Second front

A second front appears when the defender has contained the main pressure and the attacker creates meaningful play elsewhere. It may arise on the opposite side of the board, through a central pawn advance that attacks the opposing formation, along a newly cleared vertical line for rooks or the queen, or against a second target that offers an entry route. The new operation must demand real defensive resources.

Its purpose is to stretch the opposing pieces. A defense may be sufficient to protect one pawn or seal one entry point, yet become overloaded when it must cover two distant areas. A second front is therefore a practical way to apply the principle of two weaknesses.

A pawn move on the other side of the board is not automatically a second front. The operation must be prepared and connected to the rest of the position. A regrouping, a sequence that redirects several pieces, may be needed to transfer a queen, rook, or king. If opening the front lets the opponent create threats faster than your own attack, the plan can backfire.