“Pawns are the soul of chess” is a famous quote from the greatest player of the eighteenth century, Francois-André Philidor.
The pawn structure determines the appropriate plans available to both White and Black in a given position and has a lasting effect on the game, from the opening right through until the endgame.
For a player to get the most out of their pieces, they must get the most out of their pawns!
Certain pawn structures are incredibly common in chess and arise from many different openings.
Over the course of two separate two-hour masterclasses, IM David Fitzsimons will cover four of the most common pawn structures that can arise from various openings: backward pawns, doubled pawns, hanging pawns, and pawn chains.
Each of these structures requires expert knowledge and careful handling.
In these masterclasses, IM Fitzsimons will show you the typical plans available to both sides to help you to find the correct ideas in your own games.
Backward, doubled and hanging pawns are all potential pawn weaknesses, and usually require dynamic play from the side possessing them.
Often, these types of pawn “weaknesses” provide dangerous attacking chances and fantastic dynamic possibilities for those who know how to make use of them.
In contrast, playing against these pawns can also be very pleasant, as long as a player follows some simple guidelines, such as exchanging pieces and playing according to Nimzowitsch’s famous maxim: Blockade, Attack, Destroy!