#3 IMPROVE OPENINGS: How to ALWAYS Develop Rooks Correctly!
INTRODUCTION
Understanding how to effectively develop your bishops in the opening phase can significantly enhance your chess game. In this post, we will explore five fundamental rules about rooks that every chess player should know.
OPENINGS AIM TO MOVE INTO THE MIDDLEGAME WITH ALL PIECES, INCLUDING ROOKS, IN PLAY
In the position above, we haven't advanced to the middlegame yet because, even though the rooks are connected, they don't have vertical space.
ROOKS LOVE OPEN FILES, ARE OKAY WITH SEMI-OPEN ONES, AND DON’T LIKE CLOSED FILES
Pawns determine if the file is open, semi-open, or closed.
In this position, we have one open file, and one of our rooks should be developed to c1.
In this position, we have three semi-open files, but we prioritize files where we attack the opponent. That's why I would develop my rooks to the b and g files.
If all the files are closed, you can sometimes develop the rook by pushing the pawn forward, creating more space for the rook.
COURSE:
IN CLOSED POSITIONS, LOOK FOR PAWN BREAKS TO GET ROOKS INTO THE GAME
When the files are closed, we want to use pawn breaks to challenge the opponent's pawns and create more space for our rooks, opening files for them.
PUSH PAWNS FORWARD BEFORE BRINGING ROOKS INTO ACTION.
Remember that as a principle, we push pawns first to create space for the rook, and then bring the rooks behind.
SOMETIMES IT’S OKAY TO WAIT BEFORE DEVELOPING ROOKS
If it's really difficult to develop the rook, sometimes it's better to choose another game plan while preparing for rook development.
COURSE:
