So I know isolated pawns are a weakness. What if your opponent doesn't protect the pawn, but could on the next move. In general, should I go ahead and take it? Or should I wait for them to devote a piece to holding it? What value, in fractions of a pawn, would you give the weakness of the isolated pawn?
The position on the board has everything to do with
giving that question a solid answer.
Sometimes leaving the pawn on the board is good because you
have the square in front of the pawn (being isolated you cannot
chase what ever there by a pawn.)
Taking the pawn may subject you tempo gains on what ever took the piece
especially if it is a Queen that takes the IQP.
Sometimes taking the IQP sets free the opponent pieces. Remember one
of the strengths of the IQP is to push it (sac it) at the right moment to attack the King.
That is why one of the ploys v a an IQP is to block it., not taking it, blocking it.
Generally if you manage to take the IQP it's good (you are a pawn up!)
and you have a piece in the centre of the board. But even the slightest change
in any position given as an example can and will alter the evaluation.
Originally posted by byedidia So I know isolated pawns are a weakness. What if your opponent doesn't protect the pawn, but could on the next move. In general, should I go ahead and take it? Or should I wait for them to devote a piece to holding it? What value, in fractions of a pawn, would you give the weakness of the isolated pawn?
Depends entirely on the rest of the position. To give a hard-and-fast rule for this, or even a general guideline, would be foolishness. As for fractions of a pawn, if you think this is a question which has an answer, you shouldn't be worrying about them yet.
Originally posted by byedidia So I know isolated pawns are a weakness.
It's not always the case that isolated pawns are a weakness. As already mentioned the Isolated Queen Pawn (IQP) is a feature of many openings. Grandmasters cannot agree on whether the IQP is an advantage or a disadvantage. Also, sometimes the opponent's weakness, or yours, for that matter, is a pawn stuck in the way of your own peices. To lose may well be a positive advantage.
Originally posted by byedidia So I know isolated pawns are a weakness. What if your opponent doesn't protect the pawn, but could on the next move. In general, should I go ahead and take it? Or should I wait for them to devote a piece to holding it? What value, in fractions of a pawn, would you give the weakness of the isolated pawn?
If your opponent has an isolated pawn on the 7th and you cannot blockade it, you should seriously consider taking it before it promotes. Unless, of course, you have something better (such as mate on the move by doing something else).
In other words, it all depends on the rest of the position.
Originally posted by Red Night Tarrasch considered an IQP to be an advantage and not a weakness
A lot depends on whether you control the square in front of the isolani. If so, then an isolani may be an asset, since the pawn controls the two adjacent squares on the next rank, so you have three squares on that rank in your pocket, so to speak. However, if your opponent controls the square in front of the isolani, then he can post a piece there and the isolani protects it from frontal attack (for example by your rook) .
Byedidia and Greenpawn,
Greenpawn mentioned that one ploy against an isolated pawn is to block it. Perhaps, this can also be a ploy against a connected pawn. However, if I am correct, I have read that when you block a pawn with a piece, block it with a piece that does not lose power while blocking the pawn.
Thus, a Bishop or Knight will not lose power when in front of a pawn to block it. The Queen, and Rook will lose power while blocking a pawn.
I suppose that a pawn can block an enemy pawn without losing its power to capture; but of course, it can no longer move forward. While using the thought that a pawn is not considered a piece, and when you want to use a piece to block an enemy pawn, consider the Bishop or Knight first rather than the Rook or Queen.
I don't remember where I read this general guideline. Greenpawn, what do you think of this guideline?
28 Aug '15 18:41
When to capture an isolated pawn
Back to Top