With this topic, we will consider the positioning of pieces in the Click-Storm Action Chess, and start with the rook.
The rook is hard to position. In regular chess (and, therefore, in the Click-Storm Action Chess), it is better to place the rook so that it is in an open row or column. However, in Click-Storm Action Chess, rooks are best placed on open rows and columns before they are open.
Consider this position:
Both sides made good debuts; there are no obvious weaknesses for any of the players. Ideally, White would like to move their knight to a6 to take two side pawns together with the bishop.
But in this case, Black can take the pawn on b5 and the knight at the same time, winning the pawn and stopping the attack:
Here the rook position comes into play. Before White plays the knight on a6, they need to go with a rook:
This is quite difficult because you need to plan the attack, and this seemingly useless move of the rook will allow the knight to move to a6. See what happens if Black tries to take the knight and pawn at the same time after the move of the rook:
This is one of those cases that distinguish experts from beginners.
Let's look at another example, where the position of the rook also has a key role.
Both sides have well-placed knights (which we will discuss later). White threatens with a combined attack to two pawns on the left, which forces Black to hold their knight and rook for defense. Black will want to attack with a rook on t8 and play this seemingly harmless pawn move:
This does not seem like a strong attack, but look at what can happen if White blindly takes a pawn:
The result is a crushing attack. But Black’s attack is vulnerable to a counterattack if White’s rooks are positioned correctly:
White sees that after they took the pawn on t5, the path has been cleared to capture the defenseless pawn on g5.
Positioning a rook on the side of the board stops Black's attack and also allows White to win a pawn in a counterattack.
Strategy Examples in Click-Storm Action Chess. Part 9
Other Click-Storm Action Chess content is in the article below:
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