62 Across

NYT Daily ? September 18, 2025

O-O and O-O-O, in chess notation

Answer:

CASTLES

Hint:

Think of the only moves in chess where the king shifts two squares toward a rook, often used for safety or connecting rooks.

Explanation:

In chess notation, "O-O" and "O-O-O" represent kingside and queenside castling, where the king moves two squares toward a rook. The answer "CASTLES" plays on the word "castling" while also referencing the rooks (which look like castle towers). It’s a clever double meaning—both the chess move and the literal structures.

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General solving tip

Match the clue's grammar: plural with plural, past with past. If the clue ends in 's' or uses a past-tense verb, mirror that form in the entry.

More tips → General Hints