Interlocked pawn structures

Technical questions regarding Openings, Middlegames, Endings etc.
Post Reply
David Blower
Posts: 441
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2012 11:01 pm
Contact:

Interlocked pawn structures

Post by David Blower » Mon May 19, 2014 3:45 am

OK I suppose it has happened in games, but what are the key things about this?

When should you lock up the pawn structure? When should you avoid it?

Is there anything that should be done, if you are trying to break down an interlocked pawn structure?

Although each game or position maybe different is it best to play safe, or is a piece sac acceptable if you can get passed pawns from it etc?

Barry Sandercock
Posts: 1356
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2012 10:52 am

Re: Interlocked pawn structures

Post by Barry Sandercock » Mon May 19, 2014 8:29 am

From experience, it seems to me that interlocked pawns often lead to drawn endgames. It may be better to exchange pawns to open lines for your pieces. As regards sacrificing a piece to do this, you would have to calculate very carefully to make sure the passed pawn can't be stopped and captured, leaving you a piece down for very little.

User avatar
Jon Mahony
Posts: 668
Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:47 pm
Location: Leeds

Re: Interlocked pawn structures

Post by Jon Mahony » Mon May 19, 2014 12:40 pm

Stick your hand out, agree a draw and go get a pint, is my strategy in dealing with interlocked pawn endings :D
"When you see a good move, look for a better one!" - Lasker

Francis Fields
Posts: 141
Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2014 9:50 am
Location: London

Re: Interlocked pawn structures

Post by Francis Fields » Fri May 30, 2014 3:20 pm

As a chess player you have to understand every type of chess position as you never know what your opponent is going to do !!


Francis

Barry Sandercock
Posts: 1356
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2012 10:52 am

Re: Interlocked pawn structures

Post by Barry Sandercock » Fri May 30, 2014 6:44 pm

How many players understand every type of chess position ?!

Francis Fields
Posts: 141
Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2014 9:50 am
Location: London

Re: Interlocked pawn structures

Post by Francis Fields » Sat May 31, 2014 3:49 pm

It was a general comment about attitude to learning.

David Blower
Posts: 441
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2012 11:01 pm
Contact:

Re: Interlocked pawn structures

Post by David Blower » Sun Jun 15, 2014 6:13 pm

So I managed to have a game with an interlocked pawn structure on Tuesday night.

In this position I offered a draw:



I was black, and it is white to move. The draw offer was rejected.

Eventually getting to this position.



Again it is white to move.

David Blower
Posts: 441
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2012 11:01 pm
Contact:

Re: Interlocked pawn structures

Post by David Blower » Sun Jun 15, 2014 7:52 pm

And it ended up with my opponent completely messing up!



My opponent shall remain nameless (although of course I can't stop anyone searching the ECF grading database when the new grades come out in July.)

My opponent said to me after the match had finished: "It was just one bad move," to which I replied that he had completely messed up interlocking the pawn structure.

Roger de Coverly
Posts: 21301
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:51 pm

Re: Interlocked pawn structures

Post by Roger de Coverly » Sun Jun 15, 2014 7:57 pm

David Blower wrote: My opponent said to me after the match had finished: "It was just one bad move," to which I replied that he had completely messed up interlocking the pawn structure.
I would have thought he made a totally unnecessary piece sacrifice.

That structure with 4v3 on the king-side and 3v4 with a doubled pawn on the other side is frequently in White's favour, which underpins systems like the Exchange Lopez.

David Blower
Posts: 441
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2012 11:01 pm
Contact:

Re: Interlocked pawn structures

Post by David Blower » Sun Jun 15, 2014 8:08 pm

The opening was the Scotch Game classical variation.

Even though its 7 v 7 its not really even is it!

The doubled pawn structure for me came from early on in the match. My opponent played 5 Nxc6, to which I replied dxc6.

User avatar
Christopher Kreuzer
Posts: 8806
Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2010 2:34 am
Location: London

Re: Interlocked pawn structures

Post by Christopher Kreuzer » Sun Jun 15, 2014 8:08 pm

As Roger points out, David's example is not a good one of how to play correctly. There are several classic examples of piece sacrifices used to break through when pawn structures are seemingly interlocked and static. There was one particularly nice one from elite GM play in the past year or so, hopefully someone can remember it and post it up.

EDIT: Possibly an Aronian win? It is annoying I can't remember the game!

Post Reply