Alois Wotawa Explained

Alois Wotawa (11 June 1896  - 12 April 1970) was an Austrian composer of chess problems and endgame studies. He was born and died in Vienna. He was a prosecutor and a member of the Nazi Party.^[1]

Composition career

Wotawa composed more than 350 endgame studies, which were published particularly in German-speaking countries. Wotawa also composed some problems that he called "bungled endgames".^[2]

In 1966, FIDE honored Wotawa as an International Master of Chess Composition.

Example endgame study

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

Solution:
1. Ne5 Rd2+
2. Ke3 Re2+
3. Kd4 Rxe5
4. Rf6!! 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.

Works

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

Notes and References

1. http://www.vistula.linuxpl.eu/felietony/twawotaw.htm Dwie Twarze Doktora Wotawy by Tomasz Lissowski
2. 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 http://www.gadycosteff.com/eg/eg.html .)