The structure we are going to talk about in this lesson is, in fact, a form of hanging pawns.
From a strategic point of view, it represents a weakness for the side having it.
However, it can be successfully used in combination with a dynamic play.
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There are a few typical plans and ideas in this type of structure.
For easiness, we are going to consider white as the side having the c3+d4 structure, but the plans are of course the same if the colors are reversed:
In the following example, we can see how white combines some of the above-mentioned plans. He starts by pushing a4, forcing black to always keep an eye on the possibility of a5, then continues with an attack against the king.
Black defended well and could have kept the balance, but a couple of mistakes led to white’s win. Note in this game the typical set-up for both sides: Bd3, Bd2, Qe2 and Rfe1 for white and Qc7, Rac8, Rfe8 followed by Bd5 for black.
White to move
White to move
White to move
Black to move
White to move