3rd File Rook Guide: Defensive Openings & Tomahawk Strategy
Move your rook to the 7th file (the 3rd one from the left) and block the bishop exchange. Focus on solid defense while waiting for your opponent’s attack. This strategy is all about passive defense and counterplay.
How to Make the Opening Moves ＆ Why
The Third File Rook strategy (三間飛車, Sangenbisha) gets its name by placing your rook on the third file from the left. After moving the rook to the seventh file (the third from the left), you block the bishop’s diagonal, and then start developing your pieces.
This is a Ranging Rook strategy (Furibisha) that puts a strong emphasis on defense. The main idea is to wait for your opponent to attack, build a solid defense, and look for opportunities to counterattack. It’s a strategy that patiently defends, waiting for the right time to counterattack.
Next Moves: A Famous Development Example
The strategy I’m going to introduce, called “Tomahawk,” is an offensive formation that develops from the Third File Rook. Use it when your opponent is playing Static Rook and trying to set up a solid “Anaguma (aka The Static Rook Bear-in-the-Hole)” fortress!
The Anaguma is a popular defensive formation. Let’s learn how to break through it with the Tomahawk strategy!
Now, your first approach is Center Control. Advance your silver toward the center.
And your opponent will use their rook to block your silver, but that’s fine. Your real goal is to launch an edge attack.
Exactly. Your plan is to activate your knight and contribute to the edge attack.
Don’t worry if your knight is attacked by their pawn. Keep going. At this point, opening the bishop’s line is also an important setup for your attack.
The bishop’s line is so strong that it’s not easy for the opponent to defend against it.
This combination of silver, knight, and bishop is the Tomahawk strategy that breaks through the Anaguma. Give it a try!
