Over a quarter of a century ago, the first edition of this book, published in East Germany in 1981, became a bestseller but was never reprinted due to one co-author, chess trainer Gerhard Schmidt, leaving for the West, resulting in the book being banned in East Germany. Despite its acclaim in chess circles, its success was limited to underground distribution. The timeless subject matter transcends borders, leading to a new edition, fully revised by the original authors to include modern games from world-class players like Garry Kasparov and Vishy Anand. The book systematically explains strategies and tactics related to the open file, detailing how files are opened, blocked, occupied, and exploited to invade enemy positions. It begins with a theoretical introduction, followed by well-organized illustrative games where the open file plays a crucial role. Key positions in each game are paused for clear verbal assessments, which provide significant instructional value by teaching readers how strong chess players think, assess, and plan. The book benefits from Schmidt’s training experience and Grandmaster Wolfgang Uhlmann’s extensive knowledge gained during his successful career, which brought him close to the world title and established him as one of Germany’s greatest chess players.
