Expert: Wuyanbu Zutali - 3/12/2011

Question
Hi,

I'm a beginner in Chess, and I've heard that you're supposed to castle as early as possible in a game. However, I've recently been developing a distaste for castling as early as I can.

I like opening the game flexibly, without showing your hand or committing to certain positions. Castling, however, seems like a large commitment, and it gives a lot away to the opponent.

Sometimes when I delay castling, I can trick my opponent by acting like I'll castle king-side, and then castle queen-side. Other times when I delay castling, I'm able to position my rook better, depending on the board. However, most of the time, when I delay castling, I end up under attack, find myself in a bad position, and lose pieces.

Is it a legitimate strategy to delay castling? Are there ways to hone this strategy? Or is it really best to just castle as soon as you can, and move on with the game?

Thanks!

Josh

Answer
Josh,

In some ways your comments reflect the beginner's mindset of being fearful of "going into a corner."
Then you show a more mature attitude of castling based upon the board position.
Chess coaches tell their players, and I do to, to castle within 8-10 moves to safeguard your king.
For a beginner this is sound advice. If you do not castle quickly enough, your king can get caught in a fierce onslaught
down the middle of the board.

However, it is sound strategy to wait and see which side your opponent will castle on and go opposite side castling.
In many cases this involves having the judgement to know when to castle and when not to.

Grandmasters sometimes do not castle at all. But, I dare say they castle 80-90 % of the time and usually it's on the kingside.
You have to get your rooks into the game and castling does that. As an attacking player, I love players who do not castle.
Safeguard your king and then go on with the battle.

I hope this helps!