rules, tactics, strategies and history

The Pawn in the Middle Game

The most difficult problem in the conduct of the middle-game is the timely maneuvering with the Pawns. Although it is impossible to give a general rule which will apply to all cases it is a good principle to avoid Pawn moves in the middle- game just as carefully as in the opening, at least in the early stages of the middle-game.

In the opening the argument against Pawn moves was the time loss connected with them from the point of view of development. In the middle-game it is mainly the weakness created by the Pawn move on the squares which were protected by the Pawn before he advanced.

A square may be termed "weak" if it can be safely occupied by pieces which help the opponent in its attack, and this is generally possible if the square in question cannot any longer be defended by a Pawn. The great danger involved in the occupation by hostile pieces of such weak squares is evident if they are situated near the King, and examples of how the attack develops in cases of this kind have been discussed already. It is less apparent why a Pawn move should create a weakness if a center-Pawn or a Pawn on the Queen's wing is concerned. In the latter case, the possibility of deriving an advantage during the middle-game is rare, indeed; but the weakness produced by the Pawn moves invariably shows itself in the ending.

In the position below for instance, White wins on account of the weakness of the squares a6, c6, d5 and b5 from which its King can attack the Black Pawns as soon as the Queen and the Rook are exchanged. The following play may ensue:

(1) R-e8, Rxe8;
(2) Qxe8, Q-f8;
(3) Qxf8 , Kxf8;
(4) K-d3, K-e7;
(5) K-c4, K-d7;
(6) K-b5, K-c7;
(7) K-a6, K-b8;
(8) P-a4, K-a8;
(9) P-a5, Pxa5;
(10) Kxa5 and wins the c-Pawn.

Or:
(5) ..., P-a6;
(6) K-d5, K-d7.

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

For the time being Black has the opposition so that White's King cannot advance any further; but White has so many more Pawn moves at its disposal than Black that the latter is soon forced to move its King allowing White to break in with its King at one or the other side. For instance: (7) P-a4, P-a5; (8) P-f4, P-f6; (9) P- g4, P-h6; (10) P-h3, P-g5; (11) P-f5; King moves, and White wins either the f-Pawn or the b-Pawn.

This example brings out another reason why it is advantageous to keep the Pawns of the wings back. In the ending positions frequently arise in which it is important to have some moves to spare in order to be able to maintain the opposition of Kings; and the player whose Pawns are farther back naturally has more spare moves.