The July clinic is looks at open files and members can access it here. All the games involve open files in some way, either direct use of them or levering them open.
Having started playing again I used one of my own games from the South Wales International against Tim Spanton. In the position we reached after 21 moves I had managed to gain a strong position but did not see how to win:
Eventually I came up with 22.b6!?, which led to my gaining a half open b-file after 22...axb6 23.Nxb6. The point is that unlike the open d-file, this one has a nice target on b7. The game proceeded with the moves 23...Na6 24.Nd5 Qd6 25.Rab1 c4 26.Qxc4 Qxa3 27.Rxb7 Rc8 28.Nf6+ and Black resigned (1-0).
Playing for open files can be subtle, which is why the Tiger Chess Strategy Course has so many lessons devoted to it.
Nigel Davies
