Alois Wotawa is one of several renowned chess composers, alongside figures such as František Richter, Bernhard Horwitz, Johan Axel Åkerblom, Arthur Klinke, and Josef Halumbirek. I first discovered these masters while browsing the pages of the famous German chess magazine, Deutsche Schachzeitung. It was the late Fremont chess pioneer Hans Poschmann who shared his old copies with me, sparking my lifelong passion for intricate chess puzzles and endgame studies. Although Deutsche Schachzeitung ceased publication in December 1988, physical copies are still available online and are well worth exploring if you enjoy chess puzzles. In particular, the issues from the first two decades of the 20th century remain my favorites, and I continue to add them to my collection.
Below is a striking endgame study by Alois Wotawa plucked from the pages of a 1957 issue of Deutsche Schachzeitung. Can you discover the hidden tactical resources needed for white to be victorious. Please feel free to post your solution in the comment section. Enjoy…
White to move and win (Alois Wotawa, Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1957).