Castling in Chess
In the eleventh stage, your child learns castling, a special move of the king and rook: how to castle short and long, and the six situations in which castling is not allowed. The stage is made up of short videos, explanations and 30 exercises on an interactive board.
What’s in this stage
- How to castle: short and long castling — 4 exercises
- When you can’t castle — 11 exercises
- What prevents castling — 11 exercises
- Brain teasers: castling to win — 4 exercises
Total: 30 exercises
How to castle: short and long castling
Castling is the only move in which two pieces move at once: the king moves two squares toward the rook, and the rook jumps over the king and lands right next to it. Short castling (kingside) is toward the nearer rook, with the king landing on g1 or g8; long castling (queenside) is toward the farther rook, with the king landing on c1 or c8. You move the king first. You can castle only once per game; it tucks the king away to safety and brings the rook into play.
When you can’t castle
Castling is not allowed in six cases: the king has already moved; the rook has already moved (then you can’t castle on that side); there are pieces between the king and the rook; the king is in check; the king would pass through an attacked square; the king would end up in check after castling. The rules about attacked squares apply only to the king: the rook may be under attack and may pass through an attacked square.
What prevents castling
Exercises on all six rules: find the piece that prevents castling, and make whichever castling is possible in the position.
Brain teasers: castling to win
Castling isn’t only about keeping the king safe. Sometimes castling delivers checkmate, or gives check and attacks a piece at the same time. In the next and final stage of the course: stalemate and perpetual check.