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Beginner lesson 5/20
Castling
Learn the special king-and-rook move that improves king safety.
Learn this chess concept step by step, then practise it on the interactive ChessRivo board.
Open interactive lessonAbout this lesson
Castling moves the king two squares toward a rook and places that rook next to the king.
Key ideas
- Neither the king nor the chosen rook may have moved.
- Squares between them must be empty.
- The king cannot castle out of, through or into check.
Coach tip: Castle early when it is safe; king safety usually matters more than grabbing a pawn.
Test yourself
Can you castle through a square attacked by the opponent?
- Yes
- No
Show answer
Correct answer: No
Practise this lesson interactively
Open the ChessRivo Academy board exercise for this exact lesson. Your progress is saved when you are signed in.
Open interactive lessonHow to use this lesson in a real game
Turn the idea into a repeatable decision process.
- Before moving, name the position feature this lesson is about.
- Find one candidate move that follows the lesson idea and one alternative.
- After the game, return to the critical position and compare your choice with the lesson.