What is Weak square in chess?
A square that cannot be defended by a friendly pawn, making it vulnerable to enemy occupation.
Once an enemy piece (especially a knight) settles on a weak square, it can be very hard to dislodge. Outposts are the attacking side's version of the same idea.
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- HoleA square in your position that your own pawns can never defend, creating a permanent weakness.
- Isolated pawnA pawn with no friendly pawns on the adjacent files.
- Doubled pawnsTwo friendly pawns stacked on the same file.
- Backward pawnA pawn that can't advance because the squares ahead are controlled by the opponent, and can't be supported by its own pawns.
- Passed pawnA pawn with no enemy pawns able to block or capture it on its way to promotion.
- Pawn chainA diagonal line of pawns where each pawn defends the one in front of it.