(Schliemann, I hope you have a chance to respond to this)
This is a pretty open-ended question, but let's try it...
I often play opponents much better than myself who, during certain
openings when there isn't much initiative for either side, choose to
push both the "a" and "h" pawns up one square. Rarely do I see this
in published games between grandmasters.
In my heart, I know these are wasted moves...against which a good
opponent can dominate. For example, a pawn storm or piece sacrifice
might do the job.
The question is: Do any of you have a basic explanation of how to
take advantage of these wasted pawn moves? Or do you have any
examples of games which you can post or send me which demonstrate
how the player suffers when he executes these wasted pawn moves?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this. I'm sure for most of
you, this question is simply a matter of common chess sense.
Unfortunately, I'm lacking it!
"wasted" pawn moves are made by the opponent, not by the one
making the pawn move. There are several ways to do this
- by using the extra tempo to gain advantage for your plan (attack or
defense, or both), using the move dynamically
- by moving to a position where this pawn move is irrelevant, pure
waste. Example (but debatable of course) 1. c3, f5. There are very
few "Dutch" positions where c3 plays a role.
Sin.
sintubin makes a good point about out how one might play to cause
an opponent's move to be considered a loss of tempo in a particular
position, which is something master level players try to do all the
time.
However, an a3 or h3 move for White (a6 or h6 for Black) may or may
not be a wasted move - it really depends on the position. Often h3 is
played to do two things: take the g4 square (for Black h6 protects g5)
away from an opponent's bishop, knight or other piece and two, to
provide the king some "luft" (German for air, meaning to give the
king a square to move to so that back rank mate possibilities for the
opponent are eliminated).
On the other hand, while a3 (a6 for Black) is often played for the
same reason, that is to control b4 (b5 for Black) just as a3 controls g4
for White and a6 controls g5 for Black. However, the a-pawn move can
be a sign that c4 for White is soon to follow or c5 for Black. Look for
those possibilities as well.
While the above reasons are only the most common examples for
such moves, there are others. White or Black in making such a move
might simply need to make a waiting move in order to see what you
come back with, or because such a move might actually help put you
in zugzwang, where you are compelled to move when you don’t want
to.
You may want to take the time to simply understand how best to take
advantage of this gift of time, if it truly is that! Can the pawn move
become a target for possible sacrifice in the near future or does it
weaken an important square in front of the king, thus weakening the
king position? Can you plan your attack to take advantage of the
pawn move in some way? If not, it is not considered a real weakness
at the moment – but maybe in the future.
Because it is very important to remember that pawns cannot move
back once moved, and EVERY pawn move leaves a weak square
behind, one must weigh such moves carefully against the advantage
they provide. Look to see if your opponent made a wise decision.
The following is slightly incorrect, though one may still understand
what I meant to say:
"On the other hand, while a3 (a6 for Black) is often played for the
same reason, that is to control b4 (b5 for Black) just as a3 (SHOULD
BE h3) controls g4 for White and a6 (SHOULD BE h6) controls g5 for
Black."
Oh well...
Kinda flattred that you wanted to hear from me on this....these pawn
moves are wasted sometimes...and sometimes not. It is true that
they are usually moved to either keep a piece off of g4...such as a
bishop pinning the knight on f3 to the queen on d1. The thing is is
that those pins can really screw up your game so sometimes we have
to make these moves to either prevent or put the question to the
piece that is occupying that square.
The move a6 and h3 are hugely common in the Ruy Lopez...one of
the most played openings of all time.
Also remember that these moves can make luft for the king in his
castled position as to avoid and back rank mates.
As for attacking the position...it is still solid...unless a bishop sac can
take pawn and open up the file to the king...but before you can play
that you need ample amount of force on that side of the board to pull
it off...otherwise it is for naught.
If I haven't answered this as well as you want I can try and explain
some more.
Dave
USA Captain
I appreciate all your responses to my post. I have printed them out
and will analyze them.
If you have the time, would you mind taking a peek at my last game
(63537) (Sicilian Defence)? I feel that move 6 for black was a wasted
pawn move per my last post, as there was no imminent threat of a
bishop-knight pin as mentioned in Schliemann's post. I decided to
create a pawn storm opportunity on this wing, and it seemed to work
against this opponent...I don't think he considered it important.
Do you have any key criticisms of my (white's) play? Was my pawn
storm strategy unwarranted? And, how would you have approached
this game as white?
I am very grateful for your responses to my last post. Thanks again
Schliemann, Mustangace, and sintubin! It's people like you that
make this site go 'round 😉
I read the game, and I want to go through the moves, writing some comments. Don't consider this as a full analysis! I am not an expert in
that. Just my reactions on what moves I might think off during the game.
In general, you played a solid game. The many comments are by no means meant as a criticism. I did not find major mistakes, and if it
were an OTB game, I am not sure how well I would have done against you. Here it is (there might be mistakes though):
1. e4, c5; 2. Nf3, d6; 3. d4, cxd; 4. Nxd, Nf6
5. Nc3, h6 this is not very often played (more a6, or g6 or Nc6 or e6) but it is in the book
6. Qd3 or a4! or Bc4 or Bb5 check or f4 or g3.
6. ...... , a6 normally played on move 5. One could argue that the sum of the two moves is indeed a bit too much (waste). White gets
the initiative for free. Black could have considered e5 or Nbd7. But in general, a6 fits well in black's strategy of the Sicilian, followed
later by b5 and Rc8 to launch an attack on the queenside, especially when white castles long, to make a kingside attack.
7. f3 or Be2 or Be3
7. ......., e6 or e5 or Nbd7
8. Be3, Bd7 (Nbd7)
9. 0-0-0 or Be2,keeping the options open
9. ......, Nc6 or b5 or Be7
10. NxNc6 is good, alternatives g4, still Be2
10. ......, BxNc6
11 g4 or Bf4
11 ......, d5? better Nd7 or Be7 or Qc7
12. g5, hxg
13. Bxg, Qc7? better Be7 or Rh5 or dxe
14 Bxf6, gxBf6 ? (Qf4 check, Kb1, QxBf6 or even dxe, Nxe, Qf4 check, Kb1, QxBf6)
15 exd, 0-0-0; 16 Qc4, exd; 17 Nxd, BxN; 18 RxB, Bh6 check
19. Kb1, Rd5 (or Qxc4 Bxc4 Rxd5 Bxd5 Rf8)
20 QxR Rd8 or Bg5, h3 (Qf5 check Kb8 Bh3 Qf4 c3 or c4 ...) Rh4 Bd3 Be3
21. Qf5 check, Kb8
22 Bd3 or Bh3 or h3
22. ......, Qe7 (Qe5!)
23 h4, Re8 (Qe5 or Qe6)
24 Be4, Rd8
25 h5 perhaps better immediately Qh7or Qa5 or c3 or c4
25 ..... Qd6? better Qd7
26 Bd3 or now a3 or c4 or c3 (best?)
26......., Rh8 or Re8 or Qe5 or Qf4
27 Bc4 or Qe4!
27 ......, Rd8
28 a3 (or b3 or c3)
28 ....., Rf8 (or Re7 Qh7)
29 Qh7, Bg4 or Qg5 or Qf4 or Qd2
30. Qg7 or h6!
30 ......., b5 mistake! f5! and there is still a fight; now the king is in the open as well
31 Bxf7, Qe7
32 Qg4, Bh6 (better Be5)
33 Be6 or Qg6
33 ......., Rd8 or Qd6
34 Qg6 or Re1 or Qf5
35 ..... Rh87 better Qg7 or Qxe6 or Qf5
36 Qg3 Ka7 37 Qf2 check, Kb8; 38 Qb6 check, Qb7; 39 Qd6 check Ka7; 40 Qd4 check Kb8; 41 Qxf6 Bg7; 42 Qf4 check Ka7; 43 Rd1
well done!
Sin.
This is wonderful! Thank you so much for analyzing this game. I may
have some questions for you in the future about this...as
your "immediate" comments are equivalent to days of studying for
myself...
Is there a way for me to email you once in a while (without using this
forum as a forum for us?) I cannot figure out how to send emails to
people on this site...other than game opponents...
you're very generous with your time/advice. When I get a hold of a
board I will go over it w/ your feedback.
To the question of pushing the outside pawns...I always worry about
weakening the white (or black) squares for defense of the king (if my
opponent has the corresponding bishop)...any feedback?
thanks,
Franklin
thanks for your encouragement Franklin.
Yes, I share your worry. But it's all a matter of pro's and con's. Sometimes the pro's are more important:
- preventive (to avoid pinning or a attack using b4 or g4)
- reactive to the same , although it may not always be the best way to get out of the pinning: Ba4 or Bh4 and then what next?
g4/b4? Also on the Bg4, pinning, the Queen escape with attack on another piece or check can be more effective (not weakening,
no tempo loss) and/or the Nbd2 as preparation
- if the king has not castled to that corner , the a3, rep h3 can be a supporting move to a pawn attack b4 (g4). Example in the
queens gambit when the king has 0-0'd, and the c-file is open, the minority attack with a, b pawn against a,b,c at blackside,
sometimes starts with a3. But there are ways to "save" that move as well, and go for a4 immediately.
not very conclusive, is it?
sin.
Actually I have found that in a castled position by white if the Bishop is
on g4 pinning the knight to the queen on d1 and black has his knight
on f6 and has not castled yet after h3 Bh5 g4 Nxg4 hxg4 Bxg4 will
lead to a very advantageous attack...but remember your pieces must
be able to get there quickly and cause pressure otherwise when you
shove the pawn to h5 and run it the attack can fade quickly...so make
sure of that...damn I need a demonstration board for this attack..but
it has served me well for many years.
Also in speed chess if the king is castled on the opposite and you
have the same scenario without you being castled and Bg4 pinning the
knight on f3..then h3 h5!...when he takes you have a direct line...but
once again this is all due to positional placement of pieces and the
tempo it takes to get them to the king.
Any questions on this I will play an unrated and we will set it up so you
can see how this works.
Dave
Captain USA