What are weak squares in chess and how to identify them?

In this diagram you can already spot some weak squares. In Black's camp you'll discover a6, c6 and d6 as being weak squares. There are no pawns left to defend these squares. With pawns at b7 and c7, these squares weren't weak. You may have noticed that all of the squares behind the pawns are weak by default. read more

you identify the weak and strong squares, you'll notice that White may use the strong square f5, whereas Black has control over the d4-square. Let's take a look at the end of this game. read more

Sometimes, number of adjacent squares of the same color can become weak. This often happens when a bishop of that color gets captured and the remaining pawns are mostly on squares of the other color. When this situation occurs, the weakened squares are called a “weak square complex”. read more

To chessify Jane Austen, it is a truth universally acknowledged that all chess players in possession of a weak square are doomed to a miserable existence. The concept of weak squares appears rather straightforward: avoid creating them, but never fail to utilize them. read more

In this diagram you can already spot some weak squares. In Black's. camp you'll discover a6, c6 and d6 as being weak squares. There are no. pawns left to defend these squares. With pawns at b7 and c7, these. squares weren't weak. read more

When this situation occurs, the weakened squares are called a “weak square complex”. A typical weak square complex occurs after a fiachettoed bishop (say it was on g7—a black square) gets captured. The remaining pawns are on f7, g6, and h7—all white squares. Now nothing is defending the squares f6, g7, h6 (and perhaps even f8 and h8). Or maybe only the Black king is defending them. read more