Hi, in this position Mr Purdy gives as an example of 'prophylactic', play on the part of Lasker, two years before Nimzovich published 'Mein System', anyhow, there is some confusion on my part, for Mr. Purdy states that the base of whites pawn chain is the pawn on e4, so far so good, but he now states that the base of blacks pawn chain is d6. can someone clarify why this is the case, for it looks to me, that the base of blacks pawn chain is not d6 as stated in the text, but c7, kind regards in advance - Robbie.
Originally posted by SophyI partly agree, the term "pawn chain" may have variations in its exact definition. I've read cases where the pawns have to be blocked but also cases that do not require this criteria.
In fact, the pawn in c7 is not part of the chain of pawn and is not the base. The base of a pawn chain always oppose the head of the ennemy's chain, The base of white chains is e4, the head is d5, so the base of the black chain is d6.
My own opinion is that the term is more commonly used regardless of blocked or not, and for me this makes the most sense. Maybe Purdy differs.
Originally posted by Varenkayes my learned friend, but where is the base, c7 or d6
I partly agree, the term "pawn chain" may have variations in its exact definition. I've read cases where the pawns have to be blocked but also cases that do not require this criteria.
My own opinion is that the term is more commonly used regardless of blocked or not, and for me this makes the most sense. Maybe Purdy differs.
Originally posted by Varenkayes it matters, for why should it be open to interpretation, a pawn chain is a pawn chain is it not? whether it is blocked or not? whether Nimzo is describing it, or Prudy or greenpawn, or anyone, simply stating that its open to interpretation, simply confuses the matter, if no one knows why Purdy states that its at d6 while others think that its at c7 then thats ok, clarity is the thing that we are striving for. clarity, positional clarity my friend, tactical clarity, clarity of thought and of planning. i do not like confusion, its not good.
Purdy says d6. We've said his use of the term "pawn chain" may differ from others. Does it matter if I think the base is at c7 when you're reading a Purdy book? 🙂
Originally posted by AThousandYoungClarity and ease of expression! I thank you my friend, really! although this may just be a 'technicality' and a relatively small matter, it was important to me, for i dare not progress in my book while leaving some detail to chance, i really do thankyou for this - regards Robbie.
Read Nimzovich's My System. In it he defines a Pawn Chain as made up of both players' Pawns. Since White has no Pawn on c6, c7 is not part of the chain.
Originally posted by robbie carrobiePawn Chain; chains are always tied together. They do not
Clarity and ease of expression! I thank you my friend, really! although this may just be a 'technicality' and a relatively small matter, it was important to me, for i dare not progress in my book while leaving some detail to chance, i really do thankyou for this - regards Robbie.
seperate for any reason. Pawns only chain when they are blocked and
cannot move, or they'll slip out of their links!
this expression was given by Master Reuben Fine.
He later on explains that to crack a chain, it must
be made a backward pawn.
-GIN
I definitely learned something about pawn chains from this thread. My only prior exposure was from Patrick Wolff's The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess. Both Wolff and (I think) Yasser Seirawan would say that Black's pawn chain also consists of his c7 pawn, which would also be the base of Black's pawn chain.
However, others noted that Nimzovich's definition is different - In Nimzovich's world (My System, Part 1, Chapter 9), if a pawn isn't blocked by an opponent's pawn, it simply isn't part of the pawn chain. (I guess Sophy's definition would be more correct.) It appears that Mr. Purdy is using Nimzovich's definition.
It's also interesting that in Ludek Pachman's Modern Chess Strategy (page 224), Mr. Pachman makes a distinction between blocked pawn chains and other pawn chains. He states that the term "pawn chain" can be applied to any pawn formation strung together. So Pachman's definition of a pawn chain isn't restricted to just blocked pawn chains, but if the chain IS blocked, then he actually calls it a blocked pawn chain. (Although from scanning this section, it's still not clear to me what Mr. Pachman would consider Black's base pawn to be in the diagram that Robbie posted.)