A pawn chain can most easily be
attacked at its base pawn. In
diagram #1, the base of the Black
pawn chain is the Pawn on c7. If the
head of the pawn chain, at f4, is
attacked, from e3 or g3, with a
lever, Black can trade the Pawn on f4.
The pawn chain still remains
solid. However, By using a pawn
leverČ on the c file at the c5
square, White can trade the Pawn on c5
for the Pawn on d6,which is one rank away from the duoč of
pawns on the seventh rank. This produces
diagram #2.
Three things have occured. The
Pawn on b7 is now isolated. The Pawn on d6 has
no protection from other pawns.
The single pawn island in diagram
#1 has been transformed into two
pawn islands. The Pawns on b7 and d6 now need protection by pieces if they are attacked.
Tying the opponent's pieces down to defense gives our side the better chances during an attack.
In diagram #3, White has
provoked Black, with the
threatened lever c5, into
advancing a pawn with b6! This
does stop the lever. However,
new weaknesses have been
created in the form of holes at a6
and c6 for White to camp pieces
on! Now that holes have formed,
White can imagine basic
checkmates using the holes in
Black's pawn structure as in
diagram #4.
The plan now becomes getting
your pieces to camp at these
squares for the checkmate! It is
very often true that just the threat
of doing something in chess can
cause weaknesses to be created.
The French Defence shows us the
use of pawn chains and levers in
action. In diagram #4, the pawn
structure has been created through
the moves
1) e4 e6
2) d4 d5
White creates a duo on d4,e4 and
controls the fifth rank.
Black counters with a d5 lever
against the e5 pawn.
3) e5
With the move e5, White decides to gain more space
by pushing forward and creating a
mini pawn chain in the center.
It is essential for Black to destroy
the White pawn chain. One plan
is to attack the head of the White
pawn chain with the f6 lever.
The other plan is to attack the
base of White's pawn chain with
the c5 lever. White's plan can be
to use the f5 lever against
Black's pawn chain at f6. Since both pawn chains have
become fixed in place, the direction that the pawn chain points can
be used to tell you on what side of the board to attack. For example: since
the white pawn chain points towards the kingside. It is natural for
white to attack on the kingside. The Black pawn chain points towards the queenside.
It is natural for Black to attack on the queenside. All this because of the pawns.
It is true that Pawns are the soul of chess. Even more: "Pawns are the heralds of the attack."
čA pawn duo is when two pawns line up
side by side on neighboring files.
ČA pawn lever is when a pawn is
advanced and is attacking the
opponents pawn formation.
Copyright © Manus Patrick Fealy 1994-2002
I truly want you to become a better chess player.