CHESS40 العربية

King safety

Castle early, before the lines open

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Step 1

A king left in the centre becomes a target as soon as files open. Castling early tucks it behind its pawns and brings a rook toward the centre.

White: King e1, Queen d1, Rook a1, Rook h1, Bishop c1, Bishop f1, Knight b1, Knight g1, Pawn a2, Pawn b2, Pawn c2, Pawn d2, Pawn e2, Pawn f2, Pawn g2, Pawn h2. Black: King e8, Queen d8, Rook a8, Rook h8, Bishop c8, Bishop f8, Knight b8, Knight g8, Pawn a7, Pawn b7, Pawn c7, Pawn d7, Pawn e7, Pawn f7, Pawn g7, Pawn h7.a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

Step 2

Légal's famous trap: Black takes the queen, but the king, still in the centre, is mated by the minor pieces.

White: King e1, Queen d1, Rook a1, Rook h1, Bishop c1, Bishop f1, Knight b1, Knight g1, Pawn a2, Pawn b2, Pawn c2, Pawn d2, Pawn e2, Pawn f2, Pawn g2, Pawn h2. Black: King e8, Queen d8, Rook a8, Rook h8, Bishop c8, Bishop f8, Knight b8, Knight g8, Pawn a7, Pawn b7, Pawn c7, Pawn d7, Pawn e7, Pawn f7, Pawn g7, Pawn h7.a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
Before
White: King e1, Rook a1, Rook h1, Bishop f7, Bishop c1, Knight d5, Knight e5, Pawn e4, Pawn a2, Pawn b2, Pawn c2, Pawn d2, Pawn f2, Pawn g2, Pawn h2. Black: King e7, Queen d8, Rook a8, Rook h8, Bishop f8, Bishop d1, Knight b8, Knight g8, Pawn a7, Pawn b7, Pawn c7, Pawn h7, Pawn d6, Pawn g6.a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
After

The moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Bg4 4. Nc3 g6 5. Nxe5 Bxd1 6. Bxf7+ Ke7 7. Nd5#

Step 3

White to play: castle, and put the king to safety.

White: King e1, Queen d1, Rook a1, Rook h1, Bishop c4, Bishop c1, Knight f3, Knight b1, Pawn e4, Pawn a2, Pawn b2, Pawn c2, Pawn d2, Pawn f2, Pawn g2, Pawn h2. Black: King e8, Queen d8, Rook a8, Rook h8, Bishop c8, Bishop c5, Knight g8, Knight c6, Pawn a7, Pawn b7, Pawn c7, Pawn d7, Pawn f7, Pawn g7, Pawn h7, Pawn e5.a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

White to move.

Show the answer

Solution: 4. O-O

Step 4

Why castle early?

An empty boarda8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
  1. It hides the king behind pawns and connects the rooks
  2. It wins a pawn
  3. The rules require it
Show the answer

Answer: It hides the king behind pawns and connects the rooks

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