Pawn Islands

I'm currently reading Yassir Seirawan's Winning Chess Strategies, and I came to a position similar (though not exact) to the position below. In his book, he claims that white has three pawn islands, but I would have thought that white had four pawn islands. I realize that white's f-pawns are adjacent and even on the same file, but I thought that because they could not defend each other, they were two separate islands.



Could someone clear this up?

Originally posted by wittywonka
I'm currently reading Yassir Seirawan's Winning Chess Strategies, and I came to a position similar (though not exact) to the position below. In his book, he claims that white has three pawn islands, but I would have thought that white had four pawn islands. I realize that white's f-pawns are adjacent and even on the same file, but I thought that ...[text shortened]... lands.

[fen]r4b1r/ppp1kppp/8/8/8/5P2/PPP2P1P/R1B1K2R[/fen]

Could someone clear this up?

They are called islands because they have no link between each other, just like islands (that have no link to land whatsoever) .Doubled pawns are like a single island with a mountain on it. Consider it as a single pawn.

Originally posted by anthias
They are called islands because they have no link between each other, just like islands (that has no link to land whatsoever) .Doubled pawns are like a single island with a mountain on it. Consider it as a single pawn.

Originally posted by anthias
They are called islands because they have no link between each other, just like islands (that has no link to land whatsoever) .Doubled pawns are like a single island with a mountain on it. Consider it as a single pawn.

Originally posted by wittywonka
Alright, so even though they don't support one another, they are one island because they are adjacent on the same file. Thanks. 🙂

Originally posted by Phlabibit
Ah, I forgot a single pawn is an island. Well explained. Disregard my last post on this subject.

P-

Yassir Seirawan feels that doubled pawns constitute one half a point each therefore the doubled pawn should viewed as only one pawn value: therefore there are 3 pawn islands.

he feels that badly about doubled pawns? i like doubled pawns. means more open files!

Originally posted by Stockton
he feels that badly about doubled pawns? i like doubled pawns. means more open files!

Doubled pawns are an asset during the middlegame, they usually restrict enemy knights and come with the advantage of the two bishops. They are useless in an endgame, as they can not protect each other. The King has to protect them.

Originally posted by kcaley
Yes your stats say it all.

Originally posted by anthias
Doubled pawns are an asset during the middlegame, they usually restrict enemy knights and come with the advantage of the two bishops. They are useless in an endgame, as they can not protect each other. The King has to protect them.

In this position it makes perfect sense to play 6 Be3 as if black plays 6...Bxe3 7 fxe3 White has gained an open f file for free and his new e pawn denies the black Knight the d4 potential outpost square. Black is advised to play 6...Bb6, inviting white to play 7.Bxb6 axb6, as he will gain an open a file and develop his rook without even moving it.

BTW Black does not have to play 6...Bb6, as as future Bxc5 dxc5 strengthens Blacks control over the d4 square and opens the d file for future central attacks.