What is open line in chess?

Answer 1

In Chess, an open line is a diagonal, rank or file that has no pieces to block the piece that intends to use it. For example, the most common first move by White is moving the pawn in front of the King two spaces forward. Once this pawn is moved that way, the Queen has an open line to move along the diagonal from her initial spot all the way to the right side of the board. Likewise, the Bishop on the King's right now has an open line to move along the diagonal from its initial position all the way to the left side of the board. In the opening part of the game, much of the strategy goes toward opening lines so that the pieces on the back rank can get past the pawns and out into the battlefield. Many opening moves, called "gambits' will sacrifice a pawn or other piece in order to open a line for another piece to move out and attack.