Kārlis Bētiņš

Who was Kārlis Bētiņš?

Kārlis Karlovich Bētiņš was a Latvian chess master and composer of studies.

He tied for 3rd-5th at Riga 1899, took 3rd at Riga 1900, won at Riga 1900/01, shared 1st with Karl Wilhelm Rosenkrantz, W. Sohn and Wilhelm von Stamm at Dorpat 1901, and tied for 3rd-4th at Reval 1904.

In 1902–1910, he was co-editor with Paul Kerkovius of the Baltische Schachblätter.

After World War I, he took 3rd, behind Hermanis Matisons and Fricis Apšenieks, at Riga 1924. Betinš played for Latvia in 1st unofficial Chess Olympiad at Paris 1924, where he took 4th place and tied for 4-7th in Consolation Cup.

The Latvian Gambit was named as a tribute to Karlis Betinš, who analyzed it in the early part of the 20th century.