Alexander Koblencs (Latvian: Aleksandrs Koblencs, Russian: Александр Кобленц, German: Alexander Koblenz; 3 September 1916, Riga – 9 December 1993, Berlin) was a Latvian chess master, trainer, and writer.
Although he took 2nd, behind Vladimir Alatortsev in 1945, and behind Mark Taimanov in 1949, both were off contest (hors concours).
In June 1944, he took 2nd, behind Voldemārs Mežgailis, in Udelnaya (Latvian SSR ch.).
[1][2] As a trainer, he started to work with young Mikhail Tal in 1949, and coached him through his meteoric rise from the mid-1950s.
Most prominently, he coached him in his World Chess Championship matches in 1960 and 1961 against Mikhail Botvinnik.