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Pawn break/lever

Author: NM Roger Williamson

Published: 31/08/2023

1. After f3, blacks position collapses

1. After f3, blacks position collapses

2. Black has "no pawn lever, no plan"

2. Black has "no pawn lever, no plan"

'A pawn lever is a move that allows the opponent to capture the pawn with one of his own pawns.' - Axel Smith.

In his book Pump Up Your Rating, GM Axel Smith points out that it is very difficult to formulate an effective plan without having pawn breaks/levers available. The power to change the pawn structure is fundamental to the transformation of advantages.

In position 1, such is the rigidity of black's pawn structure, their disadvantage in space, and their lack of development, the white pawn break/lever 21. f3 leaves black without a good move. Should black capture on f3 with either the e-pawn or g-pawn, then white will soon be able to decisively open the position with e4. Should black play 21...f6, then white plays 22. Rhf1 and waits for the right moment to capture one of the black pawns. Without any good pawn breaks/levers of their own, black is merely an observer.

In position 2, black must sit and suffer, owing to his two sets of doubled pawns that, while they exert pressure on d4 and f4 - restraining white's potential pawn breaks/levers - deny black any pawn breaks/levers of his own. White, on the other hand, may someday be able to push either d4 or f4, and thus can only be in a stronger position.

See: 'Transformation of advantages', "Minority Attack"