← Great Games of Chess History · Lesson 2 of 4
The power of open lines
Long-range pieces — rooks, bishops and the queen — are only as strong as the lines they can travel along. A rook behind its own pawns is a spectator. A rook on an open file can reach the far side of the board in one move.
Many famous attacks begin with a player opening a line towards the enemy king, sometimes giving up material to do it. Once the line is open, the long-range pieces pour through.
When you are unsure what to do, ask: which of my pieces has nowhere to go, and how could I give it a line?
Why is a rook on an open file usually stronger than one behind its own pawns?
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