Castling

There are SIX rules which stop you castling in certain situations. If either of the first two cases apply to the game, then you are prevented from castling at all during the game! Once you have moved your King you cannot castle at all. Even if you have moved the King back again to it's starting square, you are still not allowed to castle. Once you have moved your Rook you cannot castle at all. Just as you may not castle if the King has moved before, neither may you castle at all if the Rook concerned has previously moved. In the following four cases you are prevented from castling only while any of these conditions exist. You are not allowed to castle if your King is in check. You are not allowed to castle if the King in moving finishes up on a square that is being attacked by an enemy piece. This would mean that the King would move into check which he is not allowed to do. The King may never move on to an attacked square. You are not allowed to castle if your King has to move across a square that is being attacked. You are not allowed to castle if a piece is standing on any squares between the King and the individual Rook you are going to use to castle with.
The White King is in check by the Black Knight and therefore in this position cannot castle. 'A King cannot castle out of check'
The White Queen checks the Black King. Again Black cannot castle in this position.
The White Bishop attacks a square over which the Black King would have to pass to castle. Another position where Black cannot castle.
The Black King would have to cross over a square attacked by the White Rook so again Black cannot castle.
If Black attempts to castle in this position , then his King would land on a square attacked by the White Rook and so will move into check. This is not allowed so Black cannot castle. A king is not allowed to castle into check
Here the Black Bishop attacks the square on which the White King will land if White attempts to castle. So again white is prevented from castling.
Here the White Bishop attacks the Black Rook. This however does not prevent Black from castling.

DISCLAIMER: The information given in this site is presented in good faith, but the site-author is human and does make mistakes! Should you find anything that you believe is in error please notify the Webmaster of your finding.

Any teacher using this site to set up a Chess Club needs to refer to their own School's Regulations on running a club within their establishment, and adhere to Health and Safety Provisions made therein. they should also carefully go through any competition rules for tournamnets they enter.