Thanks, I'll keep that in mind when I play. I was getting a little nervous.

well, it all depends on the situation.I belive that castling right off the bat is a fool's choice, since it's like telling your opponent were to attack. however, that also gives u an advantage since your opponent will be focused on one side, and will most ocassionally leave the other side, unprotected.

Thanks. That really helped. You have good advice. I will try it during my next game.

-thegirlnextdoor

I think it is very good question. I have wondered that myself. I don't think there is a one-answer-fits-all to your question. Here is what I do (or have noticed or thought of).

1. What is the purpose of castling?

You castle to take the king to safety (tucking it away). Usually people castle where they have either not moved the pawns that will sorround the King, or they have moved one of the pawns that will surround the king, just one square from the original (for example, when you fianchetto). Before I castle to protect the King, I look at how vurnerable my position will be right after castling. You don't want to castle into checkmate or to castle and enable your opponent to give you a check with a discovered attack. So before I castle I usually look for the next 3 to 4 moves that can be made all directed at my new King position and see if those moves are fatal or not.

You also castle to bring your Rook into play. It is so hard for the Rook to get into the game if it is at its original square. You would have to push the pawn a couple of squares to make room, then slide the Rook to the 3rd or 4th rank to bring it over. If you castle, the Rook comes towards the center where there is usually more action. It is easier for the Rook to "attack" the Queen/King when it comes to the center, acting behind the pawns etc.

2. Are there times when you shouldn't castle?

I am playing several games in which I wondered if my next "non-castling" move was better than "castling". Thing is, my opponent misplayed the opening, and I saw that I could get a "winning" advantage if I took advantage of the error before he corrected it. See, what's the point of tucking away my King if it will never come under attack? The attack on my opponent's position IS the defense to my King. That is one of the times when you shouldn't castle.

I must clarify by saying that "shouldn't castle" can either mean - "NOT EVER CASTLING" or "DELAYING CASTLING." My example above, is more of a delayed castling situation. I almost always castle.

In 1. above, there is also an example when you shouldn't castle:- if it will hurt you.

3. Position and Opening/Defense

The position will tell you whether you should castle or not. Those are addressed by 1. and 2. above.

Studying "Openings" and "Defenses" are also a good way to "know" when to castle or not to castle. There are some Openings that you may never castle because that's the nature of the game/opening/variation. I would rather not give specific examples.

4. Study miniatures

For me, a miniature is any game that is less than 20 moves. Usually, these games finish early because one side misplayed the opening, kept the King in the center too long, or castled too quickly, or missed a trap... You can go through these games and just watch for what the two sides did with their Kings... whether they castled or not.

Hope this helps. 

I hope someone will see this and answer it.