Pawn Power Glossary

chess pawn

Pawn Power, by Hans Kmoch

Backward pawn, StragglerA half-free pawn on the second or third rank whose stop square lacks pawn protection but is controlled by a sentry.
Basic duoA duo where one of the pawns constitutes the base of a chain.
Buffer duoTwo opposing duos facing each other with one rank in between.
CandidateUnopposed or half-free pawn.
Center leverA lever wholly within the two center files.
Center pawnPawn on the d- or e-file.
CenterswapA capture from and to the d- or e-file that produces a doubled pawn.
ChainA diagonal pawn formations, identified by the number of their links (pawns).
Chain leverAdjacent levers in a diagonal formation, where the respective headpawns attack the base of the opposing chain, e.g., f5, g4 vs. g6, h5. Produces passed pawns.
Compound formationA formation consisting of several descriptive categories whose defining characteristics depend on the perspective from which it is viewed, e.g., d4, e4 vs. d5 – could be described as a center ram, center duo, tight duo, lever duo, center lever, tight lever, duo lever, etc.
Conditional backwardnessA pawn that is backward in only certain respects.
CounterpawnDirectly opposing pawn.
Cross leverFour immediately and directly opposing pawns, two of each color, e.g., d4, e4 vs. d5, e5.
DispersionThe vertical splitting of pawns (most commonly, isolation) caused by captures.
DistortionThe horizontal splitting of pawns caused by advances.
Double leverAn innerpawn under simultaneous attack from both adjacent files. It may be loose or tight.
Double pawns, TwinsFriendly pawns on the same file.
Doubling, UndoublingThe creation or elimination of a double pawn formation.
DuoTwo adjacent pawns of the same color on the same rank that mutually cover the other’s stop square.
Dynamical ObstructionOpposing pawns on adjacent files.
FakerA half-free pawn with inadequate helpers.
Fork leverA lever attacking two units at once (can include a piece).
Free pawn, passed pawn, passerA pawn with no counterpawn and no opposing sentries.
FrontspanVertical distance between a pawn and the forward edge of the board.
Front-twinThe foremost doubled pawn.
Half-free pawnPawn with opposing pawns or pawn on adjacent files.
Hanging duoAn isolated pair of half-free pawns.
Head-duoThe headpawn and a friendly pawn in contact with it.
HeadpawnThe foremost pawn in a pawn formation.
HelperA candidate’s own pawn on an adjacent file.
Home pawnPawn on the castled side of the board.
Home sideThe castled side of the board.
Inner leverA lever where the capture would move toward the center.
InnerpawnPawn on one of the files b-g.
InterspanVertical distance between two opposing pawns.
InnerswapA capture towards the center that produces a doubled pawn.
LeeShorter side of the horizontal beam of the pawn cross.
LeverTwo opposing pawns in contact that can capture each other.
Local majorityA pawn majority on one wing.
Loose duoA duo not in contact with an opposing pawn(s).
Loose leverA lever where each side has the option of capturing or bypassing.
Loose twinA double pawn whose undoubling is a possibility.
LuffLonger side of the horizontal beam of the pawn cross.
Mechanical ObstructionOpposing pawn on the same file.
Mute chain leverA chain lever in which the bases of the opposing pawn chains are not attacked, e.g., a5, b4, c3 vs. a7, b6, c5. Doesnt produce passers.
Outer leverA lever where the capture would move away from the center.
OuterswapA capture towards the rim that produces a doubled pawn.
Outside passerA passed pawn removed from the bulk of opposing pawns.
passed pawn, passer, Free pawnA pawn with no counterpawn and no opposing sentries.
Passer duoA duo of two passed pawns.
Pawn-crossCross formed along the rank and file on which the pawn sits with the pawn itself at the center of the cross.
Pincer leverTwo levers that convergingly attack a chain of two pawns, including it’s base, e.g., b2, c3 vs. a3, d4.
Protected passerA passed pawn protected by one or more helpers.
QuartFour horizontal friendly pawns.
QuartgripPrototype of the siege. A formation of four vs. four pawns in which the shorter frontspan constitutes a great advantage.
RamTwo deadlocked, directly opposing pawns.
RangerPawn on the uncastled side of the board.
Ranger sideThe uncastled side of the board.
RearspanVertical distance between a pawn and the rear edge of the board.
Rear-twinThe least-advanced doubled pawn.
RimpawnPawn on either the a- or h-file.
SawA zigzag pawn formation (most commonly seen in the Stonewall formation).
SentryOpposing pawn on an adjacent file.
Sham twinA double pawn whose undoubling is assured beforehand.
ShieldingA pawn or a piece being protected from frontal assault by the opposing pawn whose stop or telestop it is occupying.
SiegeShielded backwardness that paralyzes a whole formation of pawns.
SneakerAn unfree pawn or faker that may become a passer through a sacrificial combination.
SpanThe pawn’s vertical distance from the edges of the board.
Straggler, Backward pawnA half-free pawn on the second or third rank whose stop square lacks pawn protection but is controlled by a sentry.
Stopsquare, stopThe square directly in front of a pawn.
Symmetrical exchangeAn exchange eliminating a pawn and its counterpawn. Reduces chances for levers and opens a file. Typically stabilizing. E.g., 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5.
TelestopsSquares beyond the stop square in the frontspan of a pawn.
Tight duoA duo in contact with an opposing pawn(s), whose axis forms a ram.
Tight leverA lever including a ram, that offers only one side the option of both capture and bypass, e.g., c4, d4 vs. d5, e6.
Tight twinA double pawn whose undoubling by force is theoretically impossible.
TriadA group of three pawns including a non-isolated twin, e.g., b2, b3, c2. A triad of unfree pawns is unable to produce a passer against a duo.
TrioThree horizontal friendly pawns.
Twins, Double pawnsFriendly pawns on the same file.
Undoubling, DoublingThe creation or elimination of a double pawn formation.
Unfree pawnPawn with a counterpawn.
Unsymmetrical exchangeA dynamic exchange resulting in a half-open file and half-free pawn for each side. E.g., 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3. cxd5 exd5.
WedgeTwo converging chains reaching into enemy territory.
Wing pawnPawn on the files a-c or f-h.