A Rook is of the value of five Pawns and a fraction, and may be exchanged for a minor Piece and two Pawns. Two Rooks may be exchanged for three minor Pieces.

Modern commentators consider Staunton's understanding of positional play to have been far ahead of his contemporaries'. In 1858 attempts were made to organise a match between Staunton and Morphy but they failed. Staunton has been a controversial figure since his own time and his chess writings could be spiteful.