Outpost (chess)
Encyclopedia
An outpost is a square which is protected by a pawn
and which cannot be attacked by an opponent's pawn. In the figure to the right, c4 is an outpost, occupied by White's knight. It can't be attacked by Black's pawns because there is no pawn on the d-file, and Black's pawn on the b-file is too far advanced.
Outposts are a favourable position from which to launch an attack, particularly using a knight
. The reason an outpost is so strong is that it is immune to attack from major pieces (rooks
and queens
) because of the pawn, whilst if the enemy wishes to attack it with a pawn it generally weakens its own pawn structure
.
Knights are most efficient when they are close to the enemy's stronghold. This is because of their short reach, something not true of bishops
, rooks and queens. They are also more effective in the centre of the board than on the edges. Therefore the ideal to be aimed at is an outpost in one of the central (c,d,e or f) files in an advanced position (i.e. the sixth rank) with a knight. Knowledge of outposts and their effectiveness is crucial in exploiting situations where you have an isolated queen's pawn
.
On the other hand, Nimzovich argued when the outpost is in one of the flank (a,b,g and h) files the ideal piece to make use of the outpost is a rook. This is because the rook can put pressure on all the squares along the rank.
For further information see Nimzovich's My System.
Pawn (chess)
The pawn is the most numerous and weakest piece in the game of chess, historically representing infantry, or more particularly armed peasants or pikemen. Each player begins the game with eight pawns, one on each square of the rank immediately in front of the other pieces...
and which cannot be attacked by an opponent's pawn. In the figure to the right, c4 is an outpost, occupied by White's knight. It can't be attacked by Black's pawns because there is no pawn on the d-file, and Black's pawn on the b-file is too far advanced.
Outposts are a favourable position from which to launch an attack, particularly using a knight
Knight (chess)
The knight is a piece in the game of chess, representing a knight . It is normally represented by a horse's head and neck. Each player starts with two knights, which begin on the row closest to the player, one square from the corner...
. The reason an outpost is so strong is that it is immune to attack from major pieces (rooks
Rook (chess)
A rook is a piece in the strategy board game of chess. Formerly the piece was called the castle, tower, marquess, rector, and comes...
and queens
Queen (chess)
The queen is the most powerful piece in the game of chess, able to move any number of squares vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Each player starts the game with one queen, placed in the middle of the first rank next to the king. With the chessboard oriented correctly, the white queen starts...
) because of the pawn, whilst if the enemy wishes to attack it with a pawn it generally weakens its own pawn structure
Pawn structure
In chess, the pawn structure is the configuration of pawns on the chessboard. Since pawns are the least mobile of the chess pieces, the pawn structure is relatively static and thus largely determines the strategic nature of the position.-General observations:Weaknesses in the pawn structure, such...
.
Knights are most efficient when they are close to the enemy's stronghold. This is because of their short reach, something not true of bishops
Bishop (chess)
A bishop is a piece in the board game of chess. Each player begins the game with two bishops. One starts between the king's knight and the king, the other between the queen's knight and the queen...
, rooks and queens. They are also more effective in the centre of the board than on the edges. Therefore the ideal to be aimed at is an outpost in one of the central (c,d,e or f) files in an advanced position (i.e. the sixth rank) with a knight. Knowledge of outposts and their effectiveness is crucial in exploiting situations where you have an isolated queen's pawn
Isolated pawn
In chess, an isolated pawn is a pawn which has no friendly pawn on an adjacent file. An isolated queen's pawn is often called an isolani. Isolated pawns are usually a weakness because they cannot be protected by other pawns...
.
On the other hand, Nimzovich argued when the outpost is in one of the flank (a,b,g and h) files the ideal piece to make use of the outpost is a rook. This is because the rook can put pressure on all the squares along the rank.
For further information see Nimzovich's My System.