Walter Korn
Encyclopedia
Walter Korn was an author of books and magazine articles about chess
. Despite his status as a writer, there is no known record of him playing tournament chess, and few chess players ever met him. Korn was an FIDE International Judge for Chess Compositions and contributed the entire topic of Chess for the Encyclopædia Britannica (1972).
Korn was the author of Modern Chess Openings
, which was considered an authoritative work on the openings of chess
. A new edition of Modern Chess Openings would come out every five years or so, and it was required reading for tournament chess players.
In later years, Korn enlisted the help of top players, such as Grandmaster Larry Evans
and Grandmaster Nick de Firmian
, while continuing to be listed as a co-author.
Korn fled his homeland for London
in 1939. Several years later, in Germany
, he directed the U.N. Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, helping to relocate concentration camp survivors. In 1948, he served as national director of World ORT
in Geneva
. He immigrated to the United States
in 1950, and lived in Detroit, where he worked as business manager of the Jewish Community Center
. From 1960 to 1964, he lived in Israel
, working for both the Joint Distribution Committee and the United Jewish Appeal
.
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
. Despite his status as a writer, there is no known record of him playing tournament chess, and few chess players ever met him. Korn was an FIDE International Judge for Chess Compositions and contributed the entire topic of Chess for the Encyclopædia Britannica (1972).
Korn was the author of Modern Chess Openings
Modern Chess Openings
Modern Chess Openings is an important reference book on the chess openings, first published in 1911 by the British players Richard Clewin Griffith and John Herbert White...
, which was considered an authoritative work on the openings of chess
Chess opening
A chess opening is the group of initial moves of a chess game. Recognized sequences of opening moves are referred to as openings as initiated by White or defenses, as created in reply by Black. There are many dozens of different openings, and hundreds of named variants. The Oxford Companion to...
. A new edition of Modern Chess Openings would come out every five years or so, and it was required reading for tournament chess players.
In later years, Korn enlisted the help of top players, such as Grandmaster Larry Evans
Larry Evans
For the football player of the same name, see Larry Evans .Larry Melvyn Evans was an American chess grandmaster, author, and journalist. He won or shared the U.S. Chess Championship five times and the U.S. Open Chess Championship four times...
and Grandmaster Nick de Firmian
Nick de Firmian
Nicholas Ernest de Firmian , is a chess grandmaster and three-time U.S. chess champion, winning in 1987 , 1995, and 1998. He also tied for first in 2002, but Larry Christiansen won the playoff...
, while continuing to be listed as a co-author.
Korn fled his homeland for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1939. Several years later, in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, he directed the U.N. Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, helping to relocate concentration camp survivors. In 1948, he served as national director of World ORT
World ORT
World ORT is a non-profit non-governmental organization whose mission is the advancement of Jewish and other people through training and education, with past and present activities in over 100 countries....
in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. He immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1950, and lived in Detroit, where he worked as business manager of the Jewish Community Center
Jewish Community Center
A Jewish Community Center or Jewish Community Centre is a general recreational, social and fraternal organization serving the Jewish community in a number of cities...
. From 1960 to 1964, he lived in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, working for both the Joint Distribution Committee and the United Jewish Appeal
United Jewish Appeal
The United Jewish Appeal was a Jewish philanthropic umbrella organization that existed from its creation in 1949 until it was folded into the United Jewish Communities, which was formed from the 1999 merger of United Jewish Appeal , Council of Jewish Federations and United Israel Appeal, Inc.In...
.
Books
- Modern Chess Openings, 11th Edition. ISBN 0-273-41845-9.
- Modern Chess Openings, 13th Edition. ISBN 0-8129-1785-5.
- American Chess Art: 250 Portraits of Endgame Study. ISBN 0-273-07215-3.
- The Brilliant Touch in Chess. London: Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons Ltd, 1950