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The point of Castling?

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LenaTries
Hi just learned how to Castle. Can I ask what is the point of it please as it looks like it just traps your King in the corner no?
tygxc

Castling O-O is a powerful move, it is like 3 moves Kf0, Rf1, Kg1 for the price of 1 move.

  1. It puts the king on a more secure place harder for your opponent to attack.
  2. It connects the rooks to activate them, so they can become active on an open file.
LenaTries

Thank you what does an open file mean?

tygxc

@3

A file is a column, i.e. a vertical line of squares on the board.
An open file is a file where your pawn is missing.
E.g. after 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 the e-file is open for white, and the d-file is open for black.

GeorgeWyhv14

advantages of a special move brings.

MariasWhiteKnight

If only one side is missing the pawn on the file, and the other side still has one, then its only a half-open file.

So to get an open file an example would be 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 and the e-file is open.

Half-open files are still useful for rooks of course, but as long as the opponent pawn is still defended, the rook cannot just break through.

Castling is a good idea, most of the time.

KeSetoKaiba
LenaTries wrote:
Hi just learned how to Castle. Can I ask what is the point of it please as it looks like it just traps your King in the corner no?

Castling early is one of the 3 main opening principles I write about in this blog post here: https://www.chess.com/blog/KeSetoKaiba/opening-principles-again

Castling hopes to hide the King from where it has more shelter (mostly behind its wall of pawns) because an uncastled King is usually extremely vulnerable in the opening and middlegame stage of the chess game.

Once more pieces are exchanged, then there is less danger of checkmate and bothersome checks, so the King is then more free to return towards the center of the chess board and ideally become an active attacker themselves too.

Castling also helps develop one of the rooks out of the corner too and this helps "connect the rooks" as @tygxc mentions.

LenaTries

Ok this explains it thank you I get it now.

Mazetoskylo
LenaTries wrote:

Thank you what does an open file mean?

An open line is a chessboard vertical line where there are no pawns left.

A semi-open line is a chessboard vertical line where one side has no pawn on it (the other side can have one, or more pawns).

The term "closed line" for a line where both sides have pans is rarely used.

GhostBurger_YT
My god how are u so dumb castling was the first thing I learnt about chess. lol
Mazetoskylo
GhostBurger_YT wrote:
My god how are u so dumb castling was the first thing I learnt about chess. lol

It seems that it's the one and only thing you've learned so far.

KeSetoKaiba
GhostBurger_YT wrote:
My god how are u so dumb castling was the first thing I learnt about chess. lol

When I was in elementary school, I just knew how the pieces move and that's about it. About half of the chess players in my class didn't know about castling (same with en passant). People aren't dumb for never being taught a rule yet. Everyone has to learn castling and other rules eventually.

mai

it makes your king safe

tolsthegoat
GhostBurger_YT wrote:
My god how are u so dumb castling was the first thing I learnt about chess. lol

said the 577 rated...

LenaTries

#9 OK thanks for explaining this.

ChessMasteryOfficial

King safety and rook activation.

chekagain
GhostBurger_YT wrote:
My god how are u so dumb castling was the first thing I learnt about chess. lol

tip- dont mock people for their chess skills whenyou are 600

SpockVaporizesRook

Ghostburger people who mistake a lack of knowledge or experience, for a lack of intelligence, often themselves suffer a lack of intelligence. Besides, Lena asked a good question, there's no need to be rude.