Rook Lift
Rook Lift: Moving a rook up a rank and across the board to join an attack or defense.
In-Depth Explanation
A rook lift such as Re3-g3 or Rf3-h3 activates the rook through a horizontal route when files are closed. It is common in kingside attacks and can also defend laterally. Check that pawn moves or enemy pieces cannot trap the rook away from the back rank.
Related Strategy Terms
Zugzwang
A situation where a player is forced to make a move that will significantly weaken their position.
Tempo
A unit of time in chess: one move. Gaining a tempo means forcing the opponent to waste a move.
Opposition
A king-and-pawn endgame concept where kings face each other with one square between them; the player not to move holds the opposition.
Recommended Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving a rook up a rank and across the board to join an attack or defense.
Study model positions, explain the idea in your own words, and test the key decisions on the interactive board.
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