Cannot decide on which English chess term is correct for when a friendly pawn stands in the bishop's way

I would use the word blocks, as was used in an answer on the Chess Stack Exchange:

This would not be the case in the Stonewall where the e3 pawn blocks the Rook's activity.

Another word that could be used, I suppose – although it might be more of a stretch – is stymies:

the pawn stymies the bishop

The word stymie means "prevent or hinder the progress of” (NOAD). It’s originally a golfing term, used to describe when prevent or hinder the progress of the situation on the green where a ball obstructs the shot of another player, and the word can be used as a noun or a verb.

At least one chess book uses this word:

Black can stymie White by moving the rook-pawn from a7 to a5.

(from Weapons of Chess: An Omnibus of Chess Strategies by Bruce Pandolfini)


Well, you asked for correct, so you should know that all the translations you provided were standard English. I have played chess for twenty years and am quite sure there is no term for said situation. If there is, it’s very rare. Because of such, in English, there is no better word in terms of correctness. Some have particular origins, are phrases or single words but more abstract, etc. To block is indeed the generic word but as you see from the verb to stymie there are even more precise synonyms. Any of them would work and would be correct, of that I am one hundred percent certain. If you want to include style, block would not be the verb to go with, but if you want to include the largest possible audience, block is your best bet.