Rook

Rook is a term used for two distinct subjects in English, the chess piece and the common rook, a bird of the crow family. The word is also used as a verb meaning to swindle or cheat, though this usage is less common today. In chess, the rook and in ornithology the rook are unrelated, but both have distinct roles in their domains.

In chess, the rook is a major piece that moves any number of unoccupied squares along a rank or file. It cannot jump over other pieces. Each side starts with two rooks on the a- and h-files (White on a1 and h1; Black on a8 and h8). A special move called castling involves moving the king two squares toward a rook and then placing that rook on the square the king crossed; the move has conditions: neither piece has moved previously, no pieces between them, and the king is not in check. Rooks are valued at about five points and are especially powerful in endgames, where they often coordinate with the king and pawns. The name derives from Persian rukh, meaning chariot; in many languages the piece is called the tower or castle.

The common rook, Corvus frugilegus, is a large, black crow-like bird found in Europe and Asia. Adults have a bare grayish face and a pale throat patch, with a long bill. Rooks are highly social and nest in colonies, often in trees near settlements. They are omnivorous, feeding on seeds, grains, insects, and other small foods. Breeding occurs in spring, with several eggs per clutch, and both parents participate in care. Rooks are widespread and adaptable, frequently seen in farmland and urban areas, and are not considered threatened.

In chess notation, rook is abbreviated R. The term’s broader usage and etymology reflect its distinct histories in games and nature.