Apawn storm, sometimes called apawn avalanche,[1] is achesstactic in which severalpawns are moved in rapid succession toward the opponent's defenses.[2] A pawn storm usually involves adjacent pawns on the flank of the board, such as thequeenside (a-, b-, and c-files) or thekingside (f-, g-, and h-files). A pawn storm can also happen on the center of the board.[3]
When involving only two pawns, apawn roller is a chess tactic in which twoconnectedpassed pawns are used to mutually defend each other topromotion.[4] This allows the pawns to more easily travel down the board without possibly beingcaptured. This differs from a pawn storm, as a pawn storm utilizes more than two pawns to travel down the board, and a pawn storm is typically used to attack or overwhelm an opponent's defenses.
An exact type of formation of a pawn storm/roller is apawn phalanx, which is when two or more pawns are next to each other on the same rank, allowing them to control more squares in front and support each other's advances.[5][6]
One can launch a pawn storm for many reasons. Probably the most common of these is to initiate a mating attack, in which the pawns are used to openfiles for pieces, or less commonly to brick in the king and form a mating net before taking decisive action. Another common reason for launching a pawn storm is to simply activate one's pieces, especially the rooks, by opening files.[7] A pawn storm can also be used to lead tomaterial gain or a strategic advantage. Strategic advantages that can result from pawn storms include the creation ofoutposts, the weakening of the opponent'spawn structure, or simply a space advantage. These benefits are especially typical in the case of aqueensideminority attack. When a pawn storm is taking place on a wing, if the attacking pawns are advancing against a greater number of pawns than the ones that are being used to attack, it is called aminority attack.[8] Pawn storms can also lead to the gain of severaltempi if the pawns can manage to repeatedly kick the opponent's pieces, but this is not a usual motive in itself.
Pawn storms are typical in several openings. The first plan can be clearly seen in such sharp openings as theSicilian Najdorf or theYugoslav Attack, among others. In both of these cases, many lines will see White and Black castle on opposite sides of the board, and play forcheckmate by throwing everything they can at each other's king. In many lines of theKing's Indian Defense, White will take up a pawn storm on the queenside in order to win material, while Black will create a pawn storm on the kingside in order to begin a mating attack. The aforementioned minority attack can arise from a great many openings, a notable one being the ExchangeQueen's Gambit. The ClosedRuy Lopez also frequently sees Black engage in a queenside pawn storm so as to gain space and subsequently gain play on that side. TheModern Benoni can also lead to pawn storms, typically in the centre for White, and on the queenside for Black.[3]
The objective of pawn rollers is typically to advance to promotion. However, some pawn rollers can also be used as a pawn storm; pawn rollers can be used to attack an enemy's defenses. Sometimes,piece sacrifices are made in order to make a pawn storm effective or to make a pawn storm work, as they can help open up the position for other pieces or for the pawns themselves.[9]
Pawn storms and rollers can however become weak if not executed properly.Overextension can occur, where pawns are too far advanced without sufficient support, leaving the pawns vulnerable to attacks.[10][11] They can also be predictable, allowing the opponent to counterattack. When pawns advance, they cannot move backwards, so squares they leave undefended behind them can become weak.[12] Pawn storms can also weaken thepawn structure and allow the opponent to createcheckmate threats.[13] Pawn storms can also be stopped by way of restraining their movement and blockading the pawns.[1][9]
When organized in a pawn phalanx, pawns do not defend each other, so they require other pieces for support to remain strong, or they will become weak and vulnerable to attacks.
| 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 | ||
A pawn storm will often be directed toward the opponent'sking after it hascastled toward one side (e.g.Fischer–Larsen, 1958[15]). Successive advances of the pawns on that side might rapidly cramp and overwhelm the opponent's position.
In game 9 of theClassical World Chess Championship 1995 betweenViswanathan Anand andGarry Kasparov, Anand played as the white pieces and Kasparov played as the black pieces. During the game, Anand was able to launch a queenside attack with a pawn storm, leading to his win against Kasparov in the round.[16]
| 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 | ||
On the left is an example of a pawn roller directed atqueening apassed pawn; the diagram is taken from a game in whichTigran Petrosian was playing the black pieces againstBobby Fischer. Over the next fourteen moves, Petrosian storms his twin pawns down the a- and b- files, forcing Fischer'sresignation.
Pawn storm.
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