Strategy
Rook lift
Bringing a rook into the attack along a rank, in front of its own pawns.
Rooks are slow to join a kingside attack from the back rank. A rook lift — Re1–e3–g3/h3, or Ra1–a3–h3 — hoists the rook up a rank and swings it across to where the enemy king lives.
It's the classic way to add a heavy piece to an assault, often the move that turns pressure into a breakthrough.
Why it matters
Many attacks stall for lack of a third piece; the rook lift is the standard way to deliver it to the kingside.
The mistake everyone makes
Launching a kingside attack with only two pieces and no way to bring a rook over — the attack fizzles.
Related terms
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