SAVIELLY TARTAKOWER (born Feb-21-1887, died Feb-05-1956, 68 years old) Russia [what is this?] Savielly Grigoriewitsch Tartakower was born in Russia and moved to Vienna at age 17. He became a doctor of law in 1909, but he never became a practicing lawyer(1). During World War I, he served in the Austro-Hungarian army. In 1918, after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I, he became a Polish citizen (although he did not speak Polish) and moved to Paris. He became a French citizen after World War II. He won Vienna (1923), Hastings (1926/27), London (1927) (shared with Aron Nimzowitsch), Hastings (1927/28), Scarborough (1929) (shared with Harold Saunders), Liege (1930), and Hastings (1945/46). He also won the Polish championship twice (1935 and 1937) and the French championship at age 66, in 1953. In the 1930s Tartakower represented Poland in six chess olympiads, and France in 1950, winning three individual medals (gold in 1931 and bronze in 1933 and 1935), as well as five team medals (gold in 1930, two silver in 1931 and 1939, and two bronze in 1935 and 1937). Tartakower is regarded as one of the founders of the Hypermodern School of Chess, alongside Richard Reti, Nimzowitsch, and the lesser-known Gyula Breyer. He wrote many books, including The Hypermodern Game of Chess, and Modern Chess Strategy. He has made many impressions on modern opening theory; his name is attached to variations in the Caro-Kann Defense, the French Defense, the Dutch Defense, the Scotch Game, the Sicilian Defense, the Queen's Gambit Declined, and the Torre Attack, and he created the Polish Opening, a.k.a. the Orangutan Opening, 1.b4. He is also one of the 27 original grandmasters that were appointed by FIDE in 1950. During World War II, he served in the Free French Army under General Charles de Gaulle. His French colleagues found his name too difficult to pronounce, so he changed it to Lieutenant Dr. Georges Cartier. Tartakower was a prolific writer. In addition to chess books, he also wrote a screenplay and a collection of poems. He worked for more than 30 chess magazines in multiple countries and his newspaper correspondence appeared in 11 languages.(1) Tartakower is also remembered for his sense of humor and his speaking ability. One of his most famous maxims is "The winner of a game is the one who has made the next to last blunder". Wikipedia article: Savielly Tartakower (1) "Café Central and the Life and Times of Savielly Tartakower (1887-1956)" by Genna Sosonko. New In Chess 2010, No.6, pp 38-45. Last updated: 2025-01-01 12:14:58

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page 1 of 61; games 1-25 of 1,522  Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening 1. Tartakower vs Vidmar 1-0 29 1905 Vienna B32 Sicilian 2. Tartakower vs J Schenkein   1-0 28 1905 Barmen Main B, GER C58 Two Knights 3. H Appunn vs Tartakower 0-1 31 1905 Barmen Main B, GER B01 Scandinavian 4. P Fiebig vs Tartakower ½-½ 60 1905 Barmen Main B, GER B27 Sicilian 5. B Gregory vs Tartakower 0-1 64 1905 Barmen Main B, GER D45 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav 6. D Hoelken vs Tartakower 0-1 30 1905 Barmen Main B, GER A80 Dutch 7. B Yankovich vs Tartakower   ½-½ 49 1905 Barmen Main B, GER A03 Bird's Opening 8. H M Schaefer vs Tartakower 0-1 29 1905 Barmen Main B, GER A84 Dutch 9. D M Schapiro vs Tartakower 0-1 23 1905 Barmen Main B, GER C63 Ruy Lopez, Schliemann Defense 10. G Schories vs Tartakower 0-1 50 1905 Barmen Main B, GER C63 Ruy Lopez, Schliemann Defense 11. G Schories vs Tartakower ½-½ 53 1905 Barmen Main B, GER B01 Scandinavian 12. Tartakower vs Creyghton   1-0 42 1905 Barmen Main B, GER C50 Giuoco Piano 13. Tartakower vs W Haertel 1-0 26 1905 Barmen Main B, GER C50 Giuoco Piano 14. Tartakower vs A Keller 1-0 26 1905 Barmen Main B, GER B43 Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3 15. Tartakower vs J Schenkein 1-0 32 1905 Barmen Main B, GER B20 Sicilian 16. Tartakower vs O Schewe 1-0 33 1905 Barmen Main B, GER C24 Bishop's Opening 17. Tartakower vs G Schories 0-1 30 1905 Barmen Main B, GER D00 Queen's Pawn Game 18. Tartakower vs O Wegemund   1-0 49 1905 Barmen Main B, GER B45 Sicilian, Taimanov 19. Tartakower vs G Schories 0-1 34 1905 Barmen Main B, GER C24 Bishop's Opening 20. Tartakower vs P Johner 1-0 30 1906 DSB-15.Kongress m B01 Scandinavian 21. Tartakower vs P Johner 1-0 29 1906 DSB-15.Kongress m C11 French 22. Tartakower vs Z Barasz   ½-½ 36 1906 DSB-15.Kongress-B D55 Queen's Gambit Declined 23. G Mayer vs Tartakower 0-1 26 1906 DSB-15.Kongress-B C25 Vienna 24. J Krejcik vs Tartakower ½-½ 33 1906 2nd Neumann Trophy C46 Three Knights 25. Tartakower vs Vidmar 1-0 23 1907 1st Trebitsch Memorial, Vienna C12 French, McCutcheon  page 1 of 61; games 1-25 of 1,522

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< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 5 OF 16 ·  Later Kibitzing> Jan-18-06    Akavall: <The player who plays best in a tournament never wins first. He finishes second behind the guy with the most luck.> Lets see if this happens in Corus 2006. Jan-25-06    fred lennox: <The most important moment of the game is the first bishop move.> This is my favorite Tartakower quote, though it lacks wit. A more profound axiom of the opening i never read. It cuts deeper than move knights before bishops. It also reveals his attitude was not flippant towards openings. Feb-21-06    BIDMONFA: Savielly Tartakower TARTAKOWER, Savielly http://www.bidmonfa.com/tartakower_... _ Feb-27-06    aw1988: There were just certain players in chess history that I get the impression of "throwing" the pieces and letting them land where they will. Tartakower is one of them, though I don't know if any of you share the same view. Feb-27-06    you vs yourself: What the heck is "throwing" the pieces? Feb-27-06    aw1988: It's not a terribly great description, is it? What I meant was that their games are... they follow no one's rules persay, and have their own creative credo. Mainly applies to tactical play. Feb-27-06    aw1988: If that doesn't make sense, sorry, I'm a duffer. Feb-27-06    Dudley: It makes sense I often do it myself for reasons I can't explain logically. So much for deep planning. Mar-07-06    fred lennox: Nimzowitch, who was never casual with his praises, praised Tartakower's defensive skills. In a game between the two, Tartakower was black and i quote, "A glance at the diagram will suffice to see that Black's king sits upon a very unsteady throne. When a Tartakower is thus seated, however, be ready for a fierce and tenacious defense of that throne; be ready also to set in motion all your wiles and fantasy, for otherwise that throne may unexpectedly become an impregnable fortress." - Nimzowitch. Reshesvky thought Tartakower was a player of WC caliber if he wasn't so fond of unusual Openings. I think the main problem was his competitve spirit was short fused. Mar-21-06    paladin at large: <aw1988><fred lennox> Thanks for your posts - I found your expressions of Tartakower's play to be insightful and interesting. The following dovetails with what has been said: Capablanca expressed in his typically direct manner to his friend Tartakower what he thought was Tartakower's shortcoming amidst a host of virtues: "You lack solidity." Apr-08-06    suenteus po 147: <fred lennox: I think the main problem was his competitve spirit was short fused.> Would you care to elaborate what you mean by that? Apr-18-06    EmperorAtahualpa: "Every opening is playable, as long as its reputation is bad enough." -- Savielly Tartakower Apr-23-06    suenteus po 147: <chessgames.com> Awesome! Thank you for uploading the games! Apr-30-06    mahmoudkubba: <Knight13: "Some part of a mistake is always correct" --- Savielly Tartakower>: the real question abt such a note is always that is/was that person good or bad, and does/did he meant to do/did good things or bad things. The final judgement is of course in the end for God Almighty (Allah Jal Jalaluh) to do. So if u or any body wants to tell me further notes about such a player or any other please give me also such details. Especially on dead great or (Let God forbid) bad players in morality apart my wanting to know abt good and bad players in the game theory(-ies) and application(s) (praxis). With thanks and if possible. Apr-30-06    mahmoudkubba: <Knight13> and <other good people paying attention to what I'm talking abt>: Apart from the fact that their is the science(s) and knowledge(s) of Al-Raseel that is the player in front of u whom have more important work(s) than u even that he is less important officially. That is for example to know what is the other move and also to influence the other move so as to let u win if the result should be ur winning. Apr-30-06    mahmoudkubba: <Knight13> and <other good people paying attention to what I'm talking abt>: and that is the trouble cauze as they say a <double O six> is always a double so what count is if he is good or bad and if the player and his sides r good or bad at the end also to encourage the good playing and the true and valid things apart of the nessecity of holding good thoughts and good ideologies ...etc. As for example in football when some really like and love the true and valid play also the nice play..etc. or also in boxing ..etc. Oct-15-06    vonKrolock: Well, those were other times: <"He was quite the gentleman and would never take advantage of anyone in a shady deal. Some rich admirers, knowing how badly he needed money, once arranged a speed tourney with an exceptionally high first prize, feeling certain that Tartakower would win. But when the Hungarian master Alexander Takacs came first, the organizers started a fierce argument with him in Hungarian, and then announced that Takacs had lost a point because of some technicality. Bowing, the chairman presented Tartakower with the first prize, a nice pile of hard cash. Bowing back, Tartakower tore the money to shreds, barely avoiding throwing the pieces in the chairman's face."> Oct-15-06    CapablancaFan: <vonKrolock> Nice story. It should have ended with "and then there was Topalov...". Oct-31-06    ARubinstein: <vonKrolock> Great story, thanks. Forgive me if this one has already been posted on an earlier page. He once lost five games in a row at some tournament, and when he was asked why... : <"I had a toothache during the first game. In the second game I had a headache. In the third game it was an attack of rheumatism. In the fourth game, I wasn't feeling well. And in the fifth game? Well, must one have to win every game?"> Dr. Savielly Tartakower Nov-02-06    ARubinstein: Alexei Shirov on Savielly Tartakower: In "My Best Games in the Spanish" (DVD), Shirov says that it was Tartakower who coined the now famous epithet <"The Spanish Torture"> to describe the Ruy Lopez. He speculates that he might have invented the name as a result of losing a "torturous" game to Capablanca or some other Grandmaster who specialized in the Ruy Lopez. He also gives the following information: <"In the beginning of 20th century, Tartakower was known as a man of many talents, not only chess player. He graduated in Law. He also wrote a small book with his Russian poems, which got rather high evaluations by famous Russian poets of those times. So it's clear that Tartakower was not a man who would look for a word in his pocket."> Does anyone know what this book was called, and if by some miracle it is still available? Nov-03-06    mahmoudkubba: Can any one tell me abt the book 500 games of Tartakower? or any other book to support my point of view? UC for example Moucking as some says have a percentage of 100% yet officially he has some loosing rates and some loosing matches, so what abt Tartakower in the loosing principle if I am correct?? Nov-03-06    suenteus po 147: <mahmoudkubba> The book is titled "500 Master Games of Chess" and it is collected and edited by Tartakower and J. du Mont. The games are all played by master level or higher players and the games come from the 1800's to the 1930's. Here's a link to one online bookstore's copy that you can order: http://www.amazon.com/500-Master-Ga... Nov-04-06    mahmoudkubba: <suenteus po 147>: Thanks, still wonder if my theory of a loosing champion with minus ratings is/are correct or I and some other players should make it true not depending on an unknown player like T. Nov-04-06    Ilgiz Tashkhodzhaev: Uhhh, what? Nov-12-06    suenteus po 147: Does anyone happen to have the PGN to Liege 1930, which Tartakower won? Jump to page #   (enter # from 1 to 16) search thread:    < Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 5 OF 16 ·  Later Kibitzing>

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