Daily Puzzle 11/19/13

  This post is just a public indictment of today's daily puzzle.  The puzzle description says that White has 4 moves to checkmate, despite the fact there's a checkmate in 5 that does not force an unwarranted assumption that castling is an option.  (1. Bxf7+, Kxf7 2. Rf1+, Qf6 3.Rxf6+, Kg8 4. Rf8+, Rxf8 5. Qg7#) I say unwarranted especially since over half the pieces are liquidated, and there are three open files, the White King of which is in the center.  With an alternative solution in view, the only infomation that can make this distinction is that the solution is said to happen in 4 moves and not 5.  This is not a firm standard by which to judge the legality of a castling move.  It's hardly even an indication.  This is what happens when chess.com wholly relies on computer verification for their puzzles, forgoing common sense.

An illustration may be helpful: