15 Must Know Opening Pawn Formations

Written by Yury Markushin

The pawn structure is a factor that primarily decides how the game will progress. In order to
play chess on high level, it is necessary to understand the fundamental pawn formations that
arise from the openings. GM Andrew Soltis has classified major pawn formations into 22
main categories depending on the opening played. In this article we will focus on 15 most
fundamental formations that every chess players must know. This is a very condensed and
straight to the point material, which is definitely worth analyzing.

1. Boleslavsky Formation

Opening: Sicilian Najdorf, Classical, Sveshnikov, etc.

Type of Position: Open, dynamic
Ideas for White: Taking control of the weak d5 square, attacking d6 pawn, f2-f4 break
Ideas for Black: d6-d5 break, minority attack, controlling the c4 square

2. Caro Formation

Opening: Caro-Kann, French, Queen Gambit Declined

Type of Position: Positional, strategic maneuvering
Ideas for White: Strong outpost on e5, space advantage of the kings side, d4-d5 break,
Ideas for Black: Weak d4 pawn, c6-c5 and e6-e5 breaks.

3. Closed Sicilian Formation

Opening: Closed Sicilian, Closed English (reversed)

Type of Position: Closed
Ideas for White: kingside pawn attack, c2-c3 and d3-d4 breaks
Ideas for Black: queenside pawn attack, a1-h8 diagonal

4. d5 Pawn Chain Formation

Opening: Kings Indian, Benoni, Ruy Lopez

Type of Position: Closed
Ideas for White: Queenside space advantage, c2-c4-c5 break, f2-f4 break.
Ideas for Black: Kingside attack, f7-f5 break, c7-c6 break.
Note: In order to develop a positional understanding it is necessary to go over the annotated GM chess
games, and to think why certain moves were made. Only when you put yourself in the the player's shoes you will
be able to fully understand the problems he was facing in the game and your will be able to improve you own
chess. That's exactly what you can do by studying our training course.

5. Dragon Formation

Opening: Sicilian Dragon, English (reversed)

Type of Position: Razor Sharp
Ideas for White: Outpost on d5, kingside attack, f2-f4-f5 break or h2-h4-h5 break.
Ideas for Black: Control of long diagonal, queenside attack

6. e5 Pawn Chain Formation

Opening: French
Type of Position: Closed, semi-closed, sharp game
Ideas for White: Kings side attack, f2-f4-f5 break
Ideas for Black: Breaks via c7-c5 and f7-f6

7. Hanging Pawn Formation

Opening: Queens Gambit Declined, Queens Indian Defense

Type of Position: Open
Ideas for White: Opening center, kings side attack
Ideas for Black: Forcing advance, weakening the pawns

8. Hedgehog Formation

Opening: English, Sicilian

Type of Position: Closed, semi open
Ideas for White: e4-e5 break, supported by f2-f4
Ideas for Black: Opening the center via d5

9. Isolani Formation

Opening: Queens Gambit, French

Type of Position: Open
Ideas for White: d4-d5 break, attack at the center, outpost on e5, kingside attack
Ideas for Black: blockade, transitioning to the endgame

10. Maroczy Formation

Opening: Sicilian
Type of Position: Semi-open
Ideas for White: Fianchettoing of bishops, kingside attack, c4-c5 and e4-e5 breaks
Ideas for Black: b7-b5 break, f7-f5 beak, d6-d5 break

11. Orthodox Formation

Opening: Queens Gambit Declined. Caro-Kann (reversed)

Type of Position: Semi-open
Ideas for White: Minority attack, e3-e4 break
Ideas for Black: e4 outpost, kingside attack

12. Rauzer Formation

Opening: Kings Indian, Old Indian (reversed), Ruy Lopez (reversed)

Type of Position: Semi-open
Ideas for White: Weak d6 square, c4-c5 break, a3-f8 diagonal, queenside attack
Ideas for Black: Weak d4, a1-h8 diagonal, kings side attack

13. Scheveningen Formation

Opening: Sicilian (different variations)

Type of Position: sharp
Ideas for White: Pressure on d-file, space, e4-e5 break, f2-f4-f5 push
Ideas for Black: Pressure on c-file, minority attack, d6-d5 break

14. Slav Formation

Opening: Slav, Catalan, Grunfeld, Colle.

Type of Position: positional
Ideas for White: Pressure on c-file, d4-d5 break
Ideas for Black: e6-e5 break and c6-c5 break

15. Stonewall Formation

Opening: Dutch, Colle, English

Type of Position: Closed, symmetric
Ideas for White: Outpost on e5, exchange of bad bishops
Ideas for Black: Outpost on e4, exchange of bad bishops