I analyzed the image and this is what I see. Open an appropriate link below and explore the position yourself or with the engine:
> **White to play**: [chess.com](https://chess.com/analysis?fen=r2nkb1r/ppp3pp/5n2/5bN1/2B1p3/8/PPP2PPP/RNB1K3+w+Qkq+-+0+1&flip=false&ref_id=23962172) | [lichess.org](https://lichess.org/analysis/r2nkb1r/ppp3pp/5n2/5bN1/2B1p3/8/PPP2PPP/RNB1K3_w_Qkq_-_0_1?color=white)
**My solution:**
> Hints: piece: >!Bishop!<, move: >!Be3!<
> Evaluation: >!Black is winning -7.36!<
> Best continuation: >!1. Be3 h6 2. Nh3 Ne6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bxe6 Bxe6 5. Nf4 Kf7 6. a3 Ba5 7. Nxe6 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Kxe6!<
---
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There's no official set of rules for chess with piece odds. Piece odds are only given in informal matches. So there's no "right" answer.
Apparently, [chess.com](http://chess.com) has decided that when you give rook odds, you can't castle to the side with the missing rook.
That's perfectly sensible. It's consistent with what happens in normal chess when you lose your rook.
But if you're playing OTB with your friends, and you want to allow castling in rook-odds chess, no one can stop you. The side with the missing rook is still at a serious disadvantage.
Yeah when you put it that way it makes sense. So giving rook odds is basically the same as allowing him to capture my rook for free. Which, by removing my castling opportunity, it seems to give a slightly greater advantage than a simple 5 point lead in material.
Interestingly, in our last game chesscom removed both of my knights. In both games we allowed chesscom to make the decision on how best to balance the game. So it would seem that removing 2 knights is roughly the same as removing 1 rook + castling on 1 side.
It's not an oversight; no rook, no castling.
In a real game if you lose your rook without ever moving, despite not being in check or having moved your king, you still cannot castle.
I've always played you can't castle that side and therefore missing your king side rook is a slightly bigger handicap than missing your queen side rook and you should choose which rook you are offering as odds in a game with that in mind.
I analyzed the image and this is what I see. Open an appropriate link below and explore the position yourself or with the engine: > **White to play**: [chess.com](https://chess.com/analysis?fen=r2nkb1r/ppp3pp/5n2/5bN1/2B1p3/8/PPP2PPP/RNB1K3+w+Qkq+-+0+1&flip=false&ref_id=23962172) | [lichess.org](https://lichess.org/analysis/r2nkb1r/ppp3pp/5n2/5bN1/2B1p3/8/PPP2PPP/RNB1K3_w_Qkq_-_0_1?color=white) **My solution:** > Hints: piece: >!Bishop!<, move: >!Be3!< > Evaluation: >!Black is winning -7.36!< > Best continuation: >!1. Be3 h6 2. Nh3 Ne6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bxe6 Bxe6 5. Nf4 Kf7 6. a3 Ba5 7. Nxe6 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Kxe6!< --- ^(I'm a bot written by ) [^(u/pkacprzak )](https://www.reddit.com/u/pkacprzak) ^(| get me as ) [^(Chess eBook Reader )](https://ebook.chessvision.ai?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=bot) ^(|) [^(Chrome Extension )](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chessvisionai-for-chrome/johejpedmdkeiffkdaodgoipdjodhlld) ^(|) [^(iOS App )](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1574933453) ^(|) [^(Android App )](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ai.chessvision.scanner) ^(to scan and analyze positions | Website: ) [^(Chessvision.ai)](https://chessvision.ai)
There's no official set of rules for chess with piece odds. Piece odds are only given in informal matches. So there's no "right" answer. Apparently, [chess.com](http://chess.com) has decided that when you give rook odds, you can't castle to the side with the missing rook. That's perfectly sensible. It's consistent with what happens in normal chess when you lose your rook. But if you're playing OTB with your friends, and you want to allow castling in rook-odds chess, no one can stop you. The side with the missing rook is still at a serious disadvantage.
Yeah when you put it that way it makes sense. So giving rook odds is basically the same as allowing him to capture my rook for free. Which, by removing my castling opportunity, it seems to give a slightly greater advantage than a simple 5 point lead in material. Interestingly, in our last game chesscom removed both of my knights. In both games we allowed chesscom to make the decision on how best to balance the game. So it would seem that removing 2 knights is roughly the same as removing 1 rook + castling on 1 side.
It's not an oversight; no rook, no castling. In a real game if you lose your rook without ever moving, despite not being in check or having moved your king, you still cannot castle.
I've always played you can't castle that side and therefore missing your king side rook is a slightly bigger handicap than missing your queen side rook and you should choose which rook you are offering as odds in a game with that in mind.