Exercise 7.1Question
White to move
White to move. What is the strategic idea behind White's next move?
7
Middlegame Strategy Essentials · Kapilash Chess Academy
Hanging Pawns
Two pawns side by side
In this lesson you will learn
- What hanging pawns are
- How to attack hanging pawns and force one to advance
- When hanging pawns are strong: the c5 and d5 breaks
- A famous model game: Fischer–Spassky 1972
Every board on this page is live. Move the pieces by tapping or dragging, click any move in the lines to see that position, and press ↺ to start again.
7.1 Strong or Weak?
Hanging pawns are two pawns side by side on the c- and d-files (or d- and e-files) with no pawns on the neighbouring files. Side by side, they control many central squares. But they have no pawns to protect them, and if one is forced to advance, the other may become weak and a hole appears in front of them.
Diagram 7.1White to move
Example 7.1 · Fischer–Spassky, Reykjavik 1972, game 6
Black has hanging pawns on c5 and d5. White aims all the pieces at them.
Fischer exchanges the bishop that defended d5 (♘d4 and ♘xe6), then attacks the pawn with e4. After ...d4 Black's pawns are fixed, and White gets a strong passed e-pawn and a kingside attack. The plan against hanging pawns: put pressure on them until one has to advance, then attack the weaknesses left behind.
Diagram 7.2Black to move
Example 7.2 · After 20.e4
Black must decide what to do with the d5-pawn.
After 20...d4 21.f4 and 22.e5, White has a protected passed pawn on e5 and the light squares around Black's king are weak. Fischer won a famous game by using these advantages.
Remember
- Hanging pawns: two pawns side by side with no neighbours.
- Attack them until one must advance; then attack the weaknesses behind it.
- Exchange the pieces that defend them.
- For the side with hanging pawns: keep them side by side and look for the c5 or d5 push.
Exercises · Lesson 7
Every exercise has been checked with a chess engine. Find the best move or choose the right plan.
Exercise 7.2Find the move
White to move
White to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 7.3Find the move
White to move
White to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 7.4Find the move
White to move
White to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 7.5Find the move
Black to move
Black to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 7.6Find the move
White to move
White to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 7.7Find the move
White to move
White to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 7.8Find the move
Black to move
Black to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 7.9Find the move
Black to move
Black to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 7.10Find the move
Black to move
Black to move. Find the strongest move.