Editing Rook (chess) (section)

===Development===
In the opening, the rooks are blocked in by other pieces and cannot immediately participate in the game, so it is usually desirable to ''connect'' one's rooks on the {{chessgloss|back rank|first rank}} by castling and then clearing all pieces except the king and rooks from the first rank. In that position, the rooks support each other and can more easily move to occupy and control the most favorable {{chessgloss|files}}.

A common strategic goal is to {{chessgloss|develop}} a rook on the first rank of an [[open file]] (i.e., one unobstructed by pawns of either player) or a [[half-open file]] (i.e., one unobstructed by friendly pawns). From this position, the rook is relatively unexposed to risk but can exert control on every square on the file. If one file is particularly important, a player might advance one rook on it, then position the other rook behind—''doubling'' the rooks. Having both rooks on the same file is known as a [[Battery (chess)|battery]] and can be very deadly, especially if the [[Queen (chess)|queen]] joins in as well (see [[Alekhine's Gun]]).

A rook on the seventh rank (the opponent's second rank) is typically very powerful, as it threatens the opponent's unadvanced pawns and hems in the enemy king. A rook on the seventh rank is often considered sufficient [[compensation (chess)|compensation]] for a pawn.<ref>{{Harvnb|Fine|Benko|2003|p=586}}</ref> In the diagrammed position from a game between [[Lev Polugaevsky]] and [[Larry Evans (chess grandmaster)|Larry Evans]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1111927|title=Lev Polugaevsky vs Larry Melvyn Evans (1970)|website=www.chessgames.com}}</ref> the rook on the seventh rank enables White to [[draw (chess)|draw]], despite being a pawn down.<ref>{{Harvnb|Griffiths|1992|pp=102–3}}</ref>

{{em|Two}} rooks on the seventh rank are often enough to force victory by the [[Checkmate pattern#Blind swine mate|blind swine mate]], or at least a draw by [[perpetual check]].<ref>The two rooks are sometimes colloquially referred to as "pigs on the seventh", because they often threaten to "eat" the opponent's pieces or pawns.</ref>
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{{Chess diagram
|tleft
|A white rook on the 7th rank
|  |  |  |  |  |  |kd|
|  |pd|  |rl|  |  |pd|
|pd|  |pd|  |  |  |  |
|pl|  |  |  |  |pd|  |
|  |rd|  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |pl|  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |kl|pl|pl
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|White to move, draws. {{pb}}<small>Polugaevsky vs. Evans, 1970</small>
}}
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{{Chess diagram
|tleft
|Connected black rooks on the 7th rank
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|pd|pd|  |  |rl|  |  |pd
|  |  |  |  |nl|kd|bd|
|  |  |  |pl|  |pd|  |
|  |bl|  |  |  |  |  |pd
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|pl|pl|  |rd|rd|  |  |pl
|  |  |  |  |  |rl|  |kl
|Black to move, 32...Rxh2+ and White resigns, seeing that 33.Kg1 Rdg2{{chessAN|#}}. {{pb}}<small>Chigorin vs. Steinitz, Havana 1892</small>
}}
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