Castling: a practical example
In standard kingside castling, White's king moves from e1 to g1 and the rook from h1 to f1. The relevant king and rook must not have moved, the path must be clear, and the king may not castle out of, through, or into check.
How to use the idea in your games
A rook being attacked does not itself forbid castling. The restrictions concern the king's route and the move's other conditions. Always distinguish standard castling from Chess960 arrangements.
A useful study question
Can you explain castling in your own words, identify it in a position, and describe when the idea does not apply? Test the explanation on a legal board before relying on it.
Connect the ideas
King, Development, Check are useful next concepts. Follow the links to compare definitions and examples, then return to the complete chess glossary whenever an unfamiliar term appears.
Sources & further reading
References checked September 5, 2026. Linked services are independent of ChessRankings.com™.