The Rook Lift: a middlegame course

Bring a rook across a rank toward the king. Clear its route and coordinate the other attackers first.

5 lessons, each followed by its own puzzle drill, then 10 themed puzzle packs.

• The Third-Rank Lift — Find a clear route from the back rank to an active rank.
• Shift the Rook Toward the King — Move the lifted rook across toward the king.
• The Rook-and-Queen Battery — Coordinate the queen with the attacking rook.
• The Pawn-Storm Lift — Use lines created by pawn exchanges for the rook.
• Convert the Attack — Use the rook’s support to make a concrete attacking threat.