Tactics | Attack using centre open files ♟️ 50+2 Chess Quick Wins! Book

#openingtactics #quickwins 

50+2 Chess Quick Wins: Tactical ideas for exciting chess for beginner players. Buy on Amazon! US | CA | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | NL | AU

My book, "50+2 Chess Quick Wins: Tactical ideas for exciting chess for beginner players" was published and released on Amazon in October 2023. This is the third video and article of a series that will cover the first section of the book, that explains tactical ideas and themes that underlie many quick win games!

Under usual opening principles, the two centre files, the d- and e-files are usually closed in the opening. For instance, let's have a look at a very standard Italian Game, the Giuoco Piano line. I've highlighted the d- and e- pawns, and you'll see that they stay "green" (present on both sides) all the way into the middlegame, and the centre remains "closed".

Opening the centre files (e- and d-files) early and launching an attack on the opponent’s king is risky. This is as open centre files are a two-way street and the opponent could counterattack on the same open files, using the same tactics against us.

However, with risk comes opportunity! This opportunity arises from several factors:

• Opened centre files exposes the kings to attack and during the early stages of a game, the ability to defend the king can be limited.
• This is especially the case in an aggressive attacking game, as piece development may have focussed on offence, rather than defence.
• As the approach is contrary to general opening principles, these tactics can be unfamiliar to the opponent and catch them off guard, increasing the likelihood of mistakes and blunders - "fortune favours the bold"!

Pawns have multiple roles in the game of chess. One of their most important roles is that they physical block lines of attack. Pawns basically put their bodies on the line and act like a fence. They defend what is behind them, for instance, high value pieces, or block the opponent from interfering with a developing attack.

As the kings start in the middle of the back rank, the centre pawns (d- and e-pawns) are critical in the defence of the king prior to castling.  Creating very early open centre files before the opponent has been able to castle, can be a very powerful tactic.

Game 1 - Ryder Gambit

Game 2 - Charlick Gambit