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Strategy

Backward pawn

A pawn left behind its neighbours that can't safely advance and is stuck defending a hole.

A backward pawn has been left behind by the pawns beside it, so it can no longer be protected by a pawn and can't advance without being captured. The square in front of it becomes an outpost the opponent can occupy.

It's a target: the enemy piles pieces on it (especially with a rook on the half-open file in front) and ties your forces to its defence.

Why it matters

Creating a backward pawn in the enemy camp — and avoiding one in your own — is one of the most common strategic battles in the middlegame.

The mistake everyone makes

Advancing a pawn so its neighbour can never catch up, permanently weakening the square in front of it for a fleeting gain of space.

Related terms

Weak square
A square that can no longer be defended by a pawn, inviting an enemy piece to settle there.
Outpost
A square in or near enemy territory, protected by a pawn, where a piece can sit untouchable.
Isolated pawn
A pawn with no friendly pawns on the files beside it, so no pawn can defend it.
Pawn structure
The arrangement of the pawns, which shapes the plans available to both sides.

See Backward pawn in your own games

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