Castling With The King Rook or the Queen Rook

What is Castling?

What is the King Rook? What is the Queen Rook?
These are very important questions to some important strategy moves in Chess.

On the Chess Board, there are two Rooks on each side of the King and Queen. If you remember, the one Rook is on the side of the Queen, and the other Rook is on the side of the King. Hence the King Rook and the Queen Rook.

That makes two different Castling moves. The King is the only one who can Castle. The Queen can not Castle. The terms are used only to differentiate how the moves are to be made.

The purpose of using Castling is to keep the King safe.
It is used when there is a need to move the King to a square that is safe from attack.

See the picture below for an explanation of the King Rook and the Queen Rook.

Rook, King, Queen, Rook

The starting placement of the King and Rook, and the ending positions on Castling King side:

Ending Position for King Rook

Starting Position for King Rook

Castling from the Queen Rook is the same concept. You are just using the Rook next to the Queen instead of the Rook next to the King.

The King will move two squares so that he will be close to the Rook that he wants to use.

If he wants to use his own Rook, his two moves will bring him right next to the Rook and then the Rook will be placed on the opposite side of the King as the above illustrations show.

If the King wants to use the Rook on the Queens side (the Queen Rook), he will again move two squares toward that Rook, but will not be right next to the Rook. He will then place the Rook on the opposite side of him. See the illustration below.

Ending Position for Queen Rook

Starting Position for Queen Rook

If both sides on the Chess board Castle their King Rooks, they will end up facing each other across the board.

If both Kings use the Castle move on the Queens side (the Queen Rooks), the Kings will face each other across the board too.

Keep in mind, that it safer to use the King Rook to Castle with. This is a general rule. You may see that you need to use the Queen Rook at times. 

If you Castle your King early in the game it is important because it keeps your King safe. 

There are situations where Castling is impossible. Click here to find out when Castling is impossible.

Reviews:

Rook Chess Piece moves, Rook Piece captures

King Plays Chess, King Piece Moves

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