However, after 27 ... b6 28 Bb3, he has weakened his pawn formation on the c file.

Nevertheless, Black sees to the development of his queen bishop outside his pawn formation with 5 Bf5.

Topalov did not perceive the dangers to his pawn formation until it was too late.

Here, White pits his superior pawn formation and rapid development against Black's bishop pair.

Gallagher's 18 f5 would have been quite strong if he had kept his central pawn formation intact.

However, the pawn formation does determine the overall strategies of the players to a large extent, even if arising from unrelated openings.

White must act swiftly, as Karpov does with 10 e6 to break up the black pawn formation before the counterattack can gain momentum.

Finegold should have played 12 Nd2, kept a flexible pawn formation and created the chance for stepped-up pressure against the black king position with 13 f4.

They were equally intuitive in working toward getting the pawn formation that best accommodated their preferred piece choices.

But the wraparound pawn formation they found themselves in stultified piece activity.