May 17th

Wilhelm Steinitz (17-05-1836 - 12-08-1900) German composer (and o.t.b.World Champion)

Wilhelm_Steinitz [Wikipedia]

Wilhelm Steinitz was of course the first World Champion, before Emmanuel Lasker won the title in the 1894 match, but he also composed some studies of which the best known is the following:

Steinitz, Wilhelm
Dufresne: Sammlung leichterer Schachaufgaben (2. Teil)
1882 (18)

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4 + 2

Show Solution

1. h7+ Kg7 2. h8=Q+ (nowadays a classical sacrifice)
2...Kxh8 3. Kf7 Rf1+ 4. Bf6+ Rxf6+ 5. Kxf6 and White wins.