NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Pawn structure

In chess, the pawn structure (sometimes known as the pawn skeleton) is the configuration of pawns on the chessboard. Pawns being the least mobile of the chess pieces, the pawn structure is relatively static, and largely determines the strategic nature of the position. Chess is a recreational and competitive game for two players. ... Initial placement of the pawns. ... Chessboard Chessboard with Staunton chess pieces A chessboard is often painted or engraved on a chess table. ...

Philidor was the first chess player to recognize the importance of pawn structure. Before him, pawns were considered a hindrance to the development of the pieces, to be freely sacrificed for as little as a tempo. portrait from Lâ€™analyze des Ã©checs. ... In chess, tempo refers to the time taken by a move. ...

General observations

Weaknesses in the pawn structure, such as isolated, doubled or backward pawns and holes, once created, are usually permanent. Care must therefore be taken to avoid them (but there are exceptions — for instance see Boleslavsky hole below). In the absence of these structural weaknesses, it is not possible to classify a pawn formation as good or bad — much depends on the positions of the pieces. However, the pawn formation does determine the overall strategies of the players to a large extent, even if arising from unrelated openings. Pawn formations symmetrical about a vertical line (such as the e5 Chain and the d5 Chain) can be deceptively similar, but they tend to have entirely different characteristics due to the propensity of the kings to castle on the kingside. In chess, an isolated pawn is a pawn for which there is no friendly pawn on an adjacent file. ... In chess, doubled pawns are two pawns of the same player residing on the same file. ... In chess, a backward pawn is a pawn that is behind the pawns of the same color on the adjacent files and that cannot easily be advanced. ... This page explains commonly used terms in chess in alphabetical order. ... Initial position of kings and rooks Black has castled kingside (O-O), and White has castled queenside (O-O-O) Castling is a special move in the game of chess involving the king and either of the original rooks of the same color. ... This page explains commonly used terms in chess in alphabetical order. ...

Pawn structures often transpose into one another, such as the Isolani into the Hanging Pawns and vice versa. Such transpositions must be considered carefully and often mark shifts in game strategy.

The major pawn formations

Andrew Soltis, in his book Pawn Structure Chess, classifies the major pawn formations into 16 categories, discussed below. It is to be noted that for a formation to fall into a particular category, it need not have a pawn position identical to the corresponding diagram, but only close enough that the character of the game and the major themes are unchanged. It is typically the center pawns whose position influences the nature of the game the most. Andrew Soltis is a chess author and columnist as well as a Grandmaster. ...

Structures with mutually attacking pawns are said to have tension. They are ordinarily unstable and tend to transpose into a stable formation with a pawn push or exchange. Play often revolves around making the transposition happen under favorable circumstances. For instance, in the Queen's Gambit Declined, Black waits until White develops the king's bishop to make the d5xc4 capture, transposing to the Slav formation (see below). The Queens Gambit is a chess opening that starts with the moves 1. ...

The Caro formation

id="The_Caro_formation"> Image File history File links Chess_zhor_22. ... Image File history File links Chess_zver_22. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... 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The Caro formation

Openings: Primary: Caro-Kann. Other: French, Scandinavian, QGD. The Caro-Kann Defence is a common chess opening characterized by the moves (see algebraic notation): 1. ... The Center Counter Defense or Scandinavian Defense is a chess opening characterized by the moves (in algebraic notation) 1. ... The Queens Gambit is a chess opening that starts with the moves 1. ...

Character: Slow-paced game.

Themes for White: Outpost on e5, Kingside space advantage, d4-d5 break, possibility of queenside majority in the endgame (typically after the exchange of White's d pawn for Black's c pawn). This page explains commonly used terms in chess in alphabetical order. ...

Themes for Black: Weakness of the d4 pawn, c6-c5 and e6-e5 breaks. The former break is usually preferable and easier for Black to achieve.

The Slav formation

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The Slav formation

Openings: Primary: Slav. Other: Catalan, Grunfeld, Colle system (with colors reversed). The Slav Defense is a chess opening that begins with the moves (in algebraic notation) 1. ... The Catalan is a chess opening which can be considered to be White adopting a mixture of the Queens Gambit and RÃ©ti Opening: White plays d4 and c4 and fianchettos his bishop on g2. ... The Grünfeld Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves (in algebraic notation) 1. ... White has achieved the basic Colle setup and is prepared for the thematic e4 push. ...

Character: Slow-paced game.

Themes for White: Pressure on the c file, weakness of Black's c pawn (either after Black's b7-b5 or after d4-d5xc6 in response to e6-e5), the d4-d5 break.

Themes for Black: e6-e5 and c6-c5 breaks.

The Scheveningen formation

The Sicilian - Scheveningen

Openings: Primary: Sicilian (Najdorf, Richter-Rauzer and Sozin variations), Sicilian Scheveningen, and several other Sicilian variations. This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves. ... The Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defence is one of the most complex and respected of all chess openings. ...

Character: Complex, dynamic, sharp middlegame.

Themes for White: Pressure on the d file, space advantage, e4-e5 break (often prepared with f2-f4), f2-f4-f5 push, g2-g4-g5 blitz (see Keres attack).

Themes for Black: Pressure on the c file, minority attack (and counterplay in general) on the Queenside, pressure on White's pawn on e4 or e5, d6-d5 break, e6-e5 transposing into the Boleslavsky hole (see below).

It is usually very bad for White to exchange a piece on c6 allowing the recapture bxc6, because the phalanx of Black's center pawns becomes very strong.

The Dragon formation

The Sicilian - Dragon

Openings: Primary: Sicilian Dragon. Other: English Opening. This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves. ... In chess, one of the main variations of the Sicilian Defense, the Dragon variation begins 1. ... The English Opening is the chess opening 1. ...

Character: Either a razor sharp middlegame with opposite side castling or a moderately sharp game with same side castling.

Themes for White: Outpost on d5, Kingside attack (either f2-f4-f5 with Kingside castling or h2-h4-h5) with Queenside castling, weakness of Black's Queenside pawns in the endgame.

Themes for Black: Pressure on the long diagonal, Queenside counterplay, exploiting White's often overextended Kingside pawns in the endgame.

The Maróczy bind formation

The Sicilian - Maróczy bind

Main article: Maróczy bind

Openings: Primary: Sicilian. A typical MarÃ³czy bind position, arising from the Accelerated Dragon The MarÃ³czy bind is a pawn formation in chess, named after GÃ©za MarÃ³czy and primarily played in the Sicilian Defence. ... This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves. ...

Character: Semi-open game.

Themes for White: Nd4-c2-e3, Fianchettoing one or both Bishops, the Marco hop (Nc3-d5 followed by e4xd5 with terrible pressure on the e-file), Kingside attack, c4-c5 and e4-e5 breaks.

Themes for Black: b7-b5 break, f7-f5 break (especially with a fianchettoed King bishop), d6-d5 break (prepared with e7-e6).

The Maróczy bind, named after Géza Maróczy, has a fearsome reputation. Chess masters once believed that allowing the bind as Black always gives White a significant advantage. Indeed, if Black doesn't quickly make a pawn break, his pieces will suffocate to death. Conversely, the formation takes time to set up and limits the activity of White's light-squared bishop, which can buy Black some breathing room to accomplish this. GÃ©za MarÃ³czy (pronounced GEH-zaw MAHR-ot-see, not MarOXy) (3 March 1870â€”29 May 1951) was a leading Hungarian chess master, one of the best players in the world in his time. ...

The Boleslavsky hole formation

The Sicilian - Boleslavsky hole

Openings: Primary: Sicilian Najdorf, Classical, Sveshnikov. Other: Sicilian O'Kelly (2... a6). The Sicilian defence is a chess opening which begins with: 1. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Character: Open, dynamic game.

Themes for White: taking control the d5 hole, exploiting the backward d6 pawn, f2-f4 break.

Themes for Black: d6-d5 break, Queenside minority attack, the c4 square.

It is a paradoxical idea that Black can strive for equality by voluntarily creating a hole on d5. The entire game revolves around control of the d5 square. Black must play very carefully or White will park a Knight on d5 and obtain a commanding positional advantage. Black almost always equalizes if they can make the d6-d5 break, and might even obtain a slight edge. Black has two options for their QB: on e6 and on b7 (after a7-a6 and b7-b5). Unusually for an open formation, Bishops become inferior to Knights because of the overarching importance of d5: White will often exchange Bg5xf6, and Black usually prefers to give up his QB rather than a N in exchange for a WN if it gets to d5.

When white castles long, Black often delays castling because their king is quite safe in the center.

The d5 chain formation

The d5 chain

Openings: Primary: King's Indian. Other - Benoni, Ruy Lopez. The Kings Indian Defence is a chess opening that begins 1. ... The Benoni Defense is a group of chess openings generally characterized by the opening moves 1. ... The Ruy Lopez, generally called the Spanish Game outside of English speaking countries, is a chess opening characterised by the moves (in algebraic notation): 1. ...

Character: Closed game with opposite side activity.

Themes for White: Massive Queenside space advantage, c2-c4-c5 break (optionally prepared with b2-b4), prophylaxis with g2-g4 (after f2-f3), f2-f4 break. Prophylaxis (Greek προφυλακτικος, prophylaktikos, to guard or prevent beforehand) or a prophylactic move stops the opponent from taking action in a certain area for fear of some type of reprisal. ...

Themes for Black: Kingside attack, f7-f5 break, g7-g5-g4 break (after f2-f3), c7-c6 break, prophylaxis with c6-c5 or c7-c5 transposing to a Full Benoni formation.

The chain arises from a variety of openings but most commonly in the heavily analyzed King's Indian classical variation. The theme is a race for a breakthrough on opposite flanks - Black must try to whip up a Kingside attack before White's heavy pieces penetrate with devastating effect on the c file. The setup was thought to favor White until a seminal game Taimanov-Najdorf 1953, where Black introduced the maneuver Rf8-f7, Bg7-f8, Rf7-g7. When the chain arises in the Ruy Lopez, play is much slower with tempo being of little value and featuring piece maneuvering by both sides, black focussing on the c7-c6 break and White often trying to play on the Kingside with the f2-f4 break.

The e5 chain formation

The e5 chain

Openings: Primary: French.

Character: Closed/semi-open but sharp game.

Themes for White: Kingside mating attack, f2-f4-f5 break.

Themes for Black: Exchanging the hemmed-in QB, c7-c5 and f7-f6 breaks.

Due to White's Kingside space advantage and development advantage, Black must generate counterplay or be mated. Novices often lose to the sparkling Greek gift sacrifice. Attacking the head of the pawn chain with f7-f6 is seen as frequently as attacking its base, because it is harder for white to defend the head of the chain than in the d5 chain. In response to exf6, Black accepts a backward e6 pawn in exchange for freeing his position (the b8-h2 diagonal and the semi-open f-file) and the possibility of a further e6-e5 break. If White exchanges with d4xc5 it is called the Wedge formation. White gets an outpost on d4 and the possibility of exploiting the dark squares while Black gets an overextended e5 pawn to work on. In chess, the Greek gift sacrifice or classical bishop sacrifice is a typical sacrifice of a bishop by White playing Bxh7+ or Black playing Bxh2+. A situation where the Greek sacrifice works The position to the right, which might occur after the moves 1. ...

The Rauzer formation (colors reversed)

The King's Indian - Rauzer formation

Openings: Primary: King's Indian, Old Indian (colors reversed), Ruy Lopez. Other: Ruy Lopez (colors reversed). The notation in the rest of this section refers to the colors reversed version. The Kings Indian Defence is a chess opening that begins 1. ... The Old Indian Defense is a chess opening. ... The Ruy Lopez, generally called the Spanish Game outside of English speaking countries, is a chess opening characterised by the moves (in algebraic notation): 1. ...

Character: Semi-open game.

Themes for White: d6 weakness, c4-c5 push, a1-f8 diagonal, Queenside pawn storm.

Themes for Black: d4 weakness, a1-h8 diagonal, f4 square, Kingside attack, trading pieces for a superior endgame.

The Rauzer formation is named after Rauzer who introduced it in the Ruy Lopez. It can also rarely occur in the Ruy Lopez with colors reversed.

Tarrasch - Euwe, Pistyan 1922

It is considered to give Black excellent chances because d6 is much less of a hole than White's d4. If the black king's bishop is fianchettoed it is common to see it undeveloped to f8 to control the vital c5 and d6 squares, or remove White's dark-squared bishop, the guardian of the hole. Image File history File links Chess_zhor_22. ... Image File history File links Chess_zver_22. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... 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The Rauzer formation is often misjudged by beginners. In the position on the left, White appears to have a development lead while Black's position appears to be riddled with holes. In reality, it is Black who stands clearly better, because White has no real way to improve his position while Black can improve by exploiting the d4 square (see complete game on Java (Applet) board).

The Boleslavsky Wall formation

The King's Indian - Boleslavsky Wall

Openings: Primary: King's Indian. Other: English, Pirc, Ruy Lopez. The Kings Indian Defence is a chess opening that begins 1. ... The English Opening is the chess opening 1. ... The Pirc Defence, sometimes also known as the Robatsch or Ufimtsev Defence, is a chess opening characterised by Black playing . ... The Ruy Lopez, generally called the Spanish Game outside of English speaking countries, is a chess opening characterised by the moves (in algebraic notation): 1. ...

Character: Semi-open game, slow buildup.

Themes for White: d6 weakness, e4-e5 and c4-c5 breaks, minority attack with b2-b4-b5.

Themes for Black: attacking the e4 and c4 pawns, d6-d5 and f7-f5 breaks, Queenside play with a7-a5-a4.

The wall is yet another structure that leaves Black with a d-pawn weakness, but prevents White from taking control of the center and gives Black active piece play and an opportunity to play on either side of the board.

The Isolani formation

The Queen's Gambit - Isolani

Openings: Primary: Queen's Gambit. Other: French. In chess, an isolated pawn is a pawn for which there is no friendly pawn on an adjacent file. ... The Queens Gambit is a chess opening that starts with the moves 1. ...

Character: Open game.

Themes for White: d4-d5 break, sacrifice of the isolani, outpost on e5, Kingside attack.

Themes for Black: Blockading the isolani, trading pieces for a favorable engdame.

Bogolyubov - Rosenthal, St. Petersburg 1914. White achieved a blockade with 11. Nb5!

Magerramov - Kasparov, Baku 1977. Black obtained a devastating attack with 17...d4!

The isolani leads to lively play revolving around the d5 square. If Black can clamp down on the pawn their positional strengths and threat of exchanges give them the advantage. If not, the threat of the d4-d5 break is ever present, and the isolani can sometimes be sacrificed to unleash the potential of White's pieces enabling them to whip up a whirlwind attack. Kasparov is famous for the speculative d4-d5 sacrifice. Image File history File links Chess_zhor_22. ... Image File history File links Chess_zver_22. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... 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Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links Chess_zver_22. ... Image File history File links Chess_zhor_22. ... Efim Dmitriyevich Bogoljubov, alternatively Yefim Bogolyubov, (1889 â€“ 1952) was a leading Russian chess master. ... Image File history File links Chess_zhor_22. ... Image File history File links Chess_zver_22. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links This image is used in the standard chess diagram template. ... Image File history File links Chess_zver_22. ... Image File history File links Chess_zhor_22. ... Garry Kimovich Kasparov (Гарри Кимович Каспаров) (born April 13, 1963) is a chess grandmaster and the strongest chess player in the world. ...

The Hanging Pawns formation

The Queen's Gambit - Hanging Pawns

Openings: Primary: Queen's Gambit Declined. Other: Queen's Indian Defense. The Queens Gambit is a chess opening that starts with the moves 1. ... The Queens Indian Defense is a chess opening defined by the moves 1. ...

Character: Open game.

Themes for White: Line opening advance in the center, Kingside attack.

Themes for Black: Forcing a pawn advance and blockading the pair, conversion to isolani.

Like the isolani, the hanging pawns are a structural weakness and must not be entered into unless the piece position offers some compensation. The play revolves around Black trying to force one of the pawns to advance. If Black can establish a permanent blockade the game is positionally won. On the other hand, White aims to keep the pawns hanging, trying to generate a Kingside attack leveraging off of their superior center control. Other themes for White include tactical possibilities and line opening breaks in the center.

The Orthodox Exchange formation

The Queen's Gambit - Orthodox Exchange

Openings: Primary: Queen's Gambit Declined. Other: Caro-Kann (colors reversed). The Queens Gambit is a chess opening that starts with the moves 1. ... The Caro-Kann Defense is a common chess opening characterized by the moves (see algebraic notation): 1. ...

Character: Semi-open game.

Themes for White: Minority attack, e3-e4 break.

Themes for Black: e4 outpost, Kingside attack.

The Panov formation

Openings: Primary: Queen's Gambit Declined, Caro-Kann. Other: Alekhine Defense, QGD Tarrasch Defense (colors reversed). The Queens Gambit is a chess opening that starts with the moves 1. ... The Caro-Kann Defense is a common chess opening characterized by the moves (see algebraic notation): 1. ... Alekhines Defence is a chess opening beginning with the moves (in algebraic notation) 1. ...

Character: Semi-open, dynamic game.

Themes for White: Exploiting the dark squares, queenside majority in the endgame, with an advanced pawn.

Themes for Black: e4 outpost, kingside attack, White's overextended pawn, e6-e5 and b7-b5 breaks.

The Stonewall formation

Openings: Primary: Dutch Defense. Other: Colle system. The Dutch Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves 1. ... White has achieved the basic Colle setup and is prepared for the thematic e4 push. ...

Character: Closed game, uncomplicated strategy.

Themes: Exchanging the bad bishop, e4/e5 outposts, breaks on the c and g files.

Players must carefully consider how to recapture on the e4/e5 square, since it alters the symmetric pawn formation and creates strategic subtleties.

The Closed Sicilian formation

Openings: Primary: Closed Sicilian, Closed English (colors reversed). The Sicilian defence is a chess opening which begins with: 1. ... The English Opening is the chess opening 1. ...

Character: Closed, complicated position.

Themes for White: Kingside pawn storm, c2-c3 and d3-d4 break.

Themes for Black: Queenside pawn storm, a1-h8 diagonal

References

Andrew Soltis. Pawn Structure Chess, Tartan Books 1976. ISBN 0-679-14475-7.
M. Yudovich. Garri Kasparov, Raduga Publishers 1988. ISBN 5-05-001722-X.
Max Euwe. The Development of Chess Style, David McKay Company 1968. ISBN 0-679-14045-X.

Andrew Soltis is a chess author and columnist as well as a Grandmaster. ... Machgielis (Max) Euwe (last name is pronounced /Ã¸:wÉ™/) (May 20, 1901 â€“ November 26, 1981) was a Dutch chess Grandmaster and Mathematician. ...

Contents

General observations

The major pawn formations

The Caro formation

The Slav formation

The Sicilian - Scheveningen

The Sicilian - Dragon

The Sicilian - Maróczy bind

The Sicilian - Boleslavsky hole

The d5 chain

The e5 chain

The King's Indian - Rauzer formation

The King's Indian - Boleslavsky Wall

The Queen's Gambit - Isolani

The Queen's Gambit - Hanging Pawns

The Queen's Gambit - Orthodox Exchange

The Panov formation

The Stonewall formation

The Closed Sicilian formation

See also

References

Further reading

Contents

General observations GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

The major pawn formations

The Caro formation

The Slav formation

The Sicilian - Scheveningen

The Sicilian - Dragon

The Sicilian - Maróczy bind

The Sicilian - Boleslavsky hole

The d5 chain

The e5 chain

The King's Indian - Rauzer formation

The King's Indian - Boleslavsky Wall

The Queen's Gambit - Isolani

The Queen's Gambit - Hanging Pawns

The Queen's Gambit - Orthodox Exchange

The Panov formation

The Stonewall formation

The Closed Sicilian formation

See also

References

Further reading

General observations