You don't need to announce that you're castling, just do it.
Similarly, you don't need to announce when you're putting someone in check.
Once the game starts, chances are my opponent and I don't say anything to each other except possibly "Draw?" and/or "J'adoube"/"Adjust." Anything beyond that (with the exception of the rare rule disputes) is unneccesary.
The only time it's ok to speak is to offer/respond to draw offers, adjusting pieces, or making a claim (like illegal move). You don't announce check, or castle, or anything like this. If you do announce it, it has no affect on the rules. For example if you announce you intend to move your bishop, then move your rook, you can't take back your rook move. If you repeatedly talk during the game, you might be penalized.
In USCF you can move either the king or the rook first when castling.
When you touch a piece, you must move that piece if legal, and you can move it anywhere you choose (as long as it's a legal move).
However when you let go of a piece, you're no longer able to change the move (if it's legal).
So for example if you move rook on h1 to f1 and let go for the rook, you can either let that be your move, or you can then move the king from e1 to g1 and castle. Either way, the rook must stay on f1.
So if you move your king from e1 to f1 and let go, and then try to caslte, this is illegal because the king must stay on f1.
This is news to me... I've always believed that, at least, on FIDE tournaments you cannot move the rook first when castling, you have to move the king, otherwise it counts as a rook move. Is it different for USCF? Or is my information outdated with regards to FIDE as well?
It is also important to note that (at least, according to FIDE rules) it is illegal to castle with both hands at once. You are supposed to move one piece, let go, then move another piece.
I see. Interesting, thanks!
If castling, either King or Queen side, you move the King 2 squares, never 1 square.
IIRC you're right that in FIDE if you touch the rook first you can't castle. I always move the king first just so I don't have to bother remembering whether or not the rules permit it, so I had to look up this rule.
10I2. Rook touched first
If a player intending to castle touches the rook first there is no penalty, except if castling is illegal. The player must move the rook if legal.
May have changed recently (From https://toledochess.org/hschess/info/important_uscfrules.pdf 6th edition; not official USCF source so can't be sure of its accuracy)
10I2: Rook touched first
If a player intending to castle touches the rook first, castling is not allowed and the player must move the rook as required by rule 10B.
Oh, good catch.
Wish they would just kept all the updated rules online. That way you wouldn't have to check two places. I only looked in the book.
They do have updates online, just not the main rules.
http://www.uschess.org/docs/gov/reports/RulebookChanges.pdf
I'll have to look when I get home but there may still be an optional rule that allows rook to be touched first.
edit (guess I should have looked at the update since it is there :/): 10I2. Rook touched first.
If a player intending to castle touches the rook first, castling is not allowed and the player must
move the rook as required by rule 10B.
10I2. (Variation I) Rook touched first.
If a player intending to castle touches the rook first, there is no penalty except if castling is
illegal, the player must move the rook if legal. This variation does not need to be announced in
advanced publicity but should be announced at the start of the tournament.
It's not for revenue. When they were first publishing the rules they entered into a publishing agreement/contract that didn't allow them to just put out the rules for free (way before most people would have thought about electronic publishing). They are still bound by that.
I haven't kept up with that so it may be possible that they will renegotiate at some point but at least now you can buy an electronic copy.
Contract with the publishing company. I don't have all the details, just read about it some. Probably a exclusivity contract minimize costs to the organization but that is just a guess.
In USCF tournaments, when a player wants to castle, I think s/he must perform the following steps in order:
Step 1. announce "castle"
Step 2. move the king
Step 3. move the rook
Is the above correct?
Since "castle" was announced, is it then legal to move however you want to reach the final position? E.g. move the king (say) 1 square, then move the rook 1 square, then move the king 1 square, and move the rook.
Is it also legal to not make the announcement and just start at moving the king 2 squares? (I.e. skipping step #1).
Thanks.
Move first the King two steps then the rook over the King. Step 1 is not necessary.
In USCF tournaments, when a player wants to castle, I think s/he must perform the following steps in order:
Step 1. announce "castle"
Step 2. move the king
Step 3. move the rook
Is the above correct?
Since "castle" was announced, is it then legal to move however you want to reach the final position? E.g. move the king (say) 1 square, then move the rook 1 square, then move the king 1 square, and move the rook.
Is it also legal to not make the announcement and just start at moving the king 2 squares? (I.e. skipping step #1).
Thanks.