What is File in chess?
A vertical column of squares on the chessboard, labelled a through h.
The a-file runs down the left side of the board from White's perspective, and the h-file runs down the right. Open files (with no pawns on them) are important highways for rooks.
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- RankA horizontal row of squares on the chessboard, numbered 1 through 8.
- DiagonalA line of squares running corner-to-corner at 45 degrees.
- Long diagonalThe two eight-square diagonals that run from corner to corner (a1-h8 and a8-h1).
- CentreThe four central squares d4, d5, e4, and e5 - the most important real estate on the board.
- FlankThe queenside (a through d files) or kingside (e through h files) wings of the board.
- Square colourEach bishop is permanently locked to either light squares or dark squares for the whole game.