The Pawn Shop: Improving Your Pawn Play - AITM19

Chess tactics course by AITM19
Includes video and PGN

Language: English
Lectures: 15
Total Running Time: 6 hours 7 minutes

From the course:

Want to win more consistently?

Master The One Tool That’s Always At Your Disposal — No Matter The Phase of The Game

Pawns never leave you! From move one to sixty-four, they’re always on the board — offering you a way to win. That’s why they give the best value for your chess study time. Inside The Pawn Shop, you’ll turn these little soldiers into game-winners in the opening, middlegame, and endgame.

Meet your guide, AITM19.

He’s one of Chessable’s most beloved community authors — and for good reason.

He doesn’t just teach you what to play. He also teaches you how to play better chess. He helps beginners understand good moves, so they can make real, lasting leaps in skill.

And he’s done it again.

This time, he shines the spotlight on the one tool…

Always At The Ready, No Matter The Phase of The Game: Your Pawns

Every game opens with a handful of pawn moves… and those first steps are everything. They decide who gets more space, who brings out pieces faster — and who’s attacking or defending 10 moves later.

So in the first few chapters, AITM19 shows you:

????How to grab space and fill the center with your pawns. So…

???? The moment an enemy piece steps up? Your pawns swat them to the side and grab key squares at the same time!

???? Pawns attacking each other? Turn this standoff into “free” developing moves. See chapter 4.

Now the opening’s done. Pieces are developed. So your pawns take on a new role in the middlegame.

They become battering rams. They break through the center. They pry open files, and saddle the opponent with weaknesses. You’ll be shown:

???? How to spot and set up pawn breaks. Push the right pawn. Then BAM! Loose pieces and weak squares pop up in the enemy position.

???? To take or not to take en passant? Chapter 7 explains when you’re allowed to play it — and when you actually should.

???? Always retreating when a pawn attacks your piece? That pawn could be overextending! Stay calm and practice picking it off in chapter 8.

Finally, we reach the endgame — where your pawn no longer just draws battle lines or protects your pieces. Your pawn literally becomes the piece! Learn:

???? When not to capture an enemy passed pawn nearing promotion. It’s the difference between getting checkmated and stonewalling that pawn for good.

???? How to freeze the opponent’s pawn majority. So their would-be passed pawn never sees the light of day!

???? “The square of the pawn” — a visual check to instantly know if your pawn can reach the 8th rank without help.

???? How to count pawn moves accurately. So you know you’re winning the promotion race before you commit to it.

Plus many more.

By now, you’ve seen what good pawn play looks like. But you also need to recognize bad ones, so you can avoid and punish them.

In chapter 11, you’ll break down 8 of the most common pawn blunders you’ll face over the board. Pawn moves that fatally expose the king, or open lines to an undefended piece.

Then once your eye for pawn play has been tuned, AITM19 cements your progress with 3 tests.

An easy one to build your confidence. A slightly harder set to push you just beyond your comfort zone. Then a final test to break through your limits, and help you truly own your new pawn skills.