The Cow (COW) – Castled Opposite Wings
The Cow (COW = Castled Opposite Wings)
Definition
“The Cow” is chess-slang for any position in which the two kings have castled on opposite flanks—one on the kingside (0-0) and the other on the queenside (0-0-0). The nickname comes from the acronym C.O.W. (“Castled OppOsite Wings”), which players quickly began to pronounce as a single word: “the cow.”
How it is used in practice
- Attacking shorthand: “We’ve reached a cow, so start pushing pawns!” The moment a player notices opposite-wing castling, the strategic focus usually shifts from the center to direct king attacks.
- Evaluation cue: Annotators will write “This is a typical COW position—both sides must race.”
- Training term: Coaches tell students to “milk the cow” by opening files toward the enemy monarch before the opponent does the same.
Strategic significance
In a COW set-up, pawn storms are often worth more than an extra pawn or two. Key themes include:
- Pawn races: Advancing the h- and g-pawns versus the a- and b-pawns is common (e.g., English Attack in the Najdorf).
- Tempo valuation: Every tempo is critical; pieces frequently remain undeveloped if they do not contribute directly to the assault.
- Open files: Sacrifices to rip open files (Bxg7, …Rxc3, etc.) are routinely correct because king safety trumps material.
- Center locks: Players often “freeze” the center so that counterplay must occur on the wings where the kings sit.
Historical context
Although opposite-wing castling has existed since the romantic 19th -century era, the word “COW” appeared in English chess literature in the 1980s (notably in Jeremy Silman’s writings). The popularity of sharp openings such as the Sicilian Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, and English Attack made the concept—and the cute bovine moniker—part of mainstream vocabulary.
Illustrative examples
Example 1 – Typical Najdorf English Attack
After the well-trodden sequence 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. Qd2 Nbd7 9. O-O-O Bb7 10. g4 we arrive at a classic COW. White storms with g4-g5 and h2-h4-h5 while Black counters with …b4, …a5, and …d5 breaks if possible.
Example 2 – Kasparov vs Shirov, Horgen 1994
Garry Kasparov castled long while Shirov stayed short in a Sicilian Scheveningen. Both players flung pawns at the enemy king, but Kasparov’s precision timing of the exchange sacrifice Rxc6 broke open the b-file and decided the race.
Interesting facts & anecdotes
- “Milking the Cow”: The phrase is a lighthearted way to remind students to exploit the dynamic character of opposite-wing castling before the position turns static.
- Engine contrast: Modern chess engines excel at COW positions, calculating pawn races dozens of moves deep—an area where human intuition traditionally flourished.
- Short ≠ Safe: Some beginners think castling “safes the king.” In a COW, castling often exposes the monarch to a direct pawn avalanche.
Quick reference checklist for COW positions
- Lock or control the center.
- Push your wing pawns first; every tempo counts.
- Locate and open files toward the enemy king, even at material cost.
- Keep an eye on piece coordination—defenders often need to switch wings rapidly.
- Calculate forced pawn races; don’t rely on general principles alone.