The rook is a piece in the game of chess. It may move any amount of squares horizontally or vertically. Each player has 2 Rooks located in the corners of the board. The Rook is the third most valuable piece with a value of 5 points. Rooks are represented by the letter "R" in algebraic notation.
Placement & Movement
Placement
Each player starts with two Rooks in the corners of their own side of the board.
White's Rooks start on a1 and h1.
Black's Rooks start on a8 and h8.
Movement
The Rook moves along the ranks and files of the board, able to move any amount of squares vertically or horizontally.
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |  | | |  | | | | | 8 |
| 7 | | | | | | | | | 7 |
| 6 | | | | | | | | | 6 |
| 5 | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| 4 | | | |  | | | | | 4 |
| 3 | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| 2 | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| 1 | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |  | | | | | | | | 8 |
| 7 | | | | | | | | | 7 |
| 6 | | | | | | | | | 6 |
| 5 | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| 4 | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 3 | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| 2 | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| 1 | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
Strategy
Castling
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 | | |  | |  | | | | 8 |
| 7 |  | | | | | | | | 7 |
| 6 | | | | | | | | | 6 |
| 5 | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| 4 | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 3 | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| 2 |  | | | | | | | | 2 |
| 1 | | |  |  |  | | | | 1 |
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
Circles denote where the King moves after castling.
Crosses denote where the rook moves after castling.
Main article: Castling
The Rook is able to participate in castling with the King. In this move the King will move two squares towards the Rook and the Rook moves to the square that the King has passed over. Castling benefits the Rook as it moves it towards the center, where all the action is happening.
Development
In the beginning, the Rooks are blocked in by other pieces and cannot immediately participate in the game. An important strategy that most openings should contain is to connect the Rooks by clearing other pieces and executing the aforementioned castling. From this position, it is recommended to stack the Rooks on a single file, also known as "doubling the rooks", so it can enter enemy territory while being protected by the other Rook.
Endgame
In an endgame position, Rooks are one of the best pieces for delivering checkmates. A popular technique is called a ladder mate. In this checkmate pattern the player keeps checking the King while moving the Rooks one file at a time, "climbing a ladder", until the King is on the edge of board and has no available spaces to move to.