You might be wondering what kind of pawn structure the title of this article refers to. Is it doubled pawns? Passed pawns? Well, it is neither, even though learning how to play with those pawn structures is very important as well.

The most common pawn structure in chess is actually the “Isolated Queen Pawn.” This type of pawn structure can be seen in many different openings such as the Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4), Queen’s Gambit Accepted (1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 c5 4.Bxc4 cxd4 5.exd4) and Caro-Kann (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.cxd5 Nxd5) just to name a few.

Because this is the most common pawn structure in all of chess, it is vital that you learn how to play with and against this isolated pawn. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages, plans, and piece placements that this pawn structure involves is key to you playing the positions in the best way possible. This first article will discuss the advantages and disadvantages for both the player with the pawn and the player fighting against the pawn in this structure.

PLAYER WITH THE ISOLATED QUEEN PAWN

Let’s look at the position to the right for reference. This is the basic pawn structure for the isolated queen pawn. Both White and Black have advantages and disadvantages surrounding this pawn structure that are fundamental to understanding the plans and piece placements necessary.

In this situation, White has the isolated queen pawn. The advantage for White in this position is that the pawn gives him an edge in space. He controls the c5 and e5 squares while Black does not have a pawn as far advanced in the center. White also has the half-open e-file at his disposal. On the other hand, the disadvantage to this is that the d4 pawn cannot be protected by another pawn. It will need continuous defense from White’s pieces. When pieces are forced to defend a pawn, it is usually not a great situation. However, White’s space edge and freedom of piece movement can compensate for this disadvantage if he plays the position correctly.

PLAYER FIGHTING AGAINST THE ISOLATED QUEEN PAWN

Here, Black is the one fighting against the isolated queen pawn. We already mentioned one disadvantage for White being that his pawn needs constant protection from his other pieces. This is an advantage for Black. The pawn cannot always be easily defended and, as more pieces come off the board, it can become very weak.

Also, while White has the c5 and e5 squares in his control, Black has a square in his control that White cannot touch with another pawn: the d5 square. The square in front of the isolated queen pawn is a critical square in this pawn structure — one that can shift the entire evaluation of the position if controlled by a specific player. Black also has a half-open file that White does not have use of: the d-file. This file leads straight into the pawn and Black can use his rooks on the file to continuously attack the pawn.

This very dynamic pawn structure holds all the keys to these kinds of positions. In my next article, we will examine the plans for both the side with the isolated queen pawn and the side fighting against it.

Read more about positional chess by clicking here: “Three Types of Positions: Generalities”.