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Kingside vs Queenside

Kingside vs Queenside

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What side do you prefer to castle to and why?

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I like to conserve all my energy and dedicate it soley to the game.
I refuse to let even slightest trifle disturb me.

So from the outset, White or Black, I always plan to castle Kingside,
my openings are geared for Kingside castling only.

Then all I need do to write down on my score sheet is 0-0 as oppossed
to the time consuming, energy wasting 0-0-0 should I castle Queenside.

Writing down the extra '0' would distract me.

I have castled Kingside approx 500 times OTB
If I had castled Queenside in those games I would written down 500 extra '0'

and that looks like this:

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Of course I did trifle with the idea of not castling at all thus
saving myself future toil by eliminating the need to write an 0.

This worked in the fact that I did not have to record many moves
at all as I often found myself being mated before move 20.
But after discussing the matter with my doctors I started castling again.
But only on the Kingside.

Hope this helps.

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For me, it depends how good I think my opponent is. If they're good, I won't mess around and castle king-side. If I think they might be thrown by an unusual strategy, I'll try the queen-side

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Originally posted by TK80
What side do you prefer to castle to and why?
Lol, this has to be one of the funniest questions I have come across, no offence opening poster, but it solely depends on the the game and position. Nobody can actually have a favourite position ( side ) to castle in reality.

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Castle early and often.

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Originally posted by greenpawn34
I like to conserve all my energy and dedicate it soley to the game.
I refuse to let even slightest trifle disturb me.

So from the outset, White or Black, I always plan to castle Kingside,
my openings are geared for Kingside castling only.

Then all I need do to write down on my score sheet is 0-0 as oppossed
to the time consuming, energy wastin ...[text shortened]... ter with my doctors I started castling again.
But only on the Kingside.

Hope this helps.
Morphy castled queenside 😛


Originally posted by ketchuplover
Castle early and often.
try twice a game at least

2 edits
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Sometimes the position dictates which direction you should castle to. But if the position isn't important, then castle kingside, as queenside castling has some structural weaknesses not present in kingside castling. (Possibly an unprotected a-pawn, and possibly a weak c-pawn only protected by the king.)

(Not a funny question at all.)

2 edits
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Originally posted by Mad Rook
Sometimes the position dictates which direction you should castle to. But if the position isn't important, then castle kingside, as queenside castling has some structural weaknesses not present in kingside castling. (Possibly an unprotected a-pawn, and possibly a weak c-pawn only protected by the king.)
yes indeed, also sometimes the position should dictate whether one should castle or
not. Here is a rather excellent Steinitz game where his opponent castled early and
Steintiz used this to launch an attack, Steintz himself does not castle until it is
necessary to do so. I think a good rule of thumb is, if the centre is likely to open or
you need rooks for semi/open files then castle otherwise there might be something
better.

1 edit
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Originally posted by hintjul
Lol, this has to be one of the funniest questions I have come across, no offence opening poster, but it solely depends on the the game and position. Nobody can actually have a favourite position ( side ) to castle in reality.
None taken. Reason I asked is because I see everyone castle king side and I prefer to go Queen side to stop back rank later (I still miss things often) and to get the rook out in the open sooner.

Thanks for the input from everyone.

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"Morphy castled queenside."

Morphy never wrote down his moves during a game.
No need to, he remembered all his games. So writing the extra 0,
(in them days it was done with a feather quill) did not bother him.
Back then it was not required (no clocks).

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Originally posted by Mad Rook
Sometimes the position dictates which direction you should castle to. But if the position isn't important, then castle kingside, as queenside castling has some structural weaknesses not present in kingside castling. (Possibly an unprotected a-pawn, and possibly a weak c-pawn only protected by the king.)

(Not a funny question at all.)
I think it is,its about opinions, personal opinions MR.Rook.

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I have seen plenty of engine vs engine games where they have not bothered to castle, completely shatters the theory you should always castle, after all, computers rule the modern game.

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Originally posted by hintjul
I think it is,its about opinions, personal opinions MR.Rook.
My opinion is that you're a funny guy.

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Originally posted by Mad Rook
My opinion is that you're a funny guy.
Thanks, I appreciate your great judgement, Im a very funny guy.