A rook on the 7th rank attacks pawns on their starting squares and traps the enemy king on the 8th.
Key principles
- Enter the 7th via an open file
- Two rooks on the 7th often force mate or win material
- A rook on the 7th is worth a pawn in many endgames
Common mistakes
- Entering the 7th when the rook can be trapped or exchanged
- Grabbing pawns while the enemy rooks counterattack