White's a5, b5, d5 and f5 against a7, b7, d7 and f7 - the pawns are scattered in a zigzag. The d- and f-pawns are locked head to head, and on the a/b wing every breakthrough is met by an exchange. Neither side has a spare tempo - a draw.
Every attempt is met by an exchange. Play the line to the end.
Scattered pawns on a, b, d and f against a, b, d and f. The d- and f-pawns are locked head to head, and on the a/b wing every breakthrough is met by an exchange. A draw - neither side has a spare tempo.
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At the branches several defences are available - take any of them. «Back» returns one move, «Main line» plays the principal variation automatically.
The pawns on d and f stand directly opposite d7 and f7 - locked and unable to move. That leaves the a/b pair against a and b, and that symmetry cannot be broken.
Black answers every sacrifice on the wing with an exact capture. There is nowhere to create a passer or win a tempo - a legitimate draw.
A breakthrough works when the attacker has a chain of pawns and a spare tempo. Here the pawns are split up and partly locked - there is nothing to build a battering ram from.
Compare it with the tunnel (VC0011), where a spare pawn creates a second passer - here there is no such pawn.
What to avoid, so the breakthrough does not turn into a draw.
Scattered and locked pawns cannot be broken. Do not give pawns away hunting for a breakthrough - the position is drawn.
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.
Nobody - it is a draw. The d- and f-pawns are locked and the a/b pair is symmetrical. There is nothing to create a passer with.
The pawns are split up: d and f stand head to head, and on the a/b wing every sacrifice is met by an exchange. There is no spare tempo.
When a spare pawn or an advantage in tempi appears. In complete symmetry, as here, there is no breakthrough.
Pairings are computed by bbpPairings, an open-source engine implementing the Dutch system by FIDE rules: score groups, floats on an odd field, colour alternation. Free to use.
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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