Everything You Need to Know About Pawn Breaks

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00:00 Position 1
03:08 Position 2
05:35 Position 3
09:24 Position 4
11:55 Position 5
14:27 Position 6
18:34 Position 7
21:26 Position 8
24:49 Position 9
29:07 Homework Position
This video provides an extensive strategic overview of pawn breaks. We discuss all major functions of pawn breaks by solving instructive examples. Pawn breaks can serve multiple functions: they can activate our pieces, allow us to fight in cramped positions, help us create weaknesses, create attacks against the enemy king, and help determine our piece placement in the middlegame. Pawn breaks provide us with plans in the middlegame, enabling us to place our pieces to support those pawn breaks.
However, blindly pursuing pawn breaks is also misguided, as demonstrated in this video. We examine several examples where the pawn break benefits the enemy pieces more than ours. By analyzing these counterexamples, we can gain a deeper understanding of this concept and successfully apply it to our games. Otherwise, we risk mere rote memorization. As always, we pose the "Why?" question in this video to encourage deep engagement, hopefully leading to conceptual understanding. Only by truly answering the "why" question can you flexibly transfer this knowledge to your games.
To truly master pawn breaks, you need to solve challenging exercises. My Chessable courses provide you with that opportunity, so please check them out. I eagerly await your feedback! Please don't hesitate to write to me on KZbin, explaining your reasoning behind the homework positions. Explaining a concept is one of the best ways to solidify recently learned material, so please take advantage of this opportunity by leaving a comment!

[@hiwibaba22]

Let's face it guys, This is the most psychologically healthy chess player on the planet today! Thank you Dr Can for finding all the top topics that us intermediates struggle with and addressing them. We all admire your work!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

What can I say to such a humbling comment? I am very happy that you find the videos useful. I am really doing my best to increase the instructional value.

[@KF1]

Another great video. For the homework position, this is a bad idea to play f4 for multiple reasons. Black will gain the e5 square and sit like a sumo wrestler on white by controlling the center. Further, it may result in white having to trade their dark bishop for the sidewall knight. No good. White would be left with an unhappy light bishop and a weak, backward and blockaded pawn on e4. A better plan is to use the open c file, which white can control.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Excellent, with great analogies to sumo wrestling! 😅

[@chessassassin2813]

Have you read the book, "Pawn Power?"

[@KF1]

@@chessassassin2813 no. Is it awesome?

[@bxnxjmin]

i am new to chess and i’ve been stuck at 400-500 elo for so long. I’ve watched your videos for about 3 days and i have gained almost +300 rating points. Sitting around 700 now and climbing fast. No one taught me chess so learning these deeper concepts is extremely helpful. Gonna purchase one of your courses this weekend👍🏼

[@Dr.CansClinic]

This is one of the most motivating and encouraging feedback I can ever receive as a chess teacher/author. I am extremely happy to have potentially contributed to your breakthrough. Please keep on giving me feedback on your future progress, after studying my courses ☺️

[@Lukas_E.]

Great video, your position examples are among the most instructive on KZbin.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So motivating to hear, thank you so much! My mission is to help you improve the game, and those examples were picked after several years of coaching.

[@easybrynjar6363]

Thank you for such phenomenal content. I look forward to each one because it is the perfect length for me to watch on my lunch break.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So motivating, thank you 🙏☺️

[@sulemandaud2144]

The positions and explanations in this video are a great compliment to Jesse Kraai's motto of Pawns Aren't People. Often times I am too eager to play pawn breaks, and I end up improving my opponents' pieces... On a side note (maybe a future video perhaps?), preparing pawns breaks - positionally and tactically sound pawn breaks - is quite the struggle. An instructive example given to me was Taimanov - Abramov 1950, where Taimanov prepares an e4 break over the course of 8 moves (!).

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your kind feedback! Indeed, Jesse talks about it too. I will keep your video idea in mind! Thank you for the suggestion!

[@jonnyjansson7320]

Thank you for another great video! Todays topic was much harder than usual. Looking at the homework position: I see that White has more space in the centre and more pieces on the queen side. Material is equal, but White has the bishop pair. Black's dark square complex is weak on the queen side and the c-file is open. This together with the fact that the pawn chain points towards the queen side for White, suggests that White should play on the queen side. Therefore, I think 1.f4 is not a good move on strategical grounds. After 1..exf4 2.Bxf4 Nxf4 3.Qxf4 Bg5, Black has total control over the dark squares on the king side and the black knight on d7 has awaken with the prospect of a beautiful outpost on e5. Here, I think, Black is much better and maybe already winning. In the starting position, I prefer 1.Qc3 with the idéas of 2.Na5 and 3.Rc1. The white knight has a nice potential outpost square on c6 and a white rook on c7 will be devastating after a queen trade.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Excellent thought process and answer! Thank you so much! Rf2-c2 is also a great positional move, playing on the queenside.

[@jaybingham3711]

This aligns well with my offensive thoughts. Possibly this will serve to be powerful and timely enough to blunt counterplay. That said l, what thoughts did you mull over with respect to the h pawn attacking our pawn chain...and any potential initiative that might afford black?

[@jonnyjansson7320]

@@jaybingham3711 I didn't think much of it. Black cant open any lines. For instance, if 1.Qc3 h3 2.g3 and the pawn on h3 blocks the rook. Sacrificing the knight on g3 isn't a thing because Black doesn't have any follow up. The play on the kingside will resemble the play in the Mar de Plata variation of the king's indian and there the Black's light squared bishop is crucial for succes. That the bishop is on e7 instead of g7 isn't relevant in my opinion. By the way, I think Dr.Cahn's suggestion 1.Rf2 is more precise than my 1.Qc3 because for once the black bishop is denied the square g5, and also that 2.Rc2 with the threat of 3.Rc8 forces Black to castle and black's counter play loses some of its force. Finally, the move 3..Bg5 which I ended the variation starting with 1.f4 is a losing blunder. 4.Qxf7 is mate. Black should of course play 3..Ne5 instead

[@GaryWalters-tk2lp]

Another great video, you really are helping my game and understanding, I don't always get everything correct but I'm seeing so much more now, thank you, looking forward to the next episode 👍👍👍

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your kind feedback. It would not be good for learning if you always got them right ☺️ Please check out my courses for more exercises!

[@manuelfuentes4509]

I'm craving your (new) videos!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So motivating, thank you! Will keep them coming!

[@JohSmith]

Pawn breaks, nice!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks! ☺️

[@RAFAELSILVA-by6dy]

Re the f4 pawn break: White should look to play on the Q-side and defend on the K-side. Trading the dark-square Bishop for Knight doesn't look good. And it gives Black an outpost on e5, which the Knight can occupy immediately, defending f7. White gets pressure on the f-file, but I'm not sure that can be exploited fully.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Such excellent answer, thank you!

[@fathimahjk5813]

Of course one of the best chess lesson which I've seen on Utube and anywhere so far..Thx..

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am very humbled to hear your kind feedback, thank you so much!

[@gulabrathod4484]

Pawn f4 is the right move. It opens up the f file and also helps Nc3 a good square in the centre.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

But how about the black pieces? Did they like seeing the f4 break?

[@Kunal_Rai]

Great Video

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! ☺️

[@user-ot8bb3ng7o]

Great video 👏💯 gives clarity of purpose of pawn breaks👍 sometimes pawn breaks come about as a move of desperation, without having meaningful purpose, just something ppl do when they run out of ideas🎉

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much ☺️ Yes, we should avoid blindly engaging in pawn breaks, and I hope this video will be useful for that!

[@briandwi2504]

Great lesson. I have put one of your courses on my Chessable wishlist!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much!!

[@brainfellow5140]

Thank you Dr. Can for another great video! Re: Homework, what I see: I think it's a bad pawn-break because after all the trades on f4 with the white rook left standing on f4 and white's dark-squared bishop traded off, black moves Ne5 gaining central control of beautiful outpost square and blockading e4 pawn, and furthermore white's remaining light-squared bishop becomes "bad bishop" and can never hit this knight...

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! Excellent judgement again!

[@santodagostino6896]

Excellent, insightful lesson.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!

[@MistaMasta12]

Excellent video again, Dr. Can 😊

[@Dr.CansClinic]

It is a pleasure to hear this from you, Maurits! 😊

[@cwgriffin1]

Thank you. Once again you created an outstanding lesson. Homework. Yes play f4. You open the f4 and will be in great position attack the King side if he ever castles (he can't OOO). The only thing that I don't like is giving up a good Bishop for the Nh5. I would love to get the Nb3 to e2. Its only is to task is keep the Q and Nd7 from going Q side.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for the feedback! What are the cons of playing f4? Are we awakening any black pieces? Their minor pieces are terrible right now, would they feel better after f3-f4?

[@Erik_001]

Very nice. thank you very much.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So nice of you, thanks.

[@manuelfuentes4509]

I think you're one of the best! If not THE BEST KZbinrs!!! 🎉 Tak so mycket 😊 🙏, grazie, ty!!!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

What can I say to such an amazing comment? Tack så mycket, grazie!! ☺️❤️

[@bernie4366]

VERY good and VERY informative video. Just followed you at chessable. I honestly feel you just made my game better in about 11 minutes. I am, of course, aware of pawn breaks but I rarely really look at them this clinically and rationally. I will from now on.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is so motivating to hear, thank you so much! ☺️ That is my main mission as a teacher, and such feedback is very valuable. Please check out my courses to consolidate these lessons :)

[@robertschoefbeck3637]

Great video!!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much ☺️

[@user-gg6df4xr3i]

I talk to my pieces,but they never talk back....Recommend a good book,Sam shanklands small steps to giant improvements,really good book and as a chessable as well.Also a physical book called Chess Structures a grandmasters guide by mauricio Flores Rios also as a chessable as well...Buy the book though,real books are better.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Those are good books! I am considering to make a course where you learn to speak to your pieces and hear back from them!

[@user-gg6df4xr3i]

@@Dr.CansClinic lol oh if only they could! i have many many books the best you can buy really so to speak that are good....Silmans end game course book is a very good any level book,because it starts you off very simple and gets harder as you go aong so you can judge your playing strength wherre as you go in with divoretskys its a bit much to the novice...but,yeah loads of good books all on my desk that get used daily...silmans how to reaccess your chess is a bible! brilliant book,and the jacob Aagard series is a must have,loads of good books out there.Sam shanklands calculation book is very good as is GM micky adams how to think like a grand master...Anyway,back to writing my private chessable.And reading more books...

[@jaybingham3711]

Que bueno! Muy excellente! 1. 28:45 That's all we ask for...the ability to suss out a c pawn push in such a position so as to enjoy a zugswang a half dozen moves later. Would be great if we could get this totally buttoned up and locked down by say...middle of next week. Por favor. 😊 2. Position 3: Previously we chatted about a comment I had made about space and that so often I find it to be remarkably 'overrated'...for the lack of a better, more precise word. This is a quintessential example. I get that in general having more space is better than being cramped...for obvious reasons. I guess from my sub expert level experience it might not be surprising it often doesn't translate...whether as a material benefit or a hindrance. Sometimes, yes. No doubt. But most of the time, it's nothing to get overly excited about... whether wielding it or coveting it. Maybe that's a topic worth considering doing a video on. No doubt there are some things I have yet to fully appreciate/understand on the matter. Keep up the great work. 👍

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your extremely kind comment! I think it is a good idea to make a video on space advantage and its relevance in casual player games. Pros and cons as you have mentioned.

[@MrMauPat]

This was very needed.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much!

[@arielpatdu6931]

thank you sir

[@Dr.CansClinic]

My pleasure! 🙏

[@chessassassin2813]

Reminds me of the book entitled, 'PAWN POWER.'

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Absolutely!

[@jackcityy718]

Homework : seems OK but prematurely cause the bishop and queen battery will cause trouble for white in a few moves later.. When I am attempting my pawn breaks I usually look for the bishop on that respected color and activity, I don't want to open any unwanted diagonals

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for the answer! f4 is wrong indeed, as it also gives the poor d7-knight a juicy home on e5...

[@santosozhang1985]

f4 is a Bad Pawn Break. Just making e5 a good Outpost for d7 Knight. Thank You for the Great Lesson.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much, excellent!

[@eschiedler]

homework spoiler - no engine At first glance, white is fully developed and black's king is in the center ready to castle. If white attacks before black can castle, it may prove decisive. f4 Nxf4 Bxf4 exf4 Qxf4 Qb6+ Kh1 Ne5 Be2 This line allows black to improve it's two knights and does not punish black for delaying castling. It's not even clear black needs to castle. Black's e5 knight controls the center of the board and can't be dislodged easily. It also leaves white with both a weak bishop and knight. Qc3 0-0 Na5 b6 Nc6 Qe8 Rc1 is a better line for white as it gains control of the c-file and allows for play on the queen side. Qc3 0-0 Na5 Qb8 Qb4 is also quite solid. I am not sure Qc3 is the strongest improvement to white's position, but it seems to avoid black's refutation of f4, which is questionable.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! f4? is a poor move, mostly because it awakens several black pieces and exchanges off a good bishop for a terrible knight. The f-file and the d4-square do not compensate for those. The best plan is probably Rf2-c2, taking over the only open file and invading the 7th rank later.

[@eschiedler]

@@Dr.CansClinic Rf2 is a very interesting move for sure.

[@klausm8771]

Great Video as always. Meanwhile I own almost all of your Chessable courses. Great work!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is so amazing to hear, thank you so much for studying my courses! ☺️🙏 Please ask me anything along the way! I am very responsive on Chessable too.

[@giftphiri4617]

How.can I access your chessable courses? You are a great coach indeed. Thank you for these great videos

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your motivating comment ☺ Here is my Chessable author profile with all courses: www.chessable.com/author/Can_Kabadayi/

[@Dakodi_]

Hello Dr., I enjoy all of your videos and they help me tremendously. Do you have/could you make a course on developing your bishops and knights and what squares are best in what positions? For example, there are many openings where Nd7 and Ne7 or Nbd2, etc. Some positions where Na6 is best. Some caro positions where the bishops go on d6, etc. This is something I struggle with in some openings. Not just because of where the pieces go, but why- the plans that follow and why if you don’t make these subtle development moves, you can be in trouble. A specific opening that has confused me is the Karpov variation in the caro kann. It is a very weird structure. There are a million ideas and positions to simply develop your major pieces! Thank you again.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your kind comment! That is a very interesting question indeed, but I don't know of a course that covers that topic. It is structure specific as well. Generally, we do not want to block our c-pawns with early knight moves with Nc3 or Nc6. I am planning to make a course on feeling for the pieces, and in that one I will talk about such ideas of knowing on which square your pieces would feel happier ☺️

[@milehighslacker4196]

@18:23, in my world of minority attacking chances, after a3 Black would play ...b5. When I learned of the Minority Attack, every time I recognized it and had a chance to play it, the opponent easily shut me down.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for the feedback - indeed ...b5 is a standard response, but it usually hinges on whether Black can quickly establish a knight on c4 with ...Nb6-c4.

[@KikanKikan-wb1wr]

Home work , 1.f4 ,exf4 2.Bxf4,Nxf4 3.Qxf4 ,0-0 I Think f4 is good for white in this position

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! But how about Black's minor pieces awakening after f4?

[@fredgandolfi2356]

I believe the f4 break is bad because the trades on f4 will cost white its best bishop while giving the e5 square to the nd7. Yes the black king has yet to castle but the bd3 and nb3 can't join an attack. Not sure however what a good plan for white could be, i would like to put a piece on b6 and control c7. It will be slow.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Excellent answer, thanks! Rf2! Rc2 is a very strong plan for White.

[@jackcityy718]

So far I'm up to puzzle 6 and I had the right idea each time around... I knew there was going to be a backwards pawn but I didn't know it was going to be on the C file ... I thought it was still going to be on the B file ... nevertheless I was 80% right

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you, well done!

[@P4nikStudios]

haha I got to stop blitzing moves out so fast I saw c3 as the break in position 3.. I have ACTUAL brain rot or something XD .

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That happens :) Thanks for your feedback.

[@pommedemer1922]

Hell nah dont push f4, stack on the c file

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Nice one! Rc2-f2!

[@KikanKikan-wb1wr]

In position 5 minute 12.48 if white 1. Re1 ,e5 2.dxe5,Nd7 3.Bf4,Bxc5 4.Qc2,h6 How about that line Master ,white have outpost in d6

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks! After Re1, Black should not play ...e5 I think. But ...e5 was not a dangerous break for us, as shown in the video :)

[@KikanKikan-wb1wr]

Ok master thanks​@@Dr.CansClinic

[@monkeyman15387]

I am still not very good. So can anyone help me with my answer??: For the homework, I don't think F4 is a good move, because after pawn takes, bishop takes, knight takes, queen takes, black can activate their other knight on E5. White now has the open file with their queen and rook and attacks F7, but the knight is defending F7, and black can put their rook on F8 and there is no threat. I think black is happier in this position.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Excellent answer and approach!

[@tdekoekkoek]

f4 seems like a poor break to me. if Black takes the pawn, then Bf4, Nf4, Rf4, black has eliminated white's good bishop for his misplaced N. More importantly, now e5 is a great square for his Knight and Black's dark bishop will find wonderful play on the dark squares starting from f6.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Absolutely. Thanks for the answer.

[@brigittenied969]

How can you be contacted for private lessons, please?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for your interest! You can contact me on [e-mail]

[@mohammadnaufal1027]

In position number 6 (carlsbad structure pawn), after white pawn break b4-b5, I think best black respon is Bc8-d7 so that if white capture black pawn on c6, black can re-capture with his bishop. Is this right (Bd7 is stronger resistent for black) ?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for the input. But even in that case, the b7 and d5 pawns would be weak, and the bishop would be tied down in guarding those weak pawns...

[@mohammadnaufal1027]

​@@Dr.CansClinicthanks for respon my comment 👍

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@mohammadnaufal1027 My pleasure, please keep on asking!

[@tivmego]

@26:06 what if black goes ..b5? The white bishop on a4 gets crammed?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I believe I showed that line in the video. Ra5 followed by a4 gives White a winning edge.

[@tivmego]

@@Dr.CansClinic Thanks alot for replying but not sure I followed. So, here is the scenario as shown at timeline @26:04 on the board: Black pawns are on b6 and d6. The white bishop is on a4 and the white rook is 'already' on a3. White to break the pawn chain with the c5 push in the hopes that black pawn on b6 or d6 takes back. This is where I am asking what if the b6 black pawn declines taking and instead pushes his pawn to b5? The white bishop has to retreat but doesnt have enough space anymore. Looking like a bad white bishop now 🤔

[@jackcityy718]

I got puzzle 8 wrong... I thought it was A3 then b4..

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for the feedback. Did you understand why ...e5 was better and multi-purpose?

[@abhinavmalhotra6722]

F5😮

[@Dr.CansClinic]

At which moment? :)

[@Kunal_Rai]

f4 , e5 takes f4 , bishop takes f4. Knight takes bishop , queen takes bishop , looks like a good pawn break

[@Kunal_Rai]

But i think his bad knight gets traded for a good bishop , but our knight can jump to d4

[@Lukas_E.]

I think it's bad because we'd be willingly giving up our healthy pawn chain and trading off our great centralized bishop for a poor knight on the edge of the board. Also the pawn on e4 becomes vulnerable without the d or f pawn supporting it. Contrary to many examples in the video where a pawn break was necessary, white here has no space isusses that require such a pawn break for more activity right now Edit: wrong notation

[@athulprakash4447]

"e5 takes f4" - but black doesn't have to take right? I don't see why it's good if black ignores our pawn (if white later takes on e5, then black takes back with the d pawn to again get pawn on e5)

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you, excellent!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That was a bad knight on h5 indeed... How about Black's other bad pieces, like their dark squared bishop and the d7-knight? Do they like seeing the f4 break?

[@jackcityy718]

Got puzzle 9 right

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Nice!

[@shooz4unme]

The course on this is named?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

The Art of Awakening Pieces

[@hosa429]

On KZbin I searched chess but your channel was not in results. KZbin algorithm sucks, stock should go down.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for this feedback. Now I am going to add "chess" in my channel's name, and I hope it helps! Please do not hesitate sharing the channel with your chess friends, so we can reach more people :)