Doubled Pawns: A Practical Guide

Doubled Pawns – Triumph or Trouble?There isn’t a chessplayer who hasn’t struggled with doubled pawns. Are they strong because they oversee and surveil important squares or reinforce defensive ramparts? Are they weak, prone to being collected by our opponent in the endgame – or sooner? The easy answer is that it depends on the position. But are there principles that may be applied to help evaluate positions with doubled pawns. “Yes!” says Belarusian grandmaster Sergey Kasparov.In the first work devoted exclusively to this topic, the author examines the various pawn structures in which doubled pawns appear. He also investigates doubled pawns in the context of specific openings.Contents include Doubled Pawns after the Capture g7xf6; Doubled Pawns in the Middle of the Board; Isolated Doubled Pawns; “Spanish” Formations; “French” Structures; Structures of the Sicilian Defense, Rossolimo Variation; Doubled Pawns on the c-file and much more.The discussion and explanation of each topic is carried on in the context of almost 150 annotated games. The author goes about his task in his inimitable style, making for an entertaining yet instructive treatment of his subject matter.About the AuthorInternational grandmaster Sergey Kasparov, with his popular writing style and insightful observations, is a favorite author and instructor in contemporary chess circles. Previous books include The Exchange Sacrifice: A Practical Guide (2016); The Dynamic Benko Gambit (2012); Steamrolling the Sicilian (2013); and A Cunning Chess Opening for Black (2015). He lives with his wife, women’s international master Tatiana Kasparova, in Belarus. This is his second book for Russell Enterprises. Read more