Answers.Body: <p>The f2/f7 squares lose some significance after castling has occurred. The square is no longer protected by just the king - the rook now also protects it. But a f2/f7 pawn with a king on g1/g8 might be pinned by a bishop, which sometimes results in tactical opportunities.</p>
  
  <p>Generally, you should attempt to control the center of the board. The f-file is not the center, but it is adjacent to the center. It might make sense to try to control the f-file if it is open or half-open (or if you plan to make it that way) but that's true of any open file. </p>
  
  <p>If the file is not open or half-open, then it probably makes more sense to look at the individual squares rather than the file as a whole. If White has a pawn on e4, that pawn controls f5, but it also means that pawn can never control f4 (so f4 might be weak.)</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-10-18T07:04:02.697Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-10-18T07:04:02.697Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: D M
Answers.Body: <p>I have heard that a million times, but in practice, unless you are really careless with your development, and your king gets stuck in the center, they rarely play a role right out of the opening. Later in the game, I have seen many games where f7 gets pounded on, and if you already happen to have the open f-file (f2 can also fall under attack, but it is less common), that is nice, but in a real game, it is usually a B on the a2-g8 diagonal with a rook or two on the 7th, and any other supporting pieces.</p>
  
  <p>You have to also realize that only a few select openings really aim at f7. You can rule out all but a few k-pawn openings, in most cases.</p>
  
  <p>In short, develop normally, and IF you see the opportunity to pressure f7/f2 naturally, and it makes sense, then go for it. I would not develop artificially trying to strive to make something out of that just because f2/f7 have been called the weakest squares.</p>
  
  <p>There is no weakest file that I can see.</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2019-10-18T15:29:48.100Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-10-18T15:29:48.100Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: PhishMaster
Answers.Body: <p>No such thing as a "weak file".</p>
  
  <p>Different pieces move in different ways. Open files do allow rooks to come into the game however. So, in that sense, a weak file would be whatever is open and can be dominated by heavy pieces.  </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-10-21T08:12:34.023Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-10-21T08:12:34.023Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Savage47
Body: <p>If f2 and f7 are the weakest squares on the board, if the f-file the weakest file on the board? For example, other than attacking f2 and f7, is there a theoretical advantage in dominating the f-file?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2019-10-18T08:04:36.440Z
Comments.Text: What is a "weak file"?
Comments.UserDisplayName: RemcoGerlich
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2019-10-18T16:20:54.250Z
Comments.Text: f2/f7 is only weakest at the start of the game (since only the king guards that square).  There are no weak files as they are all closed.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Ywapom
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2019-10-18T19:53:29.013Z
Comments.Text: It depends on your rating.If you rating is below 1500, every square is weak.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Randy Minder
Tags: <positional-play><evaluation>
Title: What is the weakest file on the board?
ThreadText: # What is the weakest file on the board?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2019-10-18)
  
  If f2 and f7 are the weakest squares on the board, if the f-file the weakest file on the board? For example, other than attacking f2 and f7, is there a theoretical advantage in dominating the f-file?
  
  **Tags:** positional-play, evaluation
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: What is a "weak file"?  
  > **username_2**: f2/f7 is only weakest at the start of the game (since only the king guards that square).  There are no weak files as they are all closed.  
  > **username_3**: It depends on your rating.If you rating is below 1500, every square is weak.  
  
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  ## 3 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2019-10-18. Score: 5
  
  The f2/f7 squares lose some significance after castling has occurred. The square is no longer protected by just the king - the rook now also protects it. But a f2/f7 pawn with a king on g1/g8 might be pinned by a bishop, which sometimes results in tactical opportunities.
  
  Generally, you should attempt to control the center of the board. The f-file is not the center, but it is adjacent to the center. It might make sense to try to control the f-file if it is open or half-open (or if you plan to make it that way) but that's true of any open file.
  
  If the file is not open or half-open, then it probably makes more sense to look at the individual squares rather than the file as a whole. If White has a pawn on e4, that pawn controls f5, but it also means that pawn can never control f4 (so f4 might be weak.)
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_5 on 2019-10-18. Score: 1
  
  I have heard that a million times, but in practice, unless you are really careless with your development, and your king gets stuck in the center, they rarely play a role right out of the opening. Later in the game, I have seen many games where f7 gets pounded on, and if you already happen to have the open f-file (f2 can also fall under attack, but it is less common), that is nice, but in a real game, it is usually a B on the a2-g8 diagonal with a rook or two on the 7th, and any other supporting pieces.
  
  You have to also realize that only a few select openings really aim at f7. You can rule out all but a few k-pawn openings, in most cases.
  
  In short, develop normally, and IF you see the opportunity to pressure f7/f2 naturally, and it makes sense, then go for it. I would not develop artificially trying to strive to make something out of that just because f2/f7 have been called the weakest squares.
  
  There is no weakest file that I can see.
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_6 on 2019-10-21. Score: 1
  
  No such thing as a "weak file".
  
  Different pieces move in different ways. Open files do allow rooks to come into the game however. So, in that sense, a weak file would be whatever is open and can be dominated by heavy pieces.
  
  
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