Understanding Passed Pawns | Principles of Chess Endgames | GM Naroditsky

In this video, we examine the first of several crucial concepts that will serve as the basis for understanding pawn endgames: passed pawns. After clarifying the definition, we consider the various ways of creating passed pawns, and identify five special types of passers that frequently occur in pawn endgames. Finally, we hammer home and contextualize this theoretical knowledge through a few well-selected examples from chess practice.

Note: In the “avoid the Deep Freeze” example, I forgot to share the correct move! Rather than playing 1.g3, White first has to play 1.h3 (stopping …g4), then 2.g3, and finally 3.h4.

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605 Comments

  1. Wonderful video, I think Danya will be the true icon of teaching chess. My brother does not even play chess but he enjoys learning from you. Keep up! I will be waiting for the series of mating attacks.

  2. I love watching these lessons. Love your work, especially being able to watch a chess lesson from a GM with this clear speaking and easy to understand is so perfect. Much love and respect! 🖤

  3. "trousers" I'm pretty sure you mean wide peepos 🤔

  4. Amazing video thanks a lot Daniel. You are an great human being😍

  5. Ask yourself why this guy is 2616 and not close to a world champion.

  6. After the great Petrosian debacle it seems that content creators like to create "pp" rules. You have PPP, Levy has PP on the PP.

  7. Congratulations!! I wacht it all!! Than you very much, you are one of my favorite grandmasters 🙂 🙂

  8. These videos are going to be a great resource for anyone wanting to learn the endgame in depth. The fact that these are put on a platform for absolutely no cost is commendable!
    Kudos to GM Daniel Naroditsky for this amazing work

  9. This was so clearly explained. I’m already seeing dividends.

  10. Funny how he makes the lesson feel interactive, I’m like a kid watching Dora the Explorer. I got home from work and he’s like “pause the video and try to find it for yourself” and I said out loud “Sorry Danya I can’t right now I’m just so exhausted.” 🤦‍♂️

  11. Daniel, you're one of the easiest to understand instructors that I've never seen, I thank you very much for sharing this type of content. I honestly feel like I understand chess a little better everytime I watch one of your videos.

  12. I've been keeping this series of videos aside for quite some time, and finally took the time to dive into it. It is great content, thanks a lot for putting all the work for this and sharing with all of us 💙 this is super high quality content, super useful, and super valuable. And this first video alone already gave me a better understanding of some endgame concepts and positions, I played an endgame right after that and had the feeling I understood a lot more what was happening on the board (and I won it!)

  13. I could easily watch one hour of this😍
    So the time is no a problem danya
    We love this content

  14. These videos from Daniel are insanely good. The fact that he frequently asks the viewers to solve small problems ensures that we don't become passive viewers – just great!

  15. I received “passed pawns” as a lesson and insight on the green site. Searched it on YouTube, much much much better than the sites lessons. Thank you. Pawn play is hard for me to comprehend at 1000 rapid rating

  16. Super Grand Master Naro I just want to say that 45min-1hr videos are perfect, do not get discouraged about the length of your videos as I believe I speak for most when I say that the more info we as beginner/intermediate players can get from someone of your caliber the better, always so professional and informative in ways players of all levels can understand, much obliged for what you provide to us mere mortals in the chess world

  17. Very nice explanation and an amazing series. Thank you

  18. These end games videos are a blessing, you're the best

  19. You’re THE best chess teacher, hands down. The pacing is perfect. The materials are valuable and immediately applicable. The way you teach is so engaging. Thank you thank you thank YOU for taking the time teaching us chess.

  20. Thank you so much for providing this material to us lesser mortals 🙂 You are the best, Danya!

  21. day one of trying to get danya to notice me <3 (lichess rating: 1191)

  22. I'm from Kenya (I don't have access to coaches and clubs), and these videos are just pure gold

  23. In the world of money matters the most…there's still exists guys like Daniel… #respect

  24. Perfect videos here. I have seen them several times and taking notes. MORE of this Daniel!! 🙂

  25. This is gold. Excellent content. Thank you for this series.

  26. In order to be able to determine whether pawns that can be taken en passant are passed (I propose that they shouldn't be), I propose the following definition of a passed pawn: Consider a pawn and remove every piece from the board, except those pawns that are equally or further advanced and on the same or an adjacent file. If the given pawn may move forward until the edge of the board, without (1) being taken by the opposing side on any subsequent move or (2) being blockaded by any pawn (including a pawn of the same side) on any subsequent move, it is passed. Otherwise, it is not passed.

    This definition almost captures the notion that a passed pawn has "passed" all dangers that emanate from any other pawns; a pawn could still become "unpassed" if an enemy pawn captures a pawn on a neighbouring file and thus moves towards it. Come to think of it, perhaps the definition should take this into account too. Perhaps this notion also merits a new term.

  27. You somehow said that it takes a pawn majority to create a passed pawn, but it's also possible to create a passer when you have 3 vs 3 pawns, and if your own pawns are already advanced to the 5th rank, this wins you the game. So making passed pawns means to eliminate or pass by those pawns that prevent your own pawn from being passed, even if this means creating a passed pawn for your opponent.

  28. Thankyou Danya for thid amazing free illustration

  29. Drink every time Danya says concept in the intro and enjoy the rest of the video in style

  30. So great for this top notch educational content

  31. Daniel you are such a brilliant teacher
    Please dont stop
    Make these types of videos

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