Middle Game Strategy - Backward Pawn

Sekhar Chandra Sahu

12k watch mins

A backward pawn is a serious shortcoming in chess strategy. Backward pawn has two important defects, like, it can not be protected by other pawns and is deprived of mobility, apart from giving lucrative square for opponent's pieces. Usually backward pawn creates a lot of problems, since it makes own pieces tied down to passive defense. Nevertheless, in some openings backward pawn is acceptable, if in return, one gets active piece play, for example in game of Smyslov vs. Suetin ,1952.