Chess Strategy: The Power of the Pawn

Keep тЂ˜em Mobile

In chess, mobility equals power and for this reason, itтЂ™s not surprising that the pawn is deemed the weakest piece. Though there are eight per side, individual pawn power is limited by plodding forward movement and restricted capture ability. As a result, they may seem to be тЂњin the wayтЂќ of the real game.

However, pawns are somewhat deceptive in that regard. Though they may be weak as individual pieces, they have the potential to be much more when paired together or when working in combination with another piece. When playing chess, itтЂ™s important to keep in mind тЂњpawn structureтЂќ for maximum effect. As a team or unit, pawns can indeed mobilize and make an impact.

Within the Rules

Rules dictate that a pawn can only move forward, one square at a time (with the exception of the opening move, which may be two squares). To capture a piece, a pawn can again only move one square тЂ“ diagonally. Thus, across an 8x8 chessboard, the pawn is limited to the three squares directly in front of it. While this is clearly restrictive, the pawnтЂ™s power tends to increase as the endgame approaches. The fewer pieces on the board, the greater the pawnтЂ™s power.Т 

In addition, when pawns are placed side by side, their power increases as well. Each pawn protects the otherтЂ™s forward movement, as well as creates a barrier of sorts to the pieces behind them (e.g. the all-important king). Pawns also exert power at times by forcing other pieces to move around them, rather than through. Since mobility equals power in chess, the pawnтЂ™s ability to alter an opponentтЂ™s movement is most definitely part of its own power.

Speaking of which, a pawn is also the only piece on the board that can transform during a game. If a pawn makes it to the eighth rank тЂ“ that is, the last row of the opposing side тЂ“ then it can be тЂњpromotedтЂќ to any other piece, other than the king. This is called a тЂњpassed pawnтЂќ and the most common piece chosen is quite naturally, the most powerful: the queen. As writer James Mason (1849-1905) rightly observed, тЂњEvery pawn is a potential Queen.тЂќ

Pawn Potential

And there, in a nutshell, is the power of the pawn: ThereтЂ™s more to it than meets the eye. This is not to say of course that pawns are equal in power to that of the queen or rook, only that the pawn can be more useful than one may think. The key to their power rests with their numbers and the strategic use of them during a game. Indeed, no pieces on a chessboard are expendable, including the dutiful pawn.

тЂњThe older I grow, the more I value pawns.тЂќ (Paul Keres, 1916-75)

Add your comment:

Your name:
Site Address:	http://
Your message:
Enter todays date, 2 digits (spam):