open files

here are three positions :

https://lichess.org/analysis/r1qbr1k1/3n1p1n/p2p2p1/2pPp3/b1P1P3/P1Q2NPP/1R1B1N2/1R3BK1_w_--0_1?color=white
https://lichess.org/analysis/2k1r2r/pppq4/2nb1pp1/3p1n2/3P1P1p/2PQ3P/PP1BN1PN/2KR1R2_b--0_1?color=white
https://lichess.org/analysis/1kq3r1/3bbp2/p1npp1p1/1p4P1/4PP2/1PN1BB2/1PP4Q/1K5R_w-_-_0_1?color=white

a chess guide says these positions shows open line possession advantage. i am a bit slow and continuations in all cases are so complicated that i can not state that the outcomes of the game directly follow from controlling an open file. can anyone convince me, or is this incurable? provide a few more simple examples of open file advantage. if these examples come from your own games, that would be truly excellent.

here are three positions : https://lichess.org/analysis/r1qbr1k1/3n1p1n/p2p2p1/2pPp3/b1P1P3/P1Q2NPP/1R1B1N2/1R3BK1_w_-_-_0_1?color=white https://lichess.org/analysis/2k1r2r/pppq4/2nb1pp1/3p1n2/3P1P1p/2PQ3P/PP1BN1PN/2KR1R2_b_-_-_0_1?color=white https://lichess.org/analysis/1kq3r1/3bbp2/p1npp1p1/1p4P1/4PP2/1PN1BB2/1PP4Q/1K5R_w_-_-_0_1?color=white a chess guide says these positions shows open line possession advantage. i am a bit slow and continuations in all cases are so complicated that i can not state that the outcomes of the game directly follow from controlling an open file. can anyone convince me, or is this incurable? provide a few more simple examples of open file advantage. if these examples come from your own games, that would be truly excellent.

tpr

"a chess guide says these positions shows open line possession advantage" * Yes

"i can not state that the outcomes of the game directly follow from controlling an open file"

Rooks are the most powerful pieces after the queen, so a rook on an open file is a huge advantage.

"can anyone convince me"
Your 3rd position stems from this game

https://lichess.org/wTUvDjn5#60

"provide a few more simple examples of open file advantage"

Here is a blog on it based on Nimzovich' My System:
https://lichess.org/@/CaseyReese/blog/on-exchanges-open-files-and-the-seventh-and-eighth-ranks/VyINd1kO

"a chess guide says these positions shows open line possession advantage" * Yes "i can not state that the outcomes of the game directly follow from controlling an open file" * Rooks are the most powerful pieces after the queen, so a rook on an open file is a huge advantage. "can anyone convince me" Your 3rd position stems from this game https://lichess.org/wTUvDjn5#60 "provide a few more simple examples of open file advantage" * Here is a blog on it based on Nimzovich' My System: https://lichess.org/@/CaseyReese/blog/on-exchanges-open-files-and-the-seventh-and-eighth-ranks/VyINd1kO

CM Sarg0n

Actually the rooks need entry squares. Without access the posession of an open file is an fruitless task. The other party can even use their rook somewhere else and is not obliged to exchange.

kindaspongey edited

Perhaps, it would help to look at this game from Fred Reinfeld's 1953 book, The Complete Chessplayer:
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?gid=2666394

https://lichess.org/lCfQaeHJ

https[colon]//lichess[period]org/lCfQaeHJ
Reinfeld after 18 d5: "White closes the center, so as to avoid the possibility of any diversionary activity in that sector while he prosecutes his King-side attack."
Reinfeld after 23 Rh1: "At last the rook is on the open file. This has explosive potentialities, as will be seen."
Reinfeld after 23...Kg7: "Black tries to flee, but finds that it is too late. The threat was 24 Nxg6+ (fork plus pin), winning the exhange and a Pawn."
Reinfeld after 24 Nf5+: "!!"
Reinfeld after 24...gxf5: "There is no escape. If 24...Kh8, 25 Rxh7+!! Kxh7 26 Qh1+ Nh6 27 Qxh6+ and mate next move. Thus the open file takes its toll."
Reinfeld after 25 Rxh7+: "!!"
Reinfeld after 26...Nh6: "Equally disastrous is 26...Kg7 27 g6!"
Reinfeld after 1-0: "He is helpless against the further exploitation of the open file (30 Rh1#).
White's magnificent sacrificial combination effectively highlights the value of an open file."

Perhaps, this qualifies as an open-file game:

https://lichess.org/study/aVdQHxwx/jHDna5ZE

https[colon]//lichess[period]org/study/aVdQHxwx/jHDna5ZE

Perhaps, it would help to look at this game from Fred Reinfeld's 1953 book, The Complete Chessplayer: https://www.365chess.com/game.php?gid=2666394 https://lichess.org/lCfQaeHJ https[colon]//lichess[period]org/lCfQaeHJ Reinfeld after 18 d5: "White closes the center, so as to avoid the possibility of any diversionary activity in that sector while he prosecutes his King-side attack." Reinfeld after 23 Rh1: "At last the rook is on the open file. This has explosive potentialities, as will be seen." Reinfeld after 23...Kg7: "Black tries to flee, but finds that it is too late. The threat was 24 Nxg6+ (fork plus pin), winning the exhange and a Pawn." Reinfeld after 24 Nf5+: "!!" Reinfeld after 24...gxf5: "There is no escape. If 24...Kh8, 25 Rxh7+!! Kxh7 26 Qh1+ Nh6 27 Qxh6+ and mate next move. Thus the open file takes its toll." Reinfeld after 25 Rxh7+: "!!" Reinfeld after 26...Nh6: "Equally disastrous is 26...Kg7 27 g6!" Reinfeld after 1-0: "He is helpless against the further exploitation of the open file (30 Rh1#). White's magnificent sacrificial combination effectively highlights the value of an open file." Perhaps, this qualifies as an open-file game: https://lichess.org/study/aVdQHxwx/jHDna5ZE https[colon]//lichess[period]org/study/aVdQHxwx/jHDna5ZE

steel-apron

Rooks are the most powerful pieces after the queen, so a rook on an open file is a huge advantage.

i am not sure in word 'huge'

Your 3rd position stems from this game

where is this 'huge' advantage if Beliavsky did not see how to use it and made a mistake on 39th move?

Here is a blog on it based on Nimzovich' My System:
https://lichess.org/@/CaseyReese/blog/on-exchanges-open-files-and-the-seventh-and-eighth-ranks/VyINd1kO

thank you

> * Rooks are the most powerful pieces after the queen, so a rook on an open file is a huge advantage. i am not sure in word 'huge' > Your 3rd position stems from this game where is this 'huge' advantage if Beliavsky did not see how to use it and made a mistake on 39th move? > * Here is a blog on it based on Nimzovich' My System: > https://lichess.org/@/CaseyReese/blog/on-exchanges-open-files-and-the-seventh-and-eighth-ranks/VyINd1kO thank you

tpr

"Beliavsky did not see how to use it and made a mistake"

His 39th move was winning just the same.

"Beliavsky did not see how to use it and made a mistake" * His 39th move was winning just the same.

steel-apron edited

@kindaspongey said:

Perhaps, it would help to look at this game from Fred Reinfeld's 1953 book, The Complete Chessplayer:
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?gid=2666394
#1

here, the rook’s arrival on a half‐open file decided the game immediately. that’s tactics. but i want to feel what the strategic advantage of controlling open files really consists in.

Perhaps, this qualifies as an open-file game:
#2

nicely put, but it’s hardly worth counting on such positions arising in your own games — the players are simply on too different a level.

@kindaspongey said: > Perhaps, it would help to look at this game from Fred Reinfeld's 1953 book, The Complete Chessplayer: > https://www.365chess.com/game.php?gid=2666394 > #1 here, the rook’s arrival on a half‐open file decided the game immediately. that’s tactics. but i want to feel what the strategic advantage of controlling open files really consists in. > Perhaps, this qualifies as an open-file game: > #2 nicely put, but it’s hardly worth counting on such positions arising in your own games — the players are simply on too different a level.

steel-apron

@tpr said:

"Beliavsky did not see how to use it and made a mistake"

His 39th move was winning just the same.

Looks like you're right, here's a variation

[FEN "1k2qr2/1bb2p1R/p1np1Qp1/1p4P1/4P3/1P1N1B2/1PP5/1K4B1 b - - 2 39"]

... Qe7 40. Qf4 Ka8 41. Bg2 Bb8 42. Bf2 Ba7 43. Bg3 Bb8 44. Qd2 Ba7 45.
Ka2 Qe6 46. c3 Ne5 47. Nf4 Qd7 48. Nd5 Bc6 49. Qf4 Bxd5 50. exd5 Qe7 51.
Rh1 Bc5 52. Re1 f5 53. gxf6 Qxf6 54. Qh6 g5 55. Qh5 Qh8 56. Qxh8 Rxh8 57.
b4 Bf2 58. Bxe5 dxe5 59. Rxe5 Kb8 60. Re6 Bg3 61. Rxa6 Rh2 62. Bf3 Kc7 63.
Rc6+ Kb7 64. Rg6 Rf2 65. Be4 Kc7 66. Rxg5 Bh4 67. Rg8 Rf4 68. Bd3 Kd6 69.
Bxb5 Kxd5 70. c4+ Ke6 *

i ran an engine vs. engine match at 107 positions per move. but again, two questions arise: how do you see so clearly (more precisely, why does the engine show +1 when the position is actually winning — that interests me a lot), and what does the open file have to do with it when there are also open diagonals, weak squares, and who knows what else?

@tpr said: > "Beliavsky did not see how to use it and made a mistake" > * His 39th move was winning just the same. Looks like you're right, here's a variation [FEN "1k2qr2/1bb2p1R/p1np1Qp1/1p4P1/4P3/1P1N1B2/1PP5/1K4B1 b - - 2 39"] 39. ... Qe7 40. Qf4 Ka8 41. Bg2 Bb8 42. Bf2 Ba7 43. Bg3 Bb8 44. Qd2 Ba7 45. Ka2 Qe6 46. c3 Ne5 47. Nf4 Qd7 48. Nd5 Bc6 49. Qf4 Bxd5 50. exd5 Qe7 51. Rh1 Bc5 52. Re1 f5 53. gxf6 Qxf6 54. Qh6 g5 55. Qh5 Qh8 56. Qxh8 Rxh8 57. b4 Bf2 58. Bxe5 dxe5 59. Rxe5 Kb8 60. Re6 Bg3 61. Rxa6 Rh2 62. Bf3 Kc7 63. Rc6+ Kb7 64. Rg6 Rf2 65. Be4 Kc7 66. Rxg5 Bh4 67. Rg8 Rf4 68. Bd3 Kd6 69. Bxb5 Kxd5 70. c4+ Ke6 * i ran an engine vs. engine match at 107 positions per move. but again, two questions arise: how do you see so clearly (more precisely, why does the engine show +1 when the position is actually winning — that interests me a lot), and what does the open file have to do with it when there are also open diagonals, weak squares, and who knows what else?

tpr

"how do you see so clearly (more precisely, why does the engine show +1 when the position is actually winning"

+1 was defined as the equivalent of +1 pawn up and is now defined as 50% chance of an engine winning it against itself

"what does the open file have to do with it"

The white rook is already on the 7th rank and is active, the black rook at f8 is passive. In the game this resulted in winning a pawn: 43 Rxf7. In rook endings an active rook is often worth a pawn, so a rook on an open file is +1.

"how do you see so clearly (more precisely, why does the engine show +1 when the position is actually winning" * +1 was defined as the equivalent of +1 pawn up and is now defined as 50% chance of an engine winning it against itself "what does the open file have to do with it" * The white rook is already on the 7th rank and is active, the black rook at f8 is passive. In the game this resulted in winning a pawn: 43 Rxf7. In rook endings an active rook is often worth a pawn, so a rook on an open file is +1.

StevenEmily edited

One plan is to take the open file and from there control of the seventh rank, depending on the position. I saw a grandmaster do this to completely win out of the smallest of advantages, but I have no hope of finding it now, so hopefully my less educational game inspired from the idea can illustrate:

https://lichess.org/XlLc7alJ#1