In short: A pawn left behind the pawns on the files next to it. No pawn of its own can protect it, and the square in front of it is guarded by an enemy pawn.
Pawns protect each other diagonally from behind. Once the pawns on the files next to it have moved ahead, none of them can protect the one left behind any longer. If the square in front of it is also guarded by an enemy pawn, it can't move forward either. Then it is called backward.
The weaknesses
- It has to be protected by pieces. And pieces guarding a pawn do nothing else.
- The square in front of it becomes an outpost. No pawn can chase away a piece standing there. Read more about outposts.
- It often stands on a half-open file. There the opponent's rooks can attack it from straight ahead; see open and half-open files.
One more example
The same thing can happen to White. Here the pawns on b4 and d4 have moved ahead, and c3 has been left behind. Black has put a knight on c4, the square the pawn can never reach.
Not always a drawback
A backward pawn is a weakness, but it can be worth the price. In several openings Black willingly accepts a backward pawn on d6, in return for active play and control of important squares. As long as the pawn can be defended and the opponent isn't allowed to put a piece on the square in front of it, it can hold for a long time.
A common way to give your opponent a backward pawn is a minority attack. Read more about isolated pawns and doubled pawns.
Frequently asked questions
Is a backward pawn always weak?
No. It is weakest on a half-open file, where the opponent's rooks can attack it, and when the square in front of it is a good spot for an enemy piece. In some openings Black willingly accepts a backward pawn on d6 to get active play.
How is it different from an isolated pawn?
An isolated pawn has no friendly pawns at all on the files next to it. A backward pawn has neighbors, but they have moved ahead and can no longer protect it.
Updated October 31, 2026