Seriously, can someone spell out the advantages and disadvantages of castling for me? I just don't get why so MANY of my opponents castle, and do it so soon.
Now, looking at my rating you might think I should join them. But the fact remains that I have scored quite a lot of victories against people who have basically trapped their own king in a corner. Whereas I only castle either when it's clear my opponent's attack is coming/will come from a particular side/angle, or I have a reason to get a rook across the board.
Sure, I get caught in the middle sometimes, but it seems to happen less often than my opponent getting caught in the corner. (I should probably do an analysis of my games - who castled when, which side did they castle etc. rather than going on gut feeling, but I doubt I have the time).
Maybe it's just that at the level I play at, people don't know how to castle properly? I mean, they don't prepare the necessary defences to go with it. Someone told them castling was good and they just do it.
Thoughts/comments appreciated.
Originally posted by XanthosNZBut without more, the pawns at g2 and h2 are sitting ducks for a queen that has backup.
The standard kingside castled position (king on g1, rook on f1 and pawns on f2,g2 and h2) is much harder to attack (often sacs are required) than a king in an open centre.
Your opponents may be castling to flanks already full of pieces or behind badly placed pawns.
This is where the problem lies. The most common extra piece is a knight on... f3 I think, protecting h2. That certainly makes an attack tougher.
I agree that sacrifices are often required, but I'm more than willing to make them because once I get through, it's game over. No ifs or buts, no chance to manouevre out of the way if that dumb rook is still sitting on f1 (and you'd be surprised just how often it's still sitting there, looking embarrassed).
Originally posted by orfeoIf there is a King between the Rooks, then the enemy Queen can take one of them without fear of reprisal.
But without more, the pawns at g2 and h2 are sitting ducks for a queen that has backup.
This is where the problem lies. The most common extra piece is a knight on... f3 I think, protecting h2. That certainly makes an attack tougher.
I agree that sacrifices are often required, but I'm more than willing to make them because once I get through, it's game ...[text shortened]... f1 (and you'd be surprised just how often it's still sitting there, looking embarrassed).
Originally posted by orfeoPartly, you may not be playing opponents good enough to punish you; basically, it's much easier to break open lines and get to a King in the centre than a castled King.
Seriously, can someone spell out the advantages and disadvantages of castling for me? I just don't get why so MANY of my opponents castle, and do it so soon.
Now, looking at my rating you might think I should join them. But the fact remains that I have scored quite a lot of victories against people who have basically trapped their own king in a corner. ...[text shortened]... it. Someone told them castling was good and they just do it.
Thoughts/comments appreciated.
Secondly, it's usually important to get your Rooks activated early if you want to fight for the centre, hence castling early is good.
As with everything else, it depends on the position and what you are trying to accomplish.
Originally posted by orfeoThere is no rational.Never castle again. Ever. Let's play.
Seriously, can someone spell out the advantages and disadvantages of castling for me? I just don't get why so MANY of my opponents castle, and do it so soon.
Now, looking at my rating you might think I should join them. But the fact remains that I have scored quite a lot of victories against people who have basically trapped their own king in a corner. ...[text shortened]... it. Someone told them castling was good and they just do it.
Thoughts/comments appreciated.
Originally posted by OsseI agree.
Partly, you may not be playing opponents good enough to punish you; basically, it's much easier to break open lines and get to a King in the centre than a castled King.
Secondly, it's usually important to get your Rooks activated early if y ...[text shortened]... it depends on the position and what you are trying to accomplish.
In the Ruy, Steinitz played a closed , delayed queenside castle, with pawn on d3 and pushed h4 against the black kingside.
Of course in an open Ruy with pawn on d4, it makes no sense for white not to castle early.
If lines are open, castle and castle quickly. It gets your king out of danger in the middle where he is most vulnerable. However, if the game is closed, don't castle. Most breaks in closed games occur on the wings, and it isn't a good idea to have your king sit where the enemy is breaking through.
Originally posted by smartmidget89Ah, I like THIS one! I think that's what I tend to do. I'm much more likely to castle if it's an open game.
If lines are open, castle and castle quickly. It gets your king out of danger in the middle where he is most vulnerable. However, if the game is closed, don't castle. Most breaks in closed games occur on the wings, and it isn't a good idea to have your king sit where the enemy is breaking through.
Originally posted by Paul Diracif queens are swapped early aren't you putting yourself at a disadvantage by not castling? ie keeping your rooks seperated and making it harder for them to control the center.
It was suggested to me a couple of days ago in another thread that not castling makes sense if the queens are swapped early on, the idea being that a centralized king is more valuable than one in the pocket.
Originally posted by bdh191If you play your King to e2(e7) in one move you've connected the rooks, just as in castling. The rook rarely stays on the f-file anyway, so in theory this is just as effective.
if queens are swapped early aren't you putting yourself at a disadvantage by not castling? ie keeping your rooks seperated and making it harder for them to control the center.
Correct me if I'm wrong but .....
as black in the Najdorf, isn't common to leave castling until late or not at all? As the best side isn't clear and castling Kingside sets up an obvious target???
Are there any other openings where castling is delayed until late?
ps I think this is a great question to ask.
Originally posted by The Swine Down HopeLots of lines in varios openings...
Correct me if I'm wrong but .....
as black in the Najdorf, isn't common to leave castling until late or not at all? As the best side isn't clear and castling Kingside sets up an obvious target???
Are there any other o ...[text shortened]... delayed until late?
ps I think this is a great question to ask.
To mention a few:
* Schvesnikov - A game Kasparov-Leko - a couple of years ago... Kasparov moved his King very late. (to d1 I think).
*Latvian gambit. (Lame opening so I don't think this count).
*Modern/pirc. Black often keeps his King, Kings knight and Kings rock in starting positions for a long time so that white has no real targets...
*Grûnfeld (Kramnik variation) Q exchange on d2, recapture with King and a couple of moves later move it back to e1 :-).
edit: woops, how could I forget to mention the French where lots of respected lines are with a late Kf8 for black. Or the only variation in the pin variation that is not clear white advantage (also a late Kf8).