In chess, if a king is checked early in the game, but does not move, may he castle later?

Question

This has come up often when playing, even though the King has not moved. Is a "Castle" still allowed?

Answer 1

It is a common misunderstanding that having historically been checked means you cannot subsequently castle. It arises from being taught chess by someone who doesn't know the rules properly; it Ieads to positions like
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 d6
3. Bb5+
where the check is easily repulsed by 3. ... c6! which helps Black prepare ... d5

The check is a complete waste of time and was only undertaken in the mistaken belief that it will prevent Black from castling, It does not.

There are 3 possible ways out of check:

(a) moving the king
(b) capturing the piece that is giving check
(c) placing a defending piece inbetween the piece giving check and your king

Only the first of these involves forfeiting the right to castle (if the king still had such rights),

NB 1 option (c) is not available if the piece giving check is a knight or a pawn (knights can jump and there is no intervening square between a king and a pawn that checks it),

NB 2 if double check is given neither of options (b) and (c) are then available: if you block one of the checks, it doesn't block the other and if you capture one of the attackers you would still be in check from the other one. So the only way out of a double check is to move the king.

RULES ON CASTLING

(1) The king must not have moved
(2) The rook with which you propose to castle must not have moved
(3) There must be no piece of either colour on any square between the king and the rook with which you propose to castle
(4) You may not castle out of check
(5) You may not castle into check
(6) You may not castle through check eg even though e1 and g1 are not attacked, if f1 were to be attacked then White may not castle kingside (0-0).
(7) Touching the rook first means your opponent can insist you make a rook move, so touch the king first.

THE GRANDMASTER WHO DID NOT KNOW THE RULES

In an important tournament Averbakh, playing black had a rook on b8 attacking the b1 square, White castled queenside (0-0-0) so Averbakh calls over the arbiter (match official) and says "he cannot do that: his rook just crossed my line of attack on b1"

The embarassed arbiter (a much weaker player than Averbakh) had to explain "I am sorry, Grandmaster, but he is entitled to do that. There is only a problem if the king crosses a line of attack. Not if a rook does so!"

So if Grandmasters don't know the rules beginners can perhaps be excused for not doing so. Nevertheless, try and learn them as it will avoid arguments,

Answer 2

Robert L's answer is incorrect. Everyone else got it right.

Yes. As long as the King has not moved, it is eligible to castle. Of course, there are rules as to when you can castle:

1) Neither the King nor the intended Rook shall have moved prior to castling.

2) The King can not castle while IN check.

3) The King can not castle if any of the squares over which he must pass are under enemy attack (i.e. can't castle "through" check).

4) The King can not castle INTO check (ie. he can't land on a square which is attacked by an enemy piece).

If one Rook moves prior to castling, you can not castle with THAT rook, but you can still castle with the other rook, provided IT hasn't moved yet.

Castling is prohibited if the King or intended castling Rook has moved prior to your intent to castle, even if they eventually move back to their original squares.

Moving your King prior to castling is the only single move that will permanently remove all future castling privileges for that game. Moving a rook removes castling privileges for that rook only.

Answer 3

yes the castle is still alowed because the king has not move from that place where u can castle.....lets say u move up then down to the same spot then u cant castle......but otherwise u can still castle even if the king has been checked.....only if the check is bloked but u cant castle in the check

Answer 4

To answer to the person above me NO you cannot castle out of check and you cannot castle if your putting ur king in check.

Answer 5

YES, but there are other conditions you should know about castling. The source book mentioned below is an excellent, easy to read book to learn the basics of the game.

Answer 6

Yes. You can't castle if you moved your king before. And you can't move over or(obviously) into an attacked square.

Answer 7

i dont know about all the rules and stuff for chess being played professionally but i am sure u could castle because it still only counts a one move and nothing else

Answer 8

Yes, castling is allowed.

Answer 9

Yes

Answer 10

YES IF YOU HAVE NOT MOVED EITHER OF THE ROOKS THAT YOU WANT TO CASTLE WITH