When these two authors undertook to revise their 1983 treatment of the Schliemann Defense, they found that the opening had enjoyed such exercise in tournament (including Candidate Match) and correspondence play, that it would require four volumes to contain the current theory in adequate depth. This first volumee treats the lines after 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 f5 4 Nc3 fxe4 5 Nxe4 Nf6, known as the Tartakower Variation. The line is extensively analyzed through example games, deeply annotated. This variation is currently the most analyzed and played line, and offers significant opportunity for creativity by both players.