Chapter 9

Doubled pawns

Doubled pawns are when we have two pawns of the same colour on one file. We will be looking at cases where such pawns are isolated from the rest of their pawns, otherwise we would speak of a ‘pawn mass’. Like backward pawns, doubled pawns are a static weakness that is hard to defend. Their positive side can occasionally be seen, when they create an open file, along which pressure can be exerted. Doubled pawns can also be useful in defence in the endgame, because they can make it hard for the opponent to create a passed pawn – if one of the doubled pawns is removed, the other still remains. In other cases, such pawns are only good if one of them is an extra pawn. One also occasionally sees practical cases of tripled pawns, but this is a great rarity.

46 *

Alexander Beliavsky

2690

Konstantin Sakaev

2620

Yugoslavia tt 1998 (3)

If Black simply moves the knight away somewhere, then after taking on a5, White will not only gain the two bishops, but also retain a potentially strong pair of central pawns, which will later threaten to advance.

11…♘d3+!

For a minimum material cost, Black obtains serious positional pluses. The doubled pawns are securely blockaded, and only control squares in their own camp, which stops them being dangerous.

12.♕xd3 ♕xd3 13.exd3 ♗c7

Also possible is 13…♗b6 14.♗b2 ♘d5 15.♘e5 f6 16.♘c4 ♗d7 17.♘e3 ♗c6, with equality, but the retreat to c7 is somewhat better – here, the bishop can be exchanged only for its opposite number, and not for the knight.

14.♗b2 ♗d7 15.♗e5 ♖ac8 16.0-0 ♗c6 17.d4 ♘d5 18.♖fc1 f6 19.♗xc7 ♖xc7

Black solidly controls all the squares in the centre, and despite his extra pawn, White has no advantage.

20.♘e1 ♖fc8 21.♘d3 b6 22.♖e1 ♔f7 23.♖ac1

23…g5!

Black seizes space and deprives the enemy knight of the f4-square.

24.♗h3 ♗d7 25.♖xc7 ♖xc7 26.♖c1 ♗b5

It was possible just to bring the king to the centre with 26…♔e7, with equality.

27.♖xc7+ ♘xc7 28.♘e1 ♗c4 29.♗f1 ♗b3 30.f3 ♘d5 31.♔f2 ♘e7 32.♗d3 h6 33.♗e4 ♘c8 34.♗c2 ♗d5 35.♗d3 ♘d6 36.♘c2 f5 37.♘e3 ♔f6 38.♔e2

Nothing is obtained by 38.♘xd5+ exd5 39.a4 f4 – White has nowhere to break through.

38…♗b3 39.♘d1 ♗d5 40.♘c3 ♗c6 41.♔e3 ♗d5 42.♗a6?

A mistake, after which the advantage passes to Black.

42…♗c4! 43.♗xc4

Playing 43.b5 is risky – in time, Black can bring his king to c7, freeing the knight from guarding the bishop at a6.

43…♘xc4+ 44.♔d3 ♘xa3 45.d5 exd5 46.♘xd5+ ♔e5 47.♘c3 f4 48.g4 b5

Nothing is offered by the direct 48…a5 49.b5 ♔d6 50.♔d4.

He could keep the advantage with the unusual 48…♔d6!, ensuring the creation of an outside passed pawn. Then, White cannot go after the queenside pawns, and the variation 49.♘e4+ ♔c6 50.♘f6 a5 51.bxa5 bxa5 52.♘g8 ♔d5 53.♘xh6 ♘c4 54.♘f7 ♘e5+ 55.♘xe5 ♔xe5 favours Black.

49.♘e2?!

Standing passively could lead White into trouble, although the path to equality was far from obvious: 49.h3! a6 50.♘e4 ♘c4 51.♔c3 followed by d2-d4, taking the square e5 from the black knight.

49…♘c4 50.♘c3 ♘d6 51.♘e2 ♘c4 52.♘c3 ♘d6 53.♘e2 a6 54.♘c3 ♘c4 55.♘e4 ♔d5?

Black dithers, when 55…a5! 56.bxa5 ♘xa5 would have permitted him to count on winning.

56.♘f6+ ♔e6 57.♘e8 ♔d7 58.♘f6+ ♔e6 59.♘e8 ♔d7 60.♘f6+ ♔e6

Draw.

47 *

Ivan Sokolov

2669

Wang Hao

2696

Sarajevo 2009 (9)

Black’s main problem is his restricted light-squared bishop. If he is given time, White will play ♖f1-f3, and after the queen moves away, the move g2-g4 follows, further restricting Black’s bishop and preparing f4-f5. One can also not rule out the break f4-f5 without the preparatory g2-g4, aiming for an attack on the f-file. Therefore, Black decided on the radical…

20…♗f5!

It was important to realise that after the opening of the g-file, Black has the resource …♖e8-e6-g6, liquidating the threat of an attack. At the same time, the weakness of the f5-pawn is balanced by that of e3.

21.♘xf5 ♘xf5 22.♖f3 ♕h4 23.♗xf5 gxf5 24.♔h2 ♖e6

Black has no problems at all. The minor pieces with which White might have been able to exploit the f5-pawn have all been exchanged, and Black has substantial pressure on the e- and g-files. Only White has to worry about maintaining the balance, which in the game he was unable to do:

25.♖g1 ♖g6 26.♕c2 ♕f6 27.♖d1 ♖e8 28.♕f2 ♕e7 29.♖d4 h5 30.a4 ♔f8 31.♖d1 ♕f6 32.b5 ♖e4 33.bxa6 bxa6 34.♖b1 ♖xa4 35.♖b8+ ♔g7 36.♖g3 ♖e4 37.♖xg6+ fxg6 38.♕a2 ♖xe3 39.♕xa6 ♕d4 40.♖b1 ♕xf4+

White resigned.

48 ***

Vladimir Simagin

Paul Keres

Moscow 1963 (5)

1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.♗b5 a6 4.♗a4 ♘f6 5.0-0 d6 6.♗xc6+

Doubling Black’s c-pawns. Of course, as part of a general pawn mass, the weakness of such pawns is not felt, but later these pawns can become an object of attack.

6…bxc6 7.d4 exd4 8.♕xd4

In the previous century, in the heat of development of chess ideas, this position was quite popular. White (with loss of tempo!) has given Black the two bishops, but has seized more space in the centre, and has the greater freedom for his pieces.

8…♗e7

9.e5

A move that later became typical in such positions. On the one hand, it breaks up Black’s pawn mass and leaves his doubled c-pawns isolated, and on the other, it gives his bishops greater freedom. Only the subsequent battle will reveal which of these factors is the more important.

Another possibility is to continue quiet development by 9.♘c3 0-0 10.♖e1 ♗g4 11.♕d3 ♘d7, which leads to interesting play with mutual chances.

9…c5 10.♕d3 dxe5 11.♕xd8+ ♗xd8 12.♘xe5 ♗e7

Black’s last move was not compulsory, but after 12…0-0 13.♘c6!, White deprives Black of his main trump, his bishop pair. Then, 13…♘d5 14.♘xd8 ♖xd8 leaves Black’s queenside pawns in ruins, but he does have some development advantage, as a result of which he is able to maintain the balance. 15.c4!, since with opposite-coloured bishops, it is especially useful to fix the weaknesses. Later, this pawn will become easy prey (less good are both 15.♘d2 ♘b4 16.c3 ♘c2 17.♖b1 ♗f5, and Black seizes the initiative, and 15.c3 ♗f5 16.♘a3 ♗d3 17.♖e1 c4!) 15…♘b4. This position was reached in a game Polzin-Sobodjan, Germany Bundesliga 1995/96. Now, White could happily play 16.♘c3 (in the source game, White banished his own knight into the corner, and after 16.♘a3?! ♘d3 17.b3 ♗g4 18.f3 ♗f5∞ he even lost) 16…♘c2 17.♖b1 ♗f5 18.b3! – White, despite the activity of the black pieces, has the better chances.

13.♖e1 ♗e6

Another tempting possibility was 13…0-0. Then, 14.♗g5 (White is promised nothing by either 14.♘c6 ♗d6 15.♘e7+ ♗xe7 16.♖xe7 ♘d5 17.♖e5 ♗b7 18.♗d2 ♖fe8= or 14.♘g6?! hxg6 15.♖xe7 ♗f5 16.♖xc7 ♖fe8 17.♗e3 ♘d5 18.♖xc5 ♘xe3 19.fxe3 ♖xe3!?, with mutual play) 14…♗e6 15.♘d2! (it was also worth considering 15.♘c3!?, going into the main game) 15…♖fe8 (15…h6?! 16.♘g6!) 16.h3!? h6 17.♗h4 ♖ad8 18.♘df3 g5 19.♗g3 ♗d5 20.♖ad1 ♔g7 (20…♗d6 21.h4!) 21.c4! ♗b7 22.♖xd8! ♖xd8 (22…♗xd8 23.♘d3) 23.♘c6! ♗xc6 24.♖xe7, with an advantage for White in the endgame, Kasparov-Short, London Wch match 1993.

14.♘c3 0-0 15.♗g5

15…h6?

A serious mistake, which costs Back his main trump, his bishop pair.

The correct plan was to defend the ♗e7 in advance. After 15…♖fe8!, White can land his opponent with another pair of doubled pawns on the other flank with 16.♘c6 ♗d6 17.♗xf6 gxf6 18.♘e4 ♔g7 19.♖ad1 ♗f8!. Black has many weaknesses, but he has the bishop pair, and so White’s advantage is minimal.

16.♘g6!

A strong move. Black was probably counting on a move such as 16.♗h4 g5 17.♗g3 ♘h5, exchanging the ♗g3 for the knight. But he missed a tactical nuance in the position, namely that after the advance of the h-pawn, the square g6 is weakened.

16…fxg6 17.♖xe6 ♔f7

17…hxg5 18.♖xe7+–.

18.♖ae1

It turns out that not only has White eliminated his opponent’s bishop pair, but he is also developing his pieces with tempo.

18…♖fe8

19.♗xf6

It was also worth considering keeping the bishops on the board. A bishop is usually stronger than a knight in the endgame, especially with play on both flanks, hence he should have played 19.♗c1!?. But White decided that the black queenside weaknesses were sufficient for victory, and wanted to force a transition into a favourable ending.

19…♗xf6 20.♖xe8 ♖xe8 21.♖xe8 ♔xe8 22.♘d1 ♔d7 23.♔f1

White has a large advantage in the ending. This example is also a good one for the theme of Knight v Bishop.

23…♔c6 24.♔e2 ♗e5 25.h3 ♔d5 26.♘e3+ ♔e4 27.c3 h5?

Because of his weaknesses, here the traditional rule of putting one’s pawns on the opposite colour to one’s bishop does not apply. Correct was 27…g5! – in this case, the bishop loses some mobility, but it can defend its pawns: 28.♘c4 ♗f6 29.♘d2+ ♔d5 30.♔d3 ♗e5 31.♘c4 ♗f4 32.g3 ♗d6 33.b3 (33.♘xd6 cxd6 34.c4+ ♔e5=; 33.♘e3+ ♔e5) 33…♔e6 34.♔e4 ♗e7 35.♘a5 ♗f6 36.♔d3 ♔d5 – Black is holding.

28.♘c4 ♗f4 29.g3 ♗g5

30.f3+

Securing a central post for the knight.

But stronger was 30.f4!, with the idea of fixing the g6-pawn on a square where the bishop cannot defend it. With two weaknesses – on the queenside and the kingside – Black is tied down. Here is a sample variation: 30…♗e7 31.h4! ♗f6 32.♘d2+ ♔d5 33.♔d3 ♗e7 34.♘c4 ♗f6 35.♘e3+ ♔e6 36.♔e4 ♗e7 37.♘c4 ♗d6 38.♘e5 ♔f6 39.♘d7+ ♔e6 40.♘b8 a5 41.a4+–.

30…♔d5 31.♔d3 ♗e7 32.♘e3 ♔e6 33.♔e4

33.♔c4 h4! 34.g4 ♔e5⇆ would be too slow.

33…g5 34.♘c4 g6

This is now necessary, as the white knight cannot be allowed into c6, and the only way to prevent that is with the king on d6. That means that the pawn has to stop the other penetration via f5.

35.g4!

Not falling for 35.♘e5 ♗d6 36.♘xg6? ♔f6, and the bishop is lost.

35…hxg4

A) 35…h4? 36.♘e5 ♗d6 37.♘c6+–;

B) 35…♗f6 36.♘a5 ♔d6 37.gxh5 gxh5 38.♔f5+–.

36.fxg4 ♗f6 37.a3 ♗e7 38.a4 ♗f6 39.♘d2 ♗e7 40.♘f3 ♗f6 41.♘d2 ♔d6 42.♘c4+ ♔e6 43.♘a5 ♔d6 44.♔d3 ♔d5 45.♘c4 c6?

This is an unnecessary weakening. More tenacious was 45…♗e7, after which there is the following winning plan: 46.a5! (advancing the future queen as far as possible) 46…♗d6 47.♘e3+ ♔e5 48.♔c4 ♔e4 (48…♔f4 49.♘f1 ♔f3 50.♘d2+ ♔g2 51.♘e4 ♔xh3 52.♘xd6 cxd6 53.b4+–) 49.♘f1 ♗f4 50.b4 cxb4 51.cxb4. The passed a-pawn queens. After 51…♔f3 52.b5 axb5+ 53.♔xb5 ♔f2 54.a6, Black loses by one tempo, in accordance with the old saying!

46.♘b6+ ♔d6 47.a5 ♗d8 48.♔c4 ♗c7 49.♘a4 ♗xa5 50.♘xc5 ♗b6 51.♘xa6

White wins the key pawn, and the rest is simple.

51…♗e3 52.♘b4 ♗c1 53.b3 ♗f4 54.♘c2 ♗e5 55.♘d4 ♗f6 56.b4 ♗e7 57.♘f3 ♗f6 58.♔d3 c5 59.b5 ♔d5 60.c4+ ♔e6 61.♔e4 ♔d6 62.b6 ♔c6 63.♘e5+ ♔b7 64.♘d7 ♗d4 65.♔d5

Black resigned.

49 ***

Vasily Smyslov

Mikhail Tal

Moscow ch-URS 1969 (6)

The position is symmetrical, and so is it equal? No! White has the possibility of spoiling his opponent’s pawn structure.

14.♗xc6!

If this were a middlegame, this exchange would have to be very carefully considered, because of the weakening of the light squares around the white king. But here, the king can have no worries, and White can quietly place his pawns on light squares, restricting the enemy bishop. Meanwhile, the knight is ready to head to the weak square in Black’s camp, namely c5.

14…bxc6 15.♘f3

The knight heads to the queenside via d2, so as to defend the b3-pawn.

On 15.♘g2, there would follow 15…a5! (in the rook ending arising after 15…c4 16.♘f4 cxb3 17.♘xe6 fxe6 18.axb3 a5 19.♖a3, White has winning chances, thanks to the many pawn islands in Black’s camp) 16.♘f4 ♗f5, with the intention of …a5-a4.

15…f6 16.♘d2 ♖fd8 17.♘e4 c4 18.♘c5 ♗f5

More chances of a successful defence were offered by 18…♔f7, maintaining the tension on the queenside.

19.f3 ♗c2

Black tries to become active, but the bishop is impotent, because it is severely restricted by the enemy pawns on light squares.

20.♖xd8+ ♖xd8 21.♔f2 ♔f7 22.b4 ♗f5 23.♔e1 e5 24.♘b7 ♖d7 25.♘a5 c5 26.bxc5 ♖d5 27.♘b7 ♖d7 28.♘d6+ ♔e7 29.g4

Slightly less accurate is 29.e4, since this move limits the manoeuvrability of his own knight.

29…♗e6 30.♖b1 ♖c7 31.♖b7 ♖xb7 32.♘xb7 ♔d7 33.♘d6 h6 34.♔f2 ♔c6 35.♔e3 a5 36.♘e8 f5 37.♘g7 ♗d7 38.gxf5 gxf5 39.f4 ♔d5 40.c6 ♗c8 41.c7 ♔d6 42.h4

Black resigned.

50 ***

Hrvoje Stevic

2611

Andrei Volokitin

2682

Warsaw Ech tt 2013 (2)

1.e4 c5 2.♘f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.♕xd4 ♘c6 5.♗b5 ♗d7 6.♕d3!?

This interesting idea has become fashionable recently. White’s idea is to place his pawns on light squares and exchange his light-squared bishop.

There is a rich history to the variation 6.♗xc6 ♗xc6 7.♘c3 ♘f6 8.♗g5 e6 9.0-0-0 ♗e7, with sharp play on both flanks.

6…♘f6 7.c4 g6 8.♘c3 ♗g7 9.h3?!

This move, restricting the black pieces, is probably a mistake. He should have first gotten his king out of the centre and then engaged in prophylaxis!

More precise is 9.0-0! 0-0 (the black knight jump is nothing to be afraid of: 9…♘g4 10.♗xc6 bxc6 11.♗f4, followed by h2-h3; 9…♘b4 10.♕e2), and only now 10.h3. Now, the idea seen in the game does not work: on 10…♘b4 11.♕e2 a6 12.♗xd7 ♘xd7, the simple 13.♗d2 is good, not allowing the capture on c3, and securing a space advantage.

9…♘b4 10.♕e2 a6 11.♗xd7+ ♘xd7 12.0-0

12…♗xc3!

Black gives up his prize bishop, but his positional gains outweigh the downsides. The position has a closed character, and White cannot open the dark squares to pursue his initiative. At the same time, White’s doubled pawns are very weak and become clear objects of attack. White is forced into a long and passive defence.

13.bxc3 ♘c6 14.♖b1 ♕c7 15.♗h6

Not a very useful move, but White has no active plan. He can prevent Black castling normally, but the latter can castle by hand.

15…♖c8 16.♘d2 f6!

This is not played out of necessity, but is an important strategic plan – he needs to put his pawns on dark squares, limiting White’s bishop. At the same time, his king gets a square at f7.

17.♗e3 ♘ce5 18.♖b2 b6!

Too direct is 18…♘xc4 19.♘xc4 ♕xc4 20.♕xc4 ♖xc4 21.♖xb7 ♖xe4 22.♖a7 – here White becomes active and has sufficient compensation.

19.c5!

So far, White has defended well. His bishop is not much use, and so he exchanges it, somewhat improving his pawn structure in the process. But not so much as to leave all his problems behind him.

19.♖fb1 ♘xc4 20.♘xc4 ♕xc4 21.♕xc4 ♖xc4 22.♗xb6 ♖xe4 23.♗d4 ♔f7 24.f3 ♖e6 25.♖b7 ♘c5, with an extra pawn and good winning chances.

19…♘xc5 20.♗xc5 ♕xc5 21.♕xa6 ♘d7

The pawn islands on the a- and c-files allow Black to exert unpleasant pressure.

22.♖c1 ♔f7

Now, Black could have castled, but here his king has certain benefits – it is fairly safe, and defends the e7-pawn. One unexpected drawback, however, is that the king is not defending h7.

23.♕e2 ♖c7 24.♖b5 ♕a3 25.♘b3 ♖hc8 26.♕d2 ♖c4 27.♖b4 ♕a8 28.f3 ♘e5 29.♔h2 ♕c6 30.♘d4

The best defence is 30.♕h6! ♖h8 (30…♔g8 31.♘d4⇆) 31.♕d2! – Black has problems bringing the ♖h8 into play, and if he defends the h7-pawn with the king, there is the danger of the knight coming into e6.

30…♕c5 31.♖b5?

A blunder in an unpleasant position.

Correct was 31.♘b3!, after which Black would probably not have repeated moves, but retreated with 31…♕c7. After 32.f4 ♘d7 33.♕d5+ ♔e8!, White still has problems.

31…♘xf3+ 32.gxf3 ♖xd4 33.cxd4 ♕xc1 34.♕xc1 ♖xc1 35.♖xb6 ♖c2+ 36.♔g3 ♖xa2

White cannot maintain the integrity of his pawn structure, and his position is lost.

37.♖b8 ♖d2 38.d5 f5 39.♖h8 h5 40.♔f4 fxe4 41.fxe4 ♖d3 42.h4 ♖h3 43.♔g5 ♔g7

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