Control of a File, Rank or Diagonal

One of the primary goals in conducting a game of chess is to gain control of the avenues of attack. We must strive to place our rooks on open files, to control important diagonals with our bishops and queen, and to penetrate the opponent's defenses to reach the seventh and eighth ranks. Through these avenues, we attack weak pawns, vulnerable pieces and critical squares, such as those around the opposing king.

This concept of line control pervades all phases of the game. It is a primary goal in the opening to control files and diagonals. It is an important theme in the middlegame, both strategic and tactical. In the endgame, rooks must control the files that passed pawns (or potential passed pawns) sit on. On the following pages, Coaches' Corner shows examples of the creation and exploitation of open lines.

(Work in Progress - last posted September 12, 1999)