ROOK

From the Western Arabic Rokhkh, the major piece represented by the character R or the graphical. The rook may move to any square along the file or the rank on which it stands. Capturing is performed the same way. Throughout the history, its move remained invariable and before the queen acquired its new move, the rook was the strongest piece. Evaluations of its strength differ. According to some opinions, it is equal to a minor piece and one to three pawns. Others argue that the rook may be balanced with two minor pieces. In the array, each player has two rooks: a1 and h1 for white, and a8 and h8 for black. In English, one can often hear the word “castle” used instead of rook, which is said only by non-players. Also named Rukhkh in Arabic, Tour in French, Toren in Dutch, Turm in German, Torre in Italian and Spanish, etc.