You have a Pawn Chain Pointing to the Queenside when you have a diagonal formation of connected pawns that extends from the kingside towards the queenside (as shown in the diagram above). This structure is usually very resilient as its pawns support each other. It can help you launch attacks and create weaknesses on that side of the board.
Ideas for when you have a strong Pawn Chain Pointing to the Queenside: (1) Use the space advantage on the queenside to maneuver your pieces and target weaknesses. Ideas against a strong Pawn Chain Pointing to the Queenside: (1) Attack the base of the pawn chain to destabilize its structure, (2) Create counterplay in the center or on the kingside.
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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 Pawns Chain Pointing to the Queenside. 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 type of pawn structure.
This is one of the many basic lessons by Chess.com. It explains Pawn Chains in a very clear and effective way. Ideal for beginners. Be sure to try the interactive challenges at the end.
Have a look at this nice video by Coach Kestony to learn how to fight against an opponent’s Pawn Chains (the one in the example points to the Queenside). Ideal for intermediate players.
This video is a massive work by Journey to Grandmaster. In less than half an hour, you'll be introduced to all the most important chess principles, including “Use Pawn Chains as a guide.” Enjoy!
This is a very good book by Jorg Hickl. It's a great introduction to the most important pawn structures, how to recognize them and exploit them. A full chapter is dedicated to pawn chains.
A great book by renowned Andrew Soltis that helps you understand pawn formations as they emerge from the openings and how to plan your middlegame accordingly. A classic.
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