JOIN USConnected pawns always offer support
Connected pawns most often means better pawn structures as isolated or doubled pawns became vulnerable targets.
Pawn chains or connected pawns offer support to each other leaving the major and minor pieces free to try and make inroads into enemy territory.
Of course there are certain positions when isolated pawns at the centre can be an advantage but in the game which ensues White’s decision to have an isolated pawn backfires!. Black piles pressure on this pawn and white is unable to defend it. A few inaccuracies and White then end on the losing side.
White: Sergey Nadyrhanov (2480) – Black: Sergei Rublevsky (2645)
Krasnodar, 1997
Sicilian Defence
1.e4 c5
TheSicilian Defence
2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6 7.Bc4 Nb6 8.Bb3
White can also consider 8.Bd3
8...dxe5. If 8...Nc6 9.exd6 Bxd6 10.0–0 0–0
9.Nxe5 Nc6
If 9...N8d7 10.0–0 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Qxd1 12.Rxd1 Bd7. 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.0–0 Be7
If 11...c5 12.Be3 c4 13.Bc2
12.Nc3 0–0
The players are still following Opening theory
13.Re1. Here more appealing is 13.Bf4 Ba6 14.Re1 c5 15.dxc5 Qxd1 16.Rexd1 Bxc5 17.Ne4 Be7 18.Rac1 Rfc8
13...Nd5. Preferring to exchange knight or stay at the centre
14.Be3 Nxe3
Black can also develop his bishop 14. ..Ba6
15.Rxe3
White decides to play with an isolated pawn at the centre. He could have played 15.fxe3 c5 16.d5
15...Rb8 16.Ne4
Bringing the knight to the centre but perhaps White could have been better off playing 16. Qd3 Qc7 17.Ne4 Rd8 18Qc3
16...Rb4. Interesting move and now White is forced to a part with a pawn as his central isolated pawn becomes a vulnerable target as it cannot be defended nor advanced
17.Rd3
White can also try out 17.Qc2
17...Ba6 18.Rd2 Qb6
Black has been steadily piling pressure on the central pawn
19.Nc5 Bxc5
Black can also try 19. ..Rd8 20.Qe1 Bg5 21.Rdd1 Bc8
20.dxc5 Qxc5 21.Qf3. Difficult to understand why White played this move. He could have tried to get control of the open file and simultaneously attack the queen with 21.Rc1 Qb6 22.Rd6 Bb7 and at least he would have some decent chances to stay fighting. 21...Qb6. A trifle defensive. He can try 21…Qe5
22.Rad1 Bb7. Retreating back! He could have forced the exchange of light square bishop with 22. ..Bc4 23.Bxc4 Rxc4 24.b3 Rc5. 23.Rd6. White can also try for some counter attack by infiltrating onto the seventh rank with 23.Rd7
23...a5
A good pawn advance!
24.Qd3
Tripling forces but Black has things under control. White could have played 24.h3 to vacate the square for the king24. ..g6 25.Rd4 c5 26.Rd6
If 26.Rxb4 cxb4
26...Qc7 27.Rd8. The position is difficult for White but he could have offered more resistance with 27.Rd7 as the text move forces a spate of exchanges and Black has advantage. 27. ..Rxd8 28.Qxd8+ Qxd8 29.Rxd8+ Kg7 30.Rd2 Rd4 31.Re2 Ba6 32.Re1 Rd2 33.Rb1 Be2 and white resigned as Black was threatening c4 followed by Bd3 and Rxb2...
0–1
Diagram 2
White to play and checkmate in three moves. 1.Qg7+ Bxg7 2.Bxg7+ Kg8 3.Bf6 checkmate