Connected pawns

abcdefgh
8
a5 white pawn
b5 white pawn
e5 white pawn
h5 white pawn
c4 white pawn
g4 white pawn
e3 white pawn
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
White's pawns on the a-, b-, and c-files, as well as on the g- and h-files, are connected.

In chess, connected pawns are two or more pawns of the same color on adjacent files, as distinct from isolated pawns. These pawns are instrumental in creating pawn structure because, when diagonally adjacent, like the two rightmost white pawns, they form a pawn chain, where the pawn behind protects the one in front. When attacking these chains, the weak spot is the backmost pawn because it is not protected by any other pawn.[1][2]