instance when the enemy’s knight is under attack - is extremely difficult to defend in that situation.
In this position, 1. Bxe5 was also winning, but White found a way to end the game more classy.
Keres - Bronstein (1959)
In the endgame, whoever has a passed pawn usually has an advantage. Protected passed pawn gives an even greater advantage, usually leading to victory.
In the example, the Black king cannot move out of the pawn-b5 square and therefore prevent the White king from moving to the kingside.
Connected pawns - two or more pawns of the same color, standing on adjacent verticals.
Pawns c3 and d4 - connected
Usually connected pawns are considered strong because they protect each other and can attack together.
In the endgame, two pinned pawns advanced to the 6th (3rd) horizontal have remarkable strength. In some cases not even a rook can handle them.
Three connected, far advanced pawns can be stronger than the queen.
Isolated pawns - when there aren`t pawns of the same color on adjacent files.
Pawns d4 and f3 - isolated
In the middlegame, isolated pawns have a large offensive potential. Their breakthrough is often decisive importance in organizing an attack.
In the example, the Black`s lagging behind in development allowed Whites to carry out a typical breakthrough in the center.
Spassky - Avtonomov (1949)
In the endgame, isolated pawns are considered weak, as it may be difficult to protect them.
Backward pawns - those which, in the presence of other pawns of the same color advanced forward on the adjacent files, cannot advance themselves. Fields before they are either under attack or blocked by someone else's pawn.
Pawn g2 - backward. The square in front of it is blocked.
Pawn g3 - backward. The square in front of it is attacked.
Usually such pawns are considered weak, as they have difficulty defending and moving forward.
In the example, the passivity of the Black pieces defending against the "steel" e-pawn allows White to move on to decisive actions.
Capablanca - Blanko (1913)
Doubled pawns (tripled) - two (three) pawns of one colors on the same vertical.
Pawns c2 and c3 - doubled.
Typically, such pawns are considered weak, since they can`t protect each other.
In the middlegame, revealing the position of the castled king by doubled pawns can lead to an irresistible checkmate attack.
Next example shows how White doubles Black pawns at the price of a piece and thereby completely destroys the enemy fortress.
Safonov - Kutepov (1954)
The disadvantages of doubled pawns also appear at the endgames, especially when these pawns are isolated.
In the example, the unfortunate position of his pawns deprives White of hope for salvation.
Kasparian - Botvinnik (1931)
The strong ones are passed and connected pawns, while the weak ones are backwarded and doubled.
NOW TRY BY YOURSELF, MATE!
1. White to move and win:
2. Black to move and win:
3. White to move and win:
4. Find best move for team White:
5. Black to move and win:
