Alois Wotawa

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

Alois Wotawa (born 11 June 1890, died 12 April 1970) was an Austrian composer of chess problems and endgame studies. He was born and died in Vienna.

Contents

[edit] Composition career

Wotawa composed more than 350 endgame studies, which were published particularly in the German-speaking countries. Wotawa also composed some problems, which he called "bungled endgames" [1].

In 1966, FIDE honored Wotawa as an international master of chess composition.

[edit] Example endgame study

In the following study, White finds an amazing move to force a draw.

Alois Wotawa
Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1952
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 rd e7 f7 nl g7 pd h7
a6 bd b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 kd c2 d2 e2 f2 kl g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 rl g1 h1
Image:chess zhor 26.png
White to move and draw




Solution:
1. Sf7-e5 Td7-d2+
2. Kf2-e3 Td2-e2+
3. Ke3-d4 Te2xe5
4. Tf1-f6!! Forks the bishop and rook. If Black protects both with 4...Ra5, 5.Rg6 wins the pawn and draws. There remains only 4...g7xf6 stalemate.


[edit] Works

  • Alois Wotawa: Auf Spurensuche mit Schachfiguren - 150 Endspielstudien [German language]. Vienna, 1965

[edit] References

  1. ^ Source for this and the following: Friedrich Chlubna: An Artist has left us, in: EG Vol. 20, pp. 119 to 121. August 1970 (in PDF at [1].)
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