GambitDeclined.com - The Chess Resource

The Rook

Each player has two Rooks - often incorrectly called "Castles".

The Rook is the next most powerful piece after the Queen and like the Queen, the Rook is a long-range piece.

Due to the location of the Rooks at the beginning of the game, they only come into play during the middle and end games.

In addition to their standard movements, the Rooks can also be involved in a move called 'Castling' which takes place with the King (see below).

The Rook's Moves

The Starting Positions

White Rooks: a1 and h1

Black Rooks: a8 and h8

Moving

The Rook can move along the ranks and files. If the chosen direction is clear, the only limits on distance are the edges of the chess board.

The diagram to the left illustrates the maximum possible moves for a Rook, here in open territory.

Captures

The Rook can capture a piece on any square in its line of travel.

Castling

During the game of chess, Castling is the only time a player can move two of his own pieces on the same turn - the King and a Rook.

Castling involves the King moving two squares, towards the Rook, and the Rook jumping over the King to end on the square immediately adjacent to the King.

The diagram to the left illustrates Castling on the King's side.

This move serves two purposes: firstly it moves the King into the relative safety of the corner and secondly it permits the Rook to move towards the centre of the board where its full power can be utilised.

Castling - Conditions

This special move can only take place if:

Nothing stands between the King and the Rook which is to take part in the move.
Neither the King nor the Rook have previously been moved.
The King is not in check before or after castling.
No enemy is attacking the squares traversed during the move (e.g. Castling could not take place in the above situation if the Bishop on d3 was Black as it would be attacking f1).