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Wolfgang Uhlmann
Uhlmann 
Uhlmann at the 5th Rubinstein Memorial in 1967
Photo courtesty of the Wilkau-Haßlau Chess Club.
 

Number of games in database: 2,750
Years covered: 1951 to 2016
Last FIDE rating: 2308
Highest rating achieved in database: 2575
Overall record: +1055 -481 =1196 (60.5%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 18 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 King's Indian (208) 
    E73 E75 E94 E79 E90
 English, 1 c4 e5 (175) 
    A29 A21 A22 A27 A20
 English, 1 c4 c5 (142) 
    A30 A34 A35 A37 A38
 English (141) 
    A16 A17 A10 A13 A14
 Queen's Gambit Declined (90) 
    D37 D31 D35 D30 D38
 Slav (74) 
    D18 D15 D16 D19 D10
With the Black pieces:
 French Defense (476) 
    C09 C18 C07 C05 C01
 King's Indian (373) 
    E97 E92 E60 E62 E81
 French Tarrasch (196) 
    C09 C07 C05
 French Winawer (172) 
    C18 C19 C15 C16 C17
 Grunfeld (159) 
    D79 D86 D94 D90 D91
 English (66) 
    A15 A10 A16 A12 A13
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   W Bialas vs Uhlmann, 1951 0-1
   Fischer vs Uhlmann, 1960 0-1
   Geller vs Uhlmann, 1970 0-1
   P Enders vs Uhlmann, 1978 0-1
   Bronstein vs Uhlmann, 1977 0-1
   Velimirovic vs Uhlmann, 1976 0-1
   J Kostro vs Uhlmann, 1974 0-1
   G Moehring vs Uhlmann, 1982 0-1
   Uhlmann vs Gligoric, 1970 1-0
   Miles vs Uhlmann, 1976 0-1

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   East German Championship (1955)
   Capablanca Memorial (1964)
   Tel Aviv Olympiad Final-B (1964)
   Raach Zonal (1969)
   East German Championship (1964)
   East German Championship (1975)
   East German Championship (1968)
   East German Championship (1981)
   East German Championship (1961)
   Skopje (1976)
   East German Championship (1974)
   Wageningen Zonal (1957)
   Palma de Mallorca Interzonal (1970)
   Capablanca Memorial (1963)
   Stockholm Interzonal (1962)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   0ZeR0's collected games volume 41 by 0ZeR0
   0ZeR0's collected games volume 40 by 0ZeR0
   WINNING w/the FRENCH by Uhlmann + FTB by fredthebear
   WINNING w/the FRENCH by Uhlmann + FTB by webbing1947
   WINNING w/the FRENCH by Uhlmann + FTB by webbing1947
   WINNING w/the FRENCH by Uhlmann + FTB by trh6upsz
   Winning With the French (Uhlmann) by Sergio X Garcia
   Winning With the French (Uhlmann) by nbabcox
   Winning With the French (Uhlmann) by Chessdreamer
   Winning With the French (Uhlmann) by doug27
   WINNING w/the FRENCH by Uhlmann + FTB by Patca63
   WINNING WITH THE FRENCH by hitsujyun
   Uhlmann: Winning with French by setuhanu01
   81a ZOOM 001 SUBMODELS A-H by whiteshark

RECENT GAMES:
   🏆 Bundesliga 2015/16
   Uhlmann vs A Naumann (Apr-09-16) 0-1
   A Raykhman vs Uhlmann (Mar-15-15) 1-0
   Uhlmann vs G Timoscenko (Mar-03-15) 0-1
   Uhlmann vs Korchnoi (Feb-16-15) 0-1, rapid
   Korchnoi vs Uhlmann (Feb-16-15) 0-1, rapid

Search Sacrifice Explorer for Wolfgang Uhlmann
Search Google for Wolfgang Uhlmann

WOLFGANG UHLMANN
(born Mar-29-1935, died Aug-24-2020, 85 years old) Germany

[what is this?]

Wolfgang Uhlmann was born in Dresden, and was taught to play chess by his father when he was 11. Awarded the IM title in 1956 and the GM title in 1959, he was a World Championship Candidate in 1971 but was eliminated by Bent Larsen at the quarter-final stage.

Uhlmann was East German Champion in 1955, 1958, 1964, 1968, 1975, 1976, 1981 and 1985. He was a noted authority on the French Defense, having played it almost exclusively against 1.e4 throughout his career. He also wrote the book Winning with the French (1995).

Wikipedia article: Wolfgang Uhlmann

Last updated: 2020-11-02 05:38:23

Try our new games table.

 page 1 of 110; games 1-25 of 2,750  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. Uhlmann vs R Von Saldern 1-0241951GER-ch U20C05 French, Tarrasch
2. Uhlmann vs F Stahl  1-0461951GER-ch U20D46 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav
3. G Libner vs Uhlmann  0-1421951DDR-ch U18C15 French, Winawer
4. K Achatz vs Uhlmann 0-1391951GER-ch U20C02 French, Advance
5. Uhlmann vs W Rosen 1-0291951GER-ch U20E72 King's Indian
6. W Bialas vs Uhlmann 0-1231951GER-ch U20C05 French, Tarrasch
7. H Richter vs Uhlmann  0-1461951GER-ch U20A91 Dutch Defense
8. Uhlmann vs H Richter 1-0281951DDR-ch U18A45 Queen's Pawn Game
9. K Darga vs Uhlmann ½-½871951GER-ch U20D60 Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense
10. K Kunze vs Uhlmann  ½-½341951GER-ch U20C01 French, Exchange
11. Uhlmann vs R Fuchs  1-0441951DDR-ch U18D48 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, Meran
12. E Budrich vs Uhlmann  0-1401951GER-ch U20D63 Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense
13. Uhlmann vs H Schroeder  0-1511951GER-ch U20D46 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav
14. Uhlmann vs B Malich  1-0371951GER-ch U20A44 Old Benoni Defense
15. Uhlmann vs Schenk  1-0331951DDR-ch U18E68 King's Indian, Fianchetto, Classical Variation, 8.e4
16. Uhlmann vs L Musmann  1-0441951GER-ch U20E17 Queen's Indian
17. R Fuchs vs Uhlmann  ½-½271951GER-ch U20E23 Nimzo-Indian, Spielmann
18. Bobotsov vs Uhlmann 1-0611953BUL-GDRC19 French, Winawer, Advance
19. Uhlmann vs R Pakulla  0-1371953East German ChampionshipE62 King's Indian, Fianchetto
20. W Buchholz vs Uhlmann  0-1631953East German ChampionshipC19 French, Winawer, Advance
21. Uhlmann vs A Zirngibl  0-1611953East German ChampionshipE10 Queen's Pawn Game
22. R Seiffert vs Uhlmann 0-1191953East German ChampionshipC18 French, Winawer
23. Uhlmann vs R Schlieder  1-0451953East German ChampionshipD57 Queen's Gambit Declined, Lasker Defense
24. L Herrmann vs Uhlmann  ½-½691953East German ChampionshipA93 Dutch, Stonewall, Botvinnik Variation
25. E Keller-Herrmann vs Uhlmann  ½-½391953East German ChampionshipA96 Dutch, Classical Variation
 page 1 of 110; games 1-25 of 2,750  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Uhlmann wins | Uhlmann loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 6 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Dec-05-04  EnglishOpeningc4: use the french with black and white < 1d3 e5 2e3 d5 3d4>
Jul-02-05  Shrivel Up DEVO: the computers don't seem to use the French defence. That might tell you something. the French is sort of a counterpunching opening, you wait for white to over extend, make a mistake.

The Progs don't wait for a mistake to happen, they force the mistake, and don't depend on their opponent playing less than top notch.

I think thats why the Bots don't open with the French too often. By definition, its inferior.

Jul-15-05  Jamespawn: I don`t think its an inferior defense. Its just not a tactical defense like the Sicilian. Its strategical rather than tactical and computers are not good at strategy , but do excell at tactics.
Oct-28-05  notyetagm: In his excellent book "365 Ways To Checkmate", GM Joe Gallagher calls the mating pattern which ends this Uhlmann game "one of our favorite mates". In Descriptive Notation the mate runs ♖-R8+! ♔x♖ ♕-R6+ ♔-N1 ♕xNP#. In words, the enemy king is <decoyed> onto the long diagonal to create a pin so that the queen has access to the Rook 6 square with check and then the queen gives mate on Knight 7. I do not know if this matting pattern has a name so I call it the Gallagher Mate.

[Event "DDR-ch 13th"]
[Site "Aschersleben"]
[Date "1963.02.11"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Maedler,Juergen"]
[Black "Uhlmann,Wolfgang"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Eco "D86"]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.0-0 b6 10.Be3 Bb7 11.Qd2 Na5 12.Bd3 c5 13.Bh6 cxd4 14.cxd4 Rc8 15.Rfc1 Bxh6 16.Qxh6 Qd6 17.h4 Nc6 18.Rd1 Qf6 19.Bb5 Rfd8 20.Bxc6 Rxc6 21.e5 Qf5 22.Ng3 Qg4 23.d5 Rc5 24.d6 Rxe5 25.Rac1 Rxd6 26.Rxd6 exd6 27.Rc7 Re1+ 28.Kh2 Rh1+ 0-1

Dec-17-05  netlava: Nice mating pattern. I didn't see it right away? What are some other common mating patterns?
Dec-17-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Gypsy: <I do not know if this matting pattern has a name so I call it the Gallagher Mate.> Nice monicker. But why not Uhlman's?
Mar-08-06  HolyKnight: GMs like Korchnoi, Uhlmann, Glek I just got to really admire these guys.

Here is a guy who played Kings Indian against d4 and French against e4. It's like him saying, ok beat me at my favorite I dare you!

The French (if you count all the Sicilians as one opening) it is then the most complex reply to e4. By far.

It is more complex than the Dragon, or Najdorf if you count them as one opening. So in ways he is playing the most complex reply to e4 all his life!

Mar-28-06  BIDMONFA: Wolfgang Uhlmann

UHLMANN, Wolfgang
http://www.bidmonfa.com/uhlmann_wol...
_

Jun-08-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  WTHarvey: Here are some crucial positions from Uhlmann's games: http://www.wtharvey.com/uhlm.html
Jul-25-06  siggemannen: this guy surely knows his french
Aug-27-06  Bonol: The French complex?. Do me a favour, try the Max Lange.
Aug-29-06  Albertan: Oct-28-04
offramp: Does anyone have any idea about how many games Uhlmann lost with the French Defence?

Hi Offramp,Uhlmann has lost 102 games with the French Defense in my chessbase database (which covers games he has played until 2003).

Aug-16-07  SniperOnKN2: With black, this guy likes blockaded centers alright. Must have great patience.
Mar-29-08  whiteshark: player of the day

Happy birthday, Wolfgang!!!

Mar-29-10  wordfunph: At Hastings 1972-3, GM William Hartston turned down a draw offer against Wolfgang Uhlmann and lost the game. If he had accepted the draw offer, he would have become England's first GM.

happy birthday Wolfgang!

Jan-05-11  wordfunph: Larsen-Uhlmann 1971 Match:

According to Bent Larsen's wife, Wolfgang Uhlmann is the nicest loser of all the chess masters she has seen.

Mar-29-11  paavoh: A good choice for the POTD! I tried to emulate his game with the French defense when I was active in OTB and in CC, though I was less uncompromizing than he ever was.
Mar-29-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: < paavoh: A good choice for the POTD! I tried to emulate his game with the French defense when I was active in OTB and in CC, though I was less uncompromizing than he ever was. >

Indeed.Someone who defeated Fischer with black in a classical game should deserve to be Player of the Day eventually.

Mar-29-11  theagenbiteofinwit: Uhlmann is second only to Psakhis when it comes to playing the French, IMHO.

Actually it was probably Ulmann's French win and draw against Fischer that influenced Psakhis to make it his main weapon.

Mar-30-11  paavoh: Some Armenian players are also active with the French, Vaganian comes to mind.
Aug-18-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Dionysius1: Uhlmann's home page here needs adjusting. He plays the French defence almost exclusively against p-k4, but as the text stands, the figures don't support it: about 38 percent of Uhlmann's black games are French defences - not "almost exclusively"
Aug-18-11  TugasKamagong: Well, <Dionysius1>, the text in Uhlmann's bio here does indeed say he plays the French almost exclusively against 1.e4. We've had some help from <getReti>: on page 1 here, he says he found only 3 games where Uhlmann didn't play the French against 1.e4. That does sound almost exclusive. Uhlmann has 1772 games here. I'm too lazy to do the actual count, so let's just estimate he had Black in half of them or about 886. How many of those began with 1.e4? Let's go for a real low estimate, and call it one-tenth, or 88 games. If he didn't play the French in only 3 of those games, that would still mean he played the French in more than 96% of the games where he had Black against 1.e4. Now, where did you get that figure of 38%? Perhaps you included Uhlmann's Black games where White opened with 1.d4?
Aug-23-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Dionysius1: Hi <TugasKamagong>. <the text in Uhlmann's bio here does indeed say he plays the French almost exclusively against 1.e4>. It does now - I'm almost sure it didn't when I posted. Either way I'm happy now, and if someone changed the text that quickly - thanks!
Aug-24-11  MartijnvanWingerden: I have a challenge for everyone. Try to find a game where Wolfgang Uhlmann didn't answher 1.e4 with 1...e6. Good Luck!
Aug-24-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: <MartijnvanWingerden: I have a challenge for everyone. Try to find a game where Wolfgang Uhlmann didn't answher 1.e4 with 1...e6. Good Luck!>

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches...

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