Pawn Structures 101: chess middlegame concept

The four skeletons that drive every plan

Four shapes: doubled, isolated, hanging, majorities. Name the shape, the plan is half-written.

• Doubled pawn: trade it off, or own the file beside it.
• Isolated pawn: owner attacks, defender trades down.
• Hanging pawns: push one to lock, or trade them off.
• Majority: make your passed pawn before they make theirs.