Closing a lane can be useful to carry on an attack, it is also called interference ( fr: interception), as the goal is to intercept the defence. Opening a column/diagonal is a common motif where the attack gains intensity.
Let's look at one example of each kind.
Closing lines: White to play
Miles-Pritchett 1982
1.?
Miles played the fantastic 1.Be5!!
This moves covers b2 (X-Ray), while interfering with black defensive pieces. 1..R8e5 or 1..R2e5 lets 2Qg7#,
while 1..Be5 breaks the coordination between rooks : 2.Qe8 follows. In chess composition, this theme is called a Novotny.
Black resigned after 1.Be5!!
Opening lines: Alekhine-Borochov 1932
White to play and win
Alekhine played 1.Ne6!. While this moves closes the c8-h3 diagonal temporarily( interference again!), it also opens the g-column.
After 1..Be6, the genius ahead of his time played 2Qh7+!!, where 2..Kh7 3Rh3+ wins with check-mate following.
A great example of both concepts !
Exercise: White to play and win
Larsen-Matanovic, 1965
