Q: Rook transfer in the middle game

This is rather a techincal question, and i don't even know if there's a clear answer for this. I would just like to know how do you think in this case.
How do you evaluate moving the rook across, to other file? In case, for example, that your playing ibisha, how do you evalute a possible rook transfer to other file?

For example:
the 2nd file is already defended, and since a pawn trade was already made in other file, it's a possibility to move the rook there.
Or:
if there's a silver already climbing in that file, it's also a possibility to move the rook to support that silver.

This ideas come to mind. But i would like to know how do you evaluate if moving the rook to ther file will have some success or not.

A: I would say if you're playing Ibisha you should usually stick with it unless you feel an attack on the 1st or 3rd file would be more effective. Usually when you play Ibisha you cut off the other files with defending generals.

I guess one way you can is if your opponent is going for rapid castling you can try a rapid attack (Yagura central rook seems to be a good example) hitting the opponent while he/she is in a vulnerable position.

Sorry for the semi-lame answer hope it gives some insight.

A joseki you might be interested in is Twisting Rook; in Japanese, Hineribisha (ひねり飛車).

You can see a basic overview of it in Hidetchi's video Lesson#18- Castles for Ranging Rook against Static Rook, starting at 8:55.

You can find 14 professional games played with Twisting Rook at Takodori-san's database, Kifu by Opening Strategy.

@ Nutaboutit I'm not quite sure about sticking with Ibisha, in the 2nd file, just because one chose it in the opening...Shogi requires also dynamic moves wich adapt to your opponents weakness. As for the generals cutting off the other files, depends if you have a yagura gakoi, or a mino, or boat, in any of this cases the files from 1st to 4th can be free.

With yagura the central file is also free, as you mentioned for rapid attack. Or if your opponent just castles blindly 4th file rook transfer is also an idea.

I was thinking more in terms of middle game, when one must find weaknesses and planning attacks.

@Hirohiigo thanks for the ideias, i will sure check those infos. Altough i did knew takodori's-san kifu website, it didn't came to my mind to check it for ideas.

Supposing you are Sente and your opponent is Gote. If your opponent is a kind of player who tends to complete Yagura Castle to enter his King to 2b without seeing your formation, then trasferring your Rook to the 4th file with keeping your Bishop diagonal line open which is called Migi Shikenbisha(Right 4th file Rook) will be very powerful to collapse his Yagura Castle.

Here is the hypothetical example.

Code:

Black: Sente
White: Gote

  1.P-7f  P-3d    2.P-2f  P-4d    3.S-4h  S-4b    4.G-7h  S-3c 
  5.S-6h  G-3b    6.K-6i  G-5b    7.P-5f  G5b-4c  8.G-5h  K-4a 
  9.P-3f  S-6b    10.P-4f  P-5d    11.S4h-5g B-3a    12.R-4h  B-4b 
 13.N-3g  K-3a    14.P-4e  Px4e    15.Rx4e  P*4d    16.R-4i  K-2b 
 17.N-2e  S-2d    18.P*4e  K-1b    19.Px4d  G-5c    20.P-4c+  G5cx4c
 21.Rx4c+  Gx4c    22.G*2b(mate) 

Wow. I think I've heard of this Yagura killer strategy. What's it called?

Edit: Nvm. Dumb question, hehe. I completely overlooked that somehow...

He said it in his post: Righthand Fourth File Rook (Migi Shikenbisha).

What if the King went to 3a instead of 1b..? (move 18)