Pawn structure
Pawns cannot move backwards. Once the structure is damaged it stays that way, so when you move a pawn, think about the shape it leaves behind.
Isolated pawns
A pawn with no friendly pawns on the files next to it is an isolated pawn. No pawn can defend it, so pieces have to, and it easily becomes a target.
Doubled pawns
Two friendly pawns on the same file are doubled pawns. The front pawn blocks the one behind it, and they cannot defend each other. When you recapture with a pawn, capturing toward the center usually keeps the structure healthier.
Passed pawns
A pawn with no enemy pawns ahead of it, on its own file or the files next to it, is a passed pawn. No pawn can stop it, so the opponent has to use pieces. Every step brings it closer to becoming a queen, which makes it a powerful weapon in the endgame.
Even with equal pawns, a pawn sacrifice can sometimes create a passed pawn.
A good move b6
A pawn sacrifice. After …axb6 c6, or …cxb6 a6, White gets a passed pawn, and the black king is too far away to catch it.
A common mistake a6
Pushing a6 first lets Black answer …b6. If White takes cxb6, Black recaptures …cxb6, every white pawn is blocked, and none of them is passed.
Checklist for your games
- Before you move a pawn, look at how the pawns on that file and the files next to it will line up.
- Accept isolated or doubled pawns only when you get something for them, such as an open file or active pieces.
- Stop an enemy passed pawn by putting a piece on the square right in front of it.
Practice
Play in the chess dojo and get every move graded →