Answers.Body: <p>You should only make a move like <code>a3</code> or <code>h3</code> when the pin is so annoying that the loss of a tempo is a fair tradeoff.</p>
  
  <p>Generally speaking, bishop pins are not that big of a deal.  The pin can be broken by moving a bishop (<code>Be2</code> or <code>Bd2</code>), the knight can be defended by the other knight (<code>Nbd2</code> or <code>Nge2</code>), or the pinned piece can move away (for white, frequently <code>Qd3</code> will both break the pin and still defend the knight on f3).  </p>
  
  <p>If this isn't possible, then <code>a3</code> or <code>h3</code> can enter into consideration, but even still, the doubled pawns might not be such a big deal.  Especially for white, the move <code>a3</code> is hardly ever played.  If black takes on c3, then the extra c pawn helps white far more than it hurts (additional control of the d4 square, half open b file, etc.).  <code>h3</code> is far more common, especially in the Open game.  In this case, <code>Bg4</code> is prevented, yes, but moves like <code>Ng4</code> are also prevented, and someday white might expand with <code>g4</code>.  </p>
  
  <p>If the bishop is already on g4 or b4, then sometimes <code>a3</code> or <code>h3</code> are decent moves because they will win a tempo or force an exchange of bishop for knight.  Black will nearly always play <code>h6</code> after white plays <code>Bg5</code>, for example.  The main reason is that the bishop has far less scope on h4 than it does on g5 (cannot return to e3 or d2, no queen battery is possible).  <code>h3</code> is frequently played with a similar idea for white.</p>
  
  <p>To summarize, <code>a3</code> is almost always a weak move for white (<code>a6</code> is a different story, it can be useful for black in many cases), and these pawn moves should only be played prophylactically when the pin is so bad that the loss of a tempo is more than offset by avoiding the pin.  </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-11-16T01:36:06.557Z
Answers.Text: I don't agree that `a3` is almost always a weak move for white. What about the Petrosian Variation of QID `1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3` ? Kasparov had great success with it in the 80s. The rest of your points are excellent.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Akavall
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Answers.CreationDate: 2012-11-16T02:17:33.047Z
Answers.Text: @Akavall good point, that's one of my favorite openings as white.  I was more trying to speak in generalities without getting into specific lines.  I can't think of a single rule in chess that has no exception (except for this rule...).
Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrew
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Answers.Text: when I make those moves to prevent pins or checks, is usually because I ran out of ideas and don't want to waste my clock :D
Answers.UserDisplayName: ajax333221
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Answers.CreationDate: 2012-11-15T18:30:22.933Z
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrew
Body: <p>I have always struggled with this and I believe there is some rule that someone defined at some point, but I am not sure who (Maybe it was Steinitz).</p>
  
  <p>When and why should I move my pawns in front of my castled or non-castled King?</p>
  
  <p>First, I would assume it matters if the King is castled or not?</p>
  
  <p>I will state my logic behind this and someone with more knowledge can let me know if it is flawed:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>I usually move a pawn so my Knight or some other piece does not get pinned.</li>
  <li>I usually move a pawn to prevent my opponent from bringing his bishop down to pin my knight or some other piece to my king.</li>
  <li>I usually move a pawn so the bishop or some other piece(maybe queen can't put King in check)</li>
  <li>I usually don't like to do this because it weakens the king/queen-side depending on where I want to castle.</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Let's look at some examples:</p>
  
  <p>In the first scenario,  I am thinking black might move <code>4...Bb4</code>, which would put my King in check, so to prevent this, I will play <code>4. a3</code>.  Is this the proper move or is there a better move?  </p>
  
  <pre><code>    [fen ""]
  
      1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. a3 Bb4
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>In my second scenario, let's assume, my Knight was already on <code>c3</code>, so to prevent black from <code>4...Bb4</code>, I would again play <code>4. a3</code>, to prevent the future pin if I wanted to move the <code>d2</code> pawn.</p>
  
  <pre><code> [fen ""]
  
   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. a3 Bb4
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>In my third scenario, let's assume I moved by <code>d2</code> pawn, so black could check or pin my knight with <code>...Bb4</code>, so to prevent black from <code>4...Bb4</code>, I would again play <code>4. a3</code>, to prevent the future pin if I wanted to move the <code>d2</code> pawn.</p>
  
  <pre><code> [fen ""]
  
   1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e6 4. a3 Bb4
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Let's assume that black does succeed in checking my King or pinning my knight to my King, if my King is in check, is it better to do <code>c3</code> or <code>Bd2</code>.  If my Knight is pinning, is it better to do <code>a3</code> to try and force the opponent to either exchange or move his bishop or <code>Bd2</code> in the event if he takes my Knight, I will just recapture with my Bishop.</p>
  
  <p>All of the above assume my King is not castled, but what if it was, my assumption is that I would not want to move any pawns in front of the castled king unless necessary, but I am not sure of when these times would apply.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-11-17T06:41:04.067Z
Comments.Text: If white played a3, why would black respond with Bb4?
Comments.UserDisplayName: Nick ODell
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-11-17T15:49:19.770Z
Comments.Text: @NickODell - They wouldn't, I was more illustrating what would happen if they did not play `a3`
Comments.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
Tags: <learning><theory>
Title: When and why should I move the pawns in front of a castled/non-castled King?
ThreadText: # When and why should I move the pawns in front of a castled/non-castled King?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2012-11-15)
  
  I have always struggled with this and I believe there is some rule that someone defined at some point, but I am not sure who (Maybe it was Steinitz).
  
  When and why should I move my pawns in front of my castled or non-castled King?
  
  First, I would assume it matters if the King is castled or not?
  
  I will state my logic behind this and someone with more knowledge can let me know if it is flawed:
  
  1. I usually move a pawn so my Knight or some other piece does not get pinned.
  2. I usually move a pawn to prevent my opponent from bringing his bishop down to pin my knight or some other piece to my king.
  3. I usually move a pawn so the bishop or some other piece(maybe queen can't put King in check)
  4. I usually don't like to do this because it weakens the king/queen-side depending on where I want to castle.
  
  Let's look at some examples:
  
  In the first scenario, I am thinking black might move `4...Bb4`, which would put my King in check, so to prevent this, I will play `4. a3`. Is this the proper move or is there a better move?
  
  ```
      [fen ""]
  
      1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. a3 Bb4
  
  ```
  
  In my second scenario, let's assume, my Knight was already on `c3`, so to prevent black from `4...Bb4`, I would again play `4. a3`, to prevent the future pin if I wanted to move the `d2` pawn.
  
  ```
   [fen ""]
  
   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. a3 Bb4
  
  ```
  
  In my third scenario, let's assume I moved by `d2` pawn, so black could check or pin my knight with `...Bb4`, so to prevent black from `4...Bb4`, I would again play `4. a3`, to prevent the future pin if I wanted to move the `d2` pawn.
  
  ```
   [fen ""]
  
   1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e6 4. a3 Bb4
  
  ```
  
  Let's assume that black does succeed in checking my King or pinning my knight to my King, if my King is in check, is it better to do `c3` or `Bd2`. If my Knight is pinning, is it better to do `a3` to try and force the opponent to either exchange or move his bishop or `Bd2` in the event if he takes my Knight, I will just recapture with my Bishop.
  
  All of the above assume my King is not castled, but what if it was, my assumption is that I would not want to move any pawns in front of the castled king unless necessary, but I am not sure of when these times would apply.
  
  **Tags:** learning, theory
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: If white played a3, why would black respond with Bb4?  
  > **username_0**: @username_1 - They wouldn't, I was more illustrating what would happen if they did not play `a3`  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2012-11-15. Score: 12 | Accepted answer
  
  You should only make a move like `a3` or `h3` when the pin is so annoying that the loss of a tempo is a fair tradeoff.
  
  Generally speaking, bishop pins are not that big of a deal. The pin can be broken by moving a bishop (`Be2` or `Bd2`), the knight can be defended by the other knight (`Nbd2` or `Nge2`), or the pinned piece can move away (for white, frequently `Qd3` will both break the pin and still defend the knight on f3).
  
  If this isn't possible, then `a3` or `h3` can enter into consideration, but even still, the doubled pawns might not be such a big deal. Especially for white, the move `a3` is hardly ever played. If black takes on c3, then the extra c pawn helps white far more than it hurts (additional control of the d4 square, half open b file, etc.). `h3` is far more common, especially in the Open game. In this case, `Bg4` is prevented, yes, but moves like `Ng4` are also prevented, and someday white might expand with `g4`.
  
  If the bishop is already on g4 or b4, then sometimes `a3` or `h3` are decent moves because they will win a tempo or force an exchange of bishop for knight. Black will nearly always play `h6` after white plays `Bg5`, for example. The main reason is that the bishop has far less scope on h4 than it does on g5 (cannot return to e3 or d2, no queen battery is possible). `h3` is frequently played with a similar idea for white.
  
  To summarize, `a3` is almost always a weak move for white (`a6` is a different story, it can be useful for black in many cases), and these pawn moves should only be played prophylactically when the pin is so bad that the loss of a tempo is more than offset by avoiding the pin.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: I don't agree that `a3` is almost always a weak move for white. What about the Petrosian Variation of QID `1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3` ? Kasparov had great success with it in the 80s. The rest of your points are excellent.  
  > **username_2**: @username_3 good point, that's one of my favorite openings as white.  I was more trying to speak in generalities without getting into specific lines.  I can't think of a single rule in chess that has no exception (except for this rule...).  
  > **username_4**: when I make those moves to prevent pins or checks, is usually because I ran out of ideas and don't want to waste my clock :D  
  
  ---
  
  