The Rook in Tic-Tac-Chec

The rook is the most powerful piece in Tic-Tac-Chec. This is largely a result of his ability to dominate the most squares. The rook can move to the edge of the board either horizontally or vertically. From any given position on the board, then, six squares are in his reach. Unblocked by his own pieces, he is able to attack any potential formation of four in a row from any spot on the board.

For this reason, placement of the rook is not always vital. Even so, a player should be careful not to place his rook so that he does not have access to opposing pieces. This is reminiscent of how a rook behaves in chess. His value early in the game is limited because he is hedged behind a wall of pawns.

The rook should be placed on the board earlier than later to allow him to break up opposing formations when necessary. When setting up your own formations try to use the opposing knight or pawn as a shield from the opposing rook.