Pawn Breakthroughs Samantha212

  | Sep 25, 2015 at 6:40 PM

  | Posted in: Samantha212's Blog

  | 3042 reads

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Hello Chess Fans, 

Passed Pawns are the PAWN STARS of the game.  Creating them and nurturing them, one square at a time while your opponent threatens to capture them is a game unto itself. 

Today we'll focus on creating Passed Pawns that are blocked by other pawns with a technique called Pawn Breakthrough. However, breaking out a pawn to become a passer requires knowing the correct series of pawn moves to successfully escape their blockade.  Similar to having the key to a lock, knowing the correct pawn combination is the difference between securing a passed pawn and a losing postion.  This article will address several Pawn Breakthrough Patterns you need to have in your arsenal of Endgame Knowledge.

As in all endgame positions, to properly calculate the probability of your pawn promoting given the parameters of your opponent's king position and your king's position, you need to understand " The Rule of the Square" and "Controlling Key Squares".  If you're already familiar with them -  Great.  You're ready to move forward.  If not, or if you want to review their principles, quickly peek at the articles now.  Then come back at another time to give them the full read they deserve. The Rule of the Square

Controlling Key Squares3 Pawns vs 3 Pawns

Breakthrough Pawn Breakthrough with a Far King

1. b6Center pawn sacrifices himself 1... cxb6Black is forced to take the pawn (1... c6If the pawn simply pushes forward 2. bxa7The pawn captures and will promote next )(1... axb6IF Black captures using the pawn on the left 2. c6White pushes with the pawn on the right. 2... bxc63. a6The pawn sneaks through and will promote in 2 moves. )2. a6NOW push the pawn on the opposite side that Black captured. Since Black captured from the right side, White pushes the pawn on the left side. 2... bxa63. c6The c-pawn sneaks through and becomes a passer. The king is too far away to stop its promotion. 

– X fJ # , . @ Pawn Breakthrough with a Close King

1... a4Black creates the 3 vs 3 Breakthrough pattern. This time the king is close enough to capture the passed pawn if a breakthrough occurs. 2. Ke4Kd63. f4b3Black makes the first move to create a passer. 4. cxb3VERY IMPORTANT: Take with the outer pawn to assure the passer will be on the c-file. (4. axb3If the a-pawn captures instead, the passer will be on the a-file and the king isn't able to stop it. 4... c35. bxc3a36. Kd3a2The king is blocked by his own pawn and the passer promotes. )4... a35. bxa3c36. Kd3BAM! The king will capture next. 

– X fJ # , . @ How to Stop a Pawn BreakthroughHow NOT to Stop a Pawn Breakthrough

1... a4Black creates the 3 vs 3 Breakthrough Pattern. 2. b3White executes the breakthrough himself. This allows White to stop any possible black passers so his king can venture off to support his other pawns. He pushes the center pawn FIRST! (2. a3This is an example of HOW NOT TO STOP A BREAKTHROUGH: White pushes an outer pawn instead of the center pawn. 2... c3Black has this move as a resource to create a passer. 3. bxc3If the pawn captures the c-pawn (3. b3IF the pawn pushes 3... bxa3Black sneaks through with a passer as before. 4. bxa4a2There's nothing White can do to stop its promotion. )3... bxa3BAM! The pawn captures the a-pawn and the king is outside the Rule of the Square to stop both pawns from promoting. )(2. c3Watch what happens when he pushes the outer c-pawn first. 2... a3Black pushes his outer pawn 3. bxa3bxc34. Ke2The king swings around to stop the pawn's promotion. 4... c25. Kd2c3+6. Kxc2WHEW that was close. But it would have been more disastrous if the king wasn't close. )2... axb3If Black takes with the a-pawn 3. axb3Recapture with the a-pawn. 3... cxb3If he captures with the c-pawn 4. cxb3Recapture with the c-pawn 

– X

fJ # , . @ Let's Review:

1. To Create a passed pawn with a 3 vs 3 pawn pattern, push the middle pawn first.2. Your opponent is FORCED to capture the pawn, otherwise it becomes a passer.  From whichever side he captures, push the pawn on the OPPOSITE side to divert the pawn. Passer = Opposite

3. Your opponent is again FORCED to capture the pawn, otherwise it becomes a passer.  After the capture, PUSH FORWARD the third pawn to create a passer.4. To STOP a breakthrough with a 3 vs 3 pawn pattern, push the middle pawn first.5. From whichever side your opponent captures the pawn, recapture from the SAME SIDE.  Think of your pawns being on Secret Service Duty tackling the pawn from promoting. Stop = Same

6. When a 3 vs 3 pawn pattern emerges, be the first to initiate the attack to either stop your opponent from creating a passer or to create one yourself.   If possible, keep or get the king close to assist in stopping any passers.

The Quart GripThe position below is unofficially referred to as the Quart Grip, but it may be better named the Quad Grip where 4 pawns from each side are symetrically positioned, forming a circle of pawns.  It always benefits the side whose pawns are closer to promoting but the defendering king's placement is a crucial decider on whether the pawn will promote or not. 

  If the h-pawn is made into a passed pawn, the defending king MUST be within the small defined area to be within the Rule of the Square to stop the pawn's promotion.  Therefore, it's best to make a passed pawn on the h-file.

Let's watch how it's done:

Quad Grip - Black to Move

A Quad Grip benefits the side that's closer to promoting. ANY pawn move Black makes within the quad will create a passer for White, therefore it's best not to move any of the pawns and instead move another piece or the king. 1... Ka3(1... g6IF Black moves the g-pawn 2. g5White also pushes the g-pawn and will create a passer on the h-file regardless of which pawn Black takes. 2... gxh5(2... hxg5If he captures the g-pawn 3. h6Immediately push the h-pawn forward to create a passer before it's captured. )3. gxh6White will promote first and pick off Black's passed pawns )(1... f6IF Black moves the f-pawn 2. exf6Take the pawn this time to again create a passer on the h-file, the furthest from the king. 2... gxf6Recaptures 3. g5BAM! Now the g-pawn pushes forward 3... fxg54. fxg5hxg55. h6Mission Accomplished! A passer on the h-file where he's less likely to be stopped by the king. )

– X fJ # , . @ Quad Grip - White to Move

Black Avoids Quad Pawn Moves

1. g5White can push either the f or g pawns, but since our goal is to create an h-file passer, we'll push the g-pawn first. 1... Ka4Black can not capture or move a pawn within the quad without giving White a passer. He opts instead to move his king closer 2. f5If Black won't play then White needs to execute their own breakthrough plan by pushing up the f-pawn. Now we have a similar situation to the 3 vs 3 pattern. 2... Kb5IF Black continues to move his king closer to the pawn action. 3. f6CAPOW! Push the pawn to deflect the g-pawn away. 3... gxf6Black is forced to capture. 4. gxh6Mission Accomplished! A passer on the h-file. 

– X fJ # , . @ Quad Grip - White to MoveBlack Makes Pawn Moves

1. g5White's goal is to create an h-file passer. The g-pawn is pushed up first 1... hxg5If Black captures the pawn (1... f6If Black pushes the f-pawn 2. exf6Simply capture the pawn to deflect the g-pawn away. 2... gxf63. gxh6BAM! Mission Accomplished! )2. fxg5White recaptures 2... f6If Black pushes the f-pawn (2... g6If the g-pawn is pushed 3. h6Simply push the pawn forward to make a passer. )3. gxf6Capture the pawn to deflect the g-pawn 3... gxf6Forced to capture 4. h6CAPOW! An h-file passer. 

– X fJ # , . @ The Quad Grip - Black Handles the Threat of 2 PassersHow to Stop Passers with the Defending King Closeby

1... Rxc5+2. Qxc5+Qxc5+3. bxc5The queen's capture creates a passer on the c-file. 

3... Kd7The king starts to move away from the quad but it's better to stay close and execute the break himself to stop White from creating passers white remaining within the rule of the square to stop the c-pawn passer. (3... f6This is how it's done: Black pushes the f-pawn to prevent White from creating a passer. 4. exf6+Kxf6King captures and still remains within the Rule of the Square to the c-pawn passer. 5. g5+Ke7The king MUST move back and allow the pawns to handle themselves because of the c-pawn passer. If it wasn't there he would further assist in the pawn's capture (5... hxg5If Black captures the pawn instead of retreating the king 6. fxg5+Captures back with check 6... Kxg5White has successfully deflected the king outside the Rule of the Square, allowing the c-pawn to promote. 7. c6e58. c7d4+9. Kd3e4+10. Kxd4Kf411. c8=Q))

– X fJ # , . @ The Quad Grip - Black's King is Close by with No Other Passers

1... g6Black executes the breakthrough with the intent of creating his own passer furthest from White's king. 2. g5White shouldn't push his pawns. With Black's king close by, pushing the pawns is losing for White. Let's watch what happens when he does push the pawn. (2. Kd4Instead, the king should move closer to stop the progression of Black's passer. 2... Kf8The king makes a waiting move 3. Kc5gxh5If the pawn captures 4. gxh5White MUST capture back to prevent Black from creating a passed pawn that's too far for the king to capture. (4. g5If White instead tries to create a passer of his own. 4... h4White's king is outside the Rule of the Square and the pawn will promote. 5. gxh6h36. h7Kg77. h8=Q+Kxh88. Kd4h29. Ke3h1=Q)4... Ke75. Kd4The king is limited in his movements. He MUST babysit the Connected Passed Pawn. If he strays into the 6th rank the d-pawn will run to the other side of the board and promote. )2... hxg53. h6Kf8BAM! Black's king swings around and will stop the passer. 4. h7Kg75. fxg5Kxh7The Black king will then swing around to the queenside to support his d-pawn promotion and capture White's e-pawn. 

– X

fJ # , . @ Let's Review:

1. Let's face it, given best play the side who's closer to promoting has the greatest chance of winning, whether the defending side moves his pawns or not. 2. The goal of the attacking side is to create a passed pawn as far from the defending king as possible.  

3. When the disadvantaged side has his king close by, execute the Break yourself to create a passer as far from the other king as possible.  Your king is close enough to capture your opponent's passed pawns. 

4. The idea of using "Pawn Tension" allows both sides to create passers but the side closest to promoting WINS if the defending king is far enough away. 

We all know how important it is to have passed pawn in the endgame.  Creating passed pawns on both sides of the board is even more advantageous, which overloads your opponent's pieces and king.   Look for these patterns to create your own Breakthroughs but most of all you now understand the precise move order to assure a winning position.    I hope this has shed some light on Pawn Breakthroughs.  Look for part 2 where we'll discuss the effective use of Pawn Levers to create Passers in your position.  Until then....Cheers.Comments

6 months ago

hreedwork  Samantha, that is another excruciating pawn breakthru! Truly painful, lol...

6 months ago

Samantha212  Here's another Pawn Breakthrough to know that I recently came across.  This structure is found in the Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation:Pawn BreakthroughEnds with a Fox in the Chicken Coup Technique

This position presents with a different move order than presented above. Let's Watch... 

1... c42. Kg3c53. Kf4b44. Ke4Kg55. Kd5Kh46. Kxc5bxc37. Kb5Kxh38. Kxc4Kxg49. Kd3h510. Ke2Kg311. Kf1a412. Kg1a313. Kh1h414. Kg1Kf3Fox in the Chicken Coup Technique follows 15. Kf1Ke316. Ke1h3BAM! Black threatens to promote and the king needs to return to the Square of the Pawn. 17. Kf1Kd2POW! Allowing Black's king to attack the pawn 18. Kg1Kxc2GULP! 19. Kh2Kb220. Kxh3c221. Kg3c1=QMission Accomplished! 

– X fJ # , . @

6 months ago

hreedwork