French Chess
Looking For French Chess ? Then This is Where You Want to Be
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 French Polynesia 227 MNH Chess s9032 $11.50 End Date: Monday May-21-2012 0:08:47 PDT Buy It Now for only: $11.50 |
 French Lardy Chess Set Sheesham 375 Deluxe Board $161.99 End Date: Monday May-21-2012 3:06:28 PDT Buy It Now for only: $161.99 |
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 Millennium Omega Model M123 French Talking Speaking Electronic Chess Computer $99.00 End Date: Monday May-21-2012 16:07:02 PDT Buy It Now for only: $99.00 |
 The Classical French by Tim Harding 1992 Paperback Chess Book Paperback $7.99 End Date: Monday May-21-2012 17:06:12 PDT Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 Le vampire de Ropraz French Edition By Jacques Chess $7.99 End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 5:52:43 PDT Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 French superbly inlaid Chess Board Table $449.00 End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 7:11:17 PDT Buy It Now for only: $449.00 |
 Rosewood Boxwood French Classic Chess Set Dark Rosewood Maple Veneer Board $198.95 End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 7:44:19 PDT Buy It Now for only: $198.95 |
 QUALITY FRENCH REGENCE REGENCY CHESS SET in box KNIGHTS with GLASS EYESPARIS $85.36 (5 Bids) End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 9:50:08 PDT |
 MARK OF WESTMINSTER WOODEN CHESS PIECES FRENCH KNIGHT 3 3 4 KINGS WEIGHTED $75.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 0:04:42 PDT Buy It Now for only: $75.00 |
 FRENCH NAVY CHESS Envois des Marraines by GERVESE Old $59.99 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 1:29:37 PDT |
 ROUSSEL French poet writer chess player vintage PHOTO $59.99 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 2:22:51 PDT |
 Boris Spassky Soviet French World Chess Champion pin $6.80 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 3:58:11 PDT Buy It Now for only: $6.80 |
 French Defence The Kingston Defence chess book $5.64 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 7:59:18 PDT |
 The French Defense for White Chess DVD by ChessLecturecom GM Jesse Kraai $12.99 (2 Bids) End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 9:13:01 PDT |
 French defence Tarrasch variation Batsford algebraic chess openings Raymond $9.81 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 14:06:47 PDT Buy It Now for only: $9.81 |
 8 Trends books on the French DefenseChess $16.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 16:16:41 PDT Buy It Now for only: $24.00 |
 3 Books on the French DefenseChess $30.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 16:16:41 PDT Buy It Now for only: $30.00 |
 4 King Pawn Books John NUNN The Pirc Moles French Winawer Bastsford Chess dgs $50.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 19:50:12 PDT Buy It Now for only: $85.00 |
 The Little Book of Chess Tips by Peter French $2.00 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 3:35:48 PDT Buy It Now for only: $2.00 |
 French Africa Maroc Gabon Liberia OLD MOD MU 500+ Items Sport Space Chess $31.88 (3 Bids) End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 11:14:06 PDT |
 French Lardy Padauk Chess Set $89.99 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 12:07:09 PDT Buy It Now for only: $89.99 |
 French Defence Tarrasch Variation Batsford CHESS book $16.99 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 12:35:36 PDT Buy It Now for only: $16.99 |
 24pcs Pre Design Metallic Black Gold Chess Pattern French False Nail Tip +Glue $4.89 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 12:40:48 PDT Buy It Now for only: $4.89 |
 world war I french chess set circa 1920 $40.00 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 13:30:51 PDT Buy It Now for only: $100.00 |
 Small Sheesham French Sapele Chess Set $64.95 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 13:41:18 PDT Buy It Now for only: $64.95 |
 Small Sheesham French Chess Set 14 Walnut Board $49.99 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 14:35:45 PDT Buy It Now for only: $49.99 |
 Saint Louis Crystal Chess Set Jeu DEchecs MIB Never used $3,800.00 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 7:09:09 PDT Buy It Now for only: $3,800.00 |
 Sheesham and Boxwood Chess Pieces with French Knight on Walnut and Maple Board $62.99 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 7:59:58 PDT Buy It Now for only: $62.99 |
 Sheesham Boxwood Chess Pieces w French Knight 3 King on Walnut Maple Board $58.99 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 8:00:05 PDT Buy It Now for only: $58.99 |
 French Lardy Chess Pieces on Padauk Maple Board $85.46 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 8:00:17 PDT Buy It Now for only: $85.46 |
 Sheesham and Boxwood French Knight Chess Pieces on Sapele and Maple Board $76.46 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 8:00:43 PDT Buy It Now for only: $76.46 |
 Ebony and Boxwood Chess Pieces French Knight Maple Board $152.96 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 8:02:01 PDT Buy It Now for only: $152.96 |
 Rosewood and Boxwood French Classic Chess Pieces on Mahogany and Maple Board $139.46 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 8:02:50 PDT Buy It Now for only: $139.46 |
 Black Boxwood French Knight Chess Set w Black Maple Veneer Board 375 King $152.96 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 8:55:32 PDT Buy It Now for only: $152.96 |
 French Lardy Chess Set Rosewood 375 Deluxe Board $188.99 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 16:11:48 PDT Buy It Now for only: $188.99 |
 French Lardy Chess Set Sheesham 325 Deluxe Board $143.99 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 16:11:57 PDT Buy It Now for only: $143.99 |
 French Lardy Chess Set Ebonized 375 Deluxe Board $170.99 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 16:12:16 PDT Buy It Now for only: $170.99 |
 Chuck Berry Golden Decade Vol 3 Sealed 2LP Gatefold French Press Chess Vogue $35.00 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 18:24:29 PDT Buy It Now for only: $35.00 |
 FRENCH SILVERPLATED CHRISTOFLE SILVER DISH HALLMARK OC WITH CHESS PIECE 5 W $31.95 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 18:31:25 PDT Buy It Now for only: $36.95 |
 FRENCH NAVY CHESS Envois des Marraines by GERVESE Old $59.99 End Date: Saturday May-26-2012 3:56:09 PDT Buy It Now for only: $59.99 |
 ROUSSEL French poet writer chess player vintage PHOTO $59.99 End Date: Saturday May-26-2012 7:19:53 PDT Buy It Now for only: $59.99 |
 Vintage 3M Staunton Design French Wood Chess Set $39.95 End Date: Saturday May-26-2012 7:36:47 PDT Buy It Now for only: $39.95 |
 French Winawer Poisoned Pawn Chess Book Eric Schiller $4.99 End Date: Saturday May-26-2012 7:50:24 PDT Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 Rosewood Boxwood French Classic Chess Set Mahogany Maple Veneer Board 375King $139.46 End Date: Saturday May-26-2012 12:34:44 PDT Buy It Now for only: $139.46 |
 Chess Books French Defense Advance Variation in German $25.00 End Date: Saturday May-26-2012 16:27:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: $25.00 |
 Mastering the French Batsford Chess Library Series New American Batsford Ches $70.64 End Date: Saturday May-26-2012 21:32:44 PDT Buy It Now for only: $70.64 |
 1992 Original Photo Yugoslavia Chess Match Boris Spassky Now A French Citizen $4.99 End Date: Sunday May-27-2012 5:28:29 PDT Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 The Advance Variation of the French Defense Chess Book $24.95 End Date: Sunday May-27-2012 11:30:32 PDT Buy It Now for only: $24.95 |
 FRENCH DEFENSE Chess Digest $3.99 End Date: Sunday May-27-2012 13:51:25 PDT |
 1970 Vintage 3M STAUNTON DESIGN FRENCH WOOD CHEST SET $40.00 End Date: Sunday May-27-2012 18:47:53 PDT Buy It Now for only: $40.00 |
 FRENCH MARKET CORNER SHELF $46.99 End Date: Sunday May-27-2012 18:54:02 PDT Buy It Now for only: $46.99 |
 FRENCH MARKET PLANT STANDS $59.99 End Date: Sunday May-27-2012 18:56:05 PDT Buy It Now for only: $59.99 |
 country french DIVIDER SCREEN $69.99 End Date: Sunday May-27-2012 18:56:38 PDT Buy It Now for only: $69.99 |
 FRENCH MARKET BAKERS RACK $69.99 End Date: Sunday May-27-2012 18:56:58 PDT Buy It Now for only: $69.99 |
 The Little Book of Chess Tips NEW by Peter French $8.94 End Date: Monday May-28-2012 2:35:17 PDT Buy It Now for only: $8.94 |
 WINNING WITH THE FRENCH DEFENSE by Silman CHESS BOOK $19.95 End Date: Monday May-28-2012 17:20:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: $19.95 |
 Sheesham and Boxwood Chess Pieces w French Knight on Sapele and Maple Board $73.99 End Date: Monday May-28-2012 18:03:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: $73.99 |
 Foxy Chess Openings The French by GM King part 2 VHS $7.99 End Date: Monday May-28-2012 19:36:55 PDT Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 Foxy Chess Openings The French by GM King part 1 VHS $7.99 End Date: Monday May-28-2012 19:38:10 PDT Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 Sheesham and Boxwood Chess Pieces with French Knight 3 King $30.99 End Date: Monday May-28-2012 20:21:41 PDT Buy It Now for only: $30.99 |
 French Lardy in Rosewood with Chess Case 375 King $179.99 End Date: Tuesday May-29-2012 17:01:16 PDT Buy It Now for only: $179.99 |
 French Staunton Rosewood and Boxwood Chess Pieces 3 3 4 King $85.46 End Date: Tuesday May-29-2012 18:20:15 PDT Buy It Now for only: $85.46 |
 French Lardy in Ebonized Boxwood Golden Rosewood with Walnut Board 275 $89.99 End Date: Tuesday May-29-2012 20:45:56 PDT Buy It Now for only: $89.99 |
 French Lardy in Ebonized Boxwood Golden Rosewood with Walnut Board 325 $107.99 End Date: Tuesday May-29-2012 20:48:35 PDT Buy It Now for only: $107.99 |
 THE ODYSSEY OF CHESS NEW CHESS HISTORY Book French $49.45 End Date: Wednesday May-30-2012 6:29:10 PDT Buy It Now for only: $49.45 |
 1950 CHEN YU Nail Polish French Ad Chess $9.99 End Date: Wednesday May-30-2012 6:38:15 PDT Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 New French Wood Shesham Chess Pieces with 3 3 4 King SKA510 $81.27 End Date: Wednesday May-30-2012 13:25:36 PDT Buy It Now for only: $81.27 |
 French Lardy Chess Set Sheesham 275 Deluxe Board $125.99 End Date: Wednesday May-30-2012 15:57:44 PDT Buy It Now for only: $125.99 |
 Sheesham French Sapele Chess Set $79.95 End Date: Wednesday May-30-2012 16:09:59 PDT Buy It Now for only: $79.95 |
 French 25 Wood Chess Pieces with 2 1 2 King in Rosewood SKA502 $82.63 End Date: Wednesday May-30-2012 17:19:08 PDT Buy It Now for only: $82.63 |
 French Wood Chess Pieces with 3 King in Sheesham SKA505 $74.27 End Date: Wednesday May-30-2012 17:35:01 PDT Buy It Now for only: $74.27 |
 Beating the French Batsford Chess Library Gary Lane $5.99 End Date: Wednesday May-30-2012 20:18:06 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.99 |
 Chess Explained The French NEW by Viacheslav Eingorn $25.90 End Date: Wednesday May-30-2012 22:21:38 PDT Buy It Now for only: $25.90 |
 MUDDY WATERS More Real Folk Blues French import LP on Chess records $14.94 End Date: Thursday May-31-2012 10:14:22 PDT Buy It Now for only: $14.94 |
 2008 SEGA BAKUGAN Battle Brawlers Board Game French English Strategy Chess $9.99 End Date: Thursday May-31-2012 19:45:50 PDT Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 British French Navy Theme Chess Set $63.99 End Date: Thursday May-31-2012 20:37:07 PDT Buy It Now for only: $63.99 |
 The Little Book of Chess Tips NEW by Peter French $5.88 End Date: Thursday May-31-2012 20:56:09 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.88 |
 The French Defence Chess $29.00 End Date: Thursday May-31-2012 21:46:57 PDT Buy It Now for only: $29.00 |
 RARE JOHN LEE HOOKER IN THE MOOD FRENCH 60S 7 CHESS $29.99 End Date: Friday Jun-1-2012 3:59:07 PDT Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
 c1910 AW FR KISTER SCHEIBE ALSBACH FRENCH COURT CHESS PLAYING COUPLE FIGURINE $650.00 End Date: Friday Jun-1-2012 18:39:28 PDT Buy It Now for only: $650.00 |
Chess Strategy: The Power of the Pawn
While it’s true that pawns are generally regarded as the least powerful on a chessboard, their role within the game should not be so easily dismissed. In fact, in a game like chess, where strategy is paramount, the use of pawns is quite often key to success. Indeed, it’s all a matter of understanding the power of the pawn and using it to one’s advantage. As the great French player Francois-Andre Danican Philidor (1726-95) once said, “The pawns are the soul of chess.â€
Keep ‘em Mobile
In chess, mobility equals power and for this reason, it’s not surprising that the pawn is deemed the weakest piece. Though there are eight per side, individual pawn power is limited by plodding forward movement and restricted capture ability. As a result, they may seem to be “in the way†of the real game.
However, pawns are somewhat deceptive in that regard. Though they may be weak as individual pieces, they have the potential to be much more when paired together or when working in combination with another piece. When playing chess, it’s important to keep in mind “pawn structure†for maximum effect. As a team or unit, pawns can indeed mobilize and make an impact.
Within the Rules
Rules dictate that a pawn can only move forward, one square at a time (with the exception of the opening move, which may be two squares). To capture a piece, a pawn can again only move one square – diagonally. Thus, across an 8x8 chessboard, the pawn is limited to the three squares directly in front of it. While this is clearly restrictive, the pawn’s power tends to increase as the endgame approaches. The fewer pieces on the board, the greater the pawn’s power.Â
In addition, when pawns are placed side by side, their power increases as well. Each pawn protects the other’s forward movement, as well as creates a barrier of sorts to the pieces behind them (e.g. the all-important king). Pawns also exert power at times by forcing other pieces to move around them, rather than through. Since mobility equals power in chess, the pawn’s ability to alter an opponent’s movement is most definitely part of its own power.
Speaking of which, a pawn is also the only piece on the board that can transform during a game. If a pawn makes it to the eighth rank – that is, the last row of the opposing side – then it can be “promoted†to any other piece, other than the king. This is called a “passed pawn†and the most common piece chosen is quite naturally, the most powerful: the queen. As writer James Mason (1849-1905) rightly observed, “Every pawn is a potential Queen.â€
Pawn Potential
And there, in a nutshell, is the power of the pawn: There’s more to it than meets the eye. This is not to say of course that pawns are equal in power to that of the queen or rook, only that the pawn can be more useful than one may think. The key to their power rests with their numbers and the strategic use of them during a game. Indeed, no pieces on a chessboard are expendable, including the dutiful pawn.
“The older I grow, the more I value pawns.†(Paul Keres, 1916-75)
About the Author
The author is the owner of Quality-Chess.net, an online site where you can browse through numerous chess related products including wood and metal chess pieces. http://www.quality-chess.net
