The Pawn "Wave" Defense

Your pawns may seem like they are taking up space sometimes. They only move one space at a time, can only move straight, and are only worth one point. Plus, they usually only end up capturing other pawns, supplying you with no benefit. However, there are a few strategies that allow you to use the power of the pawn to your advantage. This strategy, which I call the "wave" defense due to it's visual resemblance to a wave, builds a solid wall with your pawns that can only be penetrated with certain opposing pieces.

Here are the moves:

1). b2 to b3

2). c2 to c4

3). d2 to d3

4). e2 to e4

5). f2 to f3

6). g2 to g4

7). h2 to h3

Seeing a pattern? You should, or at least in the right-most pawns. The only exception to this pattern is the pawn at a2, because keeping that pawn in place creates a more solid defense than if you moved him to a4 to suit the set pattern. Some of the advantages of this defense are that most opposing pieces will be caught if they attempt to break the defense. The defense sets up a grid-like system that places your pawns on spaces that are under attack by other pawns or the pieces in row 1, so if any of your pawns are captured, they will be avenged by another piece. For example, a rook can't move in, because the only openings in the wall are diagonal. A knight would most likely be caught in row 4 or 5, but if it does make it through it will be placed in a bad position, being quite close to your queen and other, more powerful pieces. The bishop who moves on white spaces will not be able to get through for the same reasons that the rook can't, but the bishop who move on black spaces can, because the diagonal openings through the defense consist of black spaces. Another piece that can break the defense is the queen, as it can move diagonally on black spaces. A king would not be able to get through because it moves only one space per turn, meaning that if it went anywhere near the wall, it would be an illegal move due to the pawns.

This strategy is mostly beneficial to the player who uses it, but it can also have some disadvantages. The close proximity of the pawns' positions to your end of the board can limit the movement of your more powerful pieces. Furthermore, you can break up this defense by sacrificing your own pawns, making for a still somewhat equal opposition. The setup of this defense can be affected by the opponent's pieces moving past the half-way point of the board, so be wary! If your opponent ever uses this strategy against you, it is best to either wait it out by not making major moves and allowing him/her to make a major move first, or to break the defense up with your pawns. Always be careful with this technique, whether it is working for or against you!

Here is our video on this technique if you need further assistance:

The completed defense is pictured below.