Outposts and open files
In short
An outpost is a square in or near the enemy camp that cannot be attacked by enemy pawns and is supported by your own pawn. A knight on an outpost is often stronger than a rook.
By the end you can
- Find outposts and occupies them
- Double rooks on open files
The lesson
An outpost is a square in or near the enemy camp that cannot be attacked by enemy pawns and is supported by your own pawn. A knight on an outpost is often stronger than a rook.
Rooks belong on open files (no pawns) or half-open files (only enemy pawns). Double them, then aim for the seventh rank, where they attack pawns and restrict the king.
Key points to remember
- Outpost = protected, can’t be chased by pawns
- Knights love outposts
- Rooks to open files, then the 7th rank
- Doubling multiplies power
Examples
Homework
Find one outpost and one open file in each of your next three games.
More strategy lessons
- Reading a position: the imbalances (Class D)
- Good and bad pieces (Class D)
- The isolated queen’s pawn (IQP) (Class C)
- Carlsbad structure and the minority attack (Class C)
- Hanging pawns and pawn breaks (Class C)
- Which pieces to exchange (Class B)