Editing Chess strategy (section)

==== Rooks ====
{{Main|Rook (chess)|l1=Rook}}
Rooks have more scope of movement on [[half-open file]]s (ones with no pawns of one's own color). Rooks on the seventh rank can be very powerful as they attack pawns that can only be defended by other pieces, and they can restrict the enemy king to its back rank. A pair of rooks on the player's seventh rank are often a sign of a winning position.

In [[Chess middlegame|middlegames]] and [[Chess endgame|endgames]] with a passed pawn, [[Tarrasch rule|Tarrasch's rule]] states that rooks, both friend and foe of the pawn, are usually strongest {{em|behind}} the pawn rather than in front of it.

A king and a rook are sufficient material to checkmate an opposing lone king, although it's a little harder than checkmating with king and queen; thus the rook's distinction as a major piece above the knight and bishop.