🎓 A1Learner
🔍
0 of 52 lessons completed

Pawn Structures, First Look

Pawn structure means the shape formed by the pawns on the board. Pawn structure shapes plans for both sides.

A passed pawn

White pawn is on d5. No Black pawn stands in front of it or on the c file or e file ahead of it, so the pawn is passed.

FEN: 4k3/8/8/3P4/8/8/8/4K3 w - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . k . . . 8
7 . . . . . . . . 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . P . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . K . . . 1
  a b c d e f g h

Doubled pawns

White pawns stand on e4 and e5. Two pawns of the same colour share the e file, so they are doubled pawns.

FEN: 4k3/8/8/4P3/4P3/8/8/4K3 w - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . k . . . 8
7 . . . . . . . . 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . P . . . 5
4 . . . . P . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . K . . . 1
  a b c d e f g h

A pawn chain

White pawns on d4 and e5 form a short chain. The pawn on d4 defends the pawn on e5, and the base pawn on d4 is the one to attack.

FEN: 4k3/8/8/4P3/3P4/8/8/4K3 w - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . k . . . 8
7 . . . . . . . . 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . P . . . 5
4 . . . P . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . K . . . 1
  a b c d e f g h

Key points

  • A passed pawn has no enemy pawn in front of it or on the files next to it. A passed pawn is a future queen.
  • An isolated pawn has no friendly pawn on the files next to it. An isolated pawn can be weak, because no pawn defends it.
  • Doubled pawns are two pawns of the same colour on the same file. Doubled pawns cannot defend each other.
  • A pawn chain is a diagonal line of pawns that defend each other. Attack a pawn chain at its base.
  • A backward pawn has fallen behind its neighbouring pawns. A backward pawn can be weak, because it cannot advance safely.

Try it Yourself

Edit the code, then press Run.

Running is simulated · Rust Playground

Exercise

A pawn has no enemy pawn in front of it or on the files next to it. What is it called?