Open file

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

The e file (marked with crosses) is an open file since there are no pawns on it. Rooks can go on the dotted squares.

An open file in chess is a file with no pawns of either color on it. In the diagram, the e-file is an open file. An open file can provide a line of attack for a rook or queen. Having rooks and/or queens on open files and/or half-open files is considered an advantage as it allows one to attack more easily, as the rook or queen can go down the file and penetrate the opposing position. The objective of a rook or queen on an open file is to reach the seventh or eighth rank for White and first or second for Black. Controlling the seventh rank is generally worth at least a pawn, as most of the opposing pawns reside there. Many games are decided based on this strategy.

See also

• half-open file

References

• Template:Harvard reference