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James Tarjan
J Tarjan 
 

Number of games in database: 752
Years covered: 1966 to 2024
Last FIDE rating: 2256
Highest rating achieved in database: 2530
Overall record: +301 -177 =257 (58.4%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 17 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 Sicilian (74) 
    B81 B43 B23 B92 B50
 English (25) 
    A10 A11 A13 A15 A17
 English, 1 c4 e5 (25) 
    A20 A22 A29 A25 A21
 King's Indian (24) 
    E73 E74 E88 E84 E83
 English, 1 c4 c5 (21) 
    A37 A30 A31 A36 A34
 Ruy Lopez (21) 
    C78 C72 C96 C73 C69
With the Black pieces:
 Sicilian (94) 
    B25 B77 B78 B51 B90
 Ruy Lopez (30) 
    C77 C95 C83 C70 C80
 Grunfeld (22) 
    D78 D79 D74 D85 D90
 English (21) 
    A14 A15 A10 A13 A16
 Queen's Indian (20) 
    E12 E17 E14 E15 E19
 Sicilian Dragon (20) 
    B77 B78 B72 B73 B71
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   J Tarjan vs Hodgson, 1983 1-0
   J Nogueiras vs J Tarjan, 1979 0-1
   M Kapelan vs J Tarjan, 1983 0-1
   A Planinc vs J Tarjan, 1974 0-1
   E Torre vs J Tarjan, 1983 1/2-1/2
   J Tarjan vs F Rattinger, 1971 1-0
   M Wilder vs J Tarjan, 1981 0-1
   J Tarjan vs Browne, 1984 1-0
   R Ervin vs J Tarjan, 1975 0-1
   J Grefe vs J Tarjan, 1973 1/2-1/2

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   Kostic Memorial (1983)
   Norwich Junior (1972)
   Marlboro Chess Classic (1977)
   United States Championship (1978)
   Maribor (1978)
   Benedictine International (1983)
   Hastings 1976/77 (1976)
   Skopje (1976)
   Hoogovens-B (1974)
   United States Championship (1984)
   Buenos Aires Olympiad (1978)
   82nd US Open (1981)
   Odessa (1976)
   First Lady's Cup (1983)
   Valletta Olympiad (1980)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   Hastings 1977/78 by suenteus po 147
   US Championship 1975 by suenteus po 147
   US Championship 1973 by Phony Benoni

RECENT GAMES:
   🏆 National Open
   N Delgado Ramirez vs J Tarjan (Jun-06-24) 1-0
   S Homa vs J Tarjan (Jun-11-23) 1-0
   J Zhou vs J Tarjan (Mar-21-23) 1-0
   D Eckert vs J Tarjan (Mar-21-23) 0-1
   J Tarjan vs L C Torres Rosas (Mar-20-23) 1/2-1/2

Search Sacrifice Explorer for James Tarjan
Search Google for James Tarjan
FIDE player card for James Tarjan

JAMES TARJAN
(born Feb-22-1952, 73 years old) United States of America

[what is this?]

James Edward Tarjan was born in Pomona, California, USA. He was awarded the IM title in 1974 and the GM title in 1976, and was a member of the US team that won the World Student Team Championship in 1970. In tournaments, Tarjan came first at Subotica 1975 and at Vancouver 1976 and first equal at Vrsac 1983. By finishing second in the 1978 US Championship, he qualified for the Riga Interzonal in 1979, where he finished in 11th place. From 1974 to 1982, Tarjan played on five consecutive US Olympiad teams and on the first occasion, he won the board prize for those playing second reserve. Tarjan began playing chess again in 2014 after a 30-year hiatus. Soon after his comeback he upset Vladimir Kramnik at the Isle of Man Masters (2017). He is still active as of 2021.

Further reading: (1) Wikipedia article: James Tarjan , (2) http://www.chess.ca/crosstable?tour... (2016 Canadian open wall-chart).

Last updated: 2021-12-05 17:49:43

Try our new games table.

 page 1 of 31; games 1-25 of 752  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. J Tarjan vs D Amneus 1-0231966Los AngelesC39 King's Gambit Accepted
2. S Telingator vs J Tarjan  0-1341966Casual gameD52 Queen's Gambit Declined
3. T Weinberger vs J Tarjan  1-0251966Pacific Southwest OpenE80 King's Indian, Samisch Variation
4. J Tarjan vs Benko  0-140196667th US OpenB80 Sicilian, Scheveningen
5. J Tarjan vs D Fulton  0-131196667th US OpenB14 Caro-Kann, Panov-Botvinnik Attack
6. E McCormick vs J Tarjan  1-044196667th US OpenB53 Sicilian
7. R W Schutt vs J Tarjan  ½-½30196667th US OpenD47 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav
8. J Tarjan vs B Gross  1-032196667th US OpenB03 Alekhine's Defense
9. T Weinberger vs J Tarjan 1-0461967Santa Monica Masters InvitationalD31 Queen's Gambit Declined
10. T Weinberger vs J Tarjan  1-0271968Long Beach OpenE65 King's Indian, Fianchetto, Yugoslav, 7.O-O
11. T Weinberger vs J Tarjan 1-0631968West Coast OpenD02 Queen's Pawn Game
12. J Tarjan vs T Weinberger 0-1551968San Bernardino OpenB07 Pirc
13. H A Buczko vs J Tarjan 0-126196869th US OpenB03 Alekhine's Defense
14. J Tarjan vs Browne 1-027196869th US OpenC16 French, Winawer
15. J Tarjan vs Larsen 0-134196869th US OpenB61 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer, Larsen Variation, 7.Qd2
16. R Byrne vs J Tarjan 1-030196869th US OpenD07 Queen's Gambit Declined, Chigorin Defense
17. J Tarjan vs R Shean 1-040196869th US OpenB93 Sicilian, Najdorf, 6.f4
18. R J Gross vs J Tarjan  ½-½18196869th US OpenE17 Queen's Indian
19. J Tarjan vs D Fritzinger 1-032196869th US OpenB40 Sicilian
20. L Kaufman vs J Tarjan 1-056196869th US OpenB73 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
21. J Tarjan vs Browne 0-1301969USA-ch U18 playoffB98 Sicilian, Najdorf
22. Browne vs J Tarjan  ½-½321969USA-ch U18 playoffC70 Ruy Lopez
23. Browne vs J Tarjan 0-1381969USA-ch U18 playoffC04 French, Tarrasch, Guimard Main line
24. J Tarjan vs Browne ½-½411969USA Jch plof mB23 Sicilian, Closed
25. J Tarjan vs A Neyman  1-0381969World Student Team Championship qual-3B50 Sicilian
 page 1 of 31; games 1-25 of 752  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Tarjan wins | Tarjan loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 5 OF 5 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Oct-03-17  GrandMaesterPycelle: Actually, he won against Kosteniuk. Though the game hasn't yet found its way to the database.
Oct-03-17  diagonal: <GMP> thanks!

James Tarjan beat Alexandra Kosteniuk:

https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-t...

no gender discrimination, please :))

Oct-03-17  Petrosianic: diagonal: <At least Karjakin believes, there is such a title :) >

So do you, but nevertheless, there is no such official title. It's an invention of journalists. But in fact, Korchnoi never competed for or claimed such a title, and probably wouldn't have seen much value in it.

Oct-03-17  Howard: Soltis tells a nice story in his book on the U.S. chess championship (all three editions) as to how Tarjan became "one of the world's leading experts" on the Dragon. Check it out!
Oct-03-17  Petrosianic: <GrandMaesterPycelle: Actually, he won against Kosteniuk. Though the game hasn't yet found its way to the database.>

She's got a powerful lobby.

Oct-03-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sally Simpson: Sorry James I thought it was a draw.

30 years alone with Fred Reinfeld books.

I think we have discovered the secret of chess.

Oct-03-17  JimNorCal: What nationality does the surname Tarjan come from? What's his family's heritage?
Oct-03-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  WannaBe: <JimNorCal> Wiki says Hungarian

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarj%...

Oct-03-17  Petrosianic: Since CG is slow, I'll give you the last game. She blew it with 32...Kb8??

[Event "Isle of Man"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.10.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Tarjan, James"]
[Black "Kosteniuk, Alexandra"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2412"]
[BlackElo "2552"]
[ECO ""]
[CurrentPosition "


click for larger view

"]

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nc3 Nb6 6.b3 Be7 7.Bb2 Nc6 8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.Nf3 Qd6 10.O-O Bf5 11.d3 Qe6 12.Ne4 O-O-O 13.Qc2 f6 14.Rfc1 Kb7 15.b4 Bxb4 16.Rab1 Be7 17.a4 Ka8 18.a5 Nd7 19.Qa4 Rb8 20.Rxc6 Qb3 21.Qxb3 Rxb3 22.Nfd2 Rb7 23.Rc2 Rhb8 24.Nc4 a6 25.Rbc1 Rb3 26.Bc3 Be6 27.f4 exf4 28.gxf4 R3b5 29.Bd4 Bb4 30.Bc3 Be7 31.Bd4 R8b7 32.Kg2 Kb8 33.Ncd6 Bxd6 34.Nxd6 Rd5 35.Nxb7 Rxd4 36.Nd8 Bd5+ 37.e4 Kc8 38.Nc6 Bxc6 39.Rxc6 Rxd3 40.Rxc7+ Kd8 41.Ra7 Rd6 42.Kf3 g5 43.Rg1 h6 44.h4 Ke7 45.hxg5 hxg5 46.fxg5 1-0

Oct-03-17  Gregor Samsa Mendel: <Sally Simpson: ...

30 years alone with Fred Reinfeld books.

I think we have discovered the secret of chess.>

If that was really true, then <Ulhumbrus> would be world champion.

Oct-03-17  JimNorCal: Thanks WannaBe!
Oct-26-17  Mudphudder: Tarjan needs a new profile picture here. I vote for the one where Kramnik is shaking Tarjan's hand after resigning.
Oct-26-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: <Howard: Personally, I was born near the very end of the Eisenhower administration, but having been a USCF member since early 1975 (how many of such members are still out there ?!)....>

Been a member since 1972.

Oct-27-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  wwall: <Howard: Personally, I was born near the very end of the Eisenhower administration, but having been a USCF member since early 1975 (how many of such members are still out there ?!)....>

Been a member since 1969. Played in the 1969 American Open. Christiansen was just a kid there.

Dec-08-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  GrahamClayton: 1966 and 1968 Californian State Junior Champion.
Dec-31-17  technical draw: <Howard><(how many of such members are still out there ?!), I remember Tarjan well.>

I was a member from 1967 to 1969 but never renewed. I also remember Tarjan. Also in a small chess club in Valladolid, Spain, I was asked by a Spaniard if I knew Tarjan. That was in 1976. But I remembered Tarjan very well. He was in my "group".

Dec-31-17  TheFocus: I began tournament play in the late 70's and 80's. I remember Tarjan very well. I wondered how he could give up chess like he did.

Glad to see him back in the arena. Is the World Senior Championship in his sights?

Jul-26-19  Petrosianic: <diagonal> <At least Karjakin believes, there is such a title :)>

I mean there's no such title as Vice World Champion.

There us such a thing as an official challenger, but that isn't a title.

Oct-16-22  Olavi: <Petrosianic: <diagonal> <At least Karjakin believes, there is such a title :)> I mean there's no such title as Vice World Champion.

There us such a thing as an official challenger, but that isn't a title.>

This discussion from a few years back reminds me of that in German chess magazins and general dailies and weeklies ca. 1978-82 Korchnoi was invariably referred to as Vize-Weltmeister. If memory serves, it was somehow reserved for him, they didn't call Spassky or Petrosian that in 66-68 or 69-71. Maybe it had to do with him settling in the German speaking sphere.

Oct-28-23  thegoodanarchist: I wonder how many Tarzan jokes this guy has heard in his life....
Jan-27-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  FSR: If only he played the Orangutan Opening. Then he'd be <Tarjan of the Apes>.
Jan-27-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sally Simpson: It was him and possibly this game J Tarjan vs Kramnik, 2017 that sowed the seeds for Kramnik's cheating outbursts....he did have a pet called 'Cheeta'
Sep-14-24  Petrosianic: <thegoodanarchist: I wonder how many Tarzan jokes this guy has heard in his life....>

Just one, but he's probably heard it a thousand times.

Sep-14-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  Stonehenge: Tarzan-Hulk score:

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/che...

Sep-19-24  MMan: I didn"t realize until a few days ago that he's the brother of Robert Tarjan, the 1986 Turing Award winner (effectively the Nobel Prize of Computer Science).
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