Attacking the castled king
In short
When the kings castle on the same side, attack with pieces and occasionally a pawn lever (h4–h5, f4–f5). When they castle on opposite sides, it is a race: storm with pawns quickly and open files towards the enemy king.
By the end you can
- Use pawn storms and piece attacks
- Know typical sacrifices (Bxh7+, Nf5, Rxh-pawn)
The lesson
When the kings castle on the same side, attack with pieces and occasionally a pawn lever (h4–h5, f4–f5). When they castle on opposite sides, it is a race: storm with pawns quickly and open files towards the enemy king.
Typical sacrifices — the bishop on h7, a knight on f5 or g5, an exchange sacrifice on the h-file — work when enough pieces can follow up. Count the attackers that can join within two moves.
Key points to remember
- Same side: pieces + levers
- Opposite sides: pawn race
- Know the classic sacrifices
- Enough attackers for the follow-up?
Examples
Show the solution
17... Ne2+ 18. Kh1 Nxf4
Show the solution
37... Rh1+ 38. Bxh1 Qxh1#
Practise it
Solve puzzles on this idea: kingside attack puzzles, exposed king puzzles, sacrifice puzzles.
Homework
20 attacking puzzles; study one attacking game by Alekhine or Kasparov.
More tactics lessons
- Hanging pieces: take them and don’t leave them (Novice)
- Double attacks and forks (Novice)
- Pins: pieces that cannot move (Novice)
- Forks with every piece (Class F)
- Using and breaking pins (Class F)
- Skewers and x-rays (Class F)