Ranging Rook (furibisha)

How the rook ranges

Black's rook starts on 2h. In a Ranging Rook game it slides along rank h to the 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th file within the first few moves. The variations are named by where the rook lands, counting files from the player's own left: Central Rook (5h), Fourth-file Rook (6h), Third-file Rook (7h) and Opposing Rook (8h). For White the same names apply to 5b, 4b, 3b and 2b.

Most Ranging Rook setups close the bishop's diagonal with a pawn on 6f, which keeps the opening calm and lets the player castle without an early bishop exchange.

Castle and character

With the rook gone from the right side, the king walks there, normally into a Mino castle on 2h, following the rule of keeping the king away from the rook's file, where fighting starts. The usual plan is to let the Static Rook side attack first, then counter with a rook already posted where that attack arrives.

The Static Rook opponent castles on the opposite wing, so the kings sit far apart. When both players range their rooks, the game is called Double Ranging Rook (aifuribisha).