Book Reviews

The "Siegreich" Forumula

George Mirijanian
The Tarrasch Formula by Sam Palatnik and Mark Ishee, 2003 Chess Digest Inc.,
English Algebraic Notation, Softcover, 244 pp., $19.95
Webster's New World Dictionary defines "formula,"
among others, as "a rule or method for doing something,
especially when conventional and used or repeated
without thought." With that in mind, co-authors GM Sam
Palatnik and quondam master Mark Ishee have produced
a valuable instructional book that should be of use to all
levels of players. As the writers point out in their
foreword, "[Dr. Siegbert] Tarrasch was the first to
formulate and express the rule that 'If one piece is badly
placed, your whole game is bad.' The genius of this
phrase lies in its simplicity as well as its correctness.
Properly applied, it is a significant addition to Steinitz's
theory. On the basis of this simple axiom, various types
of positions can be studied where the difference in force
between the two sides is defined only by the difference in location between
corresponding pieces. Applying the Tarrasch Formula in this way develops and
builds chess theory by emphasizing the interrelationship between the location of a
piece and its real power...The Tarrasch Formula is a fundamental and unifying
principle that embraces familiar core concepts such as 'good/bad bishop,' 'advantage
of opposite-colored bishops in an attack,' 'superiority of knight over bishop' (and
vice versa), and so forth."
Mnemonically stated: BPP = WGB (badly placed piece = whole game bad)
The authors make the analogy of making you, the player, like an African lion
hunting for food. In their opinion, "Lions work according to the Tarrasch Rule!" In
searching for "meat," the lion does not attack the whole herd of enemy prey, but
instead instinctively takes advantage of seeking one weak or sick animal that
becomes badly placed, separated from the herd. And so it is with the player, who
should seek out the sick or weak piece in the enemy camp and steadily reduce the
power of that enemy piece to render it helpless. If successful, the player then has a
virtual extra piece. The book attempts to show how this is done.
The book is divided into seven chapters, the first five of which are dedicated to
examples of applying the Tarrasch Formula: (1) The Knight; (2) The Bishop; (3)
Opposite-Colored Bishops; (4) Heavy Pieces; and (5) Zugzwang. The last two
chapters deal with opening analysis: (6) Philidor's Defense Revisited; and (7)
Opening Analysis--Neo-Philidor Defense. Analysis in the last chapter is done by
Ishee.
Each chapter, except the final one, has a selection of heavily annotated games,

file:///C|/cafe/Reviews/books.htm (1 of 5) [05/15/2004 1:16:42 PM]

Book Reviews

accompanied by numerous diagrams. (There is a total of 308 in the book!) In

addition, the first five chapters have useful exercises, taken from moderate to
difficult endgame studies by mostly well-known endgame study composers. All
levels of players should benefit by trying to solve these exercises.
Here is an excerpt:
11. 0-0!
This Pawn sacrifice is made on the
altar of Dr. Tarrasch's memory. By
cutting the Bc8 off from the game,
and with him the Black Rooks as
well, Kasparov significantly
decreases the general force of the
enemy's army. For this purpose,
investing a Pawn in not much of a
risk. To gain compensation it is
only necessary for White to make
his pieces active more quickly.
This is the point of his last move. Exchanging pieces instead with 11.
Nxd7+ Bxd7 12. Bxd7 Qxd7 solves Black's problems and causes no
headaches.
11...Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bxe5 13. Bg5 Bf6 14. Rad1
The white pieces enter the battle fight as if on a timetable.
14...Qc7 15. Qh4
15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Qh4 Ke7 gives the black King more air.
15...Bxg5 16. Qxg5 f6 17. Qh5 g6 18. Qh6+ Kf7 19. Rd3 a6
Black needs to mobilize his Bishop, and for this purpose tries to
decrease White's control over d7.
20. Rh3! Qe7
20...axb5? 21. Qxh7+ Rxh7 22.
Rxh7+ Kg8 23. Rxc7 +-21. Bd3
21. Qxh7+ now only leads to
equality. 21...Rxh7 22. Rxh7+ Kf8
23. Rxe7 Kxe7 24. Bd3 g5 =
21...f5
There is no other answer for the
threat of Bxg6+.
22. g4!
An inspired blow. Despite
appearances, this pawn move does not endanger White's King, but
does enable his pieces to approach the enemy King! Black has placed
his pawns on light squares so as to restrict White's bishop, but White
now starts a campaign to "tear down the walls."
22...Qf6
After 22...fxg4? 23. Rh4 the exposed Bd3 again has access to the g6pawn, and after 22...Qd6 23. Rd1 only invites new troubles for Black
from the rook on d1.
23. Rd1 b5
Trading queens with 23...g5 24. Qh5+ Qg6 25. gxf5 exf5 26. Bc4+
Kg7 27. Qxg6+ leaves Black without a good way to recapture.
A) 27...Kxg6 28. Rd6+ Kg7 29. Re3 and White's active rooks
dominate the board. 29...f4 (to develop the Bc8) (29...b5? allows a
typical finish with 30. Re7+ Kf8 31. Rf7+ Ke8 32. Bd5 Rb8 33. Rc7
and Black is completely paralyzed.) 30. Re5 h6 31. Rxc5
B) 27...hxg6 28. Rxh8 Kxh8 29. Rd8+ Kg7 30. Be6 +-file:///C|/cafe/Reviews/books.htm (2 of 5) [05/15/2004 1:16:42 PM]

Book Reviews

24. Be2 e5 25. Rhd3

White renews his control of the d-file.
25...Ra7 26. Rd6
Gradual infiltration into the
opponent's position begins.
26...Qg7 27. Qe3 Rc7 28. a4!
A move cut from the same cloth as
22. g4! White continues to find
ways to make his Bishop active. If
possible he wants to aim it directly
at the enemy King.
28...e4
Not 28...bxa4? when 29. Bc4+ Ke7
30. Qg5+ mates.
29. axb5 axb5 30. Bxb5
White has restored material balance and continues his attack free of
charge.
30...Qe5 31. Qg5 Qe7 32. Qh6 Be6 33. Qf4 Bc8 34. Qh6 Be6 35.
gxf5 gxf5
35...Bxf5 allows 36. Bc4+
36. Be2!
White creeps up toward the opponent's King from the other side. Now
it's all over -- Black has no good way to defend. Finally it is clear why
White played g2-g4: without it the diagonal h5-e8 would not be open.
White's Bishop performed exceptional service throughout the struggle,
while Black's Bishop was confined for most of the game.
36...Qf6
36...Rg8+ 37. Kh1 does not help
Black.
37. Bh5+ Ke7 38. Rxe6+
Black resigned. If now 38...Qxe6
then 39. Qg7+ Qf7 40. Qxf7#, or
38...Kxe6 40. Rd6+! Kxd6 41.
Qxf6+ and 42. Qxh8. A dazzling
and beautiful example of the power
of the Tarrasch Formula. 1-0
There is a total of 57 annotated games,
four of which (all found in Chapter 3) start either in the early or late middlegame.
Palatnik's annotations, by and large, are rich in number and color commentary. At
times he has a knack of using folksy, sometimes gastronomic terms to describe
what's going on over the board. Some examples: "The white pieces lined up along
the c1-h6 diagonal are like a 12-inch sub sandwich: the only problem is ... where to
take the first bite?" (Game 11); "The hungry White Queen impatiently gobbles up
the Rook, but it was possible to first nibble on 'Pawn's soup c3' as an appetizer. The
Rook will still be on the menu later!" (Game 33); "This is directed against the Rook
on e1. Now the e-file will stay closed, and White's Rook will go 'without breakfast.'
(Game 38); "Here Black's Queen is like having 'a goat in the kitchen garden.' (Game
41).
Thirty-two of the 57 games presented are by Palatnik, spanning the period from 1966
(when he was 16 years old living in his native city of Odessa, Ukraine) to 2001,
when he was an active competitor in tournaments in Tennessee, where he currently
lives.
Three of the games are by Ishee and the other 22 are by top-notch grandmasters and
masters. Several of the games are well-known classics: Saemisch-Nimzowtisch,
file:///C|/cafe/Reviews/books.htm (3 of 5) [05/15/2004 1:16:42 PM]

Book Reviews

Copenhagen 1923; Nimzowitsch-Capablanca, New York 1927; AlekhineNimzowitsch, San Remo 1930; among others.
On the negative side, the book needed a more thorough copy-editing. Errors range
from typographical to factual. Example: Game 1 is given as Marshall-Ragozin,
1940. It should have been rendered as Marshall-Rogosin, New York 1940, since it
was Hyman "Hy" Rogosin, not Vlacheslav Ragozin (the best-known Ragozin) who
played Marshall in the Marshall Chess Club Championship of 1940. Spellings of
players and/or place names are either inconsistent or wrong in transliteration.
Examples: both Nimzovich and Nimzowitsch appear, the latter being the correct
spelling. [Rudolf] Spielmann is spelled with one 'n' throughout. The use of "j"
instead of the more conventional and accepted 'i" in English transliterations is found:
Vasjukov instead of Vasiukov, Zakhodjakin instead of Zakhodiakin, Krjuchkov
instead of Kriuchkov, Guliajev instead of Guliaev. Other misspellings or
mistransliterations are found, including Banja Vrushitsa instead of Banja Vrucica,
Sprechich instead of Sprecic, Gligorich instead of Gligoric, Kenig instead of Koenig
or Konig, Zemmering instead of Semmering, Sveden instead of Sweden,
Galbershtadt instead of the more conventional Halberstadt.
Chapter 5 starts "The term 'zugzwang' was introduced into chess theory in the latter
years of the 19th century." Zugzwang has nothing to do with chess theory. It was a
term coined by German master and theoretician Max Lange (1832-1899). The
authors fail to point out the origin of the term, but correctly define it.
There is inconsistency in the use of the Tarrasch quote. At the beginning of the
foreword: "One badly placed piece makes your whole position bad." Later in the
foreword: "If one piece is badly placed, your whole game is bad." Which is it? When
and where did Tarrasch say or write this? There is no documentation.
None of the games are identified with the name of the opening or defense used.
Instead, ECO codes are used. It would have been more helpful to players at the lower
levels to have the openings also dentified by name and even the names of the
variations or subvariations employed. The authors apparently didn't consider that
important enough to include.
Because of the heavy use of large (2 inch) diagrams, layout proved to be a problem
with many pages, necessitating leaving often lots of white space on the bottom or top
of the page to accomodate a diagram on the following page. In very few instances, a
1.25" inch digram was used. More use of them would have reduced the 244 pages to
something less than that. Applcication of that might have reduced production costs.
All in all, however, the book is a worthy addition to any chessplayer's library. The
valuable instruction should be an eyeopener for beginning and intermediate players,
while more experienced players will find the annotated games by Palatnik refreshing
and entertaining. Even the late Dr. Tarrasch, both dogmatic and pragmatic as he has
been described by historians, would probably find the book to his liking if he came
back reincarnated.

Order The Tarrasch Formula

by Sam Palatnik and Mark Ishee

file:///C|/cafe/Reviews/books.htm (4 of 5) [05/15/2004 1:16:42 PM]

Book Reviews

[ChessCafe Home Page] [Book Review] [Bulletin Board] [Columnists]

[Endgame Study] [Skittles Room] [Archives]
[Links] [Online Bookstore] [About ChessCafe.com] [Contact Us]
Copyright 2004 CyberCafes, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
"The Chess Cafe" is a registered trademark of Russell Enterprises, Inc.

file:///C|/cafe/Reviews/books.htm (5 of 5) [05/15/2004 1:16:42 PM]