Explore the hedgehog pawn formation (a6-b6-d6-e6) from real Lichess games. Black accepts cramped space for elastic, counterattacking play with ...b5 and ...d5 breaks.
The hedgehog — black pawns on a6, b6, d6, and e6 — is a flexible, ultra-modern setup popularized in the late 20th century. Black accepts a small spatial concession to maintain elastic structure, awaiting the right moment to break with ...b5 or ...d5. The setup arises from the Sicilian Kan, Symmetrical English, and several Queen's Indian lines. White must convert their space advantage before Black's "spikes" emerge.