White's a5, b5 and c5 against b7, c7 and d7, offset by a file. The blow 1.a6! opens the diagonal: after 1...bxa6 2.bxa6 the edge a-pawn queens, and Black has no defence.
The blow 1.a6! At the branch, pick a defence for Black.
Three white pawns on a5, b5 and c5 against b7, c7 and d7, offset by a file. The blow 1.a6! opens the diagonal and escorts the edge pawn to queen.
The walkthrough has not started yet.
At the branches several defences are available - take any of them. «Back» returns one move, «Main line» plays the principal variation automatically.
The edge a-pawn wedges in and attacks b7. After 1...bxa6 2.bxa6 a passer appears on the a-file that the black pawns cannot catch.
Offset the set-up by a single file and the edge pawn gets a clear road to the queening square.
Against 1...c6? comes 2.axb7, and the b-pawn queens as early as move three.
The capture is forced, but it does not save Black either - the passer is stronger.
What to avoid, so the breakthrough does not turn into a draw.
The direct blow 1.a6! wins. Without it Black has time to regroup - do not lose the tempo.
The starting position is already loaded - move the pawns yourself or paste your own FEN.
Drag a piece onto the board, or click a piece and then click the squares. The cross beside the pieces sweeps every piece of that colour off the board, and a single piece can be dragged off the edge.
The pieces will be arranged into the chosen pattern.
It is the mating side to move. Find mate in one.
Openings, endgame positions and breakthrough studies - the set-up appears on the board.
With the move 1.a6! After the exchange the edge pawn becomes a passer and queens.
The offset set-up leaves the a-file free, so it is the edge pawn that breaks through unhindered.
No: both the capture 1...bxa6 and the refusal 1...c6? lose. White's passer is unstoppable.
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Work through the other pawn studies in the VC series on the board - breakthroughs, races and overtakes.
Build your own position in the board editor, play through the chess openings move by move, or look into endgame walkthroughs such as king and pawn. If you are only starting out, read the rules of chess and how to set the pieces up.
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