A pawn chain is a diagonal line of pawns, each defending the one in front of it. The rear pawn is the base and the front pawn is the head.
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The base of a chain has no pawn defending it, so that is where to attack. A chain also points to a wing: pawns reaching up towards the kingside give you space to attack there.
How to do it
- 1Find the base of each chain: the rear pawn, which no pawn defends.
- 2Aim your pawn break at the base of the chain.
- 3Play on the wing your chain points towards.
For your level
Pawns on a diagonal line protect each other. The pawn at the back has no pawn protecting it. Attack that one.
Common mistakes
- Attacking the head of the chain, which is defended, instead of the base.
- Playing on the wing where your pawns give you no space.
Questions
- How do you attack a pawn chain?
- With a pawn break against its base. Against White pawns on d4 and e5, Black plays ...c5 and ...f6. Against Black pawns on d5 and e6, White plays f4 and f5.