Connected Pawns - Connected Passed Pawns

Connected Passed Pawns

From Burgess
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
White to move wins after 1.c6

There is a saying that two connected passed pawns on the sixth rank are stronger than a rook. This is true if the other side has nothing but a rook to defend against the pawns (and the defender cannot immediately capture one of the pawns). In this diagram, White wins:

1. c6 Rd3 (2... Rc3 is similar)
2. c7 (2. d7 followed by 3. c7 also wins)
2... Rc3
3. d7

and one of the pawns will promote (Burgess 2009:94).

Read more about this topic:  Connected Pawns

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