Pawn-chain base

A pawn chain is a diagonal series in which each pawn protects the next pawn farther forward. The base is the rearmost pawn in that series. Because no pawn in the chain stands behind it to provide pawn protection, it is often the easiest point to attack with pieces or a pawn break.

Attacking the base aims to remove support from the whole formation. If it falls, the next pawn may become the new base and a fresh target. The chain's direction also tends to show where its owner has more space: the tip points toward the side on which the pawns advanced, while the base remains on the more compressed side.

The base is not automatically weak. It may be well defended by the king or pieces, may advance out of danger, or may be impossible to reach. Sometimes it is better to attack the tip, exchange a defender, or cause a pawn-structure transformation. In a pawn wedge, identifying the base reveals what actually sustains the advanced tip.