Answers.Body: <p>I first need to note that there is a fairly large difference between the structure in your first diagram and the one reached in the Nimzo-Indian line: in the first diagram, white has not yet played d4. This gives him the option of playing c4 and c3, which is actually quite a strong structure as the d4 square, which would normally be weak with pawns on c4, d3 and e4, is defended by the c3-pawn.</p>
  
  <p>That being said, I don't agree with the assessment that this is an uncommonly bad case of doubled pawns for white. While doubled pawns are, in general, unfavorable for the side that has them, their existence is usually not enough to significantly change the evaluation of a position. In fact, the second line gives us an approximation of how much opening theory thinks that white's structure has been crippled: about the difference between a bishop and a knight.</p>
  
  <p>I wrote the above and then realized that I may have misinterpreted your question. You may be wondering why white's structure in the first diagram is worse than black's.</p>
  
  <p>The doubled-pawn structure is a slight disadvantage and has both plusses and minuses which may be exploited in a given piece configuration by either side. One plus would be the possibility which I mentioned in the first paragraph. Your idea of putting a rook on b1 is another option, although that may be mitigated by black playing b6. White pushing d4 is also an idea, although it may not be so favorable here because a capture on e5 would leave the c-pawns isolated.</p>
  
  <p>Black's structure is better, though, because each of his pawns on the queenside has the potential to be defended by another pawn rather than a piece. White, by contrast, will always have two pawns not defended by pawns: the a-pawn and at least one c-pawn. The attention that white's pieces will have to use defending the pawns on average will outweigh the other considerations.</p>
  
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Answers.Body: <p>In order to answer your question, pros and cons of the doubled pawns must be listed. </p>
  
  <p>I shall start with pros:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>You get additional open file;</li>
  <li>You get additional diagonal;</li>
  <li>you get addition protective or attacking power;</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Let me explain the last statement with the example from football. Imagine you have 2 players standing in a line, one being in front and the other behind ( just like doubled pawns ). If first player fails to stop the attacker, his "doubled" teammate ( the one standing behind ) can step in and stop the attacker. The same goes with offense -> if first player fails to score, the "doubled" teammate might step in, steal the ball and score. <strong>By doubling pawns, it is as if you play 2 versus 1, in the battle of controlling squares.</strong></p>
  
  <p>A small example can illustrate this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[Title "White to move"]
  [fen "k2r3r/pp3ppp/8/2p1p3/2P1P3/2P5/P4PPP/K2R3R w - - 0 1"]  
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>White stands better here as he can play <code>1.Rd5!</code>, thus obtaining the initiative, which gives him an advantage. </p>
  
  <p>This is just an example, and the point is to consider what happens if Black is to move? If not for the doubled pawns, Black could follow the same plan ( <code>1...Rd4!</code> ) and obtain advantage due to having initiative. That was the protective strength I talked about in the last statement above. It is as if you get <strong>double</strong> firepower on <code>d-file</code> and <code>b-file</code>. </p>
  
  <p>The same applies in offense, and yet another "dumb" example can illustrate that:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[Title "White to move"]
  [fen "7k/1pp5/8/2P5/P1P5/8/8/7K w - - 0 1"]
  
  1.c6! b6 ( 1...bxc6 2.a5+- ) 2.c5! bxc5 3.a5 c4 4.a6 c3 5.a7 c2 6.a8=Q+ Kh7 7.Qa3+- 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Again, you can see the <strong>supremacy</strong> White has on the <code>b-file</code>, because even if front pawn "misses" the mark, his "rear" friend will be able to strike. </p>
  
  <p>I really hope that you understand now what I meant when saying that you get your firepower doubled. </p>
  
  <p>To conclude: The strength of doubled pawns is the <strong>speeding up of piece development</strong> and <strong>stronger control</strong> of the adjacent squares.</p>
  
  <p>Now is the time for cons:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>doubled pawn, <strong>the rear one</strong>, has limited mobility and is usually a choke point for his own pieces;</li>
  <li><strong>rear pawn</strong> can't act as a normal pawn -> he can't support/protect the pawn he stood next to ( before he was doubled ) nor the pawn that stands in front of him -> he cant participate in controlling the square in front of the front pawn, nor the square in front of the pawn he "abandoned" by being doubled;</li>
  <li>by doubling pawns, additional "pawn island" is created which weakens pawn structure's defensive potential;</li>
  <li>in endgame, they can't create passed pawn since they are "held" by one opposing pawn;</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Several examples must illustrate the above statements before I finally turn to the positions you mentioned in your post. Let us start from endgame disadvantage:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[Title "Doubled pawns are useless"]
  [fen "7k/p7/8/P7/P7/8/8/7K w - - 0 1"]
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>As we can see, the above endgame is a draw. Doubled pawns can't enforce promotion to queen, because they act as single pawn. </p>
  
  <p>As for static weaknesses of the doubled pawns, we can use the position similar to one from your post ( the Nimzo-Indian defense ):</p>
  
  <pre><code>[Title "White to move"]
  [StartFlipped "0"]
  [fen "8/ppk1bppp/8/2p1p3/P1P1P3/2P1B3/5PPP/6K1 w - - 0 1"]
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Eventhough White is on the move above, the position is lost for him. Pawn at <code>c3</code> is a choke point as he prevents bishop to defend the entry point for Black king. If this pawn was anywhere on the <code>b-file</code>, White would easily defend with <code>Bd2</code>, since piece coordination would not be hindered.</p>
  
  <p>In the above diagrams, and in diagrams in your post, notice that side with doubled pawns have an extra "pawn island", and notice how this <strong>hinder pawn structure's flexibility.</strong></p>
  
  <p>As for their inability to act as normal pawns, this example might be good:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[Title "White to move"]
  [fen "r4rk1/p4ppp/bp1n4/n1p1p3/q1P1P3/P1PBB3/3NQPPP/RR4K1 w - - 0 1"]
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Although White is on the move, he can't defend <code>c4</code> pawn. If <code>c3</code> pawn was on <code>b2</code> everything would be fine, since <code>c4</code> pawn would have <strong>natural pawn support</strong> with <code>b3</code>. This example also demonstrates well doubled pawn being a choke point, because if <code>c3</code> pawn was on <code>b2</code> White could play <code>Rc1</code>, defending the pawn.</p>
  
  <p>The best example demonstrating rear pawn's inability to act as a normal pawn is the following position:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[Title "Doubled pawn can't act as normal pawn"]
  [fen "6k1/ppp2ppp/3p4/2nPp3/2P1P3/2P5/P1B2PPP/6K1 w - - 0 1"]
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>White can't dislodge the knight, yet if the rear doubled pawn was "normal" ( on <code>b2</code> ) White plays <code>b4</code> and kicks the pesky knight. Therefore, <strong>always strive to fore doubled pawns adjacent "neighbors" to advance.</strong> This will create the "hole" in front of the doubled pawns which is <strong>always</strong> useful outpost for your pieces, and that "hole" is <strong>permanent</strong> weakness.</p>
  
  <p>Therefore comes logical conclusion for why doubled pawns are weak: <strong>They weaken pawn structure's defensive and attacking potential.</strong> </p>
  
  <p>It is time to answer your questions, so let us start from the first position:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Why is this kind of double pawn particularly devastating for white?</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <pre><code>[fen "4k3/ppp2ppp/3p4/4p3/4P3/2PP4/P1P2PPP/4K3 w KQkq - 0 1"]
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>This pawn structure is better for Black because he can defend his pawns with other pawns. White on the other hand has weakened pawn structure as he can't defend <code>a2</code> and <code>c2</code> pawns with nearby pawns. This means that Black can force White pieces to assume passive positions in order to defend the mentioned weak pawns, something like in my previous diagram.</p>
  
  <p>Without the actual position with all the pieces, it is hard to analyze further so I will make necessary assumptions, in order to answer your question better.</p>
  
  <p>First of all, <code>d4</code> is very risky since Black plays <code>...c5!</code> and puts your pawn structure under pressure. </p>
  
  <p>If you exchange with <code>dxe5</code>  he plays <code>...dxe5</code> and will get slight pressure with <code>...Qa5</code>. Your queenside pawns are scattered, and unable to defend, so you will go into passive defense ( I doubt you can use open <code>d-file</code> in such positions that fast to generate counterplay that will compensate a pawn loss ). Furthermore, he now gets excellent <code>c4</code> square as a post for a bishop or a knight ( again, doubled pawn can't act as a normal pawn ). Black could also get slight pressure by playing <code>...Rfd8</code> or <code>...Rad8</code> at some point because your queen will have a hard time finding a good square ( ideal <code>c2</code> square is occupied by the doubled pawn-> excellent example for doubled pawn being a choke point ).</p>
  
  <p>If you exchange with <code>dxc5</code> he could recapture with a piece and play <code>...Rc8</code> putting doubled pawns under pressure. Again, you will not be fast enough to generate counterplay against his pawn at <code>d6</code> because you will waste time for the queen ( doubled pawn is a choke point again! ). The outpost on <code>c4</code> would be even stronger then.</p>
  
  <p>If you decide to "do nothing" Black plays <code>...cxd4</code> followed by <code>...exd4</code> and gets initiative because he will surely be better developed ( <code>c2</code> pawn is a choke point ). He will trade <code>d6</code> pawn for your <code>e4</code> or <code>c2</code> pawn and will have better chances in the endgame.</p>
  
  <p>Therefore, you must keep your pawn structure <strong>flexible</strong>. Your best bet would be to maintain current pawn structure. Without seeing the rest of the pieces I can't give further advice.</p>
  
  <p>As for the position in your 2nd diagram, the key is control of the <code>e4</code> square. The ideas and features of that position are explained in any decent repertoire book so I will stop here because this post is too long already...</p>
  
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Answers.Text: Very comprehensive indeed. +1
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Answers.Text: @Brass2010: I am glad I could help. You can find the first position thoroghly described in *Aron Nimzovitch-My System*. He really does a great job of analyzing these pawn structures. Best regards.
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Body: <p>There is a case where the opponent can inflict a double pawn on us</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN "4k3/ppp2ppp/3p4/4p3/4P3/2PP4/P1P2PPP/4K3 w KQkq - 0 1"]
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Why is this kind of double pawn particularly devastating for white? I see white is okay, white can try d4 pawn break, or Rb1.</p>
  
  <p>Or am I wrong? Can somebody explain why this position is not favourable for white?</p>
  
  <p>This pawn structure can also arise from Nimzo Indian</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
  
  1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 
  </code></pre>
  
Tags: <nimzo-indian><doubled-pawn>
Title: Why are doubled pawns in this case particularly devastating?
ThreadText: # Why are doubled pawns in this case particularly devastating?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-08-28)
  
  There is a case where the opponent can inflict a double pawn on us
  
  ```
  [FEN "4k3/ppp2ppp/3p4/4p3/4P3/2PP4/P1P2PPP/4K3 w KQkq - 0 1"]
  
  ```
  
  Why is this kind of double pawn particularly devastating for white? I see white is okay, white can try d4 pawn break, or Rb1.
  
  Or am I wrong? Can somebody explain why this position is not favourable for white?
  
  This pawn structure can also arise from Nimzo Indian
  
  ```
  [FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
  
  1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 
  
  ```
  
  **Tags:** nimzo-indian, doubled-pawn
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2014-09-18. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
  
  In order to answer your question, pros and cons of the doubled pawns must be listed.
  
  I shall start with pros:
  
  * You get additional open file;
  * You get additional diagonal;
  * you get addition protective or attacking power;
  
  Let me explain the last statement with the example from football. Imagine you have 2 players standing in a line, one being in front and the other behind ( just like doubled pawns ). If first player fails to stop the attacker, his "doubled" teammate ( the one standing behind ) can step in and stop the attacker. The same goes with offense -> if first player fails to score, the "doubled" teammate might step in, steal the ball and score. **By doubling pawns, it is as if you play 2 versus 1, in the battle of controlling squares.**
  
  A small example can illustrate this:
  
  ```
  [Title "White to move"]
  [fen "k2r3r/pp3ppp/8/2p1p3/2P1P3/2P5/P4PPP/K2R3R w - - 0 1"]  
  
  ```
  
  White stands better here as he can play `1.Rd5!`, thus obtaining the initiative, which gives him an advantage.
  
  This is just an example, and the point is to consider what happens if Black is to move? If not for the doubled pawns, Black could follow the same plan ( `1...Rd4!` ) and obtain advantage due to having initiative. That was the protective strength I talked about in the last statement above. It is as if you get **double** firepower on `d-file` and `b-file`.
  
  The same applies in offense, and yet another "dumb" example can illustrate that:
  
  ```
  [Title "White to move"]
  [fen "7k/1pp5/8/2P5/P1P5/8/8/7K w - - 0 1"]
  
  1.c6! b6 ( 1...bxc6 2.a5+- ) 2.c5! bxc5 3.a5 c4 4.a6 c3 5.a7 c2 6.a8=Q+ Kh7 7.Qa3+- 
  
  ```
  
  Again, you can see the **supremacy** White has on the `b-file`, because even if front pawn "misses" the mark, his "rear" friend will be able to strike.
  
  I really hope that you understand now what I meant when saying that you get your firepower doubled.
  
  To conclude: The strength of doubled pawns is the **speeding up of piece development** and **stronger control** of the adjacent squares.
  
  Now is the time for cons:
  
  * doubled pawn, **the rear one**, has limited mobility and is usually a choke point for his own pieces;
  * **rear pawn** can't act as a normal pawn -> he can't support/protect the pawn he stood next to ( before he was doubled ) nor the pawn that stands in front of him -> he cant participate in controlling the square in front of the front pawn, nor the square in front of the pawn he "abandoned" by being doubled;
  * by doubling pawns, additional "pawn island" is created which weakens pawn structure's defensive potential;
  * in endgame, they can't create passed pawn since they are "held" by one opposing pawn;
  
  Several examples must illustrate the above statements before I finally turn to the positions you mentioned in your post. Let us start from endgame disadvantage:
  
  ```
  [Title "Doubled pawns are useless"]
  [fen "7k/p7/8/P7/P7/8/8/7K w - - 0 1"]
  
  ```
  
  As we can see, the above endgame is a draw. Doubled pawns can't enforce promotion to queen, because they act as single pawn.
  
  As for static weaknesses of the doubled pawns, we can use the position similar to one from your post ( the Nimzo-Indian defense ):
  
  ```
  [Title "White to move"]
  [StartFlipped "0"]
  [fen "8/ppk1bppp/8/2p1p3/P1P1P3/2P1B3/5PPP/6K1 w - - 0 1"]
  
  ```
  
  Eventhough White is on the move above, the position is lost for him. Pawn at `c3` is a choke point as he prevents bishop to defend the entry point for Black king. If this pawn was anywhere on the `b-file`, White would easily defend with `Bd2`, since piece coordination would not be hindered.
  
  In the above diagrams, and in diagrams in your post, notice that side with doubled pawns have an extra "pawn island", and notice how this **hinder pawn structure's flexibility.**
  
  As for their inability to act as normal pawns, this example might be good:
  
  ```
  [Title "White to move"]
  [fen "r4rk1/p4ppp/bp1n4/n1p1p3/q1P1P3/P1PBB3/3NQPPP/RR4K1 w - - 0 1"]
  
  ```
  
  Although White is on the move, he can't defend `c4` pawn. If `c3` pawn was on `b2` everything would be fine, since `c4` pawn would have **natural pawn support** with `b3`. This example also demonstrates well doubled pawn being a choke point, because if `c3` pawn was on `b2` White could play `Rc1`, defending the pawn.
  
  The best example demonstrating rear pawn's inability to act as a normal pawn is the following position:
  
  ```
  [Title "Doubled pawn can't act as normal pawn"]
  [fen "6k1/ppp2ppp/3p4/2nPp3/2P1P3/2P5/P1B2PPP/6K1 w - - 0 1"]
  
  ```
  
  White can't dislodge the knight, yet if the rear doubled pawn was "normal" ( on `b2` ) White plays `b4` and kicks the pesky knight. Therefore, **always strive to fore doubled pawns adjacent "neighbors" to advance.** This will create the "hole" in front of the doubled pawns which is **always** useful outpost for your pieces, and that "hole" is **permanent** weakness.
  
  Therefore comes logical conclusion for why doubled pawns are weak: **They weaken pawn structure's defensive and attacking potential.**
  
  It is time to answer your questions, so let us start from the first position:
  
  > Why is this kind of double pawn particularly devastating for white?
  
  ```
  [fen "4k3/ppp2ppp/3p4/4p3/4P3/2PP4/P1P2PPP/4K3 w KQkq - 0 1"]
  
  ```
  
  This pawn structure is better for Black because he can defend his pawns with other pawns. White on the other hand has weakened pawn structure as he can't defend `a2` and `c2` pawns with nearby pawns. This means that Black can force White pieces to assume passive positions in order to defend the mentioned weak pawns, something like in my previous diagram.
  
  Without the actual position with all the pieces, it is hard to analyze further so I will make necessary assumptions, in order to answer your question better.
  
  First of all, `d4` is very risky since Black plays `...c5!` and puts your pawn structure under pressure.
  
  If you exchange with `dxe5` he plays `...dxe5` and will get slight pressure with `...Qa5`. Your queenside pawns are scattered, and unable to defend, so you will go into passive defense ( I doubt you can use open `d-file` in such positions that fast to generate counterplay that will compensate a pawn loss ). Furthermore, he now gets excellent `c4` square as a post for a bishop or a knight ( again, doubled pawn can't act as a normal pawn ). Black could also get slight pressure by playing `...Rfd8` or `...Rad8` at some point because your queen will have a hard time finding a good square ( ideal `c2` square is occupied by the doubled pawn-> excellent example for doubled pawn being a choke point ).
  
  If you exchange with `dxc5` he could recapture with a piece and play `...Rc8` putting doubled pawns under pressure. Again, you will not be fast enough to generate counterplay against his pawn at `d6` because you will waste time for the queen ( doubled pawn is a choke point again! ). The outpost on `c4` would be even stronger then.
  
  If you decide to "do nothing" Black plays `...cxd4` followed by `...exd4` and gets initiative because he will surely be better developed ( `c2` pawn is a choke point ). He will trade `d6` pawn for your `e4` or `c2` pawn and will have better chances in the endgame.
  
  Therefore, you must keep your pawn structure **flexible**. Your best bet would be to maintain current pawn structure. Without seeing the rest of the pieces I can't give further advice.
  
  As for the position in your 2nd diagram, the key is control of the `e4` square. The ideas and features of that position are explained in any decent repertoire book so I will stop here because this post is too long already...
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Very comprehensive indeed. +1  
  > **username_2**: @username_0: I am glad I could help. You can find the first position thoroghly described in *Aron Nimzovitch-My System*. He really does a great job of analyzing these pawn structures. Best regards.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2014-08-28. Score: 5
  
  I first need to note that there is a fairly large difference between the structure in your first diagram and the one reached in the Nimzo-Indian line: in the first diagram, white has not yet played d4. This gives him the option of playing c4 and c3, which is actually quite a strong structure as the d4 square, which would normally be weak with pawns on c4, d3 and e4, is defended by the c3-pawn.
  
  That being said, I don't agree with the assessment that this is an uncommonly bad case of doubled pawns for white. While doubled pawns are, in general, unfavorable for the side that has them, their existence is usually not enough to significantly change the evaluation of a position. In fact, the second line gives us an approximation of how much opening theory thinks that white's structure has been crippled: about the difference between a bishop and a knight.
  
  I wrote the above and then realized that I may have misinterpreted your question. You may be wondering why white's structure in the first diagram is worse than black's.
  
  The doubled-pawn structure is a slight disadvantage and has both plusses and minuses which may be exploited in a given piece configuration by either side. One plus would be the possibility which I mentioned in the first paragraph. Your idea of putting a rook on b1 is another option, although that may be mitigated by black playing b6. White pushing d4 is also an idea, although it may not be so favorable here because a capture on e5 would leave the c-pawns isolated.
  
  Black's structure is better, though, because each of his pawns on the queenside has the potential to be defended by another pawn rather than a piece. White, by contrast, will always have two pawns not defended by pawns: the a-pawn and at least one c-pawn. The attention that white's pieces will have to use defending the pawns on average will outweigh the other considerations.
  
  
  ---
  
  