The Rook

Straight lines, as far as you like

In this lesson you will learn

How the rook moves
How pieces capture
Why a rook cannot jump

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2.1 How the rook moves

The rook moves in a straight line: up, down, left or right, along a file or a rank. It can move as many squares as it likes, but only in one direction in each move.

The rook’s movesFrom d4 the rook can go to any square marked with a dot: the whole d-file and the whole 4th rank. That is 14 squares.

2.2 Capturing

When a piece moves onto a square with an enemy piece, it captures it: the enemy piece is taken off the board and your piece stands in its place. You can never capture your own pieces.

Blocked and capturingThe white pawn on d7 blocks the rook: it can go to d5 and d6 but not past its own pawn. The black knight on b4 and bishop on g4 can be captured (red circles). The rook stops there; it cannot jump over them.

Diagram 2.1White to move

Diagram 2.1 · Capture!

The rook stands on a1. One black piece is on the same rank.

Capture the black knight.

Remember

The rook moves along files and ranks, any number of squares.
It cannot jump over pieces.
It captures by moving onto an enemy piece.

Exercises · Lesson 2

Move the white rook. In every exercise there is a black piece to capture or a square to reach.

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