[Event "The bakery (blog diagram workshop): Split unstable pawns"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/l6bOrnM0"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Illion"] [Variant "Atomic"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [FEN "4k3/2p5/7p/p5p1/8/8/PP3P1P/4KB2 w - - 0 1"] [SetUp "1"] [UTCDate "2017.10.13"] [UTCTime "19:25:15"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/iS3Dp19A/gAEQIi1Y"] [Orientation "white"] { Here the white a- and f-pawns are dangerous, and black's pawn structure is now unstable. The crucial black a- and g-pawns are at risk of being attacked. Here white can even choose between breaking down the kingside and the queenside. The rule of thumb for the defender: don't advance your "crux" pawns, as they become targets. Make sure they're shielded by advancing pawns to protect the squares diagonally in front of them. } { [%csl Ra5,Rg5,Rf2,Ra2] } 1. h4! { Breaking down the kingside. } (1. b4! { Breaking down the queenside. } 1... a4 (1... axb4 $18 { The a-pawn is passed and white wins. }) 2. a3 $18 { The black pawn is now fixed on a4 where white can trade the bishop for it, winning. } { [%csl Ga4] }) 1... g4 { [%csl Gg4] } (1... gxh4 $18 { The f-pawn is passed and white wins. }) 2. Bh3! { Fastest. In any case, white wants to watch over g2 with either king or bishop before attacking the pawn, making sure it can't promote. } (2. Be2? { This loses control of the g-file, and black draws. } 2... g3 { Threatens both ...g2 queening and ...gxf2 trading the dangerous pawn. } 3. fxg3 (3. Kd1 gxf2 $10 { Material is even. }) (3. f4?? g2 $19 { Black promotes and wins. }) 3... c5 $10 { Black has shielded the a-pawn and stabilised the queenside. b4 is now met by ...cxb4. }) 2... g3 3. f4 g2 4. Bxg2 $18 { White wins. } { [%csl Gf4] } *