That pawn chain was an awfully tempting target and would take- "Fool!"

Nimzowitsch considered pawn chains extensively, and recommended attacking the enemy pawn chain at its base.

However, a "bad" bishop need not always be a weakness, especially if it is outside its own pawn chains.

Milov's 8 d6 was rare, as Black usually plays 8 Bc5, positioning the dark-square bishop outside his pawn chain.

Black can undermine the white pawn chain with an immediate c7-c5 and perhaps a later f7-f6.

Moreover, after 5 d6, the base of Black's pawn chain, the d6 pawn, can also become a weakness.

- blocked pawn chains: pieces are forced to go one side or the other.

Many middlegames are played around blocked or semi-blocked pawn chains.

The pawn chains are decisive in deciding the players' plans.

The reason for this is that the black d6 pawn and the white e4 pawn are the bases of their pawn chains.