Hans Johner

Hans Johner ( born January 7, 1889 in Basel, † December 2, 1975 in Thalwil ) was one of the strongest and most well-known Swiss chess player.

The Chess Player

Hans Johner was 12 times Swiss champion, the first time in 1908, most recently 1950. He is the country 's most successful. Five times he won the Coupe Suisse, three times (1927, 1931 and 1956 ), he participated in a Chess Olympiad. In 1950 he became an International Master.

The commentator

Hans Johner supervised for 57 years, from 1914 to 1971, the chess column of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. Here he published master games and commented on this in detail. His analyzes have been observed and appreciated abroad of chess players. He handed over the first column to Werner Issler, who passed it to johners good friend Odette Vollenweider 1976. This took care of the column until the end of 2010.

Chess composition

Hans Johner was interested in chess composition. In the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, he treated many chess problems. Even he himself has composed about 200, several of which have won awards.

Solution: 1.Td4! ( threatens Dd3 matt) if 1 - Txd4 2.Sf1 matt or 1 -b2 2.Dd3 matt or 1 - f5 2.Dh3 matt or 1 - Sf5 2.Lg5 matt or 1 - Lf5 2.Dh6 matt or 1 - Tf5 2.Sg4 matt

The musician

Like his brother, Paul (1887-1938) - also a strong chess master - was Hans Johner of professional musicians. He played as a violist and violinist in the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, at the same time he worked as a violin teacher.