Walter Korn (22 May 1908, in Prague, Czechoslovakia – July 9, 1997, in San Mateo, California) 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. Mr. Korn was an FIDE International Judge for Chess Compositions and contributed the entire topic of Chess for the Encyclopedia Britannica c1972.
Korn was the author of Mode...
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Walter Korn (22 May 1908, in Prague, Czechoslovakia – July 9, 1997, in San Mateo, California) 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. Mr. Korn was an FIDE International Judge for Chess Compositions and contributed the entire topic of Chess for the Encyclopedia Britannica c1972.
Korn was the author of Modern Chess Openings, which was considered the bible and 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...
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