Developing Rooks?

I don't have many games under my belt, but there's already one constant:

At some point I'm gonna be frustrated because my rooks aren't anywhere remotely useful. 
Maybe I managed to get one of them closer to the action by castling, but the other one is probably still stuck on the back rank behind its pawn

So, what are y'all doing with your rooks to get them into useful positions?

Castling is very important. If you see an open file, bring your rooks to that file and try to dominate there. 

So, keep the rook on the back rank but shift it to a more open file?

Rooks belong on open files or files that may become open. If you've castled and you think the centre might open up due to pawn trades then centralise your rooks. If the centre pawns are locked then you may be thinking about a pawn break on the kingside or queenside. This will open up files, so you can position your rooks where you think the break may occur. A common pattern for example, if the centre is locked, is to play the f2-f4 pawn break on the kingside, with the f file rook supporting the push. The f pawn busts open the centre. On the queenside it is common to slide the rook over to the b file and have it support b2-b4-b5 pawn break and bust open the b or c file. Once you've opened a file you can double up your rooks and try to infiltrate your opponents position Good luck.

That is why minor pieces have a bigger role in the early middlegame in many cases. Rooks needs semi open and open files, so in order to involve them, you will have to open the position up by exchanging some pawns. 

Rooks are very useful in the endgame, but in the opening and middlegame they don't have that much use

Rooks should be connected, otherwise, they are pretty useless for attacking until the mid-to-end game when the files open up for them to come out in play. 

If you are pushing wood(developing your pieces because you don't have a plan), place them on open or semi-open files is often a good idea.  Otherwise, keep your focus on your pawns, bishops and knights, and wait until they start coming off the board before worrying about your rooks. 

Another idea is that if your opponent has castled you can leave the rook on its original square and push the flank pawn forward. Thus the rook participates in the game by adding power to this pawn advance. 

Rooks are valuable.  In many games, sitting safely in the corner is the best place for at least one of them to be.  After all your bishops and knights are off the back rank and out of the way, and your king is safely castled, then you can easily move them someplace where they'll have more of a role to play.

That usually means keeping them on the back rank but placed on an open or semi-open file, where they can threaten a weak enemy pawn from a distance, or hinder the enemy's back-rank movement, while defending each other.   When the time is right, a rook an on open file can advance to the 7th or 8th rank.

8th rank can be a one-move mate, but it's often well-defended.  7th rank is usually a great way to restrict the enemy king and/or grab some material.

Another good use for rooks is a "battery": two rooks stacked on a single file, preferably pointed at the enemy king.   (See also:  Alekhine's Gun.)   Building a battery requires a "rook lift":  bringing one rook "up" forward a bit (often the third rank, to get around your own pawns) so you can swing it horizontally into its new position.  To do that, it either needs to start on a semi-open file, or the pawn in front of it needs to be sufficiently advanced to leave space behind it.  So once again, the rook should wait patiently in the corner until the other the natural progress of the game moves other pieces out of the way.

Put a couple of pawns near the center and then let your knights out first - they love the center and they don't mind a crowd.  Then find good spots for your bishops - they like the long diagonals.  Get your king to safety by castling.    Not until then should you worry about where your rooks will go.

Thank you all so much for your input <3

wow thats long lol

and very educational

Of course, this is all just theory.  None of it matters if you don't realize when your pieces are under attack.  I'm talking about move 6 of your current game vs UrbanSpark.  And move 8.  And move 11.  

Edit: actually, looking at your other games, it might be that you *are* seeing the attacks, you're just making bad trades.  Don't give up a knight just to get a pawn.  Don't give up a queen just to get a bishop, even if that's the only way to save your rook.  The queen is worth more than a rook and a bishop combined.  Q= 9 or 10 points, R = 5, N/B = 3, P = 1.

I like to tell myself that I've achieved Board Tunnel Vision

But you're right, there are too many moves where I go "woah, where did *that* come from???" and I'm working on that.

Tip - never play 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6?? with black or you may not be able to develop your Rh8 at all:

2.Nc6 or 2.d6 are both much better ways to protect your e5 pawn.