Early Career
Tartakower was of Jewish origin, born on 22 February 1887 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia to Austrian citizens. His parents were killed in a pogrom in Rostov-on-Don in 1911 in spite of having adopted Christianity some time earlier (Tartakower had been Christened). Tartakower stayed in Austria, where he graduated from the law faculties of universities in Geneva and Vienna. He spoke perfectly both German, and French. During his studies he became interested in chess and started attending chess meetings in various cafés for chess players in Vienna. He met many notable masters of the time, among them Carl Schlechter, Géza Maróczy (against whom he later won what was probably his most famous brilliancy), Milan Vidmar, and Richard Réti. His first achievement was first place in a tournament in Nuremberg in 1906. Three years later he achieved second place in the tournament in Vienna, losing only to Réti.
During World War I he was drafted into the Austro-Hungarian army, and served as a staff officer on various posts. He went to the Russian front with the Viennese infantry house-regiment.
After the war he emigrated to France, and settled in Paris. Although Tartakower did not even speak Polish, after Poland regained its independence in 1918 he accepted Polish citizenship and became one of the most prominent honorary ambassadors of Poland abroad. He was the captain and trainer of Polish Chess Team in six international tournaments, winning a gold medal for Poland at the Hamburg Olympiad in 1930.
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