Error Management Guide:
Part of the Beginner's Chess Guide (Section 3)
Error Management Guide
[Overextension]
Overextension
As each Pawn advances from its respective starting square, "channels", or "paths", into their own side's back row, begin to open ... At first, these paths open up along the diagonals. But, as soon as Pawns begin to get captured, you'll immeditately see access points open through the Files.
It can't be helped; paths will open up, as a natural by-product of developing your army - you need to open these paths in order to bring out your Bishops, for instance and rearrange your troops into a more effective, defensive structure, in readiness for the coming Middlegame battle.
Overextension happens when a player spits their Pawns out into the middle of the Board - and beyond - without considering the gaping holes, widening behind them.
Instead of leaving open the bare-minimum amount of gaps, for Pieces that need clear paths to emerge; these Overextended Pawns can leave far bigger gaps than necessary, exposing the King and Major Pieces to unnecessary risk (or, at least, premature risk).
Go observe the different text-book Openings and you'll see how Pieces, such as the Knight(s), are developed to guard different territorial regions and protect the Pawns, until further Pawns can be advanced to protect their own kind (which frees the Pieces to perform other tasks, if/when needed).
Moving On: Overloading (Page 4).
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