What pawn to push?

In the Ruy Lopez and sometimes in my games with black I get a really good position with strong mobile central pawns. I know you should push them but how do you know which one?



In this position if I push the e pawn I keep my -2 advantage. But if I push the d pawn it's now equal? Any help appreciated.

(Please ignore me hanging my Queen at the end of the game I just wanted to provide an example of the position)

Very nice center. No need to push any of them.

Best formation is the phalanx. Pushing only if very concrete goals can be achieved. Premature pushing is very typical of inexperienced players, the position often becomes worse due to lack of flexibility and weak squares between the pawns.

"I know you should push them", — incorrect. You need to get your pieces to better squares first. Your pawns control the opponent's knights very well for now. e4 is not bad here because f3 pawn break is not that great for white and it's easier to win the h-pawn then.

Oh I see. So it comes down to the opening basics. 1 or 2 pawn moves and no more until you're developed. I thought if you get a position like that then you should press forward into the enemy camp but what all 3 of you have you said makes a lot of sense.

What about when it's time to advance? Is there a rule on which one to push?

Thanks.

If you think the goal of a „center“ is pushing the pawns as early as possible: I recommend reading some basics.

@NeverBeenTimid (#1)

I don't think you should push them. What would you achieve? They're already posted on good central squares; trading them off won't help you much.

I think keeping them there would have been better, you should only push them if it helps you in some way - maybe making a powerful pawn chain and giving you a large space advantage, and ruling out the possibility of castling queen-side for your opponent?

Anyway, I think it may have been better to develop your pieces. Maybe trading off those pawns would have given you a large discovered attack or advantage - who knows?

So, as others have said, pushing one of those pawns in the position you were in isn't really the best idea. I'm not really a strong player, but I suggest developing a rook or bishop in that position, keeping the pawns.

Ok I think I get it now. Ive misread something in my system.



In chapter 4

"Black has now lost his centre and in addition, by omitting 4 ... d6, he has conceded far too much mobility to White's centre. "

That's why I thought it was a good idea to push the pawns if you win the centre but now know only if it achieves something. Thanks. Really helpful advice.

@NeverBeenTimid (#8, #1)

On a side-note, I may have misread something. Did you mean push the pawns into the center, or push them when they're in the center?

If I misunderstood you and you mean pushing the pawns off their initial squares, I'd say the best pawn push is the one that controls the center and aids development.

@NeverBeenTimid

Keep the pawn center until you have something concrete. Your advance needs to be supported by calculation, as in My System's example (Black's Bb6 is a blunder).

In your game, 12... d4 was not bad. Pawns on d4 and c5 would have restricted White's Bishop and opened lines for the Black's White-squared Bishop (Bb7). You just forgot to play c5... Didn't you calculate?