Is there castling in Chess 960

[M ANSARI]

I am trying to figure out the Chess 960 or FRC chess ... I was under the impression that castling is not allowed. I downloaded some games and was checking out a game between Aronian vs Bacrot and you get this position

[d]q2r1rk1/p4ppp/1p3n2/3p4/3N4/1P2P3/PQ3PPP/3R2KR w H - 0 16

Note that the rook is on h1 and it is white to play and he plays rook to f1 and gets this position

[d]q2r1rk1/p4ppp/1p3n2/3p4/3N4/1P2P3/PQ3PPP/3R1RK1 b - - 0 16


I was unaware that this is possible. What are the castling rules? I am beginning to think that unlike Classical Chess where the outcome is most likely a draw ... some positions in Chess 960 seem to be simply lost right from the start position.

[Vempele]

The whole point of Chess960 is castling; without it, it'd just be Shuffle Chess with the weird exclusion of some starting positions.

Read this.

I am beginning to think that unlike Classical Chess where the outcome is most likely a draw ... some positions in Chess 960 seem to be simply lost right from the start position.

Kasparov said about the same in his NiC column.

[Uri Blass]

I am trying to figure out the Chess 960 or FRC chess ... I was under the impression that castling is not allowed. I downloaded some games and was checking out a game between Aronian vs Bacrot and you get this position

[d]q2r1rk1/p4ppp/1p3n2/3p4/3N4/1P2P3/PQ3PPP/3R2KR w H - 0 16

Note that the rook is on h1 and it is white to play and he plays rook to f1 and gets this position

[d]q2r1rk1/p4ppp/1p3n2/3p4/3N4/1P2P3/PQ3PPP/3R1RK1 b - - 0 16


I was unaware that this is possible. What are the castling rules? I am beginning to think that unlike Classical Chess where the outcome is most likely a draw ... some positions in Chess 960 seem to be simply lost right from the start position.

The castling rules are simple.
for white(rules for black are the same):
short castle is:white king go from original square to g1(may be no move) and white rook to f1 when long castling is white king go to c1 and white rook goes to d1.

The rook that castle short (target square f1) in short castling is the rook that was in the left side of the king(no move of the rook in case that this rook started at f1)

similiar for the rook that casle long

Uri

[smrf]

... I am beginning to think that unlike Classical Chess where the outcome is most likely a draw ... some positions in Chess 960 seem to be simply lost right from the start position.

I presume you are seeing a huge advantage for White in such positions, but that is not true. As ar as I know the Frankfurt ChessTigers have donated some relevant price money for the first person, which would be able to prove that bBlack would be definitely lost in a given starting position.

But moreover think about that fact, that each Chess960 starting position is chosen just before a game would be started. Thus there is no chance for to prepare a sophisticated opening concerning that specific opening array.

[Uri Blass]

<snipped>

... I am beginning to think that unlike Classical Chess where the outcome is most likely a draw ... some positions in Chess 960 seem to be simply lost right from the start position.

I presume you are seeing a huge advantage for White in such positions, but that is not true. As ar as I know the Frankfurt ChessTigers have donated some relevant price money for the first person, which would be able to prove that bBlack would be definitely lost in a given starting position.

Hi Reinhard,
What is the meaning of proof?
It may be possible not to find mate but practically find an opening theory that strong players win with white every time.

Can you prove that white has a checkmate if black plays without a queen.
I see no forced mate but if you play games you will find that white practically wins every game.

Uri