Ranging Rook

Ranging Rook (振り飛車 furibisha), also known as "Swinging Rook", is one of two main opening strategies (the other being Static rook). As part of a Ranging Rook strategy, the rook is "swung", to the left side of the board and the king is typically castled to the right, in the space the rook has vacated. Ranging Rook strategies are a bit newer, and have not been studied as extensively as Static Rook strategies, making them a popular choice for players who wish to avoid theory. A game where both players use a Ranging Rook strategy is known as a "Double Ranging Rook" (相振り飛車 ai furibisha) game, and a game where one player uses a Static Rook strategy while the other plays a Ranging Rook strategy is known as an "Opposition" (対抗型 taikoukei) game, sometimes simply referred to as "Static vs Ranging Rook". Both kinds of games can contain Rapid Attacks (急戦 kyuusen) or become Slow Games (持久戦 jikyuusen, literally "war of attrition").

Rook Position

Each of the below openings is considered a Ranging Rook strategy, typically named after the file that the Rook attacks from. Use the links to find more detailed information on each one.

Central Rook

4th-File Rook

3rd-File Rook

Ishida Style

Opposing Rook (2nd-File)

Double Ranging Rook

Double Ranging Rook games were traditionally very uncommon, but are not unheard of in modern play. Outside of Double Central Rook, these games follow the same pattern as Double Static Rook games, with the kings typically castling to opposite sides and the rooks aiming at the kings' heads. Rather than listing out each type of Double Ranging Rook game, it is easier to categorize the sub strategies based on whether the bishop is opened or closed.

Castles

As the main attack will be coming directly at the king's head, Double Ranging Rook Castles typically focus on defending attacks from the front. Castles considered advantageous for a Double Ranging Rook game are:

Peerless Golds

Peerless Golds Castle (金無双 kin musou)

Right Yagura

Right Yagura Castle (右矢倉 migi yagura)

Silver Crown

Silver Crown Castle (銀冠 gin kanmuri)

Ranging Rook Anaguma

Anaguma Castle (穴熊囲い anaguma castle, "badger"), previously translated to "Bear-in-the-hole"

Opposition

Opposition games often contain a sort of preliminary fight, where both sides attempt to break through the weaker side, promote their rooks, and then come at the king from the side. The games take shape depending on the strategy employed by the Ranging Rook player.

Castles

As it is often dangerous to expose your king, and both kings are likely to be castled on the same side of the board, the endgame almost always begins with an attack from the side. Thus, both players tend to build castles which can resist attacks from the side. This includes:

Half Mino　

Half Mino (片美濃囲い kata mino gakoi), also called "Incomplete Mino"

Mino　

Mino Castle (美濃囲い mino gakoi)

High Mino　

High Mino (高美濃囲い taka mino gakoi)

Anaguma　

Anaguma (穴熊囲い anaguma gakoi, "badger"), previously translated to "Bear-in-the-hole"