Answers.Body: <p>did the following experiment using Fritz</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>setup the board at the start and removed one black pawn at a time (a7 --> h7).</li>
  <li>the computer evaluation was strongest (for white) when the f7 pawn was removed.</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>similarly repeated the experiment for white. Again the evaluation was strongest for black when the f2 pawn was removed.</p>
  
  <p>What i found interesting was that there was significant first move advantage for white if the f7 pawn was removed for black and non F file pawn was removed for white.</p>
  
  <p><em>Please note that these tests were done at very shallow depths.</em></p>
  
  <p>I guess a strong chess player like yourself can make a better evaluation of these tests.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-11-27T18:18:19.020Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-11-27T18:18:19.020Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: NoviceProgrammer
Answers.Body: <p>If you are trying to remove the pawn to cause the <em>most</em> damage to the starting position, I'd go with the <code>f</code> pawn.  Since <code>f2/f7</code> is already a tender spot, as it is only covered by the King in the early parts of the game, it's a bit more likely to cause overall positional damage.  </p>
  
  <p>You could make the argument that removing the <code>d</code> or <code>e</code> pawn could be worse, as they are important for central control.  However, removing them does add a certain value, in that the pieces can develop more quickly from the starting position.</p>
  
  <p>If you are trying to cause the <em>least</em> damage to your own position, definitely either the <code>a</code> or <code>h</code> pawn.  They have the least influence on the board, and there is something to be said for having that open file for the rook.  </p>
  
  <p>As to which one to remove...if you followed the above advice and removed the <code>f</code> pawn of your opponent, I'd remove my own <code>a</code> pawn, so that they don't feel comfortable castling on either side of the board.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-08-29T13:22:53.640Z
Answers.Text: Your answer might be the best one, but anyway I'll give some arguments against it. Couldn't the half open f-file be useful for a white's attack? Perhaps he can play the Evan's gambit against `1...e5` and in some other openings also organize a quick attack against f7.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Dag Oskar Madsen
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-08-29T13:33:12.763Z
Answers.Text: There are definitely scenarios where it would be useful, yes.  But unless we can come up with something concrete, I'd think objectively starting without the f-pawn would put you at more of a disadvantage against best play than any of the others.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Bort
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-08-28T12:52:35.170Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-08-28T12:52:35.170Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Bort
Body: <p>In a hypothetical variant of chess, before the start of the game black is allowed to remove one white pawn and one black pawn. Which pawns should they remove? The pawns don't have to be on the same file.</p>
  
  <p>My hope is that the answer should give some insight into opening dynamics and the relative value of pawns in normal chess.</p>
  
Tags: <opening><chess-variants>
Title: Take away which pawns?
ThreadText: # Take away which pawns?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2013-08-28)
  
  In a hypothetical variant of chess, before the start of the game black is allowed to remove one white pawn and one black pawn. Which pawns should they remove? The pawns don't have to be on the same file.
  
  My hope is that the answer should give some insight into opening dynamics and the relative value of pawns in normal chess.
  
  **Tags:** opening, chess-variants
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2013-08-28. Score: 6 | Accepted answer
  
  If you are trying to remove the pawn to cause the *most* damage to the starting position, I'd go with the `f` pawn. Since `f2/f7` is already a tender spot, as it is only covered by the King in the early parts of the game, it's a bit more likely to cause overall positional damage.
  
  You could make the argument that removing the `d` or `e` pawn could be worse, as they are important for central control. However, removing them does add a certain value, in that the pieces can develop more quickly from the starting position.
  
  If you are trying to cause the *least* damage to your own position, definitely either the `a` or `h` pawn. They have the least influence on the board, and there is something to be said for having that open file for the rook.
  
  As to which one to remove...if you followed the above advice and removed the `f` pawn of your opponent, I'd remove my own `a` pawn, so that they don't feel comfortable castling on either side of the board.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Your answer might be the best one, but anyway I'll give some arguments against it. Couldn't the half open f-file be useful for a white's attack? Perhaps he can play the Evan's gambit against `1...e5` and in some other openings also organize a quick attack against f7.  
  > **username_2**: There are definitely scenarios where it would be useful, yes.  But unless we can come up with something concrete, I'd think objectively starting without the f-pawn would put you at more of a disadvantage against best play than any of the others.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2013-11-27. Score: 1
  
  did the following experiment using Fritz
  
  1. setup the board at the start and removed one black pawn at a time (a7 --> h7).
  2. the computer evaluation was strongest (for white) when the f7 pawn was removed.
  
  similarly repeated the experiment for white. Again the evaluation was strongest for black when the f2 pawn was removed.
  
  What i found interesting was that there was significant first move advantage for white if the f7 pawn was removed for black and non F file pawn was removed for white.
  
  *Please note that these tests were done at very shallow depths.*
  
  I guess a strong chess player like yourself can make a better evaluation of these tests.
  
  
  ---
  
  