Artificial castling

In chess, artificial castling refers to a maneuver in which a king who has lost the right to castle does so in several normal moves, instead of one special one. For example, in the following common sequence of moves (in algebraic notation):

Related Topics:
Chess - King - Castle - Algebraic notation

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:1. e4 e5

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:2. Nf3 Nc6

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:3. Bc4 Nf6

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:4. Nc3 Nxe4?!

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:5. Bxf7+?! (see first diagram)

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White sees that if he recaptures with Nxe4, Black responds with d5, forking knight and bishop and winning back the piece. In that case, Black has not won material, but has destroyed White's center. Instead of allowing d5, White hopes to cause trouble for Black by returning the piece while depriving him of the right to castle. However, Black can easily castle artificially, for example:

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:6. ... Kxf7

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:7. Nxe4 Be7

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:8. 0-0 (White castles "naturally")

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:8. ... Rf8 (Black begins castling artificially)

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:9. d4 exd4

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:10. Nxd4 Kg8 (see second diagram)

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Black has achieved a normal castled position (Rf8, Kg8), but in several moves. The absence of any pawns in the center indicates that king safety is of particular importance in this position. Black's development lags slightly, but he also possesses the bishop pair and a queenside pawn majority, so the position is at least equal.

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As a side note, white's best move after the above variation is actually

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:5. O-O!

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Black cannot keep his extra e-pawn. Two representative variations are

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:5. ... Nxc3

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:6. dxc3 Be7

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:7. Qd5

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White threatens mate and the pawn; Black's best move is ... O-O after which White has a lead in space and development despite his doubled c-pawns.

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Alternatively:

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:5. ... Nf6

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:6. Re1 d6

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:7. d4

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The pawn structure resembles a Philidor's Defence, but black's e-pawn is pinned to the King preventing exd4. These variations illustrate a general rule of open games: it is unwise open the e-file for your opponent before castling.

Related Topics:
Philidor's Defence - Pinned

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