Chess Patterns ❯ Control of Squares ❯ Pawn Blockade

Pawn Blockade

You create a Pawn Blockade when you place one of your pieces directly in front of an opponent's pawn to prevent it from advancing. Knights are the best blockaders (see the first diagram above) because, being able to jump over other pieces, they are not restricted by the pawn.

An opponent's Blockade can be a weakness if it ties down a valuable piece that may be needed elsewhere on the board. Also, when the blockading piece is a Rook or a Queen, it may greatly reduce its mobility (as shown in the second diagram above).

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Master the Pawn Blockade

When we started adding a playful touch to chess learning, we looked through thousands of videos and hundreds of books to find the best resources out there. Here's our curated selection of the best content we encountered on Pawn Blockades. We also included some smaller creators who are growing fast and we believe deserve your attention. Check out these resources if you want to master this important chess concept.

How to Blockade a Passed Pawn in Chess?
A short and sweet intro to Pawn Blockades by Chess Knowledge with H1 channel. If you are a beginner start here (and get to know immediately which pieces are best blockaders).

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Chess Tactic: Blockade
Take a look at this video by The Chess Website. It comments on Several Blockade examples in a very clear and instructive way. It is ideal for both beginners and intermediates.

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The blockade in chess - If you don't notice it you will probably lose the game
This excellent video by Jozarov’s chess channel is for intermediate players who want to go deeper. Many great examples show how to best create (and fight against) Pawn Blockades. Go for it.

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How to Reassess Your Chess, 4th Edition*
This is one of the most famous works by Jeremy Silman. Easy to read, entertaining, full of examples that detail the most important positional principles in chess, including pawn blockades. You'll love it.

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Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy*
This is a very interesting book. John Watson provides dozens of examples of how chess theory has changed, and it illustrates how many "traditional" principles have found their modern exceptions. For serious players only.

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