Opposing Rook Guide: Opening Principles for Ranging Play
By positioning the rook on the 8th file, it directly confronts the opponent’s rook. This effectively limits the opponent’s attack while also enhancing our own offensive capabilities.
By the way, when both players choose Ranging Play, the rooks do not face each other, but it is still referred to as Opposing Rook.
How to Make the Opening Moves ＆ Why
To counter the static rook strategy, we use the Opposing Rook by placing the rook on the same file. One of its appealing aspects is the ability to actively advance our pieces. Although this strategy is typically employed by the second player, I will explain how to execute the Opposing Rook as the first player in this instance.
Opening the diagonal for the bishop and swinging the rook. OK, those are just basic moves. Now, check out the third move, the pawn on the edge. While this move may seem like a waste, it is actually an important part of the overall strategy.
Not only does it help defend against the opponent’s edge attacks, but it also creates opportunities for your knight and bishop to be used effectively on the edge.
Next Moves: A Famous Development Example
The idea behind this strategy is to aggressively trade rooks when your opponent pushes their pawn to 8-5. This puts you in a stronger position. Your opponent will likely try to avoid the rook exchange, as it leaves them open to a rook drop. In the Opposing Rook strategy, one key move is positioning the gold general next to your rook. This helps prevent any openings for your opponent to drop their rook.
Of course, the opponent is unlikely to agree to a rook exchange! They will use a pawn to drive your rook back.
That’s where you can take advantage of the edge pawn on the third move and develop your attack with a variation involving the knight and bishop.
If the opponent also advances their edge pawn in the opening, things might not go as planned. In that case, there’s a variation where you can look to initiate a bishop exchange toward the center of the board. If your opponent is employing the static rook strategy, this bishop exchange can result in a sharp attack.
