Rook Placement

Rooks are the last pieces to join the game and often the first to decide it. Where a rook stands — on the open file, on the seventh rank, behind an enemy passed pawn — matters more than a tempo anywhere else. The chapter reviews the standard posts and the rook manoeuvres that reach them.

. The f8 rook will be useful for supporting the f7-f5 strike. But why the move 1.Rae8? It turns out the rook is carrying an enormous load. The pressure on the e4 pawn forces White to close the center with d4-d5, after which the f7-f5 strike gains greatly in force. . White overlook a pawn and deny Black the chance to carry out a beautiful design.