Doubled Pawns: A Practical Guide

Index

Introduction

Dear Reader!

A grandmaster from Belarus (please, do not confuse it with Russia!) is working for you. We may know each other from previous books or articles. Belarus is a country in Eastern Europe, located between Poland and Russia.

As always, the technical part of the work has been performed by my wife Tatiana (WIM), and the Russian-English translation has been done by our daughter Eva. You might have also met them at some tournaments.

So, now to the subject itself. As is known, according to the rules of chess, a pawn captures diagonally, one square forward (to the left or right). Thus, after a capture, let us say, g7xf6, already two black pawns may appear on the f-file (f7+f6). In addition, we shall keep in mind that pawns are the only pieces that cannot go back, so a defect like that may last a long time.

In this book I will present typical structures, arising from different openings, and we will try to figure out whether doubled pawns are a weakness, or if everything is not so clear.

Attention, please! This is not about mastering opening nuances, but about only showing plans of the struggle in different structures with doubled pawns.

Sergey Kasparov

Belarus

Signs and Symbols

!a strong move

!!a brilliant or unobvious move

?a weak move, an error

??a grave error

!?a move worth consideration

?!a dubious move

=an equal position

White stands slightly better

White has a clear advantage

White has a winning position

Black stands slightly better

Black has a clear advantage

–+Black has a winning position

an unclear position

#mate

(D)See the next diagram

Chapter 1

Doubled Pawns after the Capture g7xf6

In this chapter we will consider different iterations in structures with pawns on f7, f6, e6, meaning that the pawn capture g7xf6 has taken place. I have played both sides, with positive results. It seldom occurs in the Hedgehog. In the following, taking place on the coast of the Baltic Sea, Black got more than enough compensation for the knight. Doubled pawns perfectly coordinated with the dark-square bishop sheltering the king.

(1) Shishkin (2480) – S.Kasparov (2427)

Rowy 1999

English Opening [A31]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 b6 5.Nc3 Bb7 6.Bg5 Quite a rare continuation. This bishop usually goes to e3; what is it doing on g5? 6…a6 7.Qc2 e6 8.e4 Qc7 9.f3 Bd6!?

This may not be the absolute best but with the bishop on g5, unable to participate in the defense, why not pressure the black squares. Furthermore, the bishop is not hampered by the d-pawn which is still on d7. 10.0-0-0 Nc6 11.Nde2 11.Ndb5? axb5 12.Nxb5 Bf4+ does not work; White is a piece down.

11…Ne5!?

This seems reasonable since the knight on c6 is placed a bit awkwardly. Now White wins a piece for three pawns, which is at least sufficient compensation. Kingside castling hardly makes sense. 11…0-0 12.Bxf6 gxf6 and the black king is a bit exposed. 12.f4? This should have been avoided, but how should the c4-pawn be protected? 12.b3 is also suspicious, as it considerably weakens the dark-square complex. 12…Nxc4 13.e5 Nxe5 A strong option is 13…Be7!? 14.exf6 gxf6 15.Bh4 Ne3. (D)

The rook and two black pawns will definitely be stronger than his opponent’s two knights.

14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.fxe5 Bxe5

So, here is the pawn structure under consideration. By the way, as we will see later, the doubled pawns provide a very safe cover for the king. Black has the advantage: the terrible bishops dominate the board, in particular the centralized dark-square one is powerful as it simultaneously works both flanks. 16.Kb1 b5 17.Qd3 f5 18.a3 Rg8 19.Rg1 (D)

Please, pay attention, the black king feels quite comfortable in the center; it is not necessary to castle. 19…h5 19…b4! is very strong: 20.axb4 Rg4, transferring the rook to queenside. 20.g3 Rg4 21.Bg2 The Ukrainian grandmaster reasonably tries to reduce the tension by exchanging bishops.

21…Bxg2 22.Rxg2 b4

The advanced position of the a3-pawn gives his opponent a hook for attack. 23.axb4 Rxb4 24.Rd2 Rab8 25.Rg1 Qb7 26.Qc2 d5

I suppose that the pawn on f5 is even better placed than, e.g., on g7. 27.Nc1 Rxb2+ 28.Qxb2 Bxc3? Now the process is considerably prolonged. Much stronger was 28…Qa7!, attacking the g1-rook and the queen at the same time 29.Qxb8+ Qxb8+–+. 29.Qxb7 Rxb7+ 30.Kc2 Bxd2 31.Kxd2 Rb2+ 32.Ke3 Rxh2 33.Ne2 h4 34.gxh4 Rxh4 (D)

The ending which has arisen is difficult for White. The a-pawn will be eliminated, but the central pawn mass is definitely stronger than the knight. 35.Ra1 e5 36.Rxa6 d4+ 37.Kd3 Rh2 38.Ra2 Ke7 39.Rc2

Rh3+ 40.Kd2 d3 This does not win a piece but the pawns are gradually moving forward; the end is near. 41.Rc3 e4 42.Nd4 f4 43.Rc7+ Kf6 44.Rc5 Rh2+ 45.Kc3 d2 46.Kc2 e3 0-1

White played a topical line in a tournament in Iran, where one of the variations in the Scandinavian Defense occurred. However, the doubled pawns again proved to be quite good again. At least the pawn group f7-g6-f5-e6 in combination with the pawns on b7 and c6 fully compensated for the absence of the light-square bishop. It allowed Black to carry out counterplay on the queenside, without being concerned about the other flank.

(2) S.J.Alavi (2410) – S.Kasparov (2546)

Ahvaz 2007

Scandinavian Defense [B01]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.Bd2 (D)

This is one of the drawbacks of the queen’s placement on a5. The bishop lies in ambush, and from this moment Black has to constantly take into account moves of the c3-knight. 7…e6

8.Nd5 Qd8 Such a retreat is by the way one of the reasons for having an escape square (c7). 9.Nxf6+ gxf6

Now here is our structure, so let us see if White manages to take advantage of it. There does not appear much of a downside for Black’s pawn structure. 10.c3 10.Qe2 immediately requires White to proceed in gambit style – 10…Bxc2 11.Rc1 Bg6 12.0-0 Be7 13.Rfe1 0-0 14.Nh4 Re8 15.Nxg6 hxg6, Zhang-Nisipeanu, Cap d’Agde-B rapid 2000, 16.h4!? with the initiative. 10…Nd7 11.Qe2 Qc7 12.Nh4 Bg6 13.f4 (D)

13…0-0-0 The principled 13…f5!? is interesting: 14.Nxg6 (the sacrifice 14.Bxe6 could be problematic. However, there are not enough resources for a successful attack:

. The white queen by itself is not a big threat) 14…hxg6 15.g3 0-0-0 16.0-0-0 Kb8 17.Kb1 Nf6.

At the very least, Black stands no worse. Please, pay attention to a nice rhombus f7-g6-f5-e6, limiting his opponent’s light-square bishop, ½-½ Varga-Friedrichs, Dortmund 2001. 14.0-0-0 . (D)

Tripled pawns are just too much, de la Riva Aguado-Rodriguez Cespedes, Spain 1999. 14…f5 15.g3

Let us take stock. It is important to note that the g6-bishop is by no means as hapless as it may seem at first glance. If Nh4-f3, it can go directly to h5. That may become more of a reality after the automatic Nd7-f6. The black knight also has an outpost on e4. 15…Bd6 Another interesting option is 15…Bg7!? with pressure on the enemy’s queenside. 16.Bb3 Kb8 17.c4 An equivocal move. In general, c3-c4 is advisable as it establishes control over the center (d5). However, the subsequent weakening of the d4-point may eventually make itself felt. 17…Nf6 18.Nxg6 hxg6 19.Bc2

Now we have the same solid rhombus as in a previous note. 19…Rhe8 19…Rh3! would be stronger: (1) it prevents the routine advance of the h-pawn; and (2) it applies frontal pressure on the pawn (Rd-h8,Nf6-g4…). 20.Bc3 Ka8 21.Kb1 Nd7 22.Qf3 Be7 23.h4 Nf6 Do not be taken in by the nonsensical maneuver Nf6-d7-f6. There is some logic behind this. The white pawn is now on h4 and intends to continue its destructive advance. If White manages to open up the h-file and penetrate with the rook to the seventh rank, he will seize the initiative. On the other hand, now the advance g3-g4 is hardly possible. 24.Ka1 Rd7 25.Rhe1 Red8 26.a4?! A positional error. One can understand the desire to set up a pawn roller on a wide front (d4-c4-b4-a4), but White should not have put the pawn on a light square now. 26…a5!?

The dark-square symphony begins. So (now, as I used to say to my students): in the struggle for the dark squares, Black practically has an extra piece as the c2-bishop is of no help.

27.Qe2 Bb4 28.Qe3 Ng4 29.Qf3 (D)

Black has a pleasant dilemma. It seems that the author has not chosen the strongest continuation. 29…Rxd4!? ) 30…Qb6 31.c5

; 29…Ka7!? 30.Rxd4 Rxd4 31.Rxe6 Naturally, the rook does not want to perish in vain and takes the enemy’s infantryman to the abyss. 31.Bxd4 Bxe1–+. 31…fxe6 32.Bxd4 Qd6 33.Bc3 Qc5 34.Bxb4 axb4

The right decision. Again we can observe the benefit of the doubled pawns. Now Black is solid on the queenside and has a small but comfortable plus. 35.Qd3 Ka7 36.Bb3 e5 37.fxe5 Nxe5 38.Qd8 Nf3 39.Ka2 Nd4 40.Qc7?? A mistake in a joyless (one has to admit) situation. As is known, it is psychologically hard to defend hopelessly passive positions. 40…Ne2 Nc1+ is threatened; in addition, the way to g1 is opened for the queen. Now White either is mated or loses a bishop. 41.Bc2 b3+ Material losses are unavoidable (42.Bxb3 Nc1+). 42.Kxb3 Nc1+ 43.Kc3 Qe3+ 44.Kb4 Na2+ 45.Ka5 Qc5# is no better. 0-1

In the next encounter against a Polish woman grandmaster, one can again clearly see the benefit of the g7xf6 doubled pawns with the naked eye. The black rooks are plainly lined up in the opened g-file and target g2. Well, this idea is often the very reason why one captures on f6 with the pawn.

(3) Toma (2210) – S.Kasparov (2476)

Wroclaw 2009

Scandinavian Defense [B01]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.Ne5 e6 8.Bd2 Nbd7 9.Nd5

A typical motif in the Scandinavian Defense with the queen on a5. The bishop lies in ambush on d2, and the knight jumps to the center. 9…Qd8 10.Ne3 Katarzyna is acting creatively. The capture on f6 is more common, albeit in another line. 10…Be4 11.0-0 Bd6 12.N3g4 h5 Provoking his adversary. 13.Nxf6+ gxf6!? (D)

The doubled pawns created by the pawn capture are not bad. One takes the e5-square under control, the

g-file is opened, and after that an attack on the white king is carried out. 14.Nxd7 Kxd7! Vacating the eighth rank for maneuvering by the heavy pieces. White will hardly have time to create serious danger for the black king in the center. In the meantime, he can continue on his way, Ke8-d7-c7-b8, should he desire. 15.Qe2 Bf5 15…Bxc2!? 16.Bd3 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Qc7 18.h3 Rag8 19.c4 Rg6 20.Qf3 ) 22…Qg3+ 23.Kh1 Qxh3–+. 20…Rhg8

And here you can see the result of pawns being doubled. Everything is simple and clear. 21.Kh1 Rxg2 22.Qxg2 Rxg2 23.Kxg2 Qc8 The strongest piece is transferred to the g-file on the path cleared by the rooks. 24.Kf3 Qg8 25.c5 Bc7 26.Rae1 Qg6 27.Re3 Qc2 28.Bc3 Qf5+ 29.Ke2 Bf4

In this position, the queen is stronger than two rooks. White’s pieces are not well-coordinated. 30.h4 Bxe3 0-1

In the following game my opponent was doing his best to get an advantage in the opening but again doubled pawns created a defensive redoubt, f7-g6-f5-e6, in combination with the b7-b6 breakwater. This was in harmony with the dark-square bishop and active knight.

(4) Mertens (2207) – S. Kasparov (2500)

Differdange 2007

Scandinavian Defense [B01]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bd2 Bf5 7.Ne4 The knight can also move via e4. 7…Qc7 8.Nxf6+ gxf6 9.Nh4

9…Bg6 10.g3 e6 A curious option was 10…Be4!? 11.f3 Bg6, trying to disrupt the enemy. 11.Bg2 Nd7 12.0-0 Bd6 13.c4 0-0 14.b4 Rad8 15.Qb3 Rfe8

White’s position looks definitely more pleasant, as he has more space and there are resources for improvements. Black in his turn does not have any particular weaknesses and relies on asymmetry which might be useful in trying to seize the initiative. 16.Rfe1 Bf8 17.c5 17.f4 could have run into 17…f5 and then something like Bh5, Be7, Nf6 etc. 17…Bg7 18.Nxg6 hxg6

The metamorphosis which has taken place plays into Black’s hands; his kingside pawns are now compact. 19.Rad1 a6 20.a4 f5 21.Bf4 Qc8 22.Bd6 Bf8 23.Bf4 Nf6 24.b5 axb5 25.axb5 Nd5=

The space advantage and two bishops are hardly of great importance here. The extremely powerful knight on the central strong point outweighs them all. 26.Bg5 Be7 27.Bd2 Bf6 28.Ba5 Rd7 29.Rd3 Kg7 30.h4 Rh8 31.Bd2 Rhd8 32.Ba5 Rh8 33.Bd2 Qa8 34.Bf3 Nc7

Forcing the b5-pawn to declare itself. 35.bxc6 bxc6 36.Bf4 Qa6 37.Rd2 Nb5

There are already problems with the backward d4-pawn. Here is the positive side of the Black’s structure – the light squares are controlled by the pawns, the dark squares by the bishop. The knight is taking advantage of the outposts; everything is very harmonious. 38.Be2 Rxd4 39.Rxd4 Nxd4 40.Bxa6 Nxb3 41.Bd6 Nd4 42.Rb1 Ra8 43.Rb6 e5

44.Bb7 Ra1+ 45.Kg2 e4 46.Bxc6

The material balance has been restored, but the white monarch is still in trouble. 46…Nxc6 was the correct way to go. (D)

However, in time pressure it seemed dangerous to allow the appearance of a passed c-pawn with

Black’s pieces on the kingside. 47.Rxc6 Ra2 48.Bf4 Bd4 49.Rd6 Rxf2+ 50.Kh3

50…Bf6?? Time-trouble. It was quite acceptable to snap off the important pawn: 50…Bxc5 51.Be5+ Kf8 52.Rc6 Be3 53.Bf6 Ke8 54.Rd6 (54.Rc7 Ra2 55.Re7+ Kf8 56.Rb7 Ra8–+) 54…Rd2–+ and there is no mate. 51.Rd8?? 0-1

In a Sicilian encounter taking place right next to the Egyptian Pyramids, Black had several doubled pawns at the same time. However, the defect did not feel like much and did not outweigh the advantage of the bishop pair. The author failed realize his edge, but during the whole game the evaluation was unequivocally better for Black.

(5) Khamrakulov (2451) – S.Kasparov (2456)

Cairo 2001

Sicilian Defense [B22]

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Na3 cxd4 6.Nb5 Na6 7.Qxd4 Qxd4 8.Nxd4 e6 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.Bxa6 bxa6

The first pair of doubled pawns in return for the bishop. 11.Ngf3 Bc5 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bxf6 gxf6

The Uzbek chessplayer did not spare the other bishop as he wanted to damage his adversary’s pawn structure. Let us see where it will lead. 14.0-0 0-0 It is more logical to leave the king in the center, 14…Ke7, but I did not like the threat Nd4-f5+, Rfe1. 15.Nb3 Bb6 16.c4 Rab8 17.Rac1 a5 18.Rfd1 The prospects of the advance of the passed pawn are very unclear – 18.c5 Bc7 19.c6 Bc8. 18…Ba4 19.Rd3 Rfd8 20.Rxd8+ Rxd8

Black’s chances are somewhat better: the a-pawn might serve as a battering ram; in addition, there has not yet been any fallout as a result of the defects in the pawn structure. 21.Kf1 e5 22.Ke2 Bc6 23.Na1 Bc5 24.Nb3 Bb6 25.Na1

25…Rb8 Blacks stands considerably better and I should have continued to grab space, 25…f5!, as the pawn is poisoned. 26.Nxe5?? Re8 27.f4 f6–+. 26.Rd1 Bc5 27.Nb3 Be7 28.Rd2 a4 Doubled pawns in action. 29.Nc1 Rb4 30.b3

30…axb3?! would leave White alone with his troubles. His knights do not have outposts, whereas the long-range enemy pieces are successfully cooperating, and the pawns are waiting for the right moment to continue the offensive. 31.axb3 a5 32.Nh4 Be4? 33.Ra2 f5 34.Nf3 Bxf3+ 35.gxf3 Bd8 36.Ra4=

36…Rb7 37.c5 Rb5 38.Rc4 Kf8 39.Kd3 Ke7 40.Kc2 Ke6 ½-½

The Caro-Kann Defense has a pawn structure which is identical to the Scandinavian, but with a different configuration of pieces. In this case I was White and managed to reveal the drawbacks of my opponent’s pawn structure. Well, the pawns soon became undoubled, which just added more problems for Black.

(6) S.Kasparov (2492) – M.Knoll (2042)

Weiz 2008

Caro-Kann Defense [B16]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ gxf6

If I understand correctly, in the Caro-Kann, the capture is made this way to obtain an asymmetric structure with an open g-file, along which Black may harass the enemy king. 6.c3 Bf5 7.Ne2 h5 A typical advance with the purpose of throwing the pawn closer to the shelter of the white monarch. It will also be able to attack the g3-knight. Meanwhile, according to the law of conservation of energy, this will lead to a weakening for someone. 8.Ng3 Bg6 9.Bd3 Exactly. With the absence of the pawn on h7, Black has to either to capture f7xg6, or exchange his only developed piece – which has already spent a couple of tempi – on d3. 9…Qd5 10.Bxg6 fxg6 11.Qd3 (D)

A paradox: the pawns are now undoubled but there is no benefit from

it. It is unclear why the kingside was weakened? 11…Kf7 12.Ne2 e5 12…Qxg2?? 13.Rg1+– 13.0-0 e4?! 14.Qc2 Bd6 15.f3

So, what is the result of escapade on the kingside? It is not the white but the black king which is in danger. 15…exf3 16.Rxf3 Nd7 17.Bf4 Rae8 18.Bxd6 Qxd6 19.Nf4 f5 20.Raf1 20…Rhg8 21.Qb3+ Kg7 (D)

22.Nxg6! Kh6 22…Kxg6 23.Rg3+ Kh7 (23…Kh6 24.Rxg8 Rxg8 25.Qxg8+–) 24.Qf7++–; 22…Qxg6 23.Rg3+– 23.Nh4 1-0

Now an example from the French Defense, but please bear in mind that in this line doubled pawns do not always have to appear. The Dutchman allowed doubling for no reason, after which the black king found itself under frontal attack from the enemy’s heavy pieces. Again, I did not get to announce mate, but Black was clearly suffering.

(7) S.Kasparov (2485) – de Jong M (2336)

Groningen 2015

French Defense [C07]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Nb3 Nc6 9.Nbxd4 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 a6 11.Re1 Qc7 12.Bf1!? Currently (May 2016) it is quite uncommon for White to retreat to this square; perhaps it will become more popular later. 12…Bc5 13.Bg5 0-0?!

.14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Qg4+ Kh8 16.Qh4 Be7 17.Re3

Please note an important nuance. The white kingside pawns remain in place, which allows the rooks to use the third rank for maneuvers. 17…Rg8 1-0 Zhou-Knott, Torquay 2013. 18.Rae1 f5 18…e5 19.Bd3 f5 20.Qh5 e4 21.Qxf7 Rg7 22.Qc4 with the initiative. 19.Qh5 Bf8?!

I felt that this was a critical point and I was thinking diligently, but could not find the strongest continuation. 20.Rc3 The direct 20.Rh3! would be winning: 20… h6 21.Nf3! Bg7 22.Ne5 Rf8