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Sports and Games · entry 17 of 52
Castling is the only chess move that lets a player relocate two pieces in a single turn.
The longer version
The king is shifted two squares toward a rook still on its original square, and that rook is placed on the square the king crossed, so the whole manoeuvre counts as a single king move. It exists because the king starts on a crowded back rank and would otherwise need several moves to reach safety behind pawns. Conditions attached to it prevent abuse.
Neither piece may have moved before, the king may not pass through or land on an attacked square, and the move cannot be made while in check. Those restrictions are why it is often misremembered as a free escape. Sliding the king first and then the rook is only a formality; the order matters just where rules require a piece to be touched first.
Where this entry sits
Facts here look at the rules, equipment and odd histories behind familiar sports and games, from balls and rackets to cards, boards and playing fields. Expect small details about scoring quirks, stadium design and the long story of the Olympic Games. The full list sits on the Sports and Games page, where every entry is listed in order.
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