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Interlocked pawn structures
Posted: Mon May 19, 2014 3:45 am
by David Blower
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?
Re: Interlocked pawn structures
Posted: Mon May 19, 2014 8:29 am
by Barry Sandercock
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.
Re: Interlocked pawn structures
Posted: Mon May 19, 2014 12:40 pm
by Jon Mahony
Stick your hand out, agree a draw and go get a pint, is my strategy in dealing with interlocked pawn endings
Re: Interlocked pawn structures
Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 3:20 pm
by Francis Fields
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
Re: Interlocked pawn structures
Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 6:44 pm
by Barry Sandercock
How many players understand every type of chess position ?!
Re: Interlocked pawn structures
Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 3:49 pm
by Francis Fields
It was a general comment about attitude to learning.
Re: Interlocked pawn structures
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 6:13 pm
by David Blower
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.
Re: Interlocked pawn structures
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 7:52 pm
by David Blower
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.
Re: Interlocked pawn structures
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 7:57 pm
by Roger de Coverly
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.
Re: Interlocked pawn structures
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 8:08 pm
by David Blower
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.
Re: Interlocked pawn structures
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 8:08 pm
by Christopher Kreuzer
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!