Novice Nook Quiz

National Master Dan Heisman is out with his latest Novice Nook column at ChessCafe. In it, he includes a 45-question multiple-choice quiz which tests the reader's grasp of the general principles that Dan has been teaching in this very helpful column.

Here is one of Dan's questions:

Your opponent has blundered a pawn in the opening for no compensation; everything else being equal, where should you castle?

a. On the kingside.

b. On the queenside.

c. On the same side as your opponent.

d. On the opposite side of your opponent.


His suggested answer? (c) - on the same side as your opponent. If I may attempt to explain his rationale, it would be that castling on the opposite side will have a tendency to get into positions with greater complexity (and risk). You're already in a superior situation - don't help your opponent achieve complications that might cause you to lose your advantage.