{"id":24,"date":"2021-05-11T10:27:30","date_gmt":"2021-05-11T10:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandbox.forwardchess.com\/blog\/?p=24"},"modified":"2021-05-16T17:52:58","modified_gmt":"2021-05-16T17:52:58","slug":"beware-of-the-zombie-pawns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/beware-of-the-zombie-pawns\/","title":{"rendered":"Beware of the zombie pawns"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Imagine a pawn with bulging eyes, outstretched hands and with an open jaw trying to land a bite on fellow pieces. How funny would it be if pieces could actually roam around the board like zombies when they become \u201cinfected\u201d?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Odd, isn\u2019t it? It&#8217;s good that there weren&#8217;t any zombie-based movies a millennium (or so) ago, when the inventors of chess were pondering about which pieces would go into the board.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"imageUploaderImg\" src=\"https:\/\/images.chesscomfiles.com\/uploads\/v1\/images_users\/tiny_mce\/ForwardChess\/phpaQ3U8Y.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I read a chapter from this interesting book called<a href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/product\/under-the-surface\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong> &#8220;Under the Surface&#8221; (Quality Chess) by GM Jan Markos<\/strong><\/a> on \u201cInfected Pieces\u201d a couple of nights ago when I was alone in my house. Only the cold monsoon winds were around to give me company, as I was gulping down one page after another until I landed on that fateful page (below). Ever since then the image of a zombie pawn wouldn&#8217;t leave my mind, and it always seems to be floating around even when I play online these days.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"imageUploaderImg\" src=\"https:\/\/images.chesscomfiles.com\/uploads\/v1\/images_users\/tiny_mce\/ForwardChess\/phpPfa1A4.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s define a <strong>Zombie Pawn<\/strong> &#8211; A zombie pawn is a weak pawn that is <em>so infected<\/em> that it creates other direct or indirect weakness in your position.<\/p>\n<p>Take this position for example:<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf5da639dbb-1\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboard rpbchessboard-diagramAlignment-center\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf5da639dbb-1\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderFEN($(selector), {\"position\":\"2rbk2r\\\/R2n1ppp\\\/2p1pn2\\\/1pPp4\\\/3P4\\\/2N1PP1B\\\/1P1B1P1P\\\/4K2R w Kk - 0 16\",\"squareSize\":32,\"coordinateVisible\":true,\"turnVisible\":true,\"colorset\":\"original\",\"pieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Black&#8217;s obvious weakness is the c6 pawn. In our case, we&#8217;re going to call this pawn a <em><strong>Zombie pawn<\/strong><\/em>, because it not only needs a Rook to always defend it, but creates other problems for black to defend &#8211; that is lack of space, which again leads to another problem &#8211; Restricted piece movement.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>In the game, black tried its best to chase away the enemy rook that&#8217;s trying to invade the 7th rank and protect the weak pawn by bringing another piece to the defense.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf5da639dbb-2\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgame\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf5da639dbb-2\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderPGN($(selector), {\"pgn\":\"[Event \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[Site \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[Date \\\"????.??.??\\\"]\\r\\n[Round \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[White \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[Black \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[Result \\\"*\\\"]\\r\\n[SetUp \\\"1\\\"]\\r\\n[FEN \\\"2rbk2r\\\/R2n1ppp\\\/2p1pn2\\\/1pPp4\\\/3P4\\\/2N1PP1B\\\/1P1B1P1P\\\/4K2R w Kk - 0 16\\\"]\\r\\n\\r\\n16. Ke2 {Bringing the other rook into action} 16... Bc7 {Black is desperately\\r\\ntrying to reposition his pieces. With Bc7, black is trying to get rid of the\\r\\nenemy Rook on a7 (by playing Bb8) and also clearing up some space for the king.}\\r\\n17. Na2 {Na2-b4 adds more pressure on the c6 pawn.} 17... Bb8 18. Ra6 Ng8 {Ng8 &#8211;\\r\\ne7 brings another piece to defend the c6 pawn} 19. Nb4 Ne7 20. f4 {Closing\\r\\nblack&#8217;s bishop diagonal and also prevents the freeing black move e5.} 20... f5\\r\\n{Closing the position. Now white&#8217;s h3 Bishop is also without activity.} 21. f3\\r\\n{Controlling e4 square. e4 break is now up the sleeve. White is trying to create\\r\\na second weakness in black&#8217;s position.} 21... Nf6 22. Rg1 g6 23. Be1 {Black\\r\\nbishop on h4 is better than on d2. Improving piece position. Also the future\\r\\nfall of the c6 pawn is an aim.} 23... Kd7 24. Bh4 Rhf8 25. Rga1 Rf7 26. Rb6 Nfg8\\r\\n27. Rb7+ Ke8 28. Na6 {Black just had too much to defend that too while being\\r\\nsqueezed in a tiny shelf $1} *\",\"pieceSymbols\":\"native\",\"navigationBoard\":\"scrollLeft\",\"withFlipButton\":true,\"withDownloadButton\":true,\"nboSquareSize\":32,\"nboCoordinateVisible\":true,\"nboTurnVisible\":true,\"nboColorset\":\"original\",\"nboPieceset\":\"cburnett\",\"nboAnimated\":true,\"nboMoveArrowVisible\":true,\"nboMoveArrowColor\":\"r\",\"idoSquareSize\":32,\"idoCoordinateVisible\":true,\"idoTurnVisible\":true,\"idoColorset\":\"original\",\"idoPieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The book was well crafted with fun and easy examples to relate to. You&#8217;ll fall in love with the author&#8217;s ability to convey complex ideas through simple stories and examples.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/product\/under-the-surface\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Under the Surface <\/strong><\/a>by Grandmaster Jan Marcos &amp; Published by Quality Chess.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/product\/under-the-surface\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"imageUploaderImg\" src=\"https:\/\/images.chesscomfiles.com\/uploads\/v1\/images_users\/tiny_mce\/ForwardChess\/phpG7EAHl.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"334\" height=\"461\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/sample\/under-the-surface\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"imageUploaderImg\" src=\"https:\/\/images.chesscomfiles.com\/uploads\/v1\/images_users\/tiny_mce\/ForwardChess\/phpZT93E1.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>One day I tried to incorporate the idea in my own games and ended up cooking a little positional masterpiece. Here&#8217;s the game and my annotations below. (I played black)<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf5da639dbb-3\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgame\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf5da639dbb-3\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderPGN($(selector), {\"pgn\":\"[Event \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[Site \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[Date \\\"????.??.??\\\"]\\r\\n[Round \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[White \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[Black \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[Result \\\"*\\\"]\\r\\n\\r\\n1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 Be7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d5 6. c3 {Deviating from the\\r\\nusual c4 catalan.} 6... b5 {The urge to punish an opponent. Black seems to be\\r\\nhungry for space and in a hurry to create some sort of exploitable weakness.} 7.\\r\\na4 b4 8. Ne5 c5 9. cxb4 ({Better is} 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. cxb4 Bxb4 11. Bd2 Bd6 12.\\r\\nBc3 $12) 9... cxb4 10. b3 {Voila $1 There it is. Our little Zombie pawn that white\\r\\nhas to keep defending. White&#8217;s a4-b3 fixed pawn structure gives black just what\\r\\nhe was aiming for &#8211; a backward pawn on b3, c-file to play along, possible\\r\\noutpost on a5, and weak square on c3..} 10... Nfd7 {Trying to get rid of the\\r\\nenemy knight on e5} 11. Nd3 Ba6 {Best position for black bishop to maintain a\\r\\nsteady pressure on the white position.} 12. Bb2 $2 Nc6 {Idea: Nc6-a5. It&#8217;s not\\r\\nenough to create a Zombie pawn for your opponent. A steady pressure on the weak\\r\\npawn is necessary to tie-down your opponent&#8217;s pieces.} 13. Qd2 Qb6 14. e3 Rfc8\\r\\n15. Rc1 Na5 {Black&#8217;s pieces have reached their positions as per the initial\\r\\nplan. Now white is in serious trouble} 16. Rxc8+ Rxc8 17. Qd1 Qc6 18. Ne5\\r\\n({Better is} 18. Ne1) 18... Nxe5 19. dxe5 Qc2 {White resigned $1} *\",\"pieceSymbols\":\"native\",\"navigationBoard\":\"scrollLeft\",\"withFlipButton\":true,\"withDownloadButton\":true,\"nboSquareSize\":32,\"nboCoordinateVisible\":true,\"nboTurnVisible\":true,\"nboColorset\":\"original\",\"nboPieceset\":\"cburnett\",\"nboAnimated\":true,\"nboMoveArrowVisible\":true,\"nboMoveArrowColor\":\"r\",\"idoSquareSize\":32,\"idoCoordinateVisible\":true,\"idoTurnVisible\":true,\"idoColorset\":\"original\",\"idoPieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Thank you for reading!<\/p>\n<p>This is Arun from Forward Chess team signing off for now. See you next time!<\/p>\n<p>For more information about the latest books &amp; deals, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/\">ForwardChess.com\u00a0<\/a>Or say hello to us on Twitter<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/forwardchess\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Imagine a pawn with bulging eyes, outstretched hands and with an open jaw trying to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":59,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":279,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24\/revisions\/279"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}