Pawns: The Fabric of Chess (Part 1)

In this and subsequent parts, I will present the winning ideas of pawn play needed by most beginning chess players.

Beginning chess players often make too many pawn moves especially in the opening of a game. Whereas, the best players rarely move more than three or four pawns in an opening. Therefore, I recommend that beginning players try to move no more than their two center pawns in the opening to free both bishops. The reasons are simple. Pawns cannot move backward and are much less useful than power pieces for attack or defense. So if you are thinking about another pawn move when any of your pieces are still on the back rank, when your rooks are not connected, or when you are not yet castled, then think again, and then don't move the pawn.

The following illustrates what can happen when a player makes too may pawn moves in the opening.

White: David Hayes/1623
Black: Scholastic/1347
Date: 5/28/94
Event: Southeastern Amateur Championships
Opening: Staunton Gambit
[Annotations by David Hayes]

1. d4 f5 2. e4 d6

Better is 2... fxe4 here.

3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bd3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nxe4 6. Bxe4 g6 7. Nf3 c6

Black simply makes pawn move after pawn move. Pieces must be developed! However, pawn moves which gain time by creating a threat are worthy of consideration. After 7... d5, White would have had to take time (also known as tempo or move) to move his attacked Bishop.

8. Qd3 Na6 9. O-O d5?

Yet another pawn move. A piece developing move, like 9... Bg7, is better. It is worth noting the position at this point. White has 3 pieces developed compared to black's Knight on the rim. White is castled compared to black's king in the middle. Black's attempt to win White's Bishop which appears to have no retreat back fires. Another pawn move should not have been considered in such a position. White is now spoiling for a fight. A sac is in the air.

After 9... d5? Apparently trapping White's Bishop.

10. Bxg6+ hxg6 11. Qxg6+ Kd7 12. Bf4 Qe8 13. Ne5+ Kd8 14. Nf7+ Kd7 15. Nxh8 Qxg6 16. Nxg6

Game over: Black struggled on for a 15 more moves unwilling to resign before mate.