rules, tactics, strategies and history

Castling

Only once in a game is a player allowed to move more than one piece at a time. This one move is called "castling" and is made by the King together with one of the Rooks. In castling the King moves two squares toward the Rook and the Rook is placed on the square over which the King has passed. In the position of diagram below, both players may castle either side.

								8
								7
								6
								5
								4
								3
								2
								1
a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

White, in "castling King's side" would place the white King on g1 and the King's Rook on f1; in "castling Queen's side" the King would leap to c1 while the Queen's Rook would take its stand on d1. Likewise Black would castle by either playing the King to g8 and the Rook from h8 to f8, or the King to c8 and the Rook from a8 to d8.

Castling is permitted only when neither King nor Rook concerned has previously moved, when none of the squares between the King and the Rook are obstructed and when none of the three squares involved in the King's move are controlled by an adverse piece . Thus if in check the player may not castle. In the game shown below, neither White nor Black may castle.

								8
								7
								6
								5
								4
								3
								2
								1
a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

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