Doubling rooks means placing both rooks on the same file, one behind the other, so they defend each other and attack along it together.
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Two rooks on one file hit the same target twice: the back rook backs up the front one. The front rook can advance knowing the other defends it, and a single enemy rook cannot contest the file without being outnumbered.
How to do it
- 1Take the open file with one rook.
- 2Bring the second rook behind it, or the queen behind both.
- 3Advance the front rook to the seventh or eighth rank when it is safe.
For your level
Two rooks on the same open file are much stronger than one. Put the second behind the first.
Check you have it
Question 1 of 1
Which file has no pawns of either colour standing on it?
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Common mistakes
- Doubling on a file where every entry square is covered.
- Putting the queen in front of the rooks, where it can be attacked first.
Questions
- Should the queen go in front of or behind the rooks?
- Usually behind. The front piece meets every defender on the file, so it should be the cheaper one.