Originally posted by Agerg Good point! often the games I play end up with a locked centre and so I can usually afford the wait. I've had a couple where the centre was open though, and I got away with it here because their pieces were more interested in fending off an attack his castled king than attacking mine still in the middle.
Often people argue centralising rooks is a good reaso ...[text shortened]... he rook is also well placed (prior to castling) to menace a king's defence once he's castled.
There is another reason for castling, i.e. rooks connection. One of the opening objectives is to ensure your back rank rooks see each other. If you are sure that you can survive without achieving this objective then it is ok. Otherwise the outcome of the game may be decided by whose rooks are better developed.
Middle game strategy related to rooks is doubling them in open an open file and try to invade 7th or 8th rank.
early or late castlers?
25 Apr '11 01:16
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