A pawn storm, sometimes called a pawn avalanche,^[1] is a chess tactic in which several pawns are moved in rapid succession toward the opponent's defenses.^[2] A pawn storm usually involves adjacent pawns on the flank of the board, such as the queenside (a-, b-, and c-files) or the kingside (f-, g-, and h-files). A pawn storm can also happen on the center of the board.^[3]

When involving only two pawns, a pawn roller is a chess tactic in which two connected passed pawns are used to mutually defend each other to promotion.^[4] This allows the pawns to more easily travel down the board without possibly being captured. This differs from a pawn storm, as a pawn storm utilizes more than two pawns to travel down the board, and a pawn storm is typically used to attack or overwhelm an opponent's defenses.

An exact type of formation of a pawn storm/roller is a pawn phalanx, which is when two or more pawns are next to each other on the same rank, allowing them to control more squares in front and support each other's advances.^[5][6]

Objective

Attacking the king and opening files for pieces is typically the most common goal behind initiating a pawn storm. Pieces, like the rook, on open files are usually more powerful and also can be used to easily attack the opponent and their king.^[7] A pawn storm can also lead to material gain or a strategical advantage, as well as gain in tempo if they push away the opponent's pieces. Pawn storms are also typical in several openings, such as the King's Indian Defense (four pawns attack variation), and the Benoni.^[3]

The objective of pawn rollers is typically to advance to promotion. However, some pawn rollers can also be used as a pawn storm; pawn rollers can be used to attack an enemy's defenses. In both instances of a pawn roller and a pawn storm, when they advance against a greater number of pawns than the ones that are being used to attack, it is called a minority attack.^[8] Sometimes, piece sacrifices are made in order to make a pawn storm effective or to make a pawn storm work, as they can help open up the position for other pieces or for the pawns themselves.^[9]

Weaknesses

Pawn storms and rollers can however become weak if not executed properly. Overextension can occur, where pawns are too far advanced without sufficient support, leaving the pawns vulnerable to attacks.^[10][11] They can also be predictable, allowing the opponent to counterattack. When pawns advance, they cannot move backwards, so squares they leave undefended behind them can become weak.^[12] Pawn storms can also weaken the pawn structure and allow the opponent to create checkmate threats.^[13] Pawn storms can also be stopped by way of restraining their movement and blockading the pawns.^[1][9]

When organized in a pawn phalanx, pawns do not defend each other, so they require other pieces for support to remain strong, or they will become weak and vulnerable to attacks.

Examples

Anand vs. Kasparov, United States 1995

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Position after 35.Kh2, demonstrated is Anand's pawns far advanced on the queenside. Kasparov resigned after the move.^[14]

A pawn storm will often be directed toward the opponent's king after it has castled toward one side (e.g. Fischer–Larsen, 1958^[15]). Successive advances of the pawns on that side might rapidly cramp and overwhelm the opponent's position.

In game 9 of the Classical World Chess Championship 1995 between Viswanathan Anand and Garry Kasparov, Anand played as the white pieces and Kasparov played as the black pieces. During the game, Anand was able to launch a queenside attack with a pawn storm, leading to his win against Kasparov in the round.^[16]

Fischer vs. Petrosian, Yugoslavia 1959

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Position after 43.Qc4^[17]

On the left is an example of a pawn roller directed at queening a passed pawn; the diagram is taken from a game in which Tigran Petrosian was playing the black pieces against Bobby Fischer. Over the next fourteen moves, Petrosian storms his twin pawns down the a- and b- files, forcing Fischer's resignation.

References