27 Sep 04
Originally posted by AThousandYoungit's a "target" several ways.
Pushing that pawn is a way to control a little more space for me. I like doing it, especially on the side I didn't castle on. I am not sure how it's a "target." It can be a tempo waster, but some positions are more forgiving of tempo wasting than others (closed positions generally).
1. In opposite-side castling situations it's a serious problem because then the opponent's pawn storm reaches your pawn shield one move faster. That one move can be the difference between life and death. I once got heavily scolded by a master who I showed one of my games to for pushing a rook pawn then castling that side in an opposide-side game.
2. It can become a target for a bishop sac, ruining the pawn cover and allowing the queen and the other bishop to deliver a mating attack.
3. It weakens the guard of the square next to it. That can hurt, especially if you've already pushed the bishop pawn.
27 Sep 04
Originally posted by paultopiaHmm...ok, that makes sense I guess.
it's a "target" several ways.
1. In opposite-side castling situations it's a serious problem because then the opponent's pawn storm reaches your pawn shield one move faster. That one move can be the difference between life and death. I once got heavily scolded by a master who I showed one of my games to for pushing a rook pawn then castling tha ...[text shortened]... the square next to it. That can hurt, especially if you've already pushed the bishop pawn.
27 Sep 04
The pawn push of h3 h6, without a good reason, is a totally newbie move. The Art of Attack devotes a huge amount of the book to trying to teach people how to force the other player to weaken their kingside pawns with a move like h3. When they play h3 unforced(especially early on in the game), then its only good for the other player. a3 a6 on the other hand is often quite helpful and is the book move in many lines and variations. Basicly if you have a good chess reason to play the move them then do, otherwise its just wasted tempo and a weakened king position that will get exploited.