Shogi glossary
Static Rook (ibisha)
Japanese: 居飛車
In shogi, Static Rook (ibisha) is the family of strategies in which the rook stays on its home side, usually on 2h, and attacks there, typically by pushing the rook pawn. The king castles on the other side of the board.
Keeping the rook on its starting file and attacking there.
What counts as Static Rook
The rook does not have to stay frozen on 2h. It may advance up the 2nd file, capture a pawn on 3d in the Side Pawn Capture, or slide to 4h in the Right Fourth-file Rook. As long as it stays on its own wing, files 1 to 4 for Black, the strategy counts as Static Rook; moving it to the 5th file or beyond makes it Ranging Rook.
How Static Rook games start
The usual first steps are pawn to 2f and 2e, preparing a pawn exchange on 2d that opens the file for the rook. When both players choose Static Rook, the main openings are Yagura, Bishop Exchange, Double Wing Attack and Side Pawn Capture. Against Ranging Rook, the king goes into a Boat castle or Anaguma, and the attack comes from plans such as Climbing Silver or the Right Fourth-file Rook.
Choosing Static Rook
Static Rook leads to direct attacks and a wide range of openings. Neither side of the choice is objectively better, and many players learn both.
Try it · from “Static Rook vs Ranging Rook”
Play a typical Static Rook move.
FAQ
What is the difference between Static Rook and Ranging Rook?
Static Rook keeps the rook on its starting side and castles the king on the other side. Ranging Rook swings the rook across early, for example to 6h in the Fourth-file Rook, and castles on the rook's original side, usually in a Mino.
Related
Terms:
Lessons: Static Rook vs Ranging Rook · Climbing Silver (Bogin) · The Yagura Castle
Openings: Yagura · Climbing Silver · Right Fourth-file Rook
I don't do defense. Hope you brought a castle!
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