Pawn Structure Chess Resources:
A Comprehensive Guide
Pawn structures are the foundation of chess strategy.
Understanding how to manipulate and exploit pawn formations is crucial for developing strong positional play.
This guide compiles a wealth of resources to help you master pawn structures in chess.
Wikipedia:
Provides a starting point with an overview of the 20 major pawn formations
2 Slav formation
3 Sicilian – Scheveningen
5 Boleslavsky hole
6 Maróczy Bind
7 Hedgehog
8 Rauzer formation
9 Boleslavsky Wall
10 d5 chain 11 e5 chain
13 Giuoco Piano – Isolani formation
15 Hanging pawns
18 Stonewall formation
Jeremy Silman Chess.com Article Archive
Pawn Structure Articles
(20 Articles Here)
Pawn Structure Books (Free)
Internet Archive
- Chess Structures a Grandmasters Guide - 464 page PDF - This book offers a comprehensive exploration of pawn structures
- Chess blueprints : planning in the middlegame by Yakovlev, Nikolay - 282 Page PDF
- Improve your chess now by Tisdall, Jon - 226 page PDF
- What it takes to become a chess master by Soltis, Andy - 209 Page PDF
Additional Resources:
- Typical positions with the Karlsbad Pawn Structure. - 17 Page PDF
- Pawn Center Types - 6 Page PDF
Pawn Structure Chess Articles
Understanding Pawn Structures:
- Chess Pawn Moves and Structures - Chessable Blog Guide (Real Nice) - Unveiling the importance of pawn structure in chess strategy. This Chessable Blog guide explores pawn movement basics and how pawn formations influence your game.
- The Complete Guide To Pawn Structures - Chess Simplified Guide
(Pages and Pages on all the Different Types of pawn Structures)Demystify pawn structures, the backbone of chess strategy! This in-depth guide from Simplify Chess explores various pawn formations, equipping you with the knowledge to dominate the middlegame. - Pawn-structures: Why pawns are the soul of chess - Chessfox dives into the concept of pawn structures, explaining why they are considered the foundation of successful chess strategy. Learn how pawn formations influence piece mobility and overall game plans.
- Pawn Types - General Info at Wikibooks on The different pawn types Doubled, Hanging, Passed etc. (Beginners)
- Introduction To Chess: Pawns - Don't underestimate the pawn! Mark Lowery unveils the power hidden within these unassuming chess pieces. Explore pawn moves, captures, promotion, and their strategic significance.
Playing with Specific Pawn Structures:
- Carlsbad Pawn Structure - Unpack the strategic ideas behind the Carlsbad pawn structure, a common middlegame formation in chess. This Chess.com guide explores plans for both White and Black.
- INTRODUCTION TO THE ISOLATED QUEEN’S PAWN POSITIONS - Friend or foe? Understand the complexities of the isolated queen's pawn, a common chess structure with both strengths and weaknesses. Learn how to handle it effectively on Pawnbreak.
- Best Chess Formations to Win Games Consistently - Big Article on Chessable Blog - Beyond the pawns themselves - formations hold the key! Explore the fascinating world of chess formations in this Chessable blog post. Discover how pawn structures like the Carlsbad and the Slav influence your strategic thinking.
Articles,LiChess Studies,Video lessons
Advanced Strategy:
- FM David Levin
Level up your middlegame decision-making! FM David Levin unveils a powerful technique: using pawn structures to guide your chess strategy.
To Plan for the Middlegame, Read the Pawn Structure (Part 1)
To Plan for the Middlegame, Read the Pawn Structure (Part 2)
Pawn Structure LiChess Studies
Deepen your understanding of pawn structures with these in-depth Lichess studies:
- Pawn Structure - 22 Chapter Study covering 22 Pawn structures
- Pawn Structure - 63 Chapter Study (Talking about a lot of Different Pawn Formations)
- Common Chess Structures - Plans/ Ideas - 8 Chapter Study (400 Hearts)
- Intermediate: (Soltis) Pawn Structures - 18 Chapter Study (130 hearts)
(Each of the Chapters in this Study has a link at the End to another Study with 4-5 Annotated games on that type of Pawn Structure or Ideas in that Chapter) - Isolated Queen Pawn: Middlegame - 7 Chapter Study
- Pawn Structure London System - 8 Chapter Study (100 hearts)
New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.
Pawn Structure Video Lessons
General Understanding Pawn Structures
Easy Structure - 7 Video playlist - GM Sune Berg ( 2 hr ) e vs c Pawn Structure Series
Pawn Structure Chess.com - 30 Video Playlist - Short Lessons on the Different Structures
IM Andrew Martin, Pawn Structure: How and Why it Matters - 2 Hr - New
Pawn Structure Trends: Then & Now | Secret Life of Pawns - GM Atanas Kolev - 55 Min
A masterclass on Pawn Structures by a Top Dutch trainer ft. Herman Grooten - 1.5 hr
A Positional Discussion about Pawn Structures and Dynamism - 20 Min - IM Andreas Toth
Pawn Structure Principles - Full Guide With Timestamps - 38 Min NM Nelson Lopez
Pawn Structure Deep-Dive Video Lessons
1 -2 - Caro / Slav Pawn Structure Lessons
Caro Pawn structure - Lasker v Capablanca - 15 Min
Planning in the French and Caro-Kann Structures | Road to 2000 - 55 Min
Caro Kann Pawn Structure Ideas - In 12 Minutes - 12 min
Understanding the structure from the Caro-Kann Defense and the Scandinavian Opening - 12 Min GM Hansen
Chess Pawn Structure : Pawn structures in depth - The Caro Formation - 9 Min - Kingscrusher
3 - Sicilian – Scheveningen
Chess Pawn structures in depth: The Scheveningen Structure - 6 Min
Pawn Structure 101 Scheveningen 6 e4 Central Pressure - 34 Min IM Rensch
Pawn Structure 101 Scheveningen 8 Tactical Finale Chess - 29 Min IM Rensch
Pawn Structure 101 Scheveningen 7 White s Slow Play Chess - 32 Min IM Rensch
Pawn Structure 101 Scheveningen 8 Tactical Finale Chess - 29 Min IM Rensch
4 - Sicilian – Dragon
Chess Pawn structures in depth: The Dragon Formation - 5 Min
#1 Guide To Sicilian Dragon Pawn Structures - 17 Min
Sicilian Dragon Variation Plans and Pawn Structure, Yugoslav Attack - 17 Min
Sicilian Pawn Structures with IM Mat Kolosowski - 62 Min
5 - Boleslavsky hole
Boleslvasky Hole Chess Pawn Structure: Natalia Pogonina Instructive Game - 8 Min
Boleslavsky Pawn Structure - Introduction | Chess Course - 6 Min
Learn Chess Strategies that Grandmasters Use - 21 Min
6 - Maróczy Bind
GM Neiksans Boot Camp #5 - Maroczy Bind - 3 hr
Pawn Structure #1: Maróczy Bind | Strategy Session with Jonathan Schrantz - 48 Min
Maroczy Bind Pawn Structure in Chess (Middlegames) - 18 Min
The Maroczy Bind from "Pawn Structure Chess" by Soltis [advanced chess lesson] - 68 Min
Maroczy Bind Secrets with GM Liem Le Quang FIDE 2720 - 57 Min
How To Play the Maroczy Bind | Dojo Lessons feat KirkD (1700) - 17 Min IM
Recognition of pawn structures- Maroczy bind-The Maroczy Hop - 20 min
Recognition of pawn structures- Maroczy bind- Nc2 idea by white - 12 Min
Recognition of pawn structures- Maroczy bind-c5-e5 break through - 11 Min
Destroy The Maroczy Bind with Black! - GM Dzindzichashvili - 30 Min
Live Stream: Dealing with the Maroczy Bind in the Dragon - GM Ron Henley - 48 Min
Top Ten Middlegame Ideas #6: Maroczy Bind - Introduction - 24 Min
Learn to Develop a Long-Term Chess Strategy With the Maroczy Bind - GM Damian Lemos - 25 Min
Chess Gym : Maroczy Bind - 36 Min
Crushing the Sicilian 💪 with the Maroczy Bind - IM Valeri Lilov - 31 Min
7 - Hedgehog Pawn Structure
Hedgehog Pawn Structure In Chess (Middlegames) - 15 Min
Exploring the Hedgehog - GM Yasser Seirawan - 41 Min
Poke Holes in the Hedgehog! | Secret Life of Pawns - GM Mauricio Flores - 51 Min
Introduction to the Hedgehog - 2hr IM John Batholomew
Why the Knight Goes to d7 in the Hedgehog | Dojo Lessons - 15 Min IM Kavutskiy
The Hedgehog - GM Ben Finegold - 49 Min
GM Neiksans Boot Camp #38: The Hedgehog - 2 Hrs
9 - Boleslavsky Wall
Chess middlegame planning - Boleslavsky wall for black - d5 pawn breakthrough - 10 Min
Chess middlegame planning - Boleslavsky wall for black - 10 Min
Chess middlegame planning -Boleslavsky wall - Minority attack - 11 Min
Chess middlegame planning - Boleslavsky wall - Exploiting weaknesses - 11 Min
Chess middlegame planning - Boleslavsky wall - Kingside attack - 11 Min
10 - d5 chain
Chess Strategy: Chess Pawn structure series: The d5 vs. e5 pawn chains - 17 Min
Understanding Pawn Chains ♙♙ IM Valeri Lilov - 21 Min
13 -14 - Isolated Queen Pawn Formations
15 Hanging Pawns
Introduction to Hanging Pawns | Pawn Structures | IM Alex Astaneh - 7 Min
Winning with Hanging Pawns | Pawn Structures | IM Alex Astaneh - 20 Min
How to play against Hanging Pawns | Pawn Structures | IM Alex Astaneh - 29 Min
How to play with Hanging Pawns| Advanced | GM Alex Lenderman - 16 Min
How to play against Hanging Pawns | Part 1 | Advanced Level | GM Alex Lenderman - 18 Min
How to play against Hanging Pawns | Part 2 | Advanced Level | GM Alex Lenderman - 16 Min
Hanging Pawns | Chess Middlegames - 35 Min
16 - Carlsbad Pawn Structure Lessons
Carlsbad Pawn Structure and Minority Attack - 24 Video Playlist - Assorted Video's From YouTube
Carlsbad Structure- 17 Video Playlist - FULL PLAYLIST (Videos Below Are in it)
Advanced - 6.Unit: Carlsbad Structure - 6 Video Playlist - GM Alex Lenderman
GM Neiksans Boot Camp #32 - Carlsbad Structure - 2 hr
Master the Carlsbad Pawn Structure - The Full Course with GM Sune Berg Hansen - 3 hr
Bishops Bounty Carlsbad Page - Post of Articles, Games, Lichess Studies and Video Lessons (Most of the best Video Lessons I left above)
17 - Panov Formation
Chess.com - Pawn Structure 101: Panov-Botvinnik - 4 Min IM Daniel Rensch
Learn the "Advance Panov" Pawn Structure! - 13 Min
The Panov attack - The opponent's counterattack ideas - Middlegame strategy in chess - 22 Min
18 - Stonewall Formation
Bishops Bounty Stonewall Pawn Structure Page - Articles Games, LiChess Studies and Video lessons