Rogoff was a gifted chess player and in the late 1970s was one of the strongest players in the United States. He attained the rank of National Master at the age of 14, and was awarded the titles of International Master in 1974 and Grandmaster in 1978. Notable results included second place in the 1975 U.S. Championship and draws in individual games against former world champions Mikhail Tal and Tigran Petrosian.