Training Session # 17

Special Move: Castling

In today · s session you were .introduced to the special move- Cast l ing. Besides learning as to how this
move is executed, you must have also understood the importance of this move- the objective in the
game of Chess for each player is to ' Checkmate ' the opponent ' s King- and is the precise reason why
you should look for safety of your own King, which is provided by Castl ing.
Since this move is allowed once in the course of the game, not being able to · Castle· is serious
disadvantage.
Please also find below few practical tips on Cast l ing:
1. Castl ing is basically the King ' s move as such, please touch King first whi le Cast ling.
2. B e doubly sure that position in the game allows you t o Castle! I f your King i s under attack (in
' Check' ), you are temporarily prevented from Ccistling.
3. You are also temporarily prevented from Castling i f the King ' s ' Jumping ' square (fl, f8 on
the King-side and dl, d8 on the Queen-side) is under attack.
4. You are also temporarily prevented from Castl ing if the King ' s Landing ' square (gl, g8 on the
•

King-side and cl, c8 on the Queen-side) is under attack.

5. However, you are allowed to Castle if the Roo k's square (hl, h8 on the King-side and al, a8 on
the Queen-side) is under attack.
6. You are also. allowed to Castle if the square, which the Rook is going to cross over (bl, b8 on
the Queen-side) is under attack.
Our task is now to consol idate the knowledge of Castl ing rules by solving 16 Questions. The solving
method is to read the questions below each of the diagram and record its answer (in pencil only) as
specified. A sample question and answer will help you in grasping the essentials very quickly.
No. of Questions: 16
Scoring Pattern: 1 for each of the correct answer
Maximum Marks: 16

a b c d e f h a b c d e f h

8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7

6 6 6 6

5 5 5 5

4 4

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2

1 1 1
a c e g a c e g
Black ' s Bishop is attacking the White ' s White· s Rook is attacking the b8 square.
Rook o n hl. Can White Castle in this Can Black Castle in this position?
position?

( YES
.I I NO
) ( YES
.I I NO
)
The Chess Course ( Beginners) 90 Castl ing
 a b c d e f h
� a b c d e f h

8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7

6 6 6 6

5 5 5 5

4 4 4

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2

1 1 1 1
a b c d e f g a c e g
1. Mark · x · on the Landing Square after 2. Mark · x · on the Landing Square after
White Castles King side. Black Castles Queen-side.

a b c d e f h a b c d e f h

8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7

6 6 6 6

5 5 5 5

4 4 4 4

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2

1 1 1 1
a b c d e g a c e g

3. Show King (mark 'X') and Roo k ' s 4 . Show King (mark ' X') and Rook's
(mark .I) arrival square after Black (mark .I) arrival square after White
Castles King-side. Castles Queen-si de.

tj
[Ma�sl
The Chess Course ( Beginners) 91 Castling
 a b c d e f h a b c d e f h

·1
a c e g a c e g

5. White is in Check from the Black's 6. White ' s Bishop on d6 is attacking the
Bishop on b4. Can he Castle in this f8-square (jumping square of Black ' s
King). Can Black Castle King-side in

) [ � ]
position?

Ma s
this position?

___ ). t=j (___ vE_s__ __No__ _

(....__YES__;,.ji._NO_... ___.__

a b c d e f h a b c d e f h

8 8 8

7 7 7

6 6 6

5 5 5

4 4

3 3 3

2 2 2

1 1 1

a c e g a c e g
7. Black Queen is attacking the gl square 8. White ' s Bishop is attacking b8-square.
('Landing Square' of White 's King). Can square. Can Black Castle Queen-Side

[ � ] )
White Castle King-Side in this position? in this position?

(..___vE_s _____.__ Ma
_ o_N __) s (___ E_vs__ __No___ [Ma�] ___.__

The Chess Course ( Beginners) 92 Castling

 a b c d e f h a b c d e f h

a c e g a c e g

9. Can Black Castle in this position? 10. Can White Castle in this position?

�ES
(...._ ____._
._
� �ES--
) � (.. .___ ----'-
NO _ NO
____
_
�
)�

a b c d e f h a b c d e f h

8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7

6 6 6 6

5 5 5 5

4 4 4 4

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2

1 1 1 1

a b c d e g a c e g

11. White Castles Queenside. Record the 12. Black Castles King-side. Record the
Move in Chess Notation. Move in Chess Notation.
Move Move
No.
WHITE BLACK (Ma�sl No.
WHITE BLACK [Ma�sl
The Chess Course ( Beginners) 93 Castling
 r�
---
Oec�QwaCui'

a b c d e f h a b c d e f h

a c e g a c e g
13. 14.
White is temporarily prevented to Castle Black is temporari ly prevented to Castle
on Queen-side. W hy? on Queen-side. W hy?
Tick (I') the correct answer from alternatives given: Tick (I') the correct answer from alternatives given:
1. His Rook on al is under attack. 1. King·s·original Square· is under attack.
2. His King has already moved. 2. King·s·crossing Square· is under attack.
3. The ' Landing ' square - 'cl' is under
attack by Black·s Queen.
(Marks] 3. The Knight on g8 has not yet moved. (Marksl
a b c d e f h a b c d e f h

a c e g
13.
White desires t o Castle i n the position. His
King and either of the Rooks have not yet have
moved. What are the options available for him?
1. He can only Castle on the King-side
2. He can Castle on either of the side
3. He can only Castle on the Queen-side
The Chess Course ( Beginners)
a c e g
16.
Black desires to Castle in the position. His King
and either of the Rooks have not yet have
moved. What are the options available for him?
1. He can only Castle on the King-side
2. He can Castle on either of the side
3. He can only Castle on the Queen-side
4. He cannot Castle on either of the side (Marksl
94 Castling