The Game of Chess by Tarrasch

I found a used copy of this in a local book reseller store for $5.00USD. Decided to buy it. 

 

Is this a good book to start out with? Basically.. I know how the pieces move, but.. I don't know much about strategy and tactics.

 

One thing I noticed is that he used a different type of notation than the Algebraic notation I just learned (A-H, 1-8). Instead, he names each square based on King or Queen's side, what piece started at the bottom of the column, and then count up to 8. For instance.. QB1 for White (Queen's Bishop = C1) is QB8 for Black. And.. KKt6 for Black is KKt3 for white, and is G3 is Algebraic notation. It seems to throw me off for a bit, but I think I am getting the hang of it. 

 

Anyhow, is this a decent book to start with? 

 

Also.. should I be following along the examples with my own chess set, just to help illustrate what he is trying to point out?

For a start its quite okay i also have a copy of that book. it deals with the basic approach to the game. im just not sure if it came out first before nimzovichs' My system but for a start it can help. When Im studying a chessbook i always have a notebook at hand to write down my analysis when I find that the authors choice is different from my preferred move so that i could understand why.Since youre starting, follow the examples with your own set then jott down your observations, comments and analysis and dont forget to include the page.You will notice that after weeks of studying the book your analysis will be a bit deeper than the previous weeks.

NO please do not buy that book!I have also bought it about 1month ago

and it's just a waste of money!!!

the examples are too dull and there are much better books than it.

seriously, take my advice. (the description sucks)

The updated version with algebraic notation is very useful for first learning chess, and it's quite a bit older than My System.

It teaches excellent endgame play, and the middlegame tactics are still very useful instruments for recognizing what mating possibilities occur often in novice play.

The biggest beef I could point out with the book is that the opening strategies are a bit dated, and he's very inflexibile on some strategic goals that aren't as important anymore.

Basically follow through on all his combinations to win pawns or pieces, but the way he treats pawn structures, especially isolated and doubled pawns is archaic at best compared to the modern style.

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Tarrasch AND Nimzowitsch was very dogmatic.

What means Tarrasch: In the past he was the "German chess teacher", his book was very, very succesfull, its easy to understand and really to read with pleasure. For a beginner its not wrong to get dogmatics order (until 1600).

At the end of his life he was not able to update his knowledge and he didn't accept the new hypermodern theorie of Nimzowitsch, Reti etc. 

This is a great book to start off with. You should skip the section about specific openings (it's outdated) and just read the part about opening principles.

But yes, this is a great book to get you started in chess. Good luck!

I second kramopolis on Quality Chess and the Tarrasch books, and they should also offer the already-published updates of Mazeilis’ and Romanovsky’s classic books as well as Yusupov’s Build/Boost/Evolution series on the Forward Chess app ... why won’t they?

Thank God. I have a copy of the below (Gebundene Ausgabe) and it has the dual purpose of teaching me better chess and improving my German:

John Watson review of Siegbert Tarrasch's books - "The Game of Chess" and "300 Chess Games"

https://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/looking-back-part-1

https://www.amazon.de/Dreihundert-Schachpartien-Lehrbuch-Schachspiels-Schachklassiker/dp/3941670220/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1529855971&sr=8-1

 

What a great find. I wish there were an English translation, but the German version would do, even though my German is awful. The tournament was a great one.

The game of chess is an excellent book to start out with and to review with.  First let me dispel the idea that these masters were dogmatic.  Tarrasch had no trouble, nor did Nimzowitch, violating the very rules he taught when facing a strong opponent in a tournament game.  Also both authors tried to make paradoxical ideas understandable to the public, to you and to me, a very hard task to do.  

I could give many exact examples of why this book is so good to read.  But let me tell you of one very important example, found in this book and no other that I ever read.  In the chapter on mating with pieces, he gives the clearest and most methodical explanation for mating with a bishop and knight.  After you read it and practice it, you will be able to do what many stronger players cannot do because they neglect studying this mate:mate with a knight and bishop.  Other books that explain this ending tend to be too complicated.  Tarrasch is clear as water.  

 

Like chess, languages need study and constant practice. German is definitely easier than chess! I have found no other pursuit in my life so hard to get better in than chess. In fact, the more I do, the worse I seem to get...

Thanks for the tip. I wasn't aware of this source for the KBNvK mate. I'll check it out.

I took a look at it, and I have to agree. It's a very clear explanation of the bishop & knight mate. Good job, Siegbert!

Take a look at his section on the middlegame.  Took me years to learn things he has in part two. I have used ideas in that section to win many games.

This is an excellent recommendation! (note The Middlegame = Part 3).

https://www.amazon.com/Game-Chess-Dover/dp/048625447X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534870183&sr=8-1&keywords=the+game+of+chess+by+siegbert+tarrasch

Thanks for the correction. Have not read it in years but still remember the ideas.

I have always wanted to read this book as well as his 300 Games as part of a historical survey of chess study and introduction to chess strategy, but I hear there isn’t much on chess thinking or strategy in this book. To take time to read a book that is not in ebook format seems a daunting, time-consuming, and low yield task ... it would take me several months to get through this book once rather superficially, and for what? A few hundred tactics and endgame positions that can be found by the myriads in more modern books and resources? Or am I missing something about Tarrasch that modern authors have mostly failed to replicate? Is this book now more of a historical or collector’s interest?

 

Well okay, i'm quoting an old post, but Eniamar says that Tarrasch's book is quite older then My system from Nimzo ... Really?  I didn believe it, so i checked. Das Schachspiel was first published in german in 1931 as far as i know and My System in 1925.

Das Schachspiel ; My System