Four Pawns Attack — Chess Opening Definition

Four Pawns Attack

Definition

The Four Pawns Attack is an ambitious opening system in which the side with the first move advances four connected pawns to the fourth rank as quickly as possible, building an enormous pawn phalanx that claims space and restricts the opponent’s pieces. It is most frequently associated with the King’s Indian Defence, but a cognate line exists in the Alekhine Defence and, less commonly, in a few other openings. The characteristic setup for White in the King’s Indian is:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4

Typical Move Orders

• King’s Indian Defence (KID)
  1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4
• Alekhine Defence
  1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4

Strategic Themes

• Space Advantage: The advanced pawns claim central and kingside territory, limiting Black’s mobility.
• Development Lag: Pushing four pawns so early means White’s piece development is delayed; if Black opens the position suddenly, White can be caught off guard.
• Dynamic Imbalance: White has more space and attacking chances; Black relies on pawn breaks (…c7–c5, …e7–e5, …f7–f5) and piece activity to undermine the center.
• Pawn Structure: Because the pawns stand side by side, exchanges often leave isolated or hanging pawns that can become targets.

How It Is Used

Players adopt the Four Pawns Attack when they want to take the initiative from move one and steer the game toward sharp, tactical waters. It is a favorite of attacking players who are comfortable with asymmetrical positions and willing to accept structural weaknesses in exchange for space and initiative.

Historical Significance

• The line was championed by Frank Marshall and Rudolf Spielmann in the 1920s, and later examined deeply by Soviet theorists such as Isaac Boleslavsky and Alexander Kotov.
• In the 1950s it became a testing ground for the then-new concept of dynamic counterplay in the King’s Indian, with players like David Bronstein demonstrating Black’s resources.
• Top grandmasters—among them Garry Kasparov, Veselin Topalov, and Hikaru Nakamura—have used the Four Pawns as an occasional surprise weapon.
• Modern engines consider the line objectively risky for White, but it remains popular at club level and in rapid & blitz because of the practical pressure it exerts.

Illustrative King’s Indian Example

A well-known fragment showing typical ideas:

Key moments:

1. After 5.f4 O-O 6.Nf3 c5! Black strikes at the pawn chain immediately.
2. 11…Re8 prepares the thematic break …e6–e5.
3. 15…Ng4 shows how Black’s pieces spring to life once the center loosens.

Illustrative Alekhine Example

Here too White enjoys a powerful pawn wedge (e5–d4–c4–f4), while Black hopes that the overextended center will eventually collapse under pressure from …c5 and …f6.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• The term Four Pawns Attack is sometimes jokingly called the Five Pawns Attack because after d4-d5 and e4-e5 White often pushes the h-pawn up the board as well!
• In the mid-1990s, Garry Kasparov studied the variation deeply with computers and concluded that it was objectively suspect but practically dangerous; he nonetheless employed it successfully against strong engines in training.
• Statistically, the Four Pawns tends to produce decisive results—draws are rarer than in most mainstream openings, reflecting its sharp, double-edged nature.

When to Play (and When to Avoid) the Four Pawns Attack

• Play it if you enjoy open tactical battles, are comfortable with long-term pawn weaknesses, and want to catch theoretically well-prepared opponents off guard.
• Avoid it if you prefer solid, positional structures, or if you face an opponent known for encyclopedic preparation in sharp King’s Indian lines—you may find yourself walking into deep home-laboratory!