We will concentrate on the isolated d-pawn,
such as d4 (d5), because positions with those
pawns happen more often than others. Other isolated
pawns are mostly considered as weaknesses and
rarely bring any benefits to the side that has
them.
Positions where one side has an isolated pawn
are very popular and arise from various openings.
To name a few: French, Caro-Cann, Queen's Gambit,
Nimzo-Indian, Petroff's Defense, etc.
There are positive and negative factors that
come with having an isolated pawn. Among the
positive things are: good piece play, lots of
space and possible attacking chances. The negatives
are also well known: long-term weakness, the
opponent can comfortably control the square in
front of the isolated pawn (blockade), and he
may try to get control of other squares around
the pawn. In the ending the side that plays against
an isolated pawn has better chances (assuming
material equality), because with fewer pieces
it is harder to defend the pawn. Also note that
exchanges make it harder (or even impossible!)
for the side with the isolated pawn to create
attacking chances.
Among the players who have done a great deal
of theoretical work on the subject of isolated
central pawns are Aaron Nimzowitch, Mikhail Botvinnik,
Zigbert Tarrasch. Nimzowitch's work on blockade
must be studied by anyone who wants to improve
his play against an isolated pawn and become
a better player in general.
As was mentioned above, one of the most effective
strategies in playing against an isolated pawn
is to trade as many pieces as possible. The goal
is to win the pawn in the ending. It is also
important to establish a blockade on the square
right in front of the pawn.
In the following game, Armenian GM Vaganian
brilliantly outplayed one of the great players
of this century, GM David Bronstein.
R Vaganian - D Bronstein
Erevan, 1975
1.d4 e6 2.e4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.exd5 exd5 6.Bb5 Bd6 7.dxc5
Bxc5 8.Nb3 Qe7+?!
It's hard to call a move like this a mistake,
but it is. Normal is 8...Bd6 9.0-0 Nge7, leading
to the position which Korchnoi successfully defended
against Karpov in their matches in late 70s.
The text gives the initiative to White.
9.Qe2 Qxe2+ 10.Kxe2
Let's take a look at the position here. As a
result of the opening Black has the isolated
d5-pawn, which in this case is a clear liability.
Black's attacking chances are slim and he now
must carefully defend the ending. White's plan
has been described above trade! Also important
part is to maintain the blockade on d4.
10...Bd6
A good move. This Bishop is a very important
piece for Black because it defends the dark squares
around the isolated pawn (c5, e5), and it can
also attack d4 an important blockading square.
In case of 10...Bb6, White would play 11.Be3
and if then 11...Bc7 White would have easy access
to c5. On 11...Bxe3 12.Kxe3, White would dominate
the dark squares on d4, e5, and c5.
11.Bg5!
A typical maneuver. The Bishop goes to g3, chasing
his Black colleague.
11...f6 12.Bh4 Nge7
I think that instead 12...Bg4 deserved serious
attention, intending to castle long and try to
attack White's King.
13.Bg3 Bxg3
This opens h-file for White's Rook. Better was
13...Nf5 14.Bxd6 Nxd6 15.Bxc6+ bxc6, where White
would still have some edge but Black would have
a defensible position.
14.hxg3 Bg4 15.Kd2 Kf7?!
Black gives away the d4-square without a fight.
He should played 15...Bxf3, as his Bishop
has no great perspectives anyway.
16.Nfd4 Ne5 17.f3 Bc8?
Way too passive, instead 17...Bd7 was better.
After 18.Bxd7 Nxd7 19.Rae1 White would have a
small edge.
18.Rae1 h6 19.Nc5!
White grabbed some space on the queenside. Black
can, of course, push his opponent back with the
a- and b- pawns but this is exactly what White
wants. The so-called "rule of two weaknesses" comes
into play here. It is possible for Black to defend
just one weakness, his d5-pawn, but if he had
some other weak pawn, the task would be much
harder.
19...a6 20.Bd3 b6 21.Na4 Rb8
If 21...Nxd3 22.cxd3 b5 (or 22...Rb8 23.Rxe7+!
Kxe7 24.Nc6+), then 23.Nb6 Rb8? 24.Rxe7+ Kxe7
25.Nc6+ winning.
22.b3 Nxd3
It's hard for Black to defend here. The text
allows White to dominate the e-file. Also Black
won't be able to challenge the Knight on d4.
Better was 22...Rd8 with 23...Rd6 to follow.
23.Kxd3
23...Bd7 24.Nc3 Rhd8 25.Rh5!
White started a direct assault on d5. GM Bent
Larsen once said something like this: It is
not so bad when your opponent blocks your isolated
pawn, it is much worse if he tries to take it
away!
25...Be8 26.Kd2 Rbc8 27.Re6
Nc6 28.Nce2 Bd7!?
Setting up a trap. If 29.Rd6 then 29...Ke7 30.Rhxd5
Nb4!
29.Re3 Ne5 30.Rh1
The first attack was neutralized, but a large
advantage of a position like this is that White
can try many different ideas.
30...Rc7 31.Nf4 Bc8 32.g4 Re7 33.Rhe1
Both sides regrouped their pieces, but Black
has even more problems than before. Squares c6,
e6, f5 are weak, so is the d5-pawn, plus now
the threat of 34.Nd3 is very unpleasant. Clearly
Black should fall one way or the other.
33...g6 34.a4 Bb7 35.a5!
Now Black's pawn structure on the queenside
becomes a second weakness and Black goes down
the hill.
35...bxa5 36.Ra1 Rc8 37.Rxa5 Rec7 38.Nfe6!
Re7 39.Nc5 Rce8
Setting a trap via ...Nc4+. White easily avoids
it.
40.Rc3 Bc8 41.Nxa6
White won the pawn and keeps all the pluses
he had before. Bronstein makes a desperate attempt.
41...h5
42.Nc7 Rg8
Black hopes for some counterplay along g-file,
but it's too late.
43.Ra8! hxg4 44.f4 Nf3+ 45.gxf3 g3
Perhaps Black hoped that his advanced g-pawn
would complicate things a bit. However, White
has no problem stopping it.
46.Ra1! Rh8 47.Rg1 Rh2 48.Kd3 Rf2 49.Rxg3
Rf1
Black sets his final trap, the checkmate on
d1.
50.Kd2 Ree1 51.Re3, 1-0.
