The Neuberg formula was developed by Gerard Neuberg of France in the 1970's, to deal with boards with different number of results.
Adding the Neuberg formula to the Mitchell system is a major change to the Mitchell system, and could easily be seen as making it a different system altogether. We could call this system the Mitchell - Neuberg system, as opposed to the Basic Mitchell system.
However, the WBF has produced guidelines stating that the Neuberg formula should always be used. The Basic Mitchell system is therefore only of historical interest. I shall use the name 'Mitchell' to mean both the original Mitchell system as the Mitchell-Neuberg system with all its complications.
The WBF recommendation leads us to the system we shall also call Mitchell 2, to distinguish it from Mitchell 3. The WBF has not gone as far as it should in describing when the Neuberg formula should be used. The Mitchell 3 system shall include the use of the Neuberg formula whenever it is possible, even if WBF guidelines do not apply. This system is in use in European Pairs’ Championships, and should be the recommended system.
We shall delve deeper into the mysteries of the Neuberg formula when we discuss the solutions to the different problems outlined in later chapters.
At the end I shall introduce two further refinements that I consider to be of value. That will be the basis of a ‘Mitchell 4’ system, which I propose.
Last Modified : 1996-06-27