What is Castling in chess?
A move that tucks your king to safety and activates a rook.
The king moves two squares toward a rook and the rook jumps to the other side. You can't castle through check, out of check, or after either piece has moved.
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Analyze my games →More chess terms
- FianchettoDeveloping a bishop to the long diagonal from b2, g2, b7, or g7.
- GambitSacrificing material, usually a pawn, for faster development or attack.
- StalemateA draw where the player to move has no legal move and isn't in check.
- CheckmateThe king is in check and has no legal way to escape - the game is over.
- Zwischenzug (in-between move)An unexpected move inserted before the 'expected' recapture.
- TempoA single move counted as a unit of time.