Attacking the king in the centre
A king left on e8 meets open central files: check on the open file, pin what blocks it, bring every piece.
The idea
A king left on e8 meets open central files: attack along them.
- Black’s king is still on e8, and the e-file is open.
- Re1+ checks along the file, and the pawn on g7 covers f8.
- The bishop on c1 comes next, to attack whatever blocks the check.
In a game: When the opponent has not castled and a central file opens, bring a rook to it at once.
How the lesson begins
A king that stays in the centre too long is in danger. Pawns on the central files are often traded early, and an open file pointed at the king is a road for rooks and the queen. That is one reason to castle early.
This is Paul Morphy against Theodor Lichtenhein, New York 1857. Material is level. Black has not castled, and the e-file in front of the black king is open.
Find the move
White to move. Use the open file.
A hint
Which of your pieces can reach the e-file in one move?
Show the answer
12. Re1+
Re1+ puts the rook on the open file with check. The pawn on g7 covers f8, so the king cannot step there, and a king in check cannot castle. Black has to block or move the king to d7, and a piece put on the e-file can be pinned there.