Lesson 15

Strategic Elements: Exploiting the Weak f2/f7 Square (Part 01)

Weak Pawns and Squares

Set up the board and pieces. Before you move a piece, look carefully at the initial set-up.Notice how the pawns are protected by the pieces behind them, but some pawns have more protection than others. Look at the pawn on a2. What protects it? Now look at the pawn on d7. Is it better protected than the pawn on a2? If two black pieces attack the pawn on a2, black can win the pawn because it is only defended by the rook on a1. But if white wants to attack the pawn on d7, he must bring a large army because the pawn is defended by a knight, bishop, queen, and king. Notice that the pawns on d2, e2, d7, and e7 are each heavily defended by four pieces.

Which pawns are the weakest in the starting position? Several pawns are protected by only one piece, but there is a difference in the value of the pieces protecting these pawns. 

If black attacks the pawn on a2 with a knight and bishop, she will win the pawn. If her opponent recaptures, she will also win a rook for a minor piece. Now, what happens if two pieces attack the pawn on f7? If one piece captures the pawn, the other piece defends it. The king cannot capture a defended piece, because he is not allowed to move into check. Only kings defend the pawns on f2 and f7. These are the weakest pawns in the starting position. If one of these pawns advances, its starting square remains weak until other pieces are brought in for defense.