Someone explain the rationale of castling

Is there a "Castling for Dummies" book at the bookstore?

Originally posted by Regicidal
Is there a "Castling for Dummies" book at the bookstore?

I think this is a good example of where not castling cost white the game.
He didn't take the opportunity to castle early and and on move 15 ...Bb4 prevents him from ever doing so.
Eventually the white king is left exposed and is chased to checkmate.

Game 997750

In that game notice how black's king stays safe despite the queen and bishop attempting to attack it.

Originally posted by XanthosNZ
In that game notice how black's king stays safe despite the queen and bishop attempting to attack it.

I castle to remove my king from the center, where danger lurks, and to contribute to that danger with my rook.

My opponent castles to present me with a fixed target, and to remove his or her rook from the edge where I plan to attack.

Originally posted by Wulebgr
I castle to remove my king from the center, where danger lurks, and to contribute to that danger with my rook.

My opponent castles to present me with a fixed target, and to remove his or her rook from the edge where I plan to attack.

As some in this thread have said (actually, BECAUSE of some in this thread) I castle in open games and not closed ones. It not only gives me a solid defense, it gives me an attacking opportunity.

However, if I have moved the center pawn in the castle, I do not castle. I'll either go to the other side or not castle at all. If there's one thing I learned from playing against my brother, it's to never move the center pawn in a castle. X_X