English Chess Forum

Hello. I have come across a question: My next table had a c3+d4 structure (plus some other pawns and pieces) and his opponent tried to control the square c4 with Na5. I wonder if such a pawn (c3) can be considered weak, considering that the file is closed be cause of a Black pawn on c6.. What about the pair c3+d4?

soheil_hooshdaran wrote: I wonder if such a pawn (c3) can be considered weak, considering that the file is closed be cause of a Black pawn on c6.. What about the pair c3+d4?

Is there a pawn on b2? If not, then the pawns on c3 and d4 could prove weak, particularly of the e pawn has gone as well, making them hanging pawns. Perhaps even worse, the Knight could move to the c4 square and be difficult to challenge. If analysing with engines teaches us anything, it's that a complex interplay of factors affects how you should assess positions and a structure that might be a decisive weakness in one position is nothing to worry about in another.

Roger de Coverly wrote:

soheil_hooshdaran wrote: I wonder if such a pawn (c3) can be considered weak, considering that the file is closed be cause of a Black pawn on c6.. What about the pair c3+d4?

Is there a pawn on b2? If not, then the pawns on c3 and d4 could prove weak, particularly of the e pawn has gone as well, making them hanging pawns. Perhaps even worse, the Knight could move to the c4 square and be difficult to challenge. If analysing with engines teaches us anything, it's that a complex interplay of factors affects how you should assess positions and a structure that might be a decisive weakness in one position is nothing to worry about in another.

The problem is that the c-file is closed. Also, I wonder if c4 can be called an outpost since Black has no b- or d-pawn.
More over, White has no dark Bishop so blockading c4 cannot be an advantage IMO

Show us the position. We can't sensibly discuss a position without seeing it.