Chess rules · beginner
Castling
Castle kingside: tuck your king away and bring your rook into the game in one move.
Last updated
touch_appLearn it by doing: read the short explanation, then play it on the board.
Quick answer
Castling moves the king two squares towards a rook, then puts that rook on the square the king crossed. It's allowed only if neither piece has moved, the squares between them are empty, and the king is not in check, does not pass through an attacked square and does not land in check.
Step by step
You may castle only if: • neither the king nor that rook has moved, • no pieces are between them, • your king is not in check, and doesn't pass through or land on an attacked square. To castle here, move the king two squares to g1.
Test yourself
quizAnswer on the board. It's the same drill as in the app, no account needed.
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Common mistakes
- Castling out of check. If your king is in check you must deal with it first.
- Castling through an attacked square. The squares the king crosses must be safe (the rook's path doesn't matter).
- Moving the king first and thinking you can still castle later: once the king has moved, castling is gone for good.
Tips from the lesson
- Move your king two squares towards the h1 rook.
- King and rook must be unmoved, no check, nothing in between.
Where you'll use this
FAQ
Can you castle out of check?add
No. You can castle later if the check is gone and the king and rook still haven't moved.
Can you castle if the rook is attacked?add
Yes. Only the king's start, path and landing square must be free of attack.
Which is better, kingside or queenside castling?add
Kingside (O-O) is quicker and usually safer. Queenside (O-O-O) brings the rook to the centre faster but leaves the king a bit more exposed.
How do you castle in online chess?add
Move the king two squares towards the rook (or click the rook, on some sites). The rook jumps over automatically.