Pawn Strategy

Question 1

Passed Pawn

Answer 1

A pawn with no opposing pawns to stop it from being promoted. Dangerous for the opposing player
types:
1. protected passed pawn - a passed pawn protected by a pawn in an adjacent column
2. Outside passed pawn - a pawn on the outside column. This can make it difficult for the opponent to reach with their king in endgame
3. Connected passed pawns - 2 or more passed pawns on adjacent columns - also called a steamroller

Important for endgame as they can be promoted.

Also important because they can control squares in enemy territory

Question 2

Connected pawns

Answer 2

2 or more pawns on adjacent columns

Preferable to have your pawns connected for them to protect each other

Question 3

Backward pawn

Answer 3

A pawn that is behind all pawns on adjacent files and cannot be safely advanced

Disadvantages
1. Positional disadvantage because they can’t be defended by other pawns.
2. Opponent can place piece in hole in front - usually a knight
3. Prevents the owners queen or knight from attacking the piece placed in the hole
4. If on a half-open file, can be attacked by opponent’s rook or queen
5. Cause other pieces to be needed to protect them instead of deploying elsewhere
6.

Question 4

Doubled Pawn

Answer 4

Pawns that are on the same file. Often considered a weakness as they can’t protect each other and makes it difficult to achieve a passed pawn

Can be useful to open a file for a rook or queen or defend important squares

Weakness may not matter if opponent cannot attack the pawns

Weaknesses:
1. lack of mobility
2. inability to act as a normal pawn
3. probably can’t be exchanged for opponent pawn
4. vulnerability to attack, front pawn can’t be defended from behind by a rook

Question 5

Isolated pawn

Answer 5

A pawn without pawns in the neighboring files. It is without protection from pawns. Likely to be attacked though if passed can be strong to control areas of the board

Question 6

Pawn structure

Answer 6

The configuration of the pawns on the board

Can determine strategy.

Look to avoid weaknesses such as doubled pawns, backwards pawns and isolated pawns

Question 7

Hole

Answer 7

A square inside an enemy’s territory that can’t be defended by a pawn

Considered a weakness in the pawn structure

Question 8

Caro pawn formation

Question 9

Slav pawn formation

Question 10

Sicilian-Scheveningen pawn formation

Question 11

Sicilian - Dragon pawn formation

Question 12

Boleslavsky hole pawn formation

Question 13

Maroczy bind pawn formation

Question 14

Hedgehog pawn formation

Question 15

Rauzer pawn formation

Question 16

Boleslavsky Hole pawn formation

Question 17

d5 chain pawn formation

Question 18

e5 chain pawn formation

Question 19

Modern Benoni pawn formation

Question 20

Giuoco Piano - Isolani formation

Question 21

Queen’s gambit - Isolani formation

Question 22

Hanging pawns formation

Question 23

Carlsbad pawn formation

Question 24

Panov pawn formation

Question 25

Stonewall pawn formation

Question 26

Botvinnik system pawn formation

Question 27

Closed Sicilian pawn formation