A blockade is placing a piece directly in front of an enemy passed pawn so it cannot advance. A knight is the best blockader.
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An attacked passed pawn can still advance; a blockaded one cannot. A knight suits the job: it keeps all its moves while it stands there, and the pawn it stops shields it from attack along the file.
How to do it
- 1Find the square directly in front of the enemy passed pawn.
- 2Put a piece there: a knight first, a bishop or the king in an endgame.
- 3With the pawn stopped, play on the other wing.
For your level
Blockade first, attack later. A stopped pawn can be attacked at leisure; a pawn that is only attacked can still advance.
Check you have it
Question 1 of 1
Which black pawn has no enemy pawn able to stop it?
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Common mistakes
- Attacking the pawn from the side while it keeps advancing.
- Blockading with a queen or rook, which are too valuable to stand still and easy to chase.
Questions
- Which piece is the best blockader?
- A knight, then a bishop. In an endgame the king is also good. A queen or rook is a poor blockader, because a cheaper piece can chase it away.