Why is the pincer formation so good in war?



Imagine you are in a fight. One person is attacking you from the front. Two other persons are attacking you from two different sides. You must feel very vulnerable.

In a war, there are many people involved. Each flank can defend themselves. But still, a pincer formation makes the enemy feel encircled.  The pincer formation makes the fighting structure more complex. That often helps those with more battle experiences and better training. A pincer formation also increases the number of contacts in a fight. That is often advantageous to those with greater fighting powers.

In ancient time, some countries have standing armies. Their soldiers are professionals. These armies can often execute complex strategies effectively. Other armies are drafted from peasants with little training. Their ability to engage in complex maneuvers is lower. Military commanders often adopt strategies based on the conditions of their own armies and their opponents.