| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |   | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
Inchess,connected pawns are two or more pawns of the same color on adjacentfiles, as distinct fromisolated pawns. These pawns are instrumental in creating pawn structure because, when diagonally adjacent, like the two rightmost white pawns, they form apawn chain, where the pawn behind protects the one in front. When attacking these chains, the weak spot is the backmost pawn because it is not protected by any other pawn.[1][2]
Connected pawns that are bothpassed, i.e., without any enemy pawns in front of them on the same file or adjacent files, are referred to asconnected passed pawns. Such pawns can be very strong in theendgame, especially if supported by other pieces. Often the opponent mustsacrificematerial to prevent one of the pawns frompromoting.
Connected passed pawns are usually superior to other passed pawns. An exception is in anopposite-colored bishops endgame with a bishop and two pawns versus a bishop on the opposite color. If the pawns are connected and not beyond their fifthrank, the position is atheoretical draw whereas widely separated pawns would win.
Two connected pawns on the same rank without any friendly pawns on adjacent files are calledhanging pawns.
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |    | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
There is a saying that two connected passed pawns on the sixthrank are stronger than arook. This is true if the other side has nothing but a rook to defend against the pawns (and the defender cannot immediately capture one of the pawns). In this diagram, White wins:
Similar is 1...Rc3.
Also winning is 2.d7 followed by 3.c7.
And one of the pawns willpromote.[3]
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