Middlegame Understanding - Stonewall Structures

GM Romanov's Blueprint for Stonewall Mastery

The Stonewall structure has long divided the chess world. Critics dismiss it as rigid, even passive. Advocates see something deeper: a strategic laboratory where pawn tension, piece coordination, and long-term planning converge into a coherent positional system. GM Evgeny Romanov belongs firmly to the second camp—and his new course, Middlegame Understanding - Stonewall Structures, makes a compelling case for why.

This is a middlegame course, not an opening repertoire. Romanov approaches the Stonewall not as a set of moves to memorize, but as a structural language to understand. The focus is on pure positional comprehension—teaching you to handle these formations from both sides of the board. By organizing the material around strategic ideas rather than color-specific plans, the course develops universal pattern recognition. Whether you're playing with or against the Stonewall, whether it arises from the Dutch Defense, Queen's Pawn structures, or transpositions, you'll have the conceptual tools to navigate it with clarity.

A Structural Foundation

Following his well-received debut for Modern Chess, Mastering the Maroczy Bind: Strategic Foundations and Deep Plans, Romanov continues his structural approach to middlegame education. Where the Maroczy course explored the tension between space and flexibility, the Stonewall material examines how seemingly static pawn chains can become dynamic weapons. Both courses share a philosophy: teach the principles, and the moves will follow.

The technical framework is built for depth:

9 core sub-structures — the essential pawn formations that define the Stonewall family
7 thematic chapters — each targeting a specific strategic concept
21 annotated model game files — containing multiple instructive examples and patterns
25 test positions — designed to challenge your decision-making in practical scenarios

Each model game file functions as a curated collection of strategic ideas, often showing the same positions from both perspectives to develop flexibility and pattern recognition. This repetition across different contexts is deliberate: it's how positional understanding becomes intuition.

For Players Who Think in Plans

If you're drawn to positions where structure dictates strategy, where piece placement follows from pawn formations, and where patience is rewarded with long-term pressure, this course offers a framework for that kind of chess. Romanov's presentation is precise, instructive, and rooted in high-level practice—the kind of material that sharpens your positional sense while expanding your opening options.

SAMPLE CHAPTER

Chapter 1.1 - White delays c4 – Trompovsky Style *

A80 ? 2025.??.?? [GM Evgeny Romanov]

In this example we will see interesting positions which arise with Black's double pawns on f6 and f5. Unlike the Trompowsky opening, the black knight does not have the f6-square to convert to e4. White can attack on the kingside by h3-g4, with pieces (after h4, Qf3, Nf4) or in the center (c4-d5) . Let's look at these plans in more detail. 1. d4 f5 2. ♘c3 ♘f6 3. ♗g5 d5 4. ♗xf6 exf6 The basic structure of this chapter. White has a long-term advantage due to the flexible pawn structure, but Black's position is very secure. The game is complex and maneuverable. 5. e3 c6

( 5… ♗e6 6. ♗d3

( In the next game, an unusual symmetrical pawn structure has appeared. 6. ♘ge2 ♗d6 7. ♘f4 ♗xf4 8. exf4 Both players have double f-pawns. White is generally slightly better. 8… c6 9. g3 ♘d7 10. ♗g2 ♘b6 11. O-O O-O 12. ♕d3 ♘c4 13. b3 ♘d6 14. ♘d1 a5 15. a4 ♕b6 16. ♘e3 ♕a6 17. ♕xa6 ♖xa6 18. ♖fd1 ♖d8 19. ♖ac1 White is preparing the showdown of the game in the center. Black had to stand and wait, preventing White's plans. 19… b5?! It's an unfortunate moment for activity. Black is not better on the queenside, so after b5 his position deteriorates.

( 19… ♔f7 20. c4⁺₌ )

( 19… ♖b6!? stopping c4 20. h4 ♔f7 21. ♗f1⁺₌ still better for White )

20. axb5 ♘xb5 21. c4 ♘c7 22. ♖a1 dxc4 23. bxc4⁺₌ As a result, the showdown turned out to be in favor of White. The black pawns are quite weak. White had a big advantage in the game, but then he made some mistakes and lost. 0-1 (81) Granda Zuniga,J (2646) -L'Ami,E (2605) Reykjavik 2015 )

6… g6

( In this game, I liked how well Black took control of the center and positioned his pieces. 6… ♘c6 7. a3 ♕d7 8. ♘f3 ♗d6 9. ♘b5 ♗e7 10. O-O ♘d8! A strong decision. In such a structure, the knight is best positioned on e4. 11. ♘c3 ♘f7 12. ♘e2 ♘d6⇄ 13. b3 preparing at least some counterplay 13… O-O 14. ♘f4 ♗f7 Black has an excellent position, full control over the center, and can play both kingside and queenside 15. ♕e2?? Just a terrible blunder

( looks a bit strange, but computer says that White has some compensation here. 15. c4 dxc4 16. bxc4 ♘xc4 17. ♕c2 ♘d6 18. d5₌^∞ )

( Computer suggestion is 15. ♘d2 b5!?

( 15… a5 16. c4⁺₌ )

16. c3 a5 17. a4 c6 18. ♕c2 ♘e4∞ with a complex game )

15… g5! 16. ♘xd5 ♗xd5 17. c4 ♗e4 18. c5 ♗xd3 19. ♕xd3 ♘e4-+ 0-1 (40) Yermolinsky,A (2650) -Kindermann,S (2570) Groningen 1997 )

( In this game, White carried out an excellent plan and gained the initiative. 6… ♕d7 7. ♘ge2 h5 8. a3 g6 9. O-O ♗h6 10. b3!? looking for c4 advance 10… ♘c6 11. ♘a4! b6 12. c4⁺₌ ♘e7 13. ♘ac3

( 13. c5 was better 13… ♔f7 14. b4± ♔g7 15. ♘ac3 g5 16. f4! and Black does not have any counterplay )

13… O-O 14. ♕c2 c6 15. ♖ac1 White also had better play, but Black could create counterplay. 15… dxc4 16. ♗xc4 ♗xc4 17. bxc4 h4 18. h3 g5 19. d5! An attack on the flank must be answered by a blow to the center! White is better, he managed to bring the advantage to victory in the game. 19… c5 20. ♖cd1± 1-0 (38) Gupta,A (2645) -Sandipan,C (2573) Moscow 2017 )

7. ♕f3 c6 8. ♘ge2 ♘d7 In the next game, White carried out a typical Black's pawn attacking plan. How to play? 9. h3! ♕b6

( 9… ♗f7 was probably better, Black protects the g6-pawn in advance, so as not to be afraid of a bunch along the h-file. 10. g4 fxg4 11. hxg4 ♗d6 12. ♘f4 ♘f8 13. O-O-O ♕e7 14. e4⁺₌ anyway White breaks in the center, his position is better )

10. g4! ♕xb2? too optimistic

( 10… fxg4 11. hxg4 ♗f7 12. e4± )

11. ♖b1 ♕a3 12. gxf5 ♗f7 13. ♖xb7 ♗b4 14. O-O O-O-O 15. ♖xb4+- White wins quickly 15… ♕xb4 16. ♗a6+ ♔c7 17. ♖b1 ♕d6 18. ♖b7+ ♔c8 19. ♖b3+ ♔c7 20. ♖b7+ ♔c8 21. e4 ♘b8 22. ♘b5 cxb5 23. ♕c3+ ♘c6 24. e5 ♕c7 25. e6 1-0 (25) Browne,W (2545) -Byrne,R (2580) Mentor 1977. In this game, we looked at a very dangerous plan for Black. After trading on g4, Black loses control of the center. White opens the game with the move e4. In order not to fall apart immediately, Black must play very accurately. )

6. ♗d3 ♘a6 7. a3 ♘c7 We will see another important plan in this game. White is playing h4, he wants to play h5. His plan is to cut off the f5-pawn from the rest of the pawns and force the g6 move. Another idea is to move the knight to f4 if Black closes the kingside by g6-h5. In this case, the h4-pawn is also very well placed. 8. h4!? h5

( this line shows White's idea 8… ♗d6 9. ♕f3 g6 10. h5 and Black has many problems with his kingside )

9. ♘h3 g6 10. ♘f4 ♔f7 11. ♘ce2 ♘e6 The knight is well placed on f4. 12. c4!? It's a good idea, White has strengthened on the kingside and now he is opening up the center. 12… ♘xf4 13. ♘xf4 dxc4 14. ♗xc4+ ♔g7 15. ♖c1 a bit slow

( after an energetic 15. d5!? ♗d6

( 15… cxd5 16. ♗xd5⁺₌ )

16. dxc6 ♗xf4 17. ♕xd8 ♖xd8 18. exf4 bxc6 19. ♖d1⁺₌ The center was opening up and Black was still in trouble )

15… ♗d6 16. ♕f3 ♖e8 17. O-O ♗xf4 18. ♕xf4 ♗e6 19. ♗d3 a5⁺₌ White's delay allowed Black to complete his development and strengthen himself. White is still doing well, even in the endgame he still has pressure due to Black's poor structure. In the game, White still managed to win. 1-0 (73) Salov,V (2595) -Malaniuk,V (2520) Moscow 1988 Conclusion: In this chapter, we looked at unusual pawn structures. The positions that arise are very complex and maneuverable. White retains the initiative, but Black has a solid position. *