Pawn Breakthroughs

Samantha212

| Sep 25, 2015 at 6:40 PM

| Posted in: Samantha212's Blog

| 3042 reads

| 5 comments

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 Squares

3
Pawns
Breakthrough

vs

Pawns

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.

f
J#,.@
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.

J#,.@
How to Stop a Pawn Breakthrough
How 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 cpawn (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

f
J#,.@
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 Grip

The 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 hfile regardless of which pawn Black
takes. 2... gxh5(2... hxg5If he captures the gpawn 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. )

f
J#,.@
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 gpawn 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.

J#,.@
Quad Grip - White to Move
Black Makes Pawn Moves

1. g5White's goal is to create an h-file passer. The gpawn 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.

J#,.@
The Quad Grip - Black Handles the Threat of
2 Passers
How 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
))

f
J#,.@
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. Ke
3h1=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.

f
J#,.@
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 Breakthrough
Ends 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. Kxc5

bxc37. 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!

J#,.@

6 months ago

hreedwork