A weak square is a square that none of your pawns can ever defend again, because the pawns that could have guarded it have moved past it or gone.
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Pawns never move backwards, so a square left unguarded by pawns stays that way. Pieces can cover it, but pieces get traded and have other work. An enemy piece on a weak square can stay there for a long time.
How to do it
- 1Before you push a pawn, check which squares it stops guarding.
- 2Look for weak squares in the opponent's camp, especially near the king.
- 3Put a piece there, a knight first, where it cannot be traded off cheaply.
For your level
Pawns cannot move backwards. Before pushing one, see which squares it stops guarding.
Check you have it
Question 1 of 1
Which file has no pawns of either colour standing on it?
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Common mistakes
- Pushing pawns in front of your own king and leaving squares that can never be guarded again.
- Putting a piece on a weak square where it is traded off at once.
Questions
- Are all weak squares serious?
- No. A weak square matters only if the opponent can bring a piece to it and keep it there.