What is Isolated Queen Pawn?

An Isolated Queen Pawn, often referred to as an IQP, is a Queen's Pawn that has no pawns of the same color on adjacent files. This means the pawn has no fellow pawns that can protect it, making it more vulnerable to attack. This situation often occurs as a result of a pawn exchange in the center of the board. Despite this vulnerability, an isolated Queen's Pawn can also provide potential advantages, such as open lines for the player's pieces or opportunities for piece advancement and attack.