The outpost matters more than the target

Magnus Carlsen — Wang Yue · Linares · 2009.03.02

Complete legal positionLoading progress…

Decision position · Black to move

Pawn structure and mobility

White occupies none of d4, e4, d5, e5 with pawns and controls d4 with pawn attacks; Black occupies d5 with pawns and controls e4 with pawn attacks. Black has 5 legal pawn move choices in this position. Pawn control is geometric, including pinned pawns; legal mobility accounts for king safety. Neither count is an engine evaluation.

White

Isolated pawns: None
Doubled files: None
Passed pawns: None
Blocked ahead: b3 by b4
Pawn chains: a2–b3; e3–f2; g2–h3

Black

Isolated pawns: d5
Doubled files: None
Passed pawns: None
Blocked ahead: a5 by a4, b4 by b3, f7 by f6
Pawn chains: a5–b4

Black's legal pawn moves: g6, g5, h6, h5, d4

Identify the chain's support

White's pawn chain on a2, b3 has a2 at its base. Test whether pressure on that support changes the advanced pawns' stability; piece placement and tactics determine whether a break works.

Study this pawn idea

Count legal pawn choices

Black can currently move 3 of its 6 pawns legally (5 advance choices and 0 capture choices, counting promotion choices separately). More pawn moves do not by themselves mean a better position.

Study this pawn idea

Learn the plans behind these pawn structures →

Think before revealing

Which knight is supported by d5? Follow the other knight’s route and explain why capturing the pawn later does not repair White’s king safety.

Diagnose → choose → calculate → explain the transformation. Consider the opponent’s best resistance, not just the move you want them to make.

Your reasoning

What is the pawn situation?Your candidate and intended improvementOpponent’s reply; what changes after the final recapture?

4 · Reflect & return

Can you explain the gain, the concession and the opponent’s plan without reading the notes? Self-rate your understanding to schedule another look. This is a learning record, not an engine grade.

Sources & teaching context

Adapted from the supplied Pawn Play Atlas and Central Pawn Play materials. Unknown historical details remain unknown; illustrations are distinguished from full games.

Historical score / source 1

Open narrated assignment →

Transfer the idea

Try it in a different setting.

Study as a curriculum →

The outpost matters more than the target

Magnus Carlsen — Wang Yue · Linares · 2009.03.02

Complete legal positionLoading progress…

Decision position · Black to move

Pawn structure and mobility

White

Isolated pawns: None
Doubled files: None
Passed pawns: None
Blocked ahead: b3 by b4
Pawn chains: a2–b3; e3–f2; g2–h3

Black

Isolated pawns: d5
Doubled files: None
Passed pawns: None
Blocked ahead: a5 by a4, b4 by b3, f7 by f6
Pawn chains: a5–b4

Black's legal pawn moves: g6, g5, h6, h5, d4

Identify the chain's support

White's pawn chain on a2, b3 has a2 at its base. Test whether pressure on that support changes the advanced pawns' stability; piece placement and tactics determine whether a break works.

Study this pawn idea

Count legal pawn choices

Black can currently move 3 of its 6 pawns legally (5 advance choices and 0 capture choices, counting promotion choices separately). More pawn moves do not by themselves mean a better position.

Study this pawn idea

Learn the plans behind these pawn structures →

Think before revealing

Which knight is supported by d5? Follow the other knight’s route and explain why capturing the pawn later does not repair White’s king safety.

Diagnose → choose → calculate → explain the transformation. Consider the opponent’s best resistance, not just the move you want them to make.

Your reasoning

What is the pawn situation?Your candidate and intended improvementOpponent’s reply; what changes after the final recapture?

4 · Reflect & return

Can you explain the gain, the concession and the opponent’s plan without reading the notes? Self-rate your understanding to schedule another look. This is a learning record, not an engine grade.

Sources & teaching context

Adapted from the supplied Pawn Play Atlas and Central Pawn Play materials. Unknown historical details remain unknown; illustrations are distinguished from full games.

Historical score / source 1

Open narrated assignment →

Transfer the idea

Try it in a different setting.

Study as a curriculum →