Castling fun

As a beginner, I have always liked it when special moves of chess -  castling, en passant, and under promotion - appear in a solution.  I am particularly fond of castling problems.  The rule for castling in a problem is that it is assumed to be legal unless it can be proven illegal (for example the bK must have moved previously).  Here are some of my favorites along with some of my recent experiments with the Fleck theme and castling.  

Mel'nichenko, Leonid
Shakhmaty v SSSR 1975

#2

4 + 3

Here is a simple miniature with a castle key move that puts Black in zugzwang.  Nice correction play by the bB.

1.0-0! (-)
   1...B~ 2.Ra1
   1...Bb3 2.Be8
   1...g4 2.Rf4

White, Alain
Good Companion Folder 1918

#2

5 + 3

Here is another economical problem by the great ambassador of chess composition.  Some nice battery play and cross-checks in a near miniature.  

1.Kf6! (2.Qc8)
   1...0-0+ 2.Sgf7
   1...Rf8 2.Sef7
​   1...Kd8 2.Qd7

Green, Gordon Stuart
The Observer 1929

#2

7 + 6

From White to Green, this problem achieves a castling key in mutate form.  The wK has an active role in both the set and post key play.  The changes have a reciprocal feel to them with capture/self-block interchanged.

1...Bxh3 2.Rxh3
1...Bxf3 2.Sf1

1.0-0! (-) 
1...Bxh3 2.Sxh5
1...Bxf3 2.Rxf3

​

Mansfield, Comins
Schach-Echo 1971

#2

9 + 11

Mansfield doing what Mansfield does.  Typical generous key gives 4(!) flights to the bK and allows Black both queen side and king side castles.

1.Sg5! (2.Qxe7)
   1...0-0-0 2.Qc5
   1...0-0 2.Qg7
   1...Kd8 2.Rb8
​   1...Kf8 2.Qxh8

Friedgood, David and Shire, David
Kingston 1997

#2

5 + 4

 
A task record: the bK is mated on 5 different squares.  Well done in a light and economical position.

1.Qa7! (2.Qxa8/Qe7)
   1...Kf8 2.Qf7
   1...Kd8 2.Qd7
   1...0-0 2.Qg7
   1...0-0-0 2.Qb7
   1...Rc8 2.Qe7 (threat)
   1...Rh7 2.Qxa8 (threat)
   1...Rxa7 2.Rb8

Barnes, Barry
The Problemist 1974

#2

7 + 8

One of the first half-pin/castling combinations. I like the differentiation of the mates 2.0-0-0 and 2.Rd1.

1.Bb2! (2.Rc3)
   1...Qb3 2.0-0-0 (Rd1?)
   1...Qxb2 2.Rd1 (0-0-0?)
   1...Qb4+ 2.Sxb4
   1...Sxb2 2.Ra3

Lipton, Michael
Grossbritanien-Israel 1961

#2

9 + 7

This problem shows some nice battery play with the wK walking into a couple checks, and changed play after a flight giving castle try and key.

1.0-0? (2.Rfe1/Rae1)
  1...Ke4+ 2.Sc5
  1...Ke2+ 2.Sd4
  but 1...bxc4!

1.0-0-0! (2.Rhe1/Rde1)
   1...Ke4+ 2.Sg5
   1...Ke2+ 2.Sf4
   1...Sd4 2.Sxd4

Cheylan, Yves and Lindgren, Bo
The Problemist 1975

#2

b) a2 > g7

12 + 2

Here is a nice twinning that uses a retro trick to accomplish long and short castling.  Black is in stalemate and must be relieved.

a) 
1.Sg4!
   1...Kxh1 2.Kf2
   1...Kxf3 2.0-0

b) 
1.Sg4? 
   1...Kxf3! (0-0?)
1.0-0-0 Kxf2 2.Rh2

The reason why Black cannot short castle in part (b) is that the bK must have made the last move to g2 and this can only have happened if the wRh1 had moved previously.

Ouellet, Charles
The Problemist 2017

#2

10 + 10

Here is a nice use of castling to clear the squares e1 and a1 for some battery mates.  I like the way he made use of the wQ as well.

1.0-0-0! (2.Sa1)
  1...Sxd4 2.Scxd4
  1...Sxa3/Sc3 2.Se1
  1...f3 2.Se3
​  1...Bxb4 2.Sxb4
  1...Qxh4 2.Sxh4
  1...Qg8 2.Qxg8

McDowell, Michael
Phenix 1988

#5

5 + 2

This miniature more-mover shows all the special moves of chess: castling, en passant, and under-promotion or the so-called Valladao​ task.  The main line is 

1.0-0-0

1...b5 2.cxb5 e.p. Kc5 3.b7 Kc6 4.b8=R! Kc7 5.Rc2

Moen, Kabe
Unpublished 2018

#2

6 + 6

Here's a problem that probably would have been well received if it was composed in the late 1800's.  As is, it is not that interesting.  It appeals to me because of the nice withdrawal key that gives two flights.  I also like how the bR self-blocks on d8 for two different mates.  

1.Ba3! (2.Qd7)
   1...Rd8 2.Rxe2
   1...0-0-0 2.Qb2
   1...Ra7 2.Rb8
   1...Re7 2.Qxe7

Moen, Kabe
StrateGems 2018

#2

b) Rotate -pi/2

7 + 6

We now embark on some of my problems that involve castling.  Here I was able to use an idea of Barry Barnes to show half-battery with a partial Fleck theme in each part.  

a) 
1.Sb3! (2.Ke2/Kd2/0-0-0)
    1...Qd5 2.Ke2
    1...Qf3 2.Kd2
    1...Qg2 2.0-0-0

b)
1.Kb5! (2.Sb8/Sc7/Sc5/Sb4)
    1...Qxh8 2.Sb8
    1...Bf6 2.Sc7
    1...Qe5 2.Sc5
    1...Qb2+ 2.Sb4

Moen, Kabe
Superproblem 2018

#2

8 + 4

Here I was able to pull off the idea above without a twinning.
1. Sb3? ~ 2. Ke2/Kd2/O-O-O#

   1... Qd5 2. Ke2
   1... Qf3 2. Kd2
   1... Qxa8 (Bc6,Kg1) 2. O-O-O
   1... Bh5! 

1. Kd2! (2.Sa2/Sb3/Sd3/Se2)
   1... Qxa8 2. Sa2
   1... Ba4 2. Sb3
   1... Bc6 (Qd5+) 2. Sd3
   1... Bh5 2. Se2

Moen, Kabe
StrateGems 2018

#2

7 + 3

Here the half-battery/Fleck/castle scheme is put to use to show the Banny theme: 1.A? but 1...a!, 1.B? but 1...b! 1.Key 1...a 2.B, 1...b 2.A.  The Banny theme is a reversal pattern theme that is interesting but not paradoxical due to the switch of mates.

1.Sf3? A (2.Ke2/Kf2)
   1...Qxh7 2.0-0
   1...Kc1! a

1.Se2? B (2.Kf2)
   1...Qxh7 2.0-0
   1...Qf5 2.Qxf5
   1...Rf6! b

1.Kf2! (2.Se2/Sf3/Sg3)
   1...Qxh7 2.Sg3
   1...Kc1 a 2.Se2 B
   1...Rf6+ b 2.Sf3 A