Hanging Pawns (usually on c4 and d4 , or c5 and d5) with the adjacent files open) can be targets of attack. Assuming that it’s white with the hanging Pawns, black can place the d-Pawn under attack by moves like …Nc6, …Bf6 and …Rd8. Or he can attack the c-Pawn with moves like …Ba6, …Na5 and …Rc8. On the other hand both P’s have a dynamic potential.
If you know anything about handling the Isolated d-Pawn you know it has a tendency to advance to d5 given the opportunity. With Hanging Pawns this tendency is much stronger and there is a possibility of creating a passed Pawn by the advance d5. A passed Pawn could also be created by the advance c5, but this is much more rare.
From Black’s perspective the obligation to meet these threats prevents, or at least hinders, the attack on the Hanging Pawns. Also, the Pawns control several center squares (c5, d5 and e5) so they create a strong Pawn center.
Knowing the possibilities and plans of both sides will allow you to play with or against this type of P-formation with confidence. The plans are:
White:
1. Post pieces so that he threatens to create a strong passed Pawn by advancing one of them (usually the d-Pawn).
2. Occupy e5 with a Knight and prepare a King side attack with the aid of the advance f2-f4-5. In this case, if black exchanges …exf5 then he has opened up the f-file for white’s attack and gives white a passed d-Pawn. If he allows white to exchange (f5xe6) then black’s Pawn on e6 has become weak.
3. White can possibly carry out the advance a2-a4-5. In that case if black exchanges white has a passed c-Pawn and, additionally, has prospects of attacking the Pawn on a7. If black avoids the exchange white will do so leaving black with a weak Pawn on b6.
Black:
1. By suitable placing of his pieces (e.g. Bb7, Be7, Nf6) black can stop the Pawn’s from advancing, or, if they do, he can prepare a blockade of the resulting passed Pawn.
2. At a suitable moment black can launch an attack on the hanging Pawns and force white to tie his pieces to their defense.
3. In some cases black can undertake the advance …e5 or …b5. In either case if white exchanges, he has an isolated Pawn. If white pushes his Pawn (d5 or c5) then black can blockade the resulting passed Pawn and attack the adjacent backward Pawn.
The following game shows successful white strategy in addition to the tactical motifs that occur quite often in these types of positions. Playing over games of this type will pay dividends in that you will know the correct strategy and be familiar with the resulting tactical possibilities that result. This will bolster your confidence in these types of positions.
[Event "Stockholm Interzonal"] [Site "Stockholm SWE"] [Date "1952.10.14"] [Round "?"] [White "Gedeon Barcza"] [Black "Harry Golombek"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E14"] [Annotator "Stockfish 17.1"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "1952.09.15"] {E14: Queen's Indian: Classical Variation} 1. c4 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. Nf3 {By playing 3.Nf3 qhite avoids the Nimzo-Indian. White can now play the ewlayed Bogo-Indian (3...Bb4+).} b6 {The idea behind the Q-Indian is that it increases black's control over the central light squares e4 and d5.} 4. e3 Bb7 5. Bd3 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 d5 8. b3 {The main alternative is 8...cxd5} c5 9. Qe2 cxd4 10. exd4 Nc6 11. Rd1 {White is preparing the break-through d4-d5 after the exchange on c4.} Rc8 12. Bb2 (12. a3 {lacks anf gumption.} Re8 13. Bb2 g6 14. b4 dxc4 15. Bxc4 Qc7 16. Nb5 Qb8 17. Nc3 Qc7 18. Nb5 Qb8 19. Nc3 {½-½ Balashov,Y (2600)-Tarjan,J (2535) Valetta 1980}) 12... Re8 {Not bad by any means, but more ambitious would have been 12...Nb4 which he soon plays when it's a bit too late.} (12... Nb4 {Now white can't preserve this B and use it for a K-side attack because 13.Bb1 hems in the R.} 13. Ne5 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 { and depending on his mood, black can play either 14...Ne5 or 14...dxc4 with a good game/}) 13. Rac1 dxc4 {GM Ludek Pachman stated that black is in trouble here, but that assessment is not correct. To this point Golombek's play has been quite satisfactory. Tje trouble arrives after his next move.} (13... Nb4 { was still a good alternative.} 14. Bb1 dxc4 15. bxc4 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Rxc4 17. d5 exd5 18. a3 Nc6 19. Nxd5 Rxc1 20. Bxc1 Nxd5 21. Rxd5 Qc8 {with complete equality/}) 14. bxc4 Qc7 {This is a serious mistake. It was his last chance to play ...Bb4 with effect.} (14... Nb4 {leads to a an even position after} 15. Bb1 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Rxc4 17. d5 exd5 18. a3 Nc6 19. Nxd5 Rxc1 20. Bxc1 Nxd5 21. Rxd5 Bf8 22. Be3 Qe7 23. g3 {with full equality.}) (14... Nb4 15. d5 {as in the game is not playable.} exd5 16. Nxd5 (16. cxd5 Bf8 17. Qd2 Nxd3 18. Qxd3 Qd7 {Black has tremendous pressure on the d-Pawn.}) 16... Bxd5 17. cxd5 Rxc1 18. Bxc1 Bc5 19. Qf1 Ng4 {and black is clearly better.}) 15. d5 {Grabbing the initiative and not letting go of it!} exd5 {This is the fatal error! Even though ...Nb4 has lost much of its effectiveness, it was still his nest chance. } (15... Nb4 16. Nb5 Qf4 17. d6 Nxd3 18. Rxd3 a6 19. Na7 Bxd6 20. g3 Qe4 21. Qxe4 Nxe4 22. Nxc8 Rxc8 {White is clearly better, but at least black can fight on.}) 16. Nxd5 Qb8 17. Qd2 (17. Ng5 {packs a greater wallop.} h6 18. Nxf7 Kxf7 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Qh5+ Kf8 21. Nxf6 gxf6 22. Qxh6+ Kf7 23. Bg6+ Ke6 24. Qh3+ Ke7 25. Rd7+ Kf8 26. Qh8#) 17... Nxd5 18. cxd5 Nb4 {Finally, but the move has lost its effectiveness.} 19. Be4 {Barcza has failed to finish off his opponent in the most expeditious manner.} (19. Bc4 b5 20. Be5 Bd6 21. Bxb5 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Rf8 23. Bc6 {White's extra P and active pieces should prove decisive.}) 19... Rxc1 20. Rxc1 {[%mdl 128] White clearly has the stronger position, but Golombek's next move seals his fate/} Rd8 {[%mdl 8192]} (20... Na6 21. Rd1 Nc5 22. Bf5 Bc8 23. Bb1 Qd6 24. Re1 Bd7 25. Be5 Qh6 {White's K-side attack is stymied and he can only hope to cash in on his extra space, but black is well entrenched. In Shootouts white scored +2 -0 =3, in some long, difficult endings.}) 21. Qd4 {The finalk onslaught. Barcza has prepared a nice finish.} f6 (21... Bf6 {results in the loss of a piece.} 22. Qxb4 Bxb2 23. Qxb2 Bxd5 24. Bxd5 Rxd5) 22. Bxh7+ {[%mdl 512]} Kxh7 23. Qe4+ {White is clearly winning.} Kg8 24. Qxe7 Nxd5 25. Qe6+ Kh8 26. Qh3+ Kg8 27. Ng5 {[%mdl 512] A nice finishing touch!} fxg5 28. Qe6+ {Black resigned.} (28. Qe6+ {The finish might be} Kh7 ( 28... Kf8 29. Ba3+) 29. Qf7 Rd7 (29... Rg8 30. Qh5#) 30. Qxd7 Qf8 31. Qxb7) 1-0
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