Ravage and Reap Rewards With Rooks in Chess

Fortunately, getting more from your rooks is not tricky. There are guiding principles to help you use the rooks in chess to their fullest potential. Although care is needed in the opening, the rooks can play an essential role in all three phases of a chess game. They tend to play more of a supportive role in the opening and gain power as the game progresses. History of the Rooks in Chess

How the Rook Moves in Chess

The rook moves in a straight line forward and backward or sideways.

The rook also has a unique role in helping get your king to safety. This particular move is called castling. When castling, the king moves two squares toward the rook, and the rook gets placed on the far side of the king. You can castle on the kingside or the queenside. When castling on the kingside, the king goes to g1 and the rook to f1. If you castle queenside, your king goes to c1 and the rook to d1.

In this variation of the Sicilian Najdorf, Black castles kingside and White castles queenside. The terms “short castle” (for kingside castling) and “long castle” (for queenside castling) are sometimes used. There are four essential rules to follow when it comes to castling:

1. There can be no pieces between the rook and the king.
2. Neither the king nor the rook has moved.
3. The king is not in check.
4. None of the squares between the rook and king are controlled by an opponent’s piece.

Castling is an excellent way to get your king to safety and activates your rook by bringing it closer to the center.

Rooks in Chess: Enjoy Being on Open Files

One of the first things beginners learn about rooks in chess is that they belong on open files. Because rooks move in a straight line, open files increase the attacking power of rooks in chess. Placing two rooks in an open file, called doubling rooks, dramatically increases your control of the file. Doubled rooks supported by a queen in a file are known as Alekhine’s gun. Placing all your major pieces in a file creates an extremely powerful batter.

This formation is called “Alekhine’s gun” because Alexander Alekhine used it to defeat Aron Nimzowitsch in 1930. The knight on c6 and the rook on c7 are under heavy pressure. The game only lasted another four moves. Alexander Alekhine - Aron Nimzowitsch, 1930.01.18, 1-0, San Remo Round 3, San Remo ITA GAME 1 Alekhine is not the only world chess champion to use this formation. Magnus Carlsen used it against Vishy Anand during their 2014 world chess championship match.

Not All Open Files Are Created Equal

Control of an open file can severely limit your opponent’s pieces. In the endgame, you can keep your opponent’s king out of the game by controlling an open file with your rook.

The black king is trapped on the side of the board thanks to the white rook on g1. All the black king can do is watch as White forces the black rook to sacrifice itself to stop the pawn from promoting. Before you create an open file, usually by exchanging pawns, always check to see if your pieces can occupy it before your opponent gains control. If you can gain control of the file, ask yourself, “How can I use the open file to my advantage?” Are there targets or entry squares on the file, or will your pieces do nothing more than look good? Open files near your opponent’s king usually provide good attacking opportunities. When you cannot gain control of an open file before your opponent occupies it, position your pieces so that they control any entry squares into your position - particularly your back rank and second rank.

Using the Open File to Defend Successfully

When both sides seek to occupy the open file, this naturally leads to mass exchanges of the major pieces. You can use this to your advantage if you are cramped for space or want to reduce your opponent’s attacking options. Of course, when you have a better position, it is sometimes best not to challenge for control of the open file. Since controlling an open file is only useful if it provides an entry point or offers you an object to attack, sometimes you can use a minor piece to keep your opponent’s rooks from entering your position.

On his last move, Yusupov exchanged rooks with 22…Rxc1, and now he follows it up with 22…Rd8. To enter on c7, White must give up the bishop pair advantage with Bxd5. After 24.Bxd5 Rxd5 (24…exd5 gives White a dangerous initiative after 25.f5), 25.Bb4 (to defend the d4-pawn) Rd8 and the position is equal. The rook in chess plays a vital role as a defender, so do not rush to exchange all your rooks. Keeping one on the board to defend the back rank can prove crucial. Mikhail Gurevich - Artur Yusupov, 2001.10.06, ½-½, Bundesliga 2001/02 Round 4, Germany GAME 2

Taking Control of the Seventh Rank

When you occupy the seventh rank (second if you are playing black), always identify a target on the rank. You can target a piece or a square on the seventh rank. Doubling rooks does not only apply to open files. Getting two rooks on the seventh rank will wreak havoc in your opponent’s position. When you take control of an open file, aim to occupy the seventh rank. It is well-known in chess that any piece you can place in your opponent’s half of the board will prove dangerous. In many instances, control of the seventh rank helps you most after transitioning to an endgame. You will often keep the opponent’s king stuck on the first rank. Although it is a significant advantage in many endgames, control of the seventh rank can prove decisive in the middlegame. If establishing a white knight on d6 or e6 is worth sacrificing material, then do not hesitate to consider an exchange sacrifice if it allows you to place a rook on the seventh rank.

In this position, Portisch played  15…Nb8 thinking that Botvinnik would not capture the pawn on c7. 15…Nb8 16.Rxc7 Bc6 traps the rook on c7. However, Botvinnik knew all too well the power of the rook on the seventh rank in chess. After 16.Rxc7 Bc6 Botvinnik played 17.R1xc6 bxc6 18.Rxf7

Botvinnik has a bishop and two pawns for his rook, and all of Black’s pieces are on the back rank! Portisch played 18…h6 since capturing the rook with 18…Kxf7 allows 19.Qc4, which forces the king into the open. 19…Ke7 allows 20.Bg5+, which wins the queen, and the attack continues. 19…Kg6 runs into 20.Qg4+ Kf7 21.Ng5+ and Black must give up the queen for the knight to avoid checkmate. The rook on the seventh rank can create weaknesses in your opponent’s position for your other pieces to exploit. Botvinnik, Mikhail - Portisch, Lajos, 1968, 0-1, v Round 7, Monte Carlo GAME 3 Rooks in chess cannot reach the seventh rank without open files, so mastering the art of occupying them is a top priority in your chess development. The following position is from the game between Jeffery Xiong and Wesley So in 2107.

The black knight arrived on d3, where it would prove extremely strong, but So decided a rook on the seventh rank was even stronger. He sacrificed the knight with 21…Nxf2! To draw the king forward. After 22.Kxf2 So got his rook to the seventh rank with a gain of tempo – 22…Rxb2. The game continued with 23.Kf1 Qh5 24.Qg4 Qxh2 25.Qf3.

The white queen cannot leave f3 because it must defend the e2, f2, and g3 squares to prevent checkmate. For lovers of chess tactics and sacrifices, analyzing this game will provide you with lots of exciting variations. Xiong, Jeffery - So, Wesley, 2017.04.07, 0-1, Saint Louis USA Round 9.1, Saint Louis USA GAME 4

Final Thoughts

Rooks in chess are potent attackers, and you can find entire books devoted to rook endgames. The rook is so valuable it is often one of the last pieces left on the board at the end of the game. Learning to get the most out of your rooks is a massive task, but if you break the task down and are willing to put forward the effort, you will be well-rewarded. Opening material is easy to acquire nowadays, so your best chance of outplaying your opponents is in the endgame or middlegame. Efficient use of your rooks in chess will give you the edge over many players in your rating range and help you increase your rating.