Avoid These 5 Critical Pawn Play Mistakes in Chess

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00:00 Pawns Cannot Go Backwards
02:03 Hope Chess
04:27 Awakening an Enemy Piece
06:26 Opening up the Game Prematurely
09:27 Mishandling a Pawn Storm
This video illustrates 5 big mistakes when it comes to pawn play. Pawns cannot go backward, thus pawn moves are one of the most committal decisions you can make on a chessboard. As a coach, I witnessed many players play carelessly with their pawns, thus worsening their position irreparably. This video shows 5 instructive positions that highlight those mistakes, while I explain WHY they are mistakes.
As a result of this video, the student will gain awareness on the potential issues they are having with pawn play, which may lead to long-term improvement in strategic play. Please let me know whether you found yourselves making similar mistakes shown in this video!

[@Mike-cp1tj]

b5 is a must to keep the position closed: 1. prevents white's rooks to activate, stop potential counterplay on open lines b and d files! 2. the knight vs bishop imbalance demands less open position

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you, you are on the right track!

[@eschiedler]

Homework spoiler - no engine - by the way it is a very good advanced problem of a typical endgame - easy to mis-calculate intermediate moves black has a material advantage and active pieces, black can win with correct play After bxc5 calculate both bxc4 and dxc5 1) bxc5 bxc5 d6 Rb7 Re7 cxd6 cxd6 Rxe7 Rxe7 d5 white can move both rook and then bishop guarding against Nf1+ fork Also bxc5 bxc5 c6 Rb7 Re7 d5 cxd5 Rxd5 and black falls apart or threaten dxc6 2) bxc5 dxc5 white threatens d7 pawn d6 Rd4 g5 cxd6 cxd6 b5 white gains a passed protected pawn. This is the much stronger line Therefore, bxc5 allows too much activity to both of white's rooks. Ignoring bxc5 and continuing to attack white's pawns and rooks are better options. black should not give white time to attack the c7 pawn

[@OcteractSG]

I know capturing in the final position is wrong. White will play dxc5, threatening Rxd7 and b5 to create a passed pawn. Black will not be able to stop both threats. Looking to alternatives, b5 is one idea. It basically commits to each player having a pawn fort. However, if black does not play b5, and should white play cxb6 at some point, after black plays cxb6, I think the pawns could lock up in a more double-edged position for both sides. Imagine both players having two isolated pawns on the same rank-fun for rooks and also interesting when white’s bishop gets involved. I think, though, that Re2 is the most practical move. Black is ahead two pawns, so trading pieces is usually best.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Wonderful analysis, thank you!

[@user-ln3ty8gw9e]

Thanks!

[@jorgemonasterio8361]

Nice focused lesson. 🎉

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks!

[@grahamweston5770]

I love the concept of a beautiful mistake! Invested in your chess crime and punishment course. Very much looking foward to it.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is wonderful to hear, thanks! You will see several beautiful mistakes in that course! ☺️

[@elperro3683]

I say simplify: Re2. However, if this is only about the pawns, then let’s lock up the queen side with c5.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Simplification is the correct idea! And not touching the pawn on the queenside is also correct!

[@hata6290]

i cant wait for the next video :)

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! Working on it!

[@DanielDollinger1959]

Thanks Can for a good presentation. I have made all the pawn errors you mention. I have also caught my opponents making all those errors. Regarding your final test: I have to keep the pawn structure closed. Otherwise, I awaken your rooks. I would go with b5. If the opportunity is still there, I would then go with Re2. Rook trades would then be forced. In the end I am up a pawn in an end game.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you Dan! Did you also make those mistakes while watching this video or did you mean you made those errors before? Yes, ...Re2 is the correct move!

[@ThortheMerciless]

The general rule when you have such an advantage is to exchange pieces, but not pawns. However, here you have BvN, so you have to be careful of the long range of the Bishop. Taking the pawn looks dangerous because after dxc5 you have both opened up the d-file (threat Rxd7) and created a potential outside passed pawn (b5-b6). The main question is whether you should prevent exchange with b5 or play something else with the tempo, like Re2. I like the latter, as it threatens Nf1+ and if White exchanges the N ends up on e2 threatening the pawn d4, gaining a vital tempo.

[@kennethgatto1032]

I agree. Trade off the rooks and the Knight and extra pawns should win!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Absolutely!

[@100nacional100]

Just force exchanges with Re2 , no need to touch the Qside pawns

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is the correct move!

[@triscuit5103]

Çok güzel bir video olmuş Can hocam. Keşke ODTÜ yıllarımda sizden daha çok şey öğrenme şansım olsaydı, bu günlerde KZbin'dan öğrenmek de çok keyifli.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Rica ederim, begendiginize sevindim. ODTÜ satranc topluluguna geliyor muydunuz o yillarda?

[@triscuit5103]

@@Dr.CansClinic gelirdim tabii, bizler Tarık babanın askerleriyiz. Başarılarınızın devamını dilerim.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Haha hepimiz oyleydik zamaninda. Tarik ile hala gorusuyorum. @@triscuit5103

[@tanerozmen7191]

odtu satrançtan gelenler +1 (9. yurt bodrum kattaydık galiba).... selamlar can hocam ... emeklerine sağlık...

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Ooo selamlar Taner! Tabi ki 9. yurt bodrum katinda oynardik beraber! Cok tesekkurler satranc aski bitmiyor iste :) Iyi bak kendine, kanalda konusmaya devam edelim.@@tanerozmen7191

[@user-ot8bb3ng7o]

🎄🎉a merry Christmas to you nice that the cold is gone,🌞 once again another fantastic video 🎉💯💯👏👏my intuition is telling me that if you compile a couple of videos into a training manual , STRICTLY for beginners, nothing on opening but more about playing the concepts, and principles,to create a mental foundation,as one progress futher the the game ,over time,i played HOPE chess , absolutely unaware,to guess beginners play these errors for years ,unless coached, including simple tactics,an a senior player and still learn from these videos 🎉will be recommendeding,this channel to my 12 year old relative, whose really plays a lot 👏👏💯 I wouldn't exchange any pawns as they they would keep the rooks ,restrained,hope am right

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much! I have not fully recovered yet (that was an old video) but there is progress. I will think about your suggestion. I have a plan of making a beginner course on Chessable on non-opening fundamentals. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

[@user-ot8bb3ng7o]

@@Dr.CansClinic .👍

[@jimmccann3856]

Re2 trading down would tend to accentuate Blacks 2 P edge...

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Nice idea!

[@Kasperrkuijpers]

I think bxc5 is not a good move, after dxc5 suddenly white has pressure on d7 and will create a passed pawn on the b file. Blacks knight is far away therefore blacks rook will have to go to b8 and remain very passive there to prevent the pawn from promoting. b5 seems like the best move to me, fixing the pawns in place thereby preventing counterplay from white

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! Great analysis!

[@stanislavhadzhiev187]

Hey in which video can I find the answer to the homework question?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Hey, I did not cover this in a video, but do you have a guess? ☺

[@stanislavhadzhiev187]

@@Dr.CansClinic Hi, well we're up material so we should aim to exchange pieces, not pawns. I would suggest Re2. Looks most forcing.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Great move, you are right!@@stanislavhadzhiev187

[@josephsalmonte4995]

Once I've improved my pawn moves, I only have to improve my piece moves and I'll be ok! 😂

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Pawns and pieces. They form the backbone of chess strategy.

[@Spartacus547]

it's a chess crime you don't have more subscribers,

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you. Please do not hesitate sharing the channel with your friends and spreading the word. I believe if the quality is great, people ultimately should discover it. I will not make Niemann videos to achieve this goal though.