Questions tagged [pawns]
Questions relating to pawns in chess
151
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Is rotating a pawn so that it faces a different direction and then moves in that direction technically permitted according to the 2018 FIDE Laws?
While browsing the Chess and Puzzling Stack Exchange sites, I've come across several instances where people have found loopholes in the rules of chess, causing these loopholes to be patched out ...
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4
votes
3
answers
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Pawns pushes in the center
There are some situations in chess where a pawn push in the center is the most played move, and also the one suggested by engines. However this is not done for winning material, but just for trading ...
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votes
4
answers
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Artificially isolated pawn in the Caro-Kann
I would like to know why it is so disadvantageous to have an advanced artificially isolated pawn when it can be exchanged by another pawn.
I refer to situations where a side cannot mantain such square ...
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3
votes
1
answer
404
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Does the pawn's initial double square move have a special name?
Does the pawn's initial double square move have a special name, akin to how special capturing move that the pawn has is called en passant?
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2
answers
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Caro-Kann c5-c4 push
I am having trouble understanding why the push c4 here is incorrect for Black.
After 9. Qc2 b5 10. a4 a6 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 can be recaptured with the Queen and the pawn chain is stable.
What is ...
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6
votes
2
answers
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Pushing the e-pawn
I am having trouble understanding why the move e5 which I played in the position below
is not correct according to Stockfish (6th move for White)
I am not doing this move by winning a tempo, but I ...
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0
votes
2
answers
360
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What is the record for the most pawn double-steps in a professional game?
Quite simply, what is the record for the most pawn double-steps in a professional game? Drawn and won games are both considered. Computer games of any kind are not to be considered.
The most I have ...
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4
votes
5
answers
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Who has the advantage here?
Who has the advantage here? In general whar will perform better in this scenario- 3 pawns vs. 3 pawns, or 4 pawns vs. 2 pawns?
- 149
2
votes
2
answers
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Defensive strategy relying on a wall of pawns
I have been playing chess again for two or three months, after a period of about twenty years of interruption. In a game against a human adversary, I noticed that my opponent was taking the time to ...
- 129
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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"]
...
- 17.1k
2
votes
3
answers
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Are there ever scenarios where more pawn islands are preferred?
In chess, it is usually advisable to have fewer pawn islands than your opponent. However, while I was watching a youtube video by someone called agadmator chess, he mentioned that multiple pawn ...
4
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1
answer
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What is the record for the most pawns, of both sides, on a file in a professional chess game?
Some of us have heard about the famous game Kovacs-Barth, Balatonbereny 1994, which has the longest known surviving quadrupled pawn structure . It is one of many games with quadrupled pawns for one ...
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votes
2
answers
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Why is c4 a better move in this position?
The computer analysis on a game I played tells me that in the following position, White should have played c4 instead of e5:
[fen "r3qrk1/pppb1ppp/1nn1p3/6B1/3PP3/P1P2N2/4BPPP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 1"]
...
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4
votes
3
answers
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Piece And Pawn Only Massacre Games
What are the fastest possible games in which only all pieces and all pawns are captured? I did some searching myself.
Pieces Only
[Title "me, chess.stackexchange.com 3/2/2019, Non-Unique Proof ...
- 17.1k
-4
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2
answers
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Is 6 the limit for the most pawns possible on a single file?
As far as I can calculate, 6 is the limit for the most number of pawns on a single file possible. Is 7 possible at all, ignoring promotion? I only took into account using the edge of the board, not ...
- 17.1k
0
votes
3
answers
642
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What are the quckest helpmates delivered by the rook, knight, bishop, and pawn?
What are the quickest helpmates, which is where both sides help administer checkmate to one side, delivered by the rook, knight, bishop, and pawn? The said piece has to deliver the checkmate on the ...
- 17.1k
0
votes
1
answer
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Confusing question about the "Pawn" [duplicate]
I enjoy playing chess and thought that I knew all of the "rules." However, I just found out now something interesting but remain very confused regarding what exactly the "Pawn" is ...
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8
votes
4
answers
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Understanding The Isolani Pawn
After reading Chess structures of Mauricio Flores Rios, I have some initial questions on the Isolani (or isolated queen pawn).
The author shows this diagram:
Later, he proceeds to giving White and ...
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2
votes
1
answer
195
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Pawn tension in the Caro-Kann
Very often, I find myself playing the Caro-Kann and encountering positions like this below (especially note the pawns on the columns c and d):
I do have read that knowing what to do (capturing or ...
- 2,227
3
votes
2
answers
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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?
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votes
1
answer
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Was the value of thorn pawns fully appreciated in decades past?
Many videos on YouTube channel "Kingscrusher" which discuss the play of new neural-net engines like Leela Chess Zero focus considerable attention upon the development of "thorn pawns" which are pawns ...
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3
votes
1
answer
511
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What is the idea behind h2-h3?
The pawn move from h2 to h3. I do not understand the reason behind this.
0
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3
answers
527
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Is it better to move a pawn or knight first? [closed]
As stated in the title, I have always wondered whether it is better to move a pawn or knight first. Which one makes you generally more likely to win?
2
votes
2
answers
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In the case of en passant, should I move my pawn first or remove my opponent's one?
I know that, according to chess rules, every move should be made with a single hand. However, this does not clarify if, when making an en passant capture, I should move my pawn first or remove the ...
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votes
4
answers
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Can a pawn that performed an en passant capture promote at all?
So let's say I capture en passant with a pawn. Using the same pawn, I get to the 8th rank. Can I promote that pawn into anything else? I've heard of this restriction in various ways. Some say it can ...
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2
votes
1
answer
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Why is playing f4 here not correct?
Yesterday I played a game chess whose link is: https://lichess.org/rnLeeqMD/white#30
The computer tells me that in the 16th move,when I played 16.f4, I made an inaccuracy.
My reasons for playing f4 ...
- 2,227
2
votes
2
answers
407
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Why is it better to capture the f pawn?
Yesterday I reached this position:
[fen "rnbqk1nr/ppp3bp/3pp1p1/5p2/2PPP3/2N2N2/PP3PPP/R1BQKB1R w - - 0 1"]
1. Bg5 (1. exf5)
White to play, I played Bg5.
Lichess told me in the analysis that was ...
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5
votes
2
answers
1k
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Pushing central pawns
I would like to know what factors I need to take into account in a general position before pushing a central pawn, exchanging it if possible or simply moving another piece.
As usual, I will provide ...
- 2,227
5
votes
3
answers
489
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Are connected doubled (4 pawns on 2 files) a weak structure?
It seems to me to be a very solid structure that can play very good in the endgame.
Example: pawns on c2, c3, d2, d3.
- 1,963
9
votes
2
answers
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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?
- 17.1k
7
votes
3
answers
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What does "knights have no long-lasting support points" mean in this game?
In this article on pawn structure, the author uses this game as example:
[Event "Prague 2008"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "David Navara"]
[Black "Vladimir Kramnik"]
[Result "0-...
- 685
6
votes
2
answers
242
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A question about piece development
As opening principles say, you shouldn't push too many pawns in the opening. Instead, you should concentrate more on piece development. However, I have good example where it worked the other way ...
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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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1
vote
2
answers
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Can a pawn move to the last row diagonally without a capture?
Playing the "Champion" J2ME chess, I noticed that the bot (black) made the move "Pg2-h1=Q." Is this a bug or just a rarely known rule like en passant and castling?
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votes
3
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Capture towards the center vs. undoubling
There is a spoken advice to capture with the pawns always towards the center. This situation let me think for a while. Is undoubling here not better?
- 1,963
2
votes
1
answer
377
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The chess.com engine didn’t show a checkmate
I've attached a screen shot of my game. It is Black’s turn to move. Their king was under check, but not checkmate, as the website didn't show mate.
After awhile, Black had to resign due to not being ...
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3
votes
4
answers
901
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Can white do better versus the Sicilian Defense by avoiding an early d4?
Given that 1.d4 is said to produce better results than 1.e4 and about half of all 1.e4 games involve the Sicilian Defense, could a simple idea like avoiding trading the d pawn for black's c pawn in ...
user11382
13
votes
3
answers
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What's the point of early a2-a4 in the Modern Italian?
It seems that just every top GM is now playing the modern interpretation of the Italian Game (with c3 and d3) with an early a2 to a4 Pawn move, something that only a few years back was considered a ...
- 6,816
6
votes
6
answers
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Why does the computer want to undermine this pawn chain at the tip instead of at its root?
I had the following position with black in a game I recently played:
[FEN "r1bqkbnr/pp1n1ppp/2p1p3/2Pp4/3P4/4PN2/PP3PPP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq - 9 5"]
and proceeded with 5... e5
However, after the game ...
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3
answers
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What are the benefits of playing 1. h3? [closed]
My friend plays this all the time as white. He cites the following two reasons:
Gives white a chance to play like black (respond to an opening rather than create one)
Defends against bg4
Can this ...
-1
votes
1
answer
151
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ECO D35 for Game Analysis,- Queen's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Variation, 3...Nf6 game for analysis
Queen's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Variation, 3...Nf6 game for analysis.
Here is the PGN
[fen ""]
[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.01.17"]
[White "anandsadasivam"]
[Black "...
4
votes
5
answers
5k
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When should you charge pawns in front of a castled king?
In a situation where both players castle on the same side, is it ever a good idea to charge the pawns in front of the castled king? Are there any rules for when you can do this? I know that generally ...
- 143
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votes
2
answers
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How do you calculate pawn endgames, like if you have X number of pawns facing X numbers of opposite color?
I'll use a random example here with white to move, but I'm really asking about the general principles.
8/7p/6p1/pp3p2/3k1P2/PP6/1P1K1PPP/8 w - - 0 1
I'm a chess amateur and endgames drive me crazy....
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votes
2
answers
369
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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 ...
- 133
4
votes
5
answers
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How should I have decided which side to attack on?
I played black and was a pawn up. My plan was to castle on the opposite side from white's king, then use my majority on that side to pawn storm him. So on the turn shown below, I was about to castle ...
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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?
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votes
4
answers
572
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Why is closing the center by White generally considered a concession?
Why is closing the center by White generally considered a concession? I mean, pushing e4-e5 when there are Black Pawns on d5 (and e6), or pushing d4-d5 when there are Pawns on e5 (and d6), is often ...
- 6,816
6
votes
2
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136
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Dealing with flexible opening positions
For some reason I feel uncomfortable in positions where the opponent has not committed any of his pawns in the center and was wondering why is that? I guess it feels like I'm not sure how to carry on ...
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4
votes
2
answers
276
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Moving two pieces together
Can one open by moving two pawns at a time, one square forward for each? (I hope you don't think I'm being funny-I was taught this when playing at school and have always played with this option).
- 59
5
votes
2
answers
222
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Extreme effort to keep a pawn backward
I'm currently studying chess strategy, and I can across an example of backward pawn exploitation that I do not understand. The book I'm reading suggests 1... Rd5 to keep the d4 pawn backward. Doesn't ...
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