Three move miniatures

In general the three move problems are out of my composing comfort zone (to date I have only composed 4 three movers).  However, I have been fortunate enough to successfully compose 2 miniature three move problems.  A miniature is a problem with at most seven pieces.  In general not a lot of strategy can be accomplished in a miniature, but these problems may make you think otherwise.  Here are my two problems are along with some of my all time favorite three move miniatures.

Kipping, C.S.
Manchester City News 1911

#3

4 + 3

​Probably one of the most famous problems of all time.  Notice the bR can check and the bP on e2 is ready to promote.  White must bring his king into play to enable the battery.  Surely the way to do this is to go through b5 followed by b6 as to avoid the check coming from 1...e1=Q.  1.Kb5? looks good at first but what about 1...Rg8.  This foils the plan because 2.Sd4+ (say) can be met by 2...Ka7 and now the wK is obstructing the wS on b5!  What remains is 1.Ka5! and now the onslaught of black checks can be handled by the battery.

Dobrusky, Jan
Zlata Praha 1888

#3

3 + 4

​Another classic.  The bad double flight taking key sets up a nice little dance between the bB and wQ.  The idea is that the wQ must hold e5 and have access to another square on the diagonal b8-d6.  This is accomplished by following the bB wherever it goes and passing through the line it opens.

1.Rg3!
1...Bb3 2.Qb2
1...Bc4 2.Qc3
1...Bd5 2.Qd4
1...Be6 2.Qf6
1...Bf7 2.Qg7
​1...Bg8 2.Qh8

Kollmann, Frantisek
Munchner Neueste Nachrichten 1908

#3

4 + 3

Here is one that exploits the chessboard to its fullest.  The beautiful corner key waits for black to abandon control of the B+P battery and allow the pawn on b2 to open without cutting the other bishop's line.  You can figure out the key by trying to move the wBd4.  1.Be5? 1...Bd6!, 1.Bf6? 1...Be7!, 1.Bg7? 1...Bf8!.  The only move left is for the wB to hide in the corner so that it cannot be captured.

1.Bh8! (-)
1...Bc5 2.b4+ Bd4 3.Bxd4
1...Bc3 2.bxc3 b4 3.cxb4

Meyer, Heinrich
The Boy's Own Paper 1903

#3

3 + 2

The perfect rendition of the Indian theme with only 5 pieces.  The spectacular key sets up a stalemate release.

1.Bg8 c2 2.Rf7 Ka2 3.Ra7.

Loyd, Samuel
Chess Monthly 1885

#3

4 + 3

Speaking of the indian theme, Loyd executes an indian maneuver with a nice flight giving key.  

1.Qg1 
1...Kf4 2.Kf2 ~ 3.Qg4
​1...c3 2.Kf2 Kd4 3.Kf3

Wurzburg, Otto
Bahn Frei 1895

#3

3 + 4

Here is Wurzburg's famous doubling problem.  The idea is that the wQ must come in along the wB's line.  Wurzburg throws in a wQ sacrifice and a model mate for good measure.

1.Bh3! (>2.Qg4 ~ 3.Qc8)
1...a5 2.Qa6+ Kxa6 3.Bc8

Marble, Murray
Theory of Pawn-Promotion 1912

#3

5 + 2

We saw the classic themes of the indian and doubling above.  Here is a bristol clearance classic.  

1.Ba1 Kxg2 2.h8=Q Kf3 3.Qb2

Lipton, Michael
The Problemist 1953

#3

5 + 2

​More classical themes: under-promotion and grab.  The try 1.e8Q? falls to 1...Se5 because 2.Qxe5 would stalemate!  So only a rook promotion works and a complete bS grab ensues.  

Warton, Thomas Joseph
The Observer 1939

#3

3 + 3

Some Warton magic is always welcome.  Here the wK makes all of the moves in the main variation.

1.Ke4 h2 2.Kd3 Kf1 3.Kd2

Moen, Kabe
The Problemist Supplement 2016

#3

5 + 2

I have always liked a surprise key that sends the wQ off to the edge of the board.  The idea is that the wQ must set up an indirect masked battery to cover the squares g2 and h2.  The key makes a double threat, but these are virtual - they never materialize.

1.Qa2! (>2.Qa1+,Qb1+ Bf1 3.Qxf1)
1...Bxh3 2.Sg3+ Kf1 3.Be3

Moen, Kabe
StrateGems 2017

#3

4 + 3

 
Here is probably my most strategic miniature.  The key is rather perfunctory, but the problem is interesting because White is not working with a mating net - the bK has 5 flights!  The two main variations both end up with the wR executions and model mates are below:

1.Qb4! (2.Qf8 or Rf7+)
1...Bg6 2.Qf8 Bxf5 3.Bxf5 (model)
1...Kg6 2.Rf6+ Kxf6 3.Qe7 (model)

The second variation show the Keller paradox: White moves to a square just guarded by black