GameKnot: Chess related, Where to Connect your Rooks

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Chess related: Where to Connect your Rooks

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baddeeds
20-Mar-13, 10:06

Where to Connect your Rooks

I used to connect them on the last two end ranks, like the a and c files. However, I recently learned that it is not a good idea to place them on the same color, as it could lead to powerful attacks.

tactical_abyss
21-Mar-13, 10:51

Centralized Rooks on the d or e files one behind the other can be as powerful as a freight train filled with timber logs running over a toad.The plot of many chess games is to control the center of the board.One of the good ways to do this is near the end of a game or an open midgame with Rooks,say on the e1 and e2 squares.And a triple threat by a Bishop tuning in at a distance at an opponents major piece of equal or higher value(like a Queen)...or simply zeroing in on a weak open square....on that same file.I have won countless games with a Rook combo,both in corresp. and blitz play.And those Rooks of mine were usually placed on the d or e files placing strong pressure on the entire d or e ranks from 3 to 8.

ketchuplover
22-Mar-13, 10:33

Don't underestimate a timely rook lift...

ie Ra3,Rh3,Ra6,and Rh6 Jus' sayin'

tactical_abyss
22-Mar-13, 14:02

Nor do I understand a "timely Rook lift" either!I'm sure there are highly isolated types of positions that may produce what is called a double ex-ray attack through the specific rank,but that is not how I would go about it,nor would I make moves like...Ra3,Rh3 or Ra6,Rh6 part of my standard move response,unless I wanted to commit suicide in most of my games.First of all,one must understand or study point value variations in all your pieces by position on the board,attacking capability,defending level,isolation and/or degree of frozen or limited movement of that piece for every move and every position.Already by those Rook moves above,this illustrates that castling was probably not iniatiated in 10-12 moves like it should have been...placing atleast one of those Rooks closer to the bottom center of the board on either side.Rooks on the edge files are "meant"to be moved as soon as possible,whether through castling,artificial castling or simply moving them off the "rail"as quickly as possible.An edge file piece usually has "diminished"point value for obvious reasons:Its movement has been limited by 25%(in the case of a Rook),since it cannot move in one direction to the left or right(depending upon the color).

So connected Rooks that exist through the line of site on one specific rank(3rd rank for example)...Ra3-Rh3 are by rule of theoretical thumb not as potent as two connected rooks by "centralized file" such as the d or e file.Why?Well,I just said above that edge pieces have diminished value(including Rooks,Knights,Bishops and to some extent pawns).So we all heard of controlling the center of the board,right?Well,the Rooks are "more developed"if they are bearing down on the center of the board in one specific file WHILE they have additional free movement...increasing their theoretical point value.And don't forget the importance of castling early.Simply moving your Rooks to a 3rd or 4th rank on both edge files subjects them to additional attack from enemy Bishops,creates more potential for loss of tempo when backing those Rooks in reverse.Centralized Rooks are better prone to your friendly piece protections and ex-rays through a double dose of the e file direct can,and usually does have more of a deadly sting than cross rank attacks.

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