Subtitled “An Essential Guide to Pawn Structures,” this book is reminiscent of Alexander Baburin’s 1998 Batsford title Winning Pawn Structures. Sokolov examines the four most important types of pawn structure and writes that “he tried, as much as possible, to
“1. systematize the thematic plans used and give clear explanations of them, and
“2. incorporate the ideas of the featured opening variation into the pawn structure that ensues.”
He notes that a superior strategic understanding of a given structure allows one to successfully capitalize on your opening preparation as well as rebound from an inferior position. His aim is
“1. to provide a complete guide for the club player;
“2. through a process of serious analysis of the material in this book, to also give the club player a reasonably accurate feeling as to which particular positions suit him and which do not; and
“3. to give the club player who takes his time for a thorough study of this book, new strategic and also practical opening knowledge, after which he will definitely see a clear improvement in his results.”
The material is divided into four chapters: Doubled Pawns, Isolated Pawns, Hanging Pawns, and Pawn Majority in the Center. Not only is this a book you should own, it is one you should
use. You can
download a PDF file with a sample from the book from the NIC website.