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Simon Winawer
Winawer 
 

Number of games in database: 317
Years covered: 1867 to 1901
Overall record: +141 -118 =54 (53.7%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 4 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 Ruy Lopez (43) 
    C67 C80 C61 C77 C65
 French Defense (24) 
    C13 C00 C11 C01 C15
 French (20) 
    C13 C00 C11
 Sicilian (18) 
    B25 B43 B40 B30 B21
 Evans Gambit (13) 
    C51 C52
 Center Game (12) 
    C22 C21
With the Black pieces:
 Ruy Lopez (41) 
    C77 C67 C65 C70 C80
 Giuoco Piano (12) 
    C50 C53
 Four Knights (11) 
    C49 C48
 French Defense (10) 
    C01 C00 C11 C17 C13
 Vienna Opening (9) 
    C25 C28 C27
 Robatsch (8) 
    B06
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   Winawer vs Steinitz, 1896 1-0
   Steinitz vs Winawer, 1882 0-1
   M Porges vs Winawer, 1892 0-1
   Albin vs Winawer, 1896 0-1
   Chigorin vs Winawer, 1883 0-1
   Winawer vs F Riemann, 1881 1-0
   Winawer vs C F Schmid, 1881 1-0
   J Mason vs Winawer, 1883 0-1
   Winawer vs E D'Andre, 1867 1-0
   Winawer vs Shumov, 1875 1-0

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   Winawer - Shumov (1875)
   Winawer - Caro (1892)
   3rd DSB Congress, Nuremberg (1883)
   Paris (1867)
   Paris (1878)
   Vienna (1882)
   2nd DSB Congress, Berlin (1881)
   Leipzig (1877)
   Wiesbaden (1880)
   Baden-Baden (1870)
   Budapest (1896)
   7th DSB Congress, Dresden (1892)
   London (1883)
   Berlin (1897)
   Nuremberg (1896)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   0ZeR0's Favorite Games Volume 159 by 0ZeR0
   Szymon Winawer by nizmo11
   Vienna 1882 by suenteus po 147
   Paris 1878 by suenteus po 147
   Paris 1867 by suenteus po 147
   Berlin 1881 by suenteus po 147


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SIMON WINAWER
(born Mar-05-1838, died Nov-29-1919, 81 years old) Poland

[what is this?]

Szymon Abramowicz Winawer was born in Warsaw. He was German champion in 1883.

His first appearance internationally was at Paris (1867) where he finished 2nd= with Wilhelm Steinitz behind Ignatz von Kolisch. For the next 15 years he was among the world's strongest half dozen players. Chessmetrics ranks him No. 2 in the world for 12 months in 1878-80. On chess24.com, GMs Jan Gustafsson and Peter Heine Nielsen ranked Winawer the 43rd greatest player in history.

At Paris (1878), Winawer finished 1st= (+14, =5, -3) with Johannes Zukertort, ahead of Joseph Henry Blackburne and George Henry Mackenzie, but took 2nd prize after the playoff.

In 1881 at Berlin Winawer came 3rd= with Mikhail Chigorin behind Blackburne and Zukertort. Then in the strongest tournament held up to that time he had his finest moment: 1st= with Steinitz at Vienna (1882). The subsequent play-off was drawn (+1, -1).

Winawer fared badly at London (1883) and decided to give up chess but on his way back to Vienna he stopped off at Nuremberg in need of a dentist and was waylaid by the tournament organisers and was persuaded to play. The result was 1st prize ahead of Blackburne at the 3rd DSB Congress, Nuremberg (1883).

After a long absence, Winawer returned to chess in the 1890s but by that stage a younger generation was coming to the fore.

The Winawer Variation of the French Defense (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4) is the most important opening line named for him. Others include the Winawer Counter-Gambit in the Slav (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e5!?), which he used successfully in Marshall vs Winawer, 1901 ; and the Winawer Attack in the Spanish Opening (Ruy Lopez) (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Be7 6.Qe2 Nd6 7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.dxe5 Nb7 9.Nd4).

Winawer died in Warsaw in 1919.

Wikipedia article: Szymon Winawer
http://www.chessmetrics.com/cm/CM2/...
https://chess24.com/en/learn/advanc...

Last updated: 2024-06-29 11:48:09

Try our new games table.

 page 1 of 13; games 1-25 of 317  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. G Neumann vs Winawer 1-0411867MatchC55 Two Knights Defense
2. Winawer vs G Neumann 0-1481867MatchC67 Ruy Lopez
3. Winawer vs G Neumann 0-1411867MatchC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
4. Winawer vs M From 1-0401867ParisC30 King's Gambit Declined
5. M From vs Winawer  0-1411867ParisC21 Center Game
6. G Neumann vs Winawer 1-0621867ParisC67 Ruy Lopez
7. Winawer vs G Neumann 1-0481867ParisB21 Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4
8. Winawer vs Kolisch 0-1311867ParisB21 Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4
9. Kolisch vs Winawer 0-1641867ParisC42 Petrov Defense
10. Winawer vs S Rosenthal 1-0331867ParisC67 Ruy Lopez
11. S Rosenthal vs Winawer ½-½461867ParisC45 Scotch Game
12. S Loyd vs Winawer 0-1441867ParisC42 Petrov Defense
13. Winawer vs S Loyd 1-0511867ParisC62 Ruy Lopez, Old Steinitz Defense
14. Winawer vs de Vere 1-0211867ParisC61 Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defense
15. de Vere vs Winawer 0-1351867ParisA20 English
16. Winawer vs Steinitz 1-0651867ParisB40 Sicilian
17. Steinitz vs Winawer 1-0281867ParisC01 French, Exchange
18. C Golmayo vs Winawer 0-1421867ParisC51 Evans Gambit
19. Winawer vs H Czarnowski 1-0341867ParisC51 Evans Gambit
20. H Czarnowski vs Winawer  0-1271867ParisC50 Giuoco Piano
21. E Rousseau vs Winawer 0-1321867ParisA22 English
22. Winawer vs E Rousseau 0-1521867ParisC30 King's Gambit Declined
23. Winawer vs C Golmayo  1-0461867ParisB30 Sicilian
24. Winawer vs E D'Andre 1-0131867ParisC51 Evans Gambit
25. E D'Andre vs Winawer 0-1591867ParisA03 Bird's Opening
 page 1 of 13; games 1-25 of 317  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Winawer wins | Winawer loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>
May-04-08  percyblakeney: <Does anybody have reliable biographical information on Szymon Winawer?>

I suppose one of the most reliable sources should be the small book on Winawer by Tomasz Lissowski that was printed eight years ago (I don't have it and it is said to be hard to find). A review in pdf format:

http://www.chesscafe.com/text/revie...

May-04-08  Karpova: <percyblakeney>
Thanks very much! It says that Gaige's wrong with 1920.01.20 being the date of Winawer's death since he died on Nov-29, 1919.
Mar-05-09  laskereshevsky: today, 171 Years ago, born one of my favorite players....

a fantastic natural chess-talent....

Mar-23-09  suenteus po 147: The last great tournament victory by Winawer: Game Collection: Nuremberg 1883
Mar-05-10  bengalcat47: What is the exact name of Tomasz Lissowski's book on Winawer?
Mar-05-10  percyblakeney: <What is the exact name of Tomasz Lissowski's book on Winawer?>

Szymon Winawer

Jul-10-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  GrahamClayton: Biography can be found here:

http://www.chesscafe.com/text/kibit...

Review of "Syzmon Winawer":

http://www.chesscafe.com/text/revie...

Jan-09-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  jessicafischerqueen: <Winawer's> contribution to Polish chess history is discussed in part one of this documentary video:

<Akiva Rubinstein and Polish Chess>

Now with voice-over narration.

Part One:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi3h...

Part Two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQQO...

Part Three:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sqG...

Mar-05-12  brankat: R.I.P. master Winawer.
Mar-05-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: R.I.P. Simon Winawer.
Sep-16-12  Karpova: In 1887 at Warsaw, people were playing in the Cafe Bourse, Krolewskastraße. Among the chessplayers there were Simon, David and Hermann Winawer.

From page 16 of the December 1887 'Wiener Schachzeitung'

Sep-13-15  kjr63: Who did Capablanca learned his endgames from? Perhaps Winawer Winawer vs Tarrasch, 1896
Sep-13-15  TheFocus: I would have thought Capa had access to Fine's book or something by Chernev.
Nov-12-15  Lissowski: Dear Karpova,

You wrote:

>>> In 1887 at Warsaw, people were
>>> playing in the Cafe Bourse,
>>> Krolewskastraße.

This is not true, I am sorry.

People were playing in the
Cafe Lourse, which was placed in the Saski (Saxon) Garden, not far from ulica (street) Krolewska. The building, erected ca in 1820, was damaged during II WW and never rebuilt. The resort sometimes was called "Kawiarnia Saska", see Horbaczynski's book on cafeterias of Warsaw. Simon often visited Semadeni cafe at Teatralny Sqare, then it's another story...

>>> From page 16 of the December 1887 >>> 'Wiener Schachzeitung'

Correct.
But the author, who even played a game against Simon, made a mistake. There was a bourse in Warsaw, nota bene at Krolewska street as well, but no "Cafe de la Bourse".

Anyway, I'd like to thank you for your impressive input to the history of chess.

Mar-05-16  TheFocus: Happy birthday, Simon Winawer.
Apr-22-16  zanzibar: Why does <CG> use <Simon> instead of <Szymon>?

Can we please change it to <Szymon>?

* * * * *

Consider the example of Steinitz. Why is <CG> so inconsistent?

Nov-29-16  TheFocus: Rest in peace, Simon Winawer.
Nov-30-16  Big Pawn: BY Simon! RIP BRO!
Mar-05-17  TheFocus: Happy birthday, Simon Winawer.

The French has never been the same.

Dec-09-19  Straclonoor: here http://al20102007.narod.ru/matches/... is all the games match Winawer vs. Ilya Shumov
May-26-23  Lissowski: LLC Elk and Ruby published recently (May 2023) the book: "The Wizard of Warsaw. A Chess Biography of Szymon Winawer". 301 pages, with many annotated games, photos and drawings.
May-26-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  jnpope: Just ordered a copy for some summer reading.
May-26-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  MissScarlett: The snooker player, John Higgins, is nicknamed the <Wizard of Wishaw.>
May-27-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sally Simpson: There is the book: 'The Chess Wizardry of Wotawa' by Lakdawala & Hansen

https://chess.co.uk/products/the-ch...

The position on the cover is;


click for larger view

White to play and win. (nice)

Clue: in the mainline you are saccing a piece, Black promotes and you mate with with one of the pieces going back to the square they started from.

Jan-31-24  stone free or die: Wish <CG> "credited" the source of the photo above so we'd have an idea when it was taken.

<Chess Monthly (ru) v2 N6 (Jun 1923) p87> has another photo with a slightly more stylized beard trim.

.

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