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How to play with an IQP

ByDrDave

If you have an Isolated Queen’s Pawn:

  • You have a bit more space
    • So don’t swap off
  • You can get from side to side a bit more easily
    • So you might get an attack going
  • You have a bit of an outpost on e5
    • So stick a Knight there
  • Your Pawn will always need protecting by a piece
    • Which is sort of OK if it’s one piece out of seven
    • but not if it’s one out of two
    • So, really don’t swap off into an endgame
    • and don’t make any other weaknesses if you do get to an endgame
  • Your more active pieces will benefit from open lines
    • If you get a chance to play d4-d5, do it!

Botvinnik does all this so clearly in the following game:

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