Chess is a game full of choices. Which move should I start with? What move do I play next? Should I trade pieces? Should I castle my king? Some questions are easier to answer than others. You probably should play e4 or d4 to start the game, play a good developing move, maybe trade when you are ahead, and castle as soon as possible. But what about which direction to castle? If you are new to chess, you may not even be aware of all of the choices that you have available to you, but learning all of your choices is the first step to playing great moves.
Why is castling so important in chess? This beginner’s guide explains the castling rules, compares short and long castling, and shows how pawn structures and defending pieces can protect your king. You’ll also discover the brilliant, yet little-known, +2 rule that will help you to attack an under-defended enemy king!
