Karl Junker

Karl Junker (21.4.1905-13.1.1995)

Chess player, chess composer and editor

Karl Junker (21.4.1905-13.1.1995) learnt to play chess around 1917 and came to chess composition around 1923, in which he devoted himself in particular to the orthodox three-move and multiple-move moves. In his strategic compositions he tried to realise model mates wherever possible. Junker, who had worked as a journalist for several years before his teaching career, was active as a chess journalist for many years. In 1959, he was briefly editor of Schwalbe, which he gave a new, adventurous look and format (DIN A4). The three issues published in this way - one of which was a double issue - were re-set by his successor Peter Kniest and reprinted in the standard format of the time. In 1962 Junker, together with Rudolf Teschner, revised Tarrasch's book Das Schachspiel. Systematisches Lehrbuch für Anfänger und Geübte. He later wrote the problem section of Klaus Lindörfer's Großes Schach-Lexikon. In 1971 he published a selection of his own problems, which was followed by a second edition in 1978. In the 1970s, Junker headed the study section of the Schach-Echo. His 6-move problem, which is reproduced here, has a simple position, but then proves to be a tricky tempo piece. Kraemer/Zepler predicted a long life for this problem in their book Problemschach im 20. Jahrhundert.