Shogi glossary
Opposing Rook
Japanese: 向かい飛車
In shogi, Opposing Rook (mukaibisha) is a Ranging Rook opening in which Black moves the rook to 8h so that it faces White's rook on 8b along the same file, aiming to open that file and trade rooks on good terms.
Ranging Rook with the rook on 8h, facing the opponent's rook.
Name and setup
Mukai means facing. The 8h square is only the second file from Black's left, but the name describes the face-off rather than a count. Because the bishop starts on 8h, it has to move first, usually to 7g once the diagonal has been closed with 6f; only then can the rook slide across rank h. White's version puts the rook on 2b, opposite Black's rook on 2h.
Castle and character
The king castles in a Mino on the right, as in other Ranging Rooks, and the castle should be finished before the 8th file opens. Black then pushes the 8th-file pawn to 8f to open the file. With the two rooks facing each other and nothing between them, a rook exchange is always in the air.
That makes Opposing Rook more confrontational than the waiting Fourth-file Rook: the rook goes straight at its counterpart instead of waiting for the attack to come.
FAQ
Why does the bishop have to move before Opposing Rook?
At the start the bishop stands on 8h, the very square the rook wants. Moving it to 7g clears the way along rank h.
Is a rook trade good for the Opposing Rook player?
Only when their own castle is the sturdier one. After a trade each side has a rook in hand to drop, so the player with fewer gaps near the king benefits.
I don't do defense. Hope you brought a castle!
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