There are Three Advantages to Pawn-Exchange in the Rook File

(Hisha-saki kokan mittsu no toku ari)


Vocabulary: Hisha=Rook, saki=ahead, kokan (n)=exchange Mittsu=three, no=of, toku=advantage, ari (predicative)=to be


White in hand: nothing
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
| *  *  *  *  *  * wS wN wL |a
| *  *  *  *  *  * wG wB  * |b
| *  *  *  *  * wP wP wP wP |c
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |d
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bP  * |e
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |f
| *  *  *  *  *  * bP  * bP |g
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bR  * |h
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bN bL |i
+---------------------------+
Black in hand: nothing
Diagram 1.
A series of moves that starts from Diagram 1 and ends with Black having a Pawn in hand is known as the Pawn-exchange in the Rook file.

Moves from Diagram 1:
P2d     Px2d
Rx2d    P*2c
R2h
The term "Hisha-saki kokan" (Pawn-exchange in the Rook file) is usually applied only to the static Rook opening.

The three advantages are:

(1) You have a Pawn in hand.
(2) Your Rook can penetrate the opponent's camp in one move.
(3) Your other pieces can move up more smoothly.

Diagram 2 is an illustration of (2) above. 

White in hand: nothing
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
| *  *  *  *  * bS  * wN wL |a
| *  *  *  *  *  * wG wB  * |b
| *  *  *  *  * wP wP wP  * |c
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * wP |d
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |e
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * bP |f
| *  *  *  *  *  * bP  *  * |g
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bR  * |h
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bN bL |i
+---------------------------+
Black in hand: P 
Diagram 2. Up to S*4a.
If White responds with G3a or G4b, you can play R4c+, which will lead to a successful position for you.


(2)

By exchanging Pawns in the Rook file, you will have a greater choice in your offensive plans.

Diagram 1 shows where Black has already exchanged Pawns, and this partial position is what you should remember as your cue for breaking through White's defense. 

White in hand: nothing
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
| *  *  *  *  * wK  * wN wL |a
| *  *  *  *  *  * wG wB  * |b
| *  *  *  *  * wP wP wP  * |c
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * wP |d
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |e
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * bP |f
| *  *  *  *  *  * bP  *  * |g
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bR  * |h
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bN bL |i
+---------------------------+
Black in hand: P
Diagram 1.

Moves from Diagram 1:
P1e      Px1e
P*1c     --->Diagram 2

White in hand: P 
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
| *  *  *  *  * wK  * wN wL |a
| *  *  *  *  *  * wG wB  * |b
| *  *  *  *  * wP wP wP bP |c
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |d
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * wP |e
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |f
| *  *  *  *  *  * bP  *  * |g
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bR  * |h
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bN bL |i
+---------------------------+
Black in hand: nothing
Diagram2 Up to P*1c.
Begin with the edge-wing attack: P1e, Px1e, P*1c. This is one of the basics. When beginning the edge attack, it is crucial whether you have a Pawn in hand or not.

  
Moves from Diagram 2:
...           Lx1c   
S*1b
If White neglects responding to your P*1c, you can play Lx1e.

If, from Diagram 2, White plays Nx1c, you can play Lx1e, thereby you will be able to play P*1d at your next move.

White's L*1c is the most ordinary response at this juncture. Your next move, S*1b, will ensure a great gain on your part.

You can next play either Sx2c+ or Sx2a+, with which White simply cannot cope.

Thus, you should not miss an opportunity of exchanging Pawns in the Rook file.


(3) The Pawn-exchange in the Rook file makes room for your other pieces to advance towards the opponent's camp.

 White in hand: nothing
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
| *  *  *  *  * wK  * wN wL |a
| *  *  *  *  *  * wG wB  * |b
| *  *  *  *  * wP  * wP  * |c
| *  *  *  *  *  * wP  * wP |d
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bP  * |e
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bS bP |f
| *  *  *  *  *  * bP  *  * |g
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bR  * |h
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bN bL |i
+---------------------------+
Black in hand: nothing
Diagram 1.
Diagram 1 shows where Black has begun the bo-Gin tactic (climbing Silver), but the position is hardly promising for Black. In order for the bo-Gin to work, Black needs to play P1f and P1e, or P3f and P3e.

Diagram 2 shows a similar position but there is a big difference: the Pawns in the second file have already been exchanged.

White in hand: nothing
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
| *  *  *  *  * wK  * wN wL |a
| *  *  *  *  *  * wG wB  * |b
| *  *  *  *  * wP  * wP  * |c
| *  *  *  *  *  * wP  * wP |d
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |e
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bS bP |f
| *  *  *  *  *  * bP  *  * |g
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bR  * |h
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bN bL |i
+---------------------------+
Black in hand: P 
Diagram 2.
There is nothing to hinder Black's Silver to advance to 2e, from where he can next play Sx3d thereby making the breakthrough in the 2nd file possible.

If White plays G3c to secure the Pawn on 3d, Black can drop his Pawn on 2d (Diagram 3). Quite successful position for Black.

White in hand: nothing
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
| *  *  *  *  * wK  * wN wL |a
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * wB  * |b
| *  *  *  *  * wP wG wP  * |c
| *  *  *  *  *  * wP bP wP |d
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bS  * |e
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * bP |f
| *  *  *  *  *  * bP  *  * |g
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bR  * |h
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bN bL |i
+---------------------------+
Black in hand: nothing
Diagram 3. Up to P*2d.
From Diagram 3, (a) if White plays Px2d, Sx2d, Gx2d, Rx2d,
(b) if White makes no response in this area, 
   (b1) Px2c+, Gx2c, S2d, Gx2d, Rx2d, or 
   (b2) Sx3d, Gx3d, Px2c+, or 
   (b3) Sx3d, Gx2d, Sx2c+, Gx2c, Rx2c+.
All will lead to quite a favorable position for Black.

Remember, your own Pawn in the Rook file can be a hindrance to your deployment.

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