How to improve at pawn storms? • page 1/1 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

I really like playing aggressive attacks where I essentially just throw my pawns and pieces towards the opponent's kingside. However, I've noticed that it often doesn't work out well, either because I push the wrong pawn and create a deadlock or end up being forced into a trade.

So, what are some principles to keep in mind when launching these attacks? How do we know whether to push e.g. f6, g6, or h6? And, from the other perspective, how do we defend against pawn storms?

Thanks in advance!

I really like playing aggressive attacks where I essentially just throw my pawns and pieces towards the opponent's kingside. However, I've noticed that it often doesn't work out well, either because I push the wrong pawn and create a deadlock or end up being forced into a trade. So, what are some principles to keep in mind when launching these attacks? How do we know whether to push e.g. f6, g6, or h6? And, from the other perspective, how do we defend against pawn storms? Thanks in advance!

Daasuigulli

so if we take default settings , your pawns on f5 g5 h5 and opponents pawn on f7 g7 h7 then g6 is the best way to open up the position! if any modification your opponents piece is on e7 and your rook is on f1 f6 usually will open up the position . Usually h6 breaks are met with g6 but if u are a leela fan the u can put your bishop on g7 and irritate him . on the counter part it gets tricky. whenever u have the option to take a pawn with your king (king on g1 and pawn on g2) U SHOULD NOT take it. It opens up lines for attack. Hope this helps!

tpr

"how do we defend against pawn storms?"

Strike back in the center

"it often doesn't work out well"

Secure the center first

"how do we defend against pawn storms?" * Strike back in the center "it often doesn't work out well" * Secure the center first

PTX187

From Russian Wiki:

The outcome of a pawn assault depends largely on a number of factors:

Opposite castling – attacking on the flank opposite the opponent's castling is safer (it doesn't weaken your own king).
The presence of semi-open files allows you to quickly deploy heavy pieces, such as rooks and queens, to attack the opponent's weaknesses and pieces.
The positioning of the opponent's pawns on the attacked area. Advanced pawns in a castling position serve as natural targets for attack (for example, an opponent's pawn on h6 facilitates an assault on the kingside). At the same time, a pawn assault is more difficult when the opponent's pawns are in their initial positions. In this case, it often involves a positional pawn sacrifice.
The positioning of the pieces.
The advancement of your own pawns. The more advanced the pawns, the sharper the position.
The strength of the center. Control of the center and its closed nature facilitate an assault. The opponent's counterplay—counterattacks in the center or on the other flank—is possible. The greater this opportunity, the riskier the pawn assault becomes.

Example

Widmar - Tarrasch, Nuremberg 1906
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1146278

See also Nimzowitsch "My System", Chapter 2 "The open file"

From Russian Wiki: The outcome of a pawn assault depends largely on a number of factors: Opposite castling – attacking on the flank opposite the opponent's castling is safer (it doesn't weaken your own king). The presence of semi-open files allows you to quickly deploy heavy pieces, such as rooks and queens, to attack the opponent's weaknesses and pieces. The positioning of the opponent's pawns on the attacked area. Advanced pawns in a castling position serve as natural targets for attack (for example, an opponent's pawn on h6 facilitates an assault on the kingside). At the same time, a pawn assault is more difficult when the opponent's pawns are in their initial positions. In this case, it often involves a positional pawn sacrifice. The positioning of the pieces. The advancement of your own pawns. The more advanced the pawns, the sharper the position. The strength of the center. Control of the center and its closed nature facilitate an assault. The opponent's counterplay—counterattacks in the center or on the other flank—is possible. The greater this opportunity, the riskier the pawn assault becomes. Example Widmar - Tarrasch, Nuremberg 1906 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1146278 See also Nimzowitsch "My System", Chapter 2 "The open file"

kindaspongey edited

"... an admirable centralization allows Petrosian to start a flank attack with his Pawns. ..." - The Most instructive Games of Chess Ever Played (1965) by Irving Chernev
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1258111
[Event "URU-URS"] [Site "Montevideo URU"] [Date "1954.04.01"] [White "Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian"] [Black "Hector Corral"] [ECO "D35"] 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 d5 4 cxd5 exd5 5 Bg5 Nbd7 6 e3 Be7 7 Bd3 O-O 8 Nge2 Re8 9 Qc2 c6 10 h3 Ne4 11 Bf4 Ndf6 12 f3 Nxc3 13 bxc3 Bd6 14 Bxd6 Qxd6 15 e4 Nh5 16 e5 Qh6 17 Qd2 Qxd2+ 18 Kxd2 g6 19 g4 Ng7 20 h4 h6 21 Raf1 Bd7 22 Rhg1 b5 23 f4 a5 24 f5 gxf5 25 gxf5 Kh8 26 e6 fxe6 27 f6 Nf5 28 Bxf5 exf5 29 Rg7 1-0

"... an admirable centralization allows Petrosian to start a flank attack with his Pawns. ..." - The Most instructive Games of Chess Ever Played (1965) by Irving Chernev https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1258111 [Event "URU-URS"] [Site "Montevideo URU"] [Date "1954.04.01"] [White "Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian"] [Black "Hector Corral"] [ECO "D35"] 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 d5 4 cxd5 exd5 5 Bg5 Nbd7 6 e3 Be7 7 Bd3 O-O 8 Nge2 Re8 9 Qc2 c6 10 h3 Ne4 11 Bf4 Ndf6 12 f3 Nxc3 13 bxc3 Bd6 14 Bxd6 Qxd6 15 e4 Nh5 16 e5 Qh6 17 Qd2 Qxd2+ 18 Kxd2 g6 19 g4 Ng7 20 h4 h6 21 Raf1 Bd7 22 Rhg1 b5 23 f4 a5 24 f5 gxf5 25 gxf5 Kh8 26 e6 fxe6 27 f6 Nf5 28 Bxf5 exf5 29 Rg7 1-0