Complete Chess Strategy: Principles Of Pawn Play And The Center

by Luděk Pachman

Continuing his major work on strategy and tactics in modern chess, the internationally renowned Grandmaster, Ludek Pachman, now turns his attention to the play of the pawns and the achievement of control of the center squares. Though the pawns are the weakest pieces in chess, their importance in determining the character of the attack (and defense) and the development of strategic play cannot be underestimated. Pawns are essential to the protection of important squares and pieces. They are the best means of blockading enemy pawns and when correctly deployed, their advance can open vital files and diagonals, thereby creating weaknesses in the opposite position. Despite its limited power, the pawn has one special advantage over other pieces in that it can be promoted when it reaches the eighth rank; a successful pawn advance can completely change the balance of power and the outcome of a game. Pawns have aptly been described as "the soul of chess”. Vital to chess mastery is a basic understanding of the importance of control of the center squares. The effectiveness of the pieces depend upon the strength of their position and center control creates a vital spatial superiority. The pieces gain in power as they exert influence over more spaces. Control not only allows increased maneuverability, but restricts the possibilities open to the opponent. The effective play of the pawns and center control have been touched upon in other works, but seldom with the insight and lucidity revealed in this second volume of Pachman's masterwork.

Genres: Chess, Games

Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Luděk Pachman (German: Ludek Pachmann) was a Czechoslovak-German chess grandmaster, chess writer, and political activist. In 1972, after being imprisoned and tortured almost to death by the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia, he was allowed to emigrate to West Germany. He lived the remainder of his life there, and resumed his chess career with considerable success, including playing in the Interzonal in 1976 and winning the West German Championship in 1978.

Reviews

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A training manual for the game of chess. A good starter book but does require some previous knowledge of the game.

[Mike Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A continuation of the three volume series by Ludek Pachman, this volume concentrating on play in the center and center pawn structure.