A central pawn can succeed by being sacrificed

Boris Gelfand — Gata Kamsky · Dos Hermanas · 1996.05.29

Complete legal positionLoading progress…

Decision position · White to move

Pawn structure and mobility

White occupies d4, e4 with pawns and controls d5, e5 with pawn attacks; Black occupies none of d4, e4, d5, e5 with pawns and controls none of those four squares with pawn attacks. White has 5 legal pawn move choices in this position. Pawn control is geometric, including pinned pawns; legal mobility accounts for king safety. Neither count is an engine evaluation.

White

Isolated pawns: None
Doubled files: None
Passed pawns: None
Blocked ahead: f2 by f3
Pawn chains: None

Black

Isolated pawns: None
Doubled files: None
Passed pawns: a7, b7
Blocked ahead: None
Pawn chains: f7–g6

White's legal pawn moves: d5, e5, g3, h3, h4

Identify the chain's support

Black's pawn chain on f7, g6 has f7 at its base. Test whether pressure on that support changes the advanced pawns' stability; piece placement and tactics determine whether a break works.

Study this pawn idea

A passer still needs help

The pawns on a7, b7 have no enemy pawn ahead on their own or adjacent files. Check blockaders, king activity and the promotion route before advancing; this geometric fact is not a winning verdict.

Study this pawn idea

Learn the plans behind these pawn structures →

Think before revealing

White’s d-pawn reaches d6 and is captured. What survives its disappearance, and why must the position be evaluated beyond the pawn count?

Diagnose → choose → calculate → explain the transformation. Consider the opponent’s best resistance, not just the move you want them to make.

Your reasoning

What is the pawn situation?Your candidate and intended improvementOpponent’s reply; what changes after the final recapture?

4 · Reflect & return

Can you explain the gain, the concession and the opponent’s plan without reading the notes? Self-rate your understanding to schedule another look. This is a learning record, not an engine grade.

Sources & teaching context

Adapted from the supplied Pawn Play Atlas and Central Pawn Play materials. Unknown historical details remain unknown; illustrations are distinguished from full games.

Historical score / source 1

Transfer the idea

Try it in a different setting.

Study as a curriculum →

A central pawn can succeed by being sacrificed

Boris Gelfand — Gata Kamsky · Dos Hermanas · 1996.05.29

Complete legal positionLoading progress…

Decision position · White to move

Pawn structure and mobility

White

Isolated pawns: None
Doubled files: None
Passed pawns: None
Blocked ahead: f2 by f3
Pawn chains: None

Black

Isolated pawns: None
Doubled files: None
Passed pawns: a7, b7
Blocked ahead: None
Pawn chains: f7–g6

White's legal pawn moves: d5, e5, g3, h3, h4

Identify the chain's support

Black's pawn chain on f7, g6 has f7 at its base. Test whether pressure on that support changes the advanced pawns' stability; piece placement and tactics determine whether a break works.

Study this pawn idea

A passer still needs help

The pawns on a7, b7 have no enemy pawn ahead on their own or adjacent files. Check blockaders, king activity and the promotion route before advancing; this geometric fact is not a winning verdict.

Study this pawn idea

Learn the plans behind these pawn structures →

Think before revealing

White’s d-pawn reaches d6 and is captured. What survives its disappearance, and why must the position be evaluated beyond the pawn count?

Diagnose → choose → calculate → explain the transformation. Consider the opponent’s best resistance, not just the move you want them to make.

Your reasoning

What is the pawn situation?Your candidate and intended improvementOpponent’s reply; what changes after the final recapture?

4 · Reflect & return

Can you explain the gain, the concession and the opponent’s plan without reading the notes? Self-rate your understanding to schedule another look. This is a learning record, not an engine grade.

Sources & teaching context

Adapted from the supplied Pawn Play Atlas and Central Pawn Play materials. Unknown historical details remain unknown; illustrations are distinguished from full games.

Historical score / source 1

Transfer the idea

Try it in a different setting.

Study as a curriculum →