Structures are very important, especially in the opening, as they shape the chess game. All the strategic elements like King’s safety, development of your pieces and control upon the center are somehow attached to the pawn structure.
Our guest coach GM Suat Atalik has prepared a very instructive video lesson for you. In this lesson, he will discuss the pawn structures in chess.
Ivan Sredojevic (2342) – Suat Atalik (2564) [B33]
7th Open International Championship of V, 20.07.2016
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5
White to play
In the past, people have judged this move as one that creates a bad structure. People call it Lasker’s Hunt, from the famous game between Schlechter and Lasker, 10th World Championship 1910. In this game, White chooses a conservative move – he moves his Knight to b3.
6.Nb3 Bb4 7.Bd3 d5 8.exd5 Nxd5
Black has a perfect position here. We can say that Black has even taken the initiative. That’s why it is called Lasker’s Hunt because he is hunting for the advantage.
Black has a perfect position here. We can say that Black has even taken the initiative. That’s why it is called Lasker’s Hunt because he is hunting for the advantage.
Suggestion: you may like to learn about the “Best chess openings and how to pick one for you”.
We can reach this position from different opening systems.
Fischer, Robert James (2760) – Petrosian, Tigran V (2640) [B44]
Candidates Final, Buenos Aires (1), 30.09.1971
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nb5 d6 6.Bf4 e5 7.Be3 Nf6 8.Bg5 Be6 9.N1c3 a6 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Na3
Fischer spends three tempi with his Bishop in order to get this structure, which he is also happy to play with a tempo down. Petrosian has equal chances in this position, but Fischer manages to beat him in the end.
Fischer spends three tempi with his Bishop in order to get this structure, which he is also happy to play with a tempo down. Petrosian has equal chances in this position, but Fischer manages to beat him in the end.Suggestion: You may also like to see “Bobby Fischer’s greatest chess game – game of the century”.
White invades Black’s territory with the interesting move d5. Here comes the second name for this opening, “the Pelican”, from the bird.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Black can try to play e5 immediately without the move Knight to f6. This opening system is called the Kalashnikov.
4…e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4
Black to play
Suat believes that this position is complicated because Black has a weakness on d6 and White has one on d4.
Below, Suat analyzes this game from Black’s point of view. I hope you will enjoy watching the game. 
Note: you may download the PGN of all the games mentioned in the lesson here.
Author information
GM Suat Atalik
GM Suat Atalik
He was born in Turkey in 1964, represented Turkey in the World Junior Chess Championship in 1983, and was their top board for several Chess Olympiads.
In 2003, he took the first place at Mar del Plata. In 2007 he tied for first with Michael Roiz at the Gorenje Valjevo Tournament. Atalık won the 3rd and 4th Mediterranean Chess Championships in Antalya, Turkey and Cannes, France respectively.
===============================================
NEW COURSE:
New Book:
PREMIUM WEBINAR:
Quick Links for other products:
NEW: Opening Laboratory 2
The Grandmaster's Secret
The Grandmaster's Openings Laboratory
How to Beat Titled Players
Your Winning Plan
An Endgame Expert
Self-taught Grandmaster
The Grandmaster's Positional Understanding
Calculate Till Mate
The Grandmaster's Secret
The Grandmaster's Openings Laboratory
How to Beat Titled Players
Your Winning Plan
An Endgame Expert
Self-taught Grandmaster
The Grandmaster's Positional Understanding
Calculate Till Mate
