Open file

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 or queens on open files or half-open files is considered advantageous, as it allows a player to attack more easily, since a rook or queen can move down the file to penetrate the opponent's position.

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8
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
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The e-file is an open file since there are no pawns on it. The rook can move to any square on the file (marked with crosses), uninhibited by pawns.
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