Questions tagged [pawns]
Questions relating to pawns in chess
28
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When and why was en passant invented?
Other than castling, the only "strange" move that chess pieces can ever make is en passant. It seems a little odd to me that someone thought that such a "different" move was so important to include ...
31
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10
answers
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Why would one promote a pawn to a knight?
I know that it is makes no sense to promote a pawn to a bishop or a rook as the queen can compensate for both but a knight is something different. However, the queen is still much more powerful. So ...
14
votes
3
answers
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How to decide when is a3/h3 needed?
a3/h3 are frequently used to prevent the bishops from pinning the knights.
I always have a hard time deciding whether to play them or not. Playing them loses moves and tempo while not playing can ...
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3
answers
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On average, how many pawns are there at the start of the endgame?
Question: On average, how many pawns are there at the start of the endgame?
To answer:
You can choose your definition of the endgame as long as you can show a credible reference that supports your ...
15
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8
answers
3k
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Why can't a piece (that isn't a pawn) capture en passant?
Why can't a piece (that isn't a pawn) capture en passant? When a pawn makes a two-square move, the en passant rule says that on the next move, any pawn that could have captured it on the single-...
6
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3
answers
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What professional game has the quickest sequence, starting from move one, to quadrupled pawns?
In the blog "AJEDREZ, SIN DUDA", I came across a page that gives a game featuring quadrupled pawns.
[Title "Zheliandinov-T. Sereteli, 35th Championship of the USSR, Kharkov, 1967"]
...
23
votes
4
answers
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Can a pawn put a king in check?
I am only an amateur player, but have been playing for many years. Every now and then I come across people who are adamant that a pawn cannot put a king into check.
The last person who I discussed ...
23
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4
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What is a pawn break?
I did some research (Google), but it still unclear to me on exactly what a pawn break is.
I was reading this question: The theory of pawn breaks
It is about the theory of pawn breaks, but before I ...
21
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3
answers
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How to deal with an opposing pawn storm?
During some recent games I played, I have lost because my opponent advanced their pawns very far, attacking my pieces and forcing them to retreat. In some cases the pieces became trapped as well. ...
17
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2
answers
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The theory of pawn breaks
Does there exist a theory of pawn breaks?
Of course, there exists a theory of static pawn structure and good bishops; but I was thinking of rooks rather than bishops, and of aggressive pawns that ...
9
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2
answers
1k
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What is the maximum number of passed pawns in a position?
Something I have wondered about recently is the maximum number of passed pawns that is theoretically possible. What is the answer, and the fastest way to achieve that result?
5
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3
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What is a "big pawn"?
I've seen the term "big pawn" come up a few times (such as here and here), but I can't seem to trace down an exact definition. What is it?
20
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4
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Alekhine's Defense variation, understanding white's overextended pawns, black's multiple early knight moves
I'm a casual, semi-serious chess player and have been an active player for over 10 years. In my time playing, one of the most unusual openings I have had the pleasure of playing against is known as ...
18
votes
3
answers
3k
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Is the pawns only variant a draw?
In the pawns-only variant of chess, each side starts with 8 pawns and a king on the usual squares, no pieces,
with other rules being the same as in regular chess, including promotion.
While general ...
15
votes
9
answers
5k
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Is pawns supporting pawns a good opening strategy?
For my opening strategy in most chess games I play, I usually move my pawns forward two, then one in an alternating strategy, until I have a sort of WWW shape with my pawns. That way, if anyone takes ...
13
votes
1
answer
991
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Pawn confrontations: capture, push past, or leave the tension?
When your opponent moves a pawn to a position where it can be captured by one of your pawns, how should you determine whether to capture it, push past it or leave the tension on the board and make a ...
10
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3
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What is the importance of pawns in the endgame?
How important is it to have more pawns in the endgame phase? Does the power of the individual pawns decrease or increase as the game progresses and why?
10
votes
1
answer
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Exact definition of a blocked pawn
What exactly is a blocked pawn? Is it a pawn with any of the opponent pieces in front or does it have to be an opponent pawn? Will the pawn be considered blocked if it can capture?
Add any other ...
9
votes
3
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4k
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"Pawn Power in Chess" by Hans Kmoch vs "Pawn Structure Chess" by Andrew Soltis
I have Pawn Power in Chess by Hans Kmoch, but I can hardly understand what he is trying to convey in the book. Maybe this has to do with my level of play or maybe it has to do with the way Kmoch ...
8
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3
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2k
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What's up with the doubled pawns?
There's another question on this SE, which asks the question in reverse:
What are the reasons why I should not try to take a Knight with my Bishop if it'll result in doubled pawns?
The answers do ...
7
votes
5
answers
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What are key squares and critical squares?
What is the best definition of key squares in king and pawn vs king endgame theory? Please provide graphics if possible. Is there a difference between "key squares" and "critical ...
6
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2
answers
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In how many cases of K, P vs. K, N, N endings can the stronger side force checkmate?
For instance, it wouldn't be possible if the Pawn was on the verge of queening. But is it always possible if the Pawn started off on its original square? Is it usually possible? Or is it only ...
5
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2
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How many times can the same pawn move be made in a game?
How many times in a game can "the same pawn move" be made? By "the same pawn move", I mean, a move made by a pawn that would be notated the same way.
For instance, after 1.e4 e5 2....
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3
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Pawns in the center: strength or weakness?
In most openings, pawns typically end up at some of the centre squares. There is really no other way to open up the long diagonals(c1-h6,a6-f1) for the bishops. However, how desirable is this? ...
3
votes
2
answers
368
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What is the consequence of removing the two-square first move rule?
In this related question I see that en passant and two-square first move for pawns were introduced together between 1200 and 1600. What was the reason for adding these rules? Put another way, has the ...
3
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2
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What types of pawns are there?
I have heard of a few types of of pawns, such as passed pawns, thorn/fawn pawns, promoted pawns, and en passant pawns. But that is all I can remember. What other types of pawns are there?
2
votes
1
answer
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How many unoriginal pawn moves can be made in a single game?
Consider an "unoriginal pawn move" to be a pawn move whose notation matches a move already played in the game. For instance, after 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.e5, there is one unoriginal pawn move, ...
0
votes
1
answer
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Benoni e4-e5 push
In the Benoni, a common move in the position is e4-e5 and then Ng1-f3. Afterwards, I have worries about my opponent playing e4-e5 and creating a passed pawn, but up to now, I haven't met with this ...