--- title: "Weak square in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/weak-square.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/weak-square" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "A weak square, also called a hole, is a square that a player's own pawns can no longer guard. A weak square is one that you can no longer defend with a pawn." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/outpost.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/weak-pawn.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/color-complex.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pawn-chain.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/hanging-pawns.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/strategy.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Weak square in chess > **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md. A weak square, also called a hole, is a square that a player's own pawns can no longer guard. A weak square is one that you can no longer defend with a pawn. A weak square, also called a hole, is a square that a player's own pawns can no longer guard, so an enemy piece can settle there without being challenged by a pawn. A weak [square](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/square.md) is one that you can no longer defend with a pawn. Pawns only move forward, so once the pawns on the neighboring files have advanced or disappeared, nothing behind them can come back to cover the square. If the square also lies in your half of the board, an enemy piece, most often a [knight](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md), can land there and stay. Why it matters: a piece on a weak square is hard to dislodge, and it often attacks other pawns and pieces from a safe post. The weakness also tends to grow, since the defender has to keep pieces nearby to watch the square. To exploit one, find the square, then route a piece to it. Check that your own piece will be protected, ideally by a pawn, which turns the square into an [outpost](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/outpost.md). To avoid creating weaknesses, think twice before moving pawns on the files next to important central squares, and trade off the attacking piece when the opportunity arises. The classic way to create one by accident is to push a pawn for a short-term gain, such as space or a quick attack, without noticing that it gives up control of a square that the opponent can use for the rest of the game. Also called: hole. ## Example position Black's pawns stand on d6 and e5 and there is no black c-pawn, so no black pawn can ever cover d5 again: the e-pawn has already moved past it. White's knight can jump to d5, where the e4 pawn supports it. Position (FEN): `r4rk1/1p3ppp/p2p4/4p3/4P3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 1` It sits close to [Najdorf structure](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/najdorf-structure.md). The Sicilian Najdorf pawn setup after ...a6 and ...e5, with Black pawns on a6, d6 and e5 against White's e4, which gives Black a firm grip on d4 but leaves a hole on d5 and a backward d6 pawn. Compare it with [Principle of two weaknesses](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/principle-of-two-weaknesses.md). The principle of two weaknesses holds that one weakness can usually be defended, so the attacker creates or finds a second weakness far away, forcing the defender's pieces to cover both and eventually fail at one. It sits close to [Static advantage](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/static-advantage.md). A static advantage is a lasting feature of a position, such as a better pawn structure, a protected outpost, the bishop pair or a safer king, that does not vanish in a few moves and can be exploited slowly. Where "Weak square" fits your own play is easier to judge with a coach reading your games; the [first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md) is a paid one-on-one review that ends in a written plan. ## Related terms - [Outpost](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/outpost.md) - [Weak pawn](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/weak-pawn.md) - [Knight](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md) - [Color complex](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/color-complex.md) - [Pawn chain](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pawn-chain.md) - [Hanging pawns](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/hanging-pawns.md) ## Guides that go further - [How to choose a chess coach](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-choose-a-chess-coach.md): What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid. - [How much does chess coaching cost?](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coaching-cost.md): Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each. - [The first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md): A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li. [Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com. ## Related - [Outpost in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/outpost.md) - [Weak pawn in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/weak-pawn.md) - [Knight in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md) - [Color complex in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/color-complex.md) - [Pawn chain in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pawn-chain.md) - [Hanging pawns in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/hanging-pawns.md) - [Chess terms: Strategy](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/strategy.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)