EgonVamusz

J. K. Capablanca
Volume 2

Games 1926-1942

\
SCHACHLADEN IM ALTSTADTHOF
 Egon Varnusz

J.R.CAPABLANCA
Volume 2

Games 1926-1942
 1926
"Capablanca, the reigning world champion has often been reproached that chess players can find
very little romanticism and few nice or unexpected combinations that they can really e1tjoy in his
games. (This statement is not true, at least not for the young Capablanca. EV) Dr. Tarrasch wrote
about his play that it was dotage-like, nothing more than technique. That the essence of Capablanca's
play is teclmique cannot be debated. But are beauty and technique really contradictory ideas? This is
also a kind of beauty, which we have to get accustomed to first, and which may first seem to lack
warnmess. The style of the old masters, that of Anderssen or Morphy is closer to us humanly: the
human motif disappears in Capablanca's games. He has often been compared to a modern, precise
machine that plays chess. We must. however, admit that the very games of Capablanca reflect not in
the least romanticism but modern life and the fact that he is the true representative of modem times.
so it is not just a co-incidence that he is the world champion." (Reti)

Lake-Hopatkong -1926 19 e5 .ic7 20 lib3 .lld5 21.&!.fb 1.ib6 +=) 18 .llb3

1 Capablanca 6 2 Kupchik 5 3 Maroczy 4 1/z ./
Marshall 3 5 Ed. Lasker 11/z
The tournament at a nice American spa without a
rival is only a holiday, a kind of recreation for
Capablanca.
1 Capablanca - Ed. Lasker D52
·'This game is one of the finest examples of
Capablancas simple and direct style at its best. The
reader will find it instructive to see how White
smothers every attempt at counterattack and brings
his own attack to successful conclusion." (R).
1 ll:if3 ll:if6 2 c4 c6 3 d4 d5 4 ll:ic3 e6 5 .ig5
tl:ibd7 6 e3 ~a5 7 cxd5 (7 ll:id2!) 7 ... exd5? [7
... illxd5 8 \Wb3 (8 i'Wd2) 8 ... loxc3?! (8 ... ..11.b4) 9
bxd .i.d6 10 .i.h4 \i'h5 11 ..lte2 g5!? 12 ..ltxg5 .l::rg8
13 h4 ~g6 14 g3 h6 15 ..ltf4 ..ltxf4 16 exf4 i'We4 17
®'bi 'l'lf6 18 '«Vxe4 l.2lxe4 19 .lkl f6 20 .i.d3 l'od6 21
·.¥.e2 ± Capablanca-Spero, Cleveland 1926] 8 .i..d3
!lle4 9 0-0! (" A Pawn sacrifice recommended in
the New York 1924 Tournament Book.") 9 ...
tl:idf6!" (9 ... ll:ixc3 10 bxc3 ~xc3 11 e4 dxe4
12 ±xe4 (t'lb6 13 l:':iel .ie6 14 !kl 'i'a3 15 d5
cxd5 16 .i..xd5 ll:ixd5 17 'i1fxd5 'i1Va6 18 ll:id4+-)
10 .i..xf6 ll:ixc3?! 11 bxc3 gxf6 12 'i'c2 .id6 13
.if5! ..vi.e6 14 .llabl ("The subsequent play will
indicate that this open file is of more value
than is the other Kt file.") 14 ... v;gc7 15 ..llxe6
fxe6 16 e4 0-0-0 ("Very enterprising, but it is
more risky that aggressive." 16 ... 0-0 17
.llfel) 17 c4! .if4?! (17 ... dxc4 18 'i1fxc4 'i1ff7
dxc4 ("Black is of course loath to open lines for
his opponent") 19 'i'xc4 ~f7 (19 ... 'i°d7 20
litfbl b6 21 g3 ± 19 ... .llhe8!) 20 lifbl lld7 21
e5 ! ("The winning move.") 21 ... fxe5 22 dxe5
.?ihd8 (22 ... 'it>d8? 23 g3 .ih6 24 'i°h4 t 22 ...
llc7!? 23 g3 .ih6 24 ct:ld4 ±) 23 'i'xc6t! @b8
24 g3 lidlt 25 'it>g2 .lhbl 26 lhbl .lld5 27
'i1Vc3 'i1ff5 28 'i'b4 b5 29 ll:ih4 a5 30 'i'xb5t!
1-0 (Capablanca and Reinfeld).
2 Kupcbik- Capablanca A47
1 d4 ll:if6 2 ll:if3 e6 3 e3 b6 4 .id3 .ib7 5 0-0 ll:ie4
(5 ... c5!?) 6 ll:ibd2?! f5 7 c3?! (7 c4; 8 'i'c2) 7 ...
.ie7 8 'i'c2 d5 9 ll:ie5 0-0 10 f3 ("This is the
move on which White has relied.") 10 ...
ll:ixd2 11 .ixd2 ll:id7 12 ll:ixd7?! ~xd7 13 .l;!ael
(13 c4 g6! 14 .l;l.ael c5! etc." 13 e4! here or next
move was logical and correct." R.) 13 ... c5! 14
'i°dl (14 e4? c4) 14 ... i:if6 15 ~e2 .llaf8 16 .ib5
("Waste of time. 16 b3!?) 16 ... 'i1Vc7 17 f4? (17 b3i
17 ... c4! 18 'it>hl .i.d6 19 lif3 h5! (19 ... a6 20
..ia4 b5 21 .ic2 a5 22 g4! fxg4 23 .llg3 h5 24 h3
oo) 20 .?iefl .llh6!! (Nimzovitch) 21 .i.el (21 h3
g6 22 @g 1 l:':if7 23 g4? hxg4 24 hxg4 lifh7 -+) 21
... g6 ("This has the double value of making
the King-side absolutely solid and at the
same time creating the false impression that
black squares are weak.") 22 .ih4 'it>n! 23
~el ("All according to plan. But now the
time has come for Black to show his cards.")
21 ... a6! 24 .ia4 b5 25 ..idl i.c6 26 llh3?!
("Even now White does not realize the
danger." 26 .l:!.3f2!?) 26 ... a5 27 ..\lg5?! .l!hh8 28
~4?! b4 29 'iYel ("Beginning the retreat; but
the damage has been done." 29 .if6 .ie7!) 29
... rl.b8 30 L!hf3 a4 31 .ll3f2

3

31 ... a3 ! ("This rolls up the Q-side completely and
forces a passed QBP for Black and a weak QRP
for Wl1ite.") 32 b3 ("A final weak move which
loses a Pawn and leads to a quick collapse.") 32 ...
cxb3 33 .txb3 .tb5 34 rl.gl ~xc3 35 ~xc3 bxc3
36 Lic2 .llhc8 37 .th4 .i.d3 38 .l:!.ccl .llxb3! 39
axb3 a2 0-1 (Capablanca, Nimzovitch and
Reinfeld).
3 Ca11ablanca - Marshall B07
1 ~3 'Llf6 2 d4 g6 3 'Llbd2?! i.g7 4 e4 d6 5 i.c4
0-0 6 0-0 i.g4?! 7 h3 i.xf3 8 l2:Jxf3 d5 (8 ...
lbxe4 ?? 9 .i.d5) 9 exd5 'Llxd5 10 c3 'Llc6 11 .l:!.e 1
~d7 12 .i.g5 (+=) 12 ... r!.ae8?! 13 ~d2 'Llb6 14
i.b5 f6 (else 15 i.xc6!) 15 i.h6 (15 .i.f4!?) 15 ...
a6 16 i.xg7 Wxg7 17 .i.xc6 (17 i.fl) 17 ... ~xc6
18 .l!e2 'Llc4 19 li'c2 b5 20 Iiael e6 21 b3 'Llb6
22 c4!? bxc4 23 bxc4 ~xc4!? 24 ~xc4 'Ll.'<c4 25
!kl! (25 !txe6 .llxe6! 26 .l:!.xe6 'Lld6 27 Il.e7t i.if7
28 l:':ie2 += ao) 25 ... 'Lld6 26 r!.xc7t .llf7 27 l'!.c6
.l!d7 28 .l:ha6 W 29 !ib2 l2:Jf5 30 llb4 Iied8 31
.!faa4 g5 32 g3 [32 g4 'Lle7 (with the idea
~e'7-g6-f4l 33 h4 gxh4 34 ~h2 h5 35 gxh5 i.ih8
36 .!.Dxh4 !lxh5 37 ~g3 ao] 32 ... h5 33 c;,t;,g2 'Lle7
34 .::!.c4 tI:\d5 35 .lla3 l2:Je7 36 Iiac3 g4 37 hxg4
hxg4 38 LZ:ie l J::!.xd4 39 'Llc2 ilxc4 40 .llxc4 f5 41
a4 iid5 42 'itfl l!ia5 43 'Lld4 .lla6 11i_11z
4
4 Maroczy - Cap ab Ian ca B 13
l e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 i.d3 'Llc6 5 c3 ~6
6 .i.f4 .i.g4 7 'iVh3 'Lla5 (The sharpest move and
perhaps the best.) 8 ~a4i· i.d7 9 li'c2 (TI1e point
of Whites queen manoeuvre was to force back the
queens bishop, so now Black sets about
exchanging it on b5) 9 ... ~6 (9 ... a6) 10 'Llf3 e6
11 0-0?! [11 a4!? ~c8? (11 ... 'iVh3!) 12 'Llbd2
'Llc6 13 ~1 'Llh5?! 14 .i.e3 h6 15 lbe5 ::
Fischer-Petrosjan, Belgrad 1970] 11 ... .tb5! 12
lbbd2 ..bd3 13 '*'xd3 .l::rc8 [13 ... ~xb2? 14 !iabl
'liVa3 15 ~St!) 14 .l::rabl il.e7 15 h3 0-0 16 Z!.fel
lbc4 17 lbxc4 .l!xc4! (Black accepts the loss of
tempo in order to maintain his play in the c-file. After
17 ... dxc4 the Knight takes control of d5. but there is
nevertheless not much life left in the position.) 18
lbe5 .l::rcc8 19 Ji.gs (Mar6czy. already past his peak.
plays against the World Champion with the aim of
only drawing. 19 .l::re2! followed by .l::rfl Ji.h2 and
perhaps f2-f4-f5 keeps up the tension.) 19 ... ~d8
(Loss of the exchange was. threatened.) 20 i.xf6!
gxf6! (20 ... Lxf6? 21 f4! and the Knight would
have to be taken sooner or later. Following the
recapture fxe5 Whites major pieces would menace
on the kingside.) 21 'Llg4 ~h8 (In exchange for his
disrnpted pawn formation, Black has achieved
counterplay on the g-file.) 22 f4 f5 (23 f5! by
White was threatened.) 23 lbe5 i.d6 24 ~f3 (24
~e3 =) 24 ... .i.xe5 25 .l;!xe5 r!.g8 26 Ile2?! (Now
the initiative slides in Blacks favour. 26 @h2! ~4
27 .l!gl followed by 28 g3 and 29 g4! was
necessary, giving even chances.) 26 ... %Yh4 27
c;,t;,h2 .l;!g6! 28 g3 ~f6 29 i.igl ~g7! (Capablanca
goes all out to unbalance the drawish position. His
last move has prepared the advance of the h-pawn,
30 ligg2 h5 ! 31 ~xh5? !ih8 32 ~f3 l:':ixh3i'!
White could still play g3-g4, although the
continuation chosen is also satisfactory.) 30 ~d3
a6 31 !!cl h5 32 h4 ~h6 33 c4!? (White begins
counterplay at last, although the preparatory 33 b3
would have been useful.) 33 ... d'<c4 34 !ixc4
•
 34 .. . .llxg3 !! (A witty sacrifice! Against optimal
defence it leads to a draw, but the pressure could
not be escalated any further. Thus 34 ... .l:kg8 35
!ig2 lld8 36 lld2 .lid7 37 .lic8 etc.) 35 'ti'xg3? [In
time-trouble, Mar6czy overlooks the problem-like
draw 35 Wx.g3 lig8t 36 @h3! ! (36 ~h2? 'ti'xh4 t 37
\Wh3 ~xf4t 38 @hl lig3! 36 'itf2? 'ti'xh4t 37 ~1
~ l t 38 ~ !!g2t or 36 ~ 'ti'xh4 etc.) 36 ...
Zig4 37 ~h2! 'ti'xh4t 38 'ti'h3! and it transpires that
the seemingly active g4 Rook is actually in the way.
38 ... 'i1Vf6 39 ~e3 'ti'h4t etc.] 35 ... !hc4 36 lld2
·~g6 37 ~g5t (White apparently pinned his hopes on
this move, but the World Champion conducts the
rook endgame with dock.work precision.) 37 ... ~xg5
38 hxg5t @g6 39 @g3 lic6! (The rooks most active
square is d6, where it ties down its counterpart.)
40 ~ .l:!.d6 41 ~g3 [41 <t>e3 h4! 42 ~ ~h5! 43
~d3 h3! 44 @g3 (44 lid2 @h4!) 44 ... h2! 45 @xh2
@g4 -+] 41 ... f6! 42 gxf6 ~f6 43 ~3 (43 ~h4
:2.d8! and 44 ... lig8! threatened) 43 ... h4! 44 lih2
.:::!.xd4 45 lixh4 b5 (45 ... lid2? 46 lih6t!) 46 lih6t
@e7 47 lih7t @d6 48 lia7 lia4 49 a3 @d5 0-1
(Varnusz: "Play the Caro-Ka1m.")
move".) 18 ~f5 [18 'ti'xb7 'Llc5 19 ~ (19 'ti'a7
.lia8) 19 ... 'Llcxe4 <x:>] 18 ... !.l.c5 19 'ti'f4 .l:!.c4 20
..ie3 ..ic5 ("Risky-looking at first, because it seems
as if the QR may get into trouble. Hovewer, the
move is perfectly feasible, and has the merit of
making way for new pressure by Black on the K
file.") 21 'Lld2 (21 ..ixc5 'Llxc5 22 .l:tadl ~e7 23
'Lle5 .l:ib4 24 'Lld3 'Ll.'<d3 25 exd3 .l:!.xb2t 26 !If2 <x:>
=+) 21 ... .llb4 22 b3 'ti'e7 23 a3 ..ixe3 24 'ti'xe3
llb6 25 !.l.adl (25 b4; 25 .lif5!?) 25 ... .lie6 26 b4
I!.c8 27 'i1Vd4 (27 llf5!?) 27 ... .lid6 28 lt:ld5 ttlxd5
29 exd5 ~xe2t 30 'it>gl 'Llf6 31 'Llb3?! [31 .&!.del
'ti'b5 32 lbe4 (32 .l:!xf6 l'hf6 <x:>) 32 ... 'Llxe4 (32 ...
~xd5?? 33 'Ll.'<f6t gxf6 34 ~g4t) 33 ~xe4 lkd8
(33 ... l!ixd5? 34 l!ixf7!) =+] 31 ... llxd5 32 'ti'f2

5 Ed. Lasker - Capablanca BOI

First Brilliancy Prize
1 d4 ct)f6 2 lbf3 e6 3 g3 c5 4 c4 cxd4 5 lh'<d4 d5 6
..lt!.g2 e5 ("Seizing the first opporttunty to free Ins
game, despite the likeW10od that it will involve the
sacrifice of a PaWit ") 7 lbf.3 (7 'Llb5; 7 'Llc2; 7 'Llb3)
7 ... e4 8 'Llfd2 d'<c4! 9 'ti'a4t .id? 10 'ti'xc4 e3 32 ... ~xdl!! 33 .lixdl .llxdlt 34 ~g2 'Llg4 35
("Although tins move had to be foreseen \\-hen Black 'ti'b6 (35 ~f3 l!ic2t 36 ~h3 h5 37 ~h4 !lxh2t 38
played 6 ... e5. it nevertheless has a surprising effect. ~g5 f6t 39 ~5 .llf2) 35 ... h5 36 'Llc5 .ll.e8 0-1
Wlnte derives little benefit from tl1e extra PaW11, as he (Capablanca, and Reinfeld)
remains with a doubled and isolated KP winch is
virtually worthless and at the same tinie hampers his 6 Ca11ablanca - Kupchik 030
development.") 11 fxe3 [11 ..ixb7 exf2·1 (11 ... 1 d4 'Llf6 2 c4 e6 3 'Llf3 d5 4 .ig5 c6 5
exd2i· 12 'Llxd2 ..ie6 13 'ti'h5t 'Llbd7 14 ..ixa8 'Llbd2 'Llbd7 6 e3 ·~a5? 7 a3 ..ie7 8 b4 ~d8
'i1Vxa8 <x:>) 12 ~d 1! 'Llg4 13 'ti'e4 t ..ie7 14 ..ixa8 9 .id3 0-0 10 0-0 dxc4 11 'Llxc4 'Lld5 12
(14 h3!? 'Llf6 15 ~f3 0-0 16 ..ixa8 lt:la6 <x:>) 14 ... .ixe7 'ti'xe7 13 ~c2 g6 14 h4?! (14 llfel!)
..if5! 15 ~a4i· (15 ~fJ ~d4 16 e4 'Lle3t or 15 14 ... lt:l5b6 15 'Lla5 e5
..ic6i· ~8 16 ~f3 'Llxc6 etc.) 15 ... ~8 16 'ti'b3
(16 ~xa7? ~c7!; 16 e4/3 'i1Vd3! -+) 16 ... ..ic5 17
e3 ..tc2t! ! 18 @xc2 LtJxe3t 19 ~c3 'ti'd4t # or 17
e4 1Lle3i· 18 ~2 ~g4t 19 ~f2 (19 'Llf3 ..ixf3t
20 'it>xf3 ~f6t 21 ~e2 fl'i1ft) 19 ... 'ti'f6t 20 <t>el
'Llc2t+-] 11 ... ..ic6 12 0-0 ..ixg2 13 ~g2 ..ie7 14
~c3 ("It would be interesting to know whether
Capablanca intended to answer 14 'ti'h5t with
~d7, playing for the ending, or witli 'Llbdi,
offering another Pawn.") 14 ... 0-0 15 'Llf3 'Llbd7 16
e4 ("In order to be able to bring out the Bishop; but
the KP thereby becomes more vulnerable.") 16 ...
!k8 ("Black continues to develop favorably.") 17
~5 a6!? ("Demonstrating to Wlnte that he was
WI·ong if he expected to gain time witl1 Ins last
•
5
16 h5 I 16 !IfeD 16 ... exd4 17 exd4 thd5 18
~d2'?! ( 18 .llfelJ 18 ... ~f6 19 ~6 thf4 20 hxg6
hxg6 21 ~g5 ~i(' 22 'it'xg7t @xg7 23 l!tfd 1 thb6
24 Jtfl .l:!.b8 25 g3 ctJe6 26 thf3 lld8 27 l!td2 the"
28 Ziel i.e6 29 tt:Jg5 .l.'!e8 30 f4 f6 31 thxe6t lhe6
32 !he6 thxe6 33 'it1'2 f5 34 i.g2 @£6 35 l'id3
the? 36 thb3 thbd5 37 thc5 <t;e7 38 I!dl lbr6 (38
... b6? 39 thd3 followed the5 ±) 39 i.f3 <t;f7 40
lie 1 thb5 41 the6 I!e8 Ifi_Ifi
7 Marshall - Capablanca C44
1 e4 e5 2 d4 exd4 3 c3 d5 4 exd5 ~xd5 (4 ...
~f6!?; 5 cxd4 thc6 6 ~f3 i.b4t 7 thc3 i.g4 8
..le:: l.xf3! 9 Jtxf3 ~c4 10 i.e3!? [10 'i¥b3
·~xb3 11 axb3 .!l:lge7 12 0-0 a6 13 .lla4 i.d6 =
Ljubo1evic-Ree, Amsterdam 1972; 10
iixc61· 1hc6 11 0-0 Jtxc3? (11 ... the7) 12 bxc3
~xc3 13 !!el t ctJe7 14 Jtg5 f6 15 .llcl ~a5 16
~e2 0-0 17 ~xe7 ~xg5 18 .l:!.xc7]
10 ... i.xc3i" 11 bxc3 ~xc3·1· 12 @fl ~c4"!"! [12 ...
ll::,ge7 13 d5] 13 'it>gl ctJge7 14 Ziel! ~xa2 15 iial
'illc4 16 Ziel 1/i- 1/i
8 Ca1>ablanca - Maroczy COI
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 exd5 4 i.d3 i.d6 5 thf3
thf6 6 0-0 0-0 7 i.g5 i.g4 8 Ziel thbd7 9 thbd2 c6
10 c3 "vf!ic7 11 ~c2 !ife8 12 i.h4 i.h5 13 i.g3
i.xg3 14 hxg3 i.g6 15 Iixe8i" Iixe8 16 i.xg6
hxg6 17 Ziel .lixeli· 18 thxel the8 19 thd3 thd6
20 l,\Vb3 a6 21 @fl Ifi_If2
* d4 44 f5 gxf5 45 gxf5 i.h4 46 !ixd4 i.e7 47 f6
"He was a unique figure in the chess masters'
world. A fine fencer, a man of the world. He went
in for sports, played te1mis, rode a horse, dined at
elegant restaurants and was familiar with
diplomatic circles... He was brought up in a good
milieu. he was never in misery. which did not
contradict the fact that he often gave simultaneous
games during tournaments for money, because he
belonged to the group of people who never had
enough of money, and good life always consumed
6
masses of it. Besides his native SpamslL he spoke
a fluent English, was quite good at French and
understood a little Gennan." (V.)
EXHIBITION GAMES - 1926
Philadelphia - 1926
9 Stewa11- Cap ab Ian ca B 13
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 thc3? lbc6 5 lbf3
i.g4 6 i.e2 e6 7 i.f4?! i.b4! 8 h3 i.xf3 9 Jtxf3
lbr6 10 0-0 ..txc3 11 bxc3 0-0 12 'i'hl tha5! 13
'i'b4 ~c8 14 l!abl .lk6 15 i.e5 b6 16 g4
16 ... ~c8! 17 ~e7 (17 i.xf6 gxf6 18 ~e7 !ixc3
19 ~xf6 ~d8 20 ~xd8 iixd8 21 i.dl Iic4 +) 17
... .llxc3 18 i.g2 (18 i.xf6 .llxf3 19 i.e5 f6 20
i.g3 .l!e8 21 ~4 ~c3 -+) 18 ... thc6 19 ~d6
lbe8! 0-1
New York - 1926
10 Ca1>ablanca - Leise D85
1 d4 thf6 2 c4 g6 3 ctJc3 d5 4 cxd5 ctJxd5 5 e4
ctJxc3 6 bxc3 i.g7 7 i.a3 0-0 8 thf3 b6 9 i.c4
i.b7 10 ~e2 thd7 11 0-0 c5 12 l'!.fdl ~c7 13
.llael .l.'!ad8 14 e5 i.h6 15 d5 i.f4 16 e6 the5 17
exf7i" thxf7 18 !!bl thd6 19 i.b3 i.c8 20 h3 i.f5
21 i.c2 i.xc2 22 ~xc2 ~d7 23 ~e2 Iif5 24 g3
i.h6 25 the5 Iixe5 26 ~xe5 thc4 27 ·~e2 cbxa3
28 Iib3 ~a4 29 d6 l'!.xd6 30 !ixd6 exd6 31 ~e6"!"
'it>h8 32 c4 ~xc4 33 ~e8i" ~g8 34 ~xg8i· 'it>xg8
35 Iixa3 c4 36 l'!.xa7 c3 37 l!c7 i.g7 38 @fl i.d4
39 ~2 b5 40 f4 b4 41 <t;d3 ..tf2 42 g4 d5 43 .lld7
i.f8 48 .lld7 i.c5 49 !ig7i" 'it>h8 50 Iic7 i.f8 51 h4
c;,t;,g8 52 h5 h6 53 c;,t;,e4 i.d6 54 l'ic6 i.f8 55 @f5
<Ji;t7 56 Iic7i" <t;g8 57 c;,t;,g6 b3 1-0
Cleveland - 1926
11 Capablanca - Augustus C79
1 e4 e5 2 thf3 thc6 3 .ilb5 a6 4 .ila4 'tJf6 5 0-0 d6
6 !!el b5 7 i.b3 tha5 8 d4 i.g4 9 dxe5 .ilxf3 10
·~xf3 dxe5 11 ~c3 thxb3 12 ~xe5i" ~e7 13
~xe7i" i.xe7 14 axb3 0-0 15 i.g5 Iifd8 16 thc3
h6 17 i.xf6 i.xf6 18 e5 i.g5 19 the4 i.e7 20
~ed 1 !!.xd 1t 21 .llxd 1 .lld8 22 I!xd8t .ixd8 23 And Capablanca has the fittest possible feeling for
~c5 a5 24 '2ib7 i.g5 25 ~xa5 .icl 26 l'bc6 i.xb2 chess. Just by reference to that superior pattern in
27 f4 @£8 28 'it>t'2 ~8 29 @e3 .1i.c3 30 @e4 ~7 his mind he has succeeded in pointing out the
31 @d5 b4 32 f5 i.d2 33 e6t fxe6t 34 fxe6t @e8 errors of exaggeration in many of the old mies."
35 c;,t;,es g5 36 g4 i.f4t 37 @£6 i.d6 38 h3 i.cS 39
'ir.'g6 i.f8 40 l'ba7 1-0
SIMULT ANEOS GAMES - 1926
Richard Reti: Havana - 1926
"MASTERS OF THE CHESS BOARD" 12 Capablanca - Gelabert C66
"What is immediately striking, even in a 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 i.d3 ctJf6 (4
superficial study of Capablancas method of l'bc6) 5 h3!? l'bc6 6 c3 g6 7 l'bf3 i.g7 8 0-0 'JJJ/c7 9
.1i.g5 0-0 10 .llel l'bh5 11 'ti'd2 e6 12 l'ba3 a6 13
piay. is his great assurance. his almost
l'bc2 b5 14 a4 l'ba5 15 axb5 '1Jb3 16 '*lVe2 ct:lxa 1 1-:
..;omplete freedom from blunders and false
I:txal a5 18 'JJJ/d2 .1i.d7 19 g4 l'bf6 20 c'be5 '1Je4 21
mterpretations of the position. This is ..txe4 dxe4 22 ~xd7 'i'xd7 23 c4 .llfc8 24 'JJJ/c3 f5
und~;,tbtedly a consequence of the fact that he 25 gxf5 gxf5 26 .1i.f4 e5 27 dxeS 'Wd3 28 'JJJ/xd3
learned chess as child of four. In a sense, exd3 29 c'be3 ik5 30 b4 .1Lxe5 31 bxc5 ..txa 1 32
chess is his mother tongue. To him deductions b6 .1i.d4 33 b7 .l::td8 34 c6 1-0
from simpie positions are a mater of course
where players who have learned their chess
more laboriously later in life must first take Cleveland - 1926
their bearings. To carry the simile further, let 13 Capablanca - Thomas C66
us compare him, say. with Rubinstein, who 1 e4 e5 2 c'bf3 '1Jc6 3 .tbs l'bf6 4 0-0 d6 5 d4 exd4
together with Capablanca. was considered 6 e5 dxe5 7 '1Jxe5 i.d7 8 c'bxd7 ·~xd7 9 Iielt
.1i.e7 10 c3 0-0-0 11 i.xc6 bxc6 12 'JJJ/a4 i.cS 13
Laskers chief rival in the period before the
cxd4 'JJJ/xd4 14 'JJJ/a6t @b8 15 i.e3 ~4 16 e£:ia3
war. The experts thought more highly of
.llhe8 17 e£:ic2 'ti'b6 18 'ti'a4 i.xe3 19 lt::lxe3 c'be4
Rubinstein, because of the depth of his style, 20 .l:.l.acl c'bc5 21 'JJJ/a3 c'bd3 22 .llc3 ~d4 23 .l!b3i·
but the general public favoured Capablanca on c;,t;,c8 24 ~a6t 1-0
the whole.
Philadel1>hia - 1926
Rubinstein first learned chess when he was
eighteen, and he has never quite mastered all the 14 Stewa11- Ca1>ablanca B 13
difficulties of the medium, so that again and 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 c'bc3? c'bc6 5 c'bf3
.1i.g4 6 i.e2 e6 7 i.f4 i.b4 8 h3 .1i.xf3 9 i.xf3 l'bf6
again he commits surprisingly obvious blunders,
10 0-0 .ixc3 11 bxc3 0-0 12 'iYb 1 c'ba5 13 ~
sometimes in his best conceived games. He is
!lc8 14 !lab 1 .l::tc6 15 i.e5 b6 16 g4 'JJJ/c8 17 'JJJ/e7
like an orator speaking not his own but some Iixc3 18 i.g2 c'bc6 19 'ti'd6 c'be8 0-1
foreign language. that he has learned late in life.
so that in spite of his profound ideas, he ca1mot
always find the most effective word.
Capablanca, on the other hand, speaks his native
tongue when he plays chess. and he couches his
thoughts in the proper terms with ease. It is
owing to this, also, that he plays the most
difficult tournament games with comparative
rapidity. rarely uses the full period allowed for
reflection and never finds himself pressed for
time.

The rules of teclmique signify for chess what

the rules of grammar signify for language. But
in one's native language, grammar is an
mmecessary crutch, which is replaced by
one's feeling for the language, the rich
experience stored in one's subconscious mind.

7
 "He did not speak about his fellow grandmasters, among them Lasker and Reti, in a very
flattering way. He acknowledged their great talent, but criticised them for not taking care of their
appearance, which meant that from the first sight they showed the picture of a genius who was
becoming depraved ... Well, on several occasions it happened that Reti rushed to the tournament
hall without washing and without even coming his hair, but even Lasker could have been more
careful about his appearance.
Capablanca. the diplomat, who dressed with perfect elegance, was a real man of the world,
tactful, pleasant company, good at all games, especially bridge, he liked dancing, going out,
played tennis well, and enjoyed riding. It was no wonder that every door opened for him and he
was welcomed everywhere. Chess masters should be especially trained how to live and behave in
life, he kept saying, they must be sitting in a smoky corner and have no other feelings and
thoughts but chess and chess again, and they prepare for tomorrow like this. A totally mistaken
system. We can only keep our inner harmony by engaging ourselves in some physical exercise
after a mental effort. After a lasting and demanding mental effort another mental activity is just
harmful. II (G. Maroczy)
*
"At Lake Hopatcong the following year. Capablanca scored an easy victory, and then came
the greatest test: the sextangular tournament at New York. It is not generally known that Ca-
pablanca entered the tournament with the greatest misgivings. but this is readily apparent from an
article he wrote for the New York Times on the eve of the first round." (F. Reinfeld)
"We have now considered all our competitors. It remains only to discuss the writer's
chances. It would be rank hypocrisy to say that we do not consider ourselves a contender for one
of the first three places. Were we merely to consider the past records and the results of our
previous encounters with every one of the masters involved, there could be only one conclusion.
It is also self-evident, that the possessor of the world's title must have some qualifications not
easily found among every one of his competitors. We are aware, however, that such conditions
are not permanent and that we may now be somewhat weaker than when at our best ten years ago.
In the writer's opinion, he was at his best in Havana when playing Kostich the match lost in five
straight games. On the other hand, some of our competitors, if not all of them, are now stronger
than ever. How much of a difference our loss and their gain combined will make, the result alone
will show. It might be interesting to compare the past with the present. At San Sebastian, in l 911.
in our first international encounter, we did not have much confidence of carrying the chief prize.
but we had plenty of ambition, and having been favored by the goddess of chance, we succeeded
in wi1ming the honor."
"Today we have plenty of confidence, the confidence which only years of continuous success
can give, but most of the ambition is gone and the fickle lady has not been kind of late. Then we
were practically ignorant of our opponent's qualities, but we had a tremendous capacity for work.
Today we know our opponents thoroughly, but also alas! our capacity for work is not the same.
Then we were very nervous and easily upset.
Today we are cool and collected and nothing short of an earthquake will ruffle us. We have
now more experience, but less power. Can some of the power come back? What will happen? We
shall soon see. The stage is set. the curtain is about to rise on what should be one of the most
memorable struggles in the history of chess."

8
 1927
"When I studied his exciting games with him, I
was amazed again and again that he considered the
game exclusively from the positional
point-of-view and that of the coming endgame.
This is what relates him to Capablanca." (R.J.
Fischer)
New York - 1927
t Capablanca 14 2 Alekhine lllh 3 Nimzovitch
l O 5 4 Vidmar 10 5 Spielma1m 8 6 Marshall 6
The victo1y in New York might have been
Capablanca's most significant feat. The Cuban's
2.5 point advantage could be only compared to
Lasker' s victories in Paris and London or to
Alekhine's in San Remo and Bled. The Cuban
master defeated all his five opponents at the
·mini-matches', including resounding victories
over Nimzovitch and Marshall. In his toumament
book the somewhat envious Alekhine emphasises
Capablanca's luck, although its measure was far
from that which the Russian master had e1tjoyed in
Bled. Undoubtedly the zenith of Capablanca's
career was the New York toumament in 1927
rather than his victory over Lasker.
These games are mostly taken from Alekhine's
tournament book and. instead of the original
sequence. have been rearranged a little:
Capablanca's 4-4 games against the same
opponent are bunched together, so we can see a
kind of 'mini-match' with each of them. Alekhine
reached the height of his career as an author in
chess literature with this toumament book: its
expertise is still compelling. It is also a fact,
however, that Alekhine was really biased against
the Cuban; practically speaking, he exaggerates
Capablanca's tiniest inaccuracies, and if nothing
else. he criticises Capablanca's opponent for
playing below par.
1 Alekhine - Capablanca B 15
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 lbc3 dxe4 4 lbxe4 ttJf6 5 ttJg3
e5?! 6 lbf3 exd4 7 ~xd4?! (7 lbxd4!) 7 ... ~xd4 8
.:'lixd4 ..ic5 9 ltldf5 0-0 10 i.e3 _be3 11 lbxe3
.ie6 12 0-0-0 ltlbd7 13 .ic4 lbc5?! (13 ... .&!.fe8)
14 ..llxe6 lbxe6 15 lbgf5 lbe4 16 l'ihfl (16 .l;l.d7
tlic5 17 't!.e7 .llfe8) 16 ... g6
17 lbd6?! [17 f3! gxf5 18 fxe4 fxe4 (18 ... f4 19
l2::\f5) 19 l2::lf5! or 17 ... lb4c5 18 ttJd6 a5 19 ttJec4!]
17 ... luxd6 18 .llxd6 .llfd8 19 .llfd 1 .llxd6 20 .llxd6
.lld8 21 .llxd8t l2::lxd8 22 @d2 @£8 23 @d3 @e7 24
@d4 lue6t 25 @e4 f6 26 f4 luc5t 27 @d4 lue6t 28
@e4 li'lc5t 1/z- 1'2
2 Alekhine - Capablanca EI5
"Capablancas clear, simple and correct play makes
mincemeat of Alekhines nervous and badly timed
'attack'. This is one of the most crnshing defeats
ever administered to Alekhine" (R).
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 ttJf3 b6 4 g3 .ib7 5 ..llg2 c5!?
6 d5! exd5 7 lbh4 (7 lbg5 h6 8 lbi13) 7 ... g6 8
lbc3 .Ilg? 9 0-0 0-0 10 ..if4?! [10 cxd5 d6 11 e4
ttJbd7 12 f4; 10 ..ig5 h6 11 ..llxf6 ~xf6 ( 11 ...
..llxf6? 12 lbxg6!) 12 lbxd5] 10 ... d6 11 cxd5 (11
lbxd5 lbxd5 12 ..llxd5 ..llxd5 13 °iVxd5 ltla6!) 11 ...
ttJh5! 12 ..id2 ttJd7 13 f4 ?! [13 e4 (It threatens 14
ttJf5!) 13 ... lbhf6 14 f4] 13 ... a6 ("Well-timed, for
if White stops for the logical move P-K4, then
P-QKt4 gains considerable ground for Black on
the Q-side. ") 14 i.f3? ("This unhappy idea settles
the positional fate of the game; Blacks pieces
combine more and more hannon.iously whilst
Whites become scattered and uncooperative." G.
14 e4?! b5 15 ttJf5 b4! 16 ttJa4 gxf5 17 °iVxh5fxe4
18 .ixe4 ttJ'S!; 14 a4! c4 15 .ie3) 14 ... ltlhf6 15
a4 c4! (with the idea 16 ... b5!) 16 i.e3 ~c7 17
g4!? ("White tries a wild advance on the K side
which merely weakens his own Pawn structure.
Black, on the contrary, proceeds with the
methodical exploitation of his positional
advantage." 17 ~hl!? lbc5 18 ..llxc5 'iVxc5 19 e4
etc.) 17 ... lbc5 18 g5 (18 ..ixc5!? 'iVxc5t 19 ~hl)
18 ... ttJfd7 19 f5 .llfe8 20 ..if4 .Iles 21 ..llg4 (21
ttJg2) 21 ... lbb3 22 fxg6 hxg6 23 l!b 1
9

23 ... ..ixc3! ("Removing an important defensive
piece, after which Whites Q Pawn must sooner or
later fall - and with this Pawn is bound up Whites
entire game.") 24 bxc3 ~c5t 25 e3 'Lle5 26 ..if3
'Lld3! ("Blacks position is now overwhelming;
Whites scattered Pawns disappear with the
startling rapidity.") 27 @hl (27 i:ixb3 'Llxf4) 27 ...
..ixd5 28 .lixb3 'Llxf4 29 .&!.bl .llxe3 30 'Llg2 .llxf3!
("Whites game is naturally lost, but Black finishes
it off in the most expeditious manner.") 31 .lhf3
'Llxg2 32 'i.t>xg2 !ie8 33 ~1 ..ixf3 34 ~xf3 ~xg5
35 Ziel !ixelt 36 'i.t>xel ~glt 37 <t>d2 'ik'xh2·1· 38
~cl ·~e5 39 @b2 @g7 40 ~f2 b5 41 ~6 bxa4
42 ·~xa6 °W'e2t 0-1 (Capablanca, Alekhine and
Golombek).
* 'Llce4 14 .i.b2 'Llxc3 15 .txc3 .te7 16 !iacl 0-0
"The chart of Alekhine's tournament results is an
in-posing sight. The more than 6-foot tall,
weighing approximately 200 pounds, blue-eyed
and white-skim1ed Alekhine is a representative of
a Slav nation. Even his appearance is imposing
when he enters the tournament hall. He has
mastered six languages, is a qualified lawyer and
his erndition is high above the level of the average
perso!L
I first met Alekhine in 1913. He was only 21
years old then. In 1914 Alekhine's brother
arrived in St. Petersburg and the three of us
became good friends. I believe that his
connection with me had a good effect on
Alekhine's play. That time he used to be rather
wc::ak in the endgame. nowadays he is extremely
strong in this field, too. He was not strong
enough in judging positions in the middle-game.
Now this is one of his strongest points. He has
10
developed so much that he is definitely entitled to
a challenge for the title of world champion.
Talking about myself, it would be a shear pretence
to a1mounce that I do not reckon myself within the
favourites for one of the top prizes at the
forthcoming tournament. It is obvious that the
holder of the title of world champion must possess
some faculties that are not easy to find with his
rivals." (Capablanca; New York Times 1927)
3 Ca11ablanca -Alekhine Cl2
l d4 e6 2 'Llc3 d5 3 e4 'Llf6 4 ..ig5 dxe4 5 'Llxe4
..ie7 6 'Llxf6i· (6 ..ixf6!) 6 ... .txf6 7 ..ixf6 ~xf6
8 'Llf3 0-0 9 c3 (9 ..id3 c5 10 0-0 cxd4 11 lt:'ixd4
l:':id8!) 9 ... 'Lld7 10 ..ie2 e5 11 dxe5 'Llxe5 12
'Llxe5 ~xe5 13 0-0 ..ie6 14 ..if3 c6 15 ~a4
l:':ife8! 16 l!iadl (16 i:ifel ~xeli·! 17 !ixel ..ib3
18 ~e4! i:ixe4 19 i:ixe4 ..ixa2 20 !ib4 b6! 21
..ixc6 .l:!.d8=) 16 ... ~c5 17 life l ~c4 18 't'Yxc4
.i.xc4 19 i:ixe8i· i:ixe8 20 h4 ~8 (20 ... ..ixa2?
21 I!.a l ..ic4 22 i:ixa7 ..ia6 23 .ixc6 ±) 21 b3
.i.e2 22 .i.xe2 .llxe2 23 iid7 i:ie7 24 i:id8·1· l:!e8
25 i:id7 !ie7 26 !id8t .l:ie8 11z_11z
4 Ca11ablanca - Alekhine D47
l d4 'Llf6 2 'Llf3 d5 3 c4 c6 4 e3 e6 5 'De 3 lt:'ibd7 6
.td3 dxc4 7 ..ixc4 b5 8 .te2 a6 9 0-0 (9 e4 !? 9
a3!?) 9 ... .i.b7 10 a3 (10 b3 1J.e7 11 .tb2 0-0 12
'Lle5 c5!) 10 ... c5 11 dxc5 'Llxc5 (11 ... .txc5! 12
b4 .te7 13 .ib2 0-0 =) 12 b4 ~xd l 13 .llxdl
17 'Lle5 i:ifd8 18 .llxd8t !ixd8 19 .td4! ..id6 20
.tf3
20 ... 'Lld5! 21 'Lld3 ~8 22 'Llc5 .ixc5 23 ..ixc5i·
(23 bxc5 .tc6) 23 ... @e8 24 @fl l:':ic8 25 @el .llc7
26 .txd5 .txd5 27 f3 .tc4 28 .lidl .lld7 112_11z
5 Ca11ablanca - Marshall El 1
l d4 'Llf6 2 'Llf3 e6 3 c4 .tb4"!" 4 .td2 i.xd2t 5
'Llbxd2?! (5 'Llbxd2 has practically disappeared
from tournament practice.) 5 ... d5?! (5 ... d6!'J; 5 ...
0-0 =) 6 g3 0-0 7 ..tg2 l'2lbd7 (7 ... ltJe4 8 0-0 f5 9
llcl c6 and it leads to a favourable
Stonewall-construction of the Dutch defence
for White, because of the exchange of the
black Bishop.) 8 0-0 V//ie7 (8 ... b6) 9 'tVc2 b6!?
10 cxd5 (10 l'2le5 l2:lxe5 11 dxe5 l2:lg4! 12 cxd5
exd5 13 ..ltxd5 llb8 oo or 10 a3 c5! oo) 10 ...
l2:lxd5 11 e4 1Llb4 ! (11 ... ltJ5f6? 12 'tVxc7 ..lta6
13 llfcl Z!fc8 14 'liff4 'tVh4 15 1Llb3) 12 'li!ic3!
( 12 ~xc7'1 ..lta6 13 llfc 1 llfc8 14 'tVf4 1Lld3 15
llxcSi· l:l.xc8 16 'l!f e3 l'2lxb2) 12 ... c5 (12 ...
.lii.a6? 13 a3 .lii.xfl 14 ..txfl) 13 a3 ltJa6 (13 ...
ltJc6 14 d5!) 14 dxc5 ("Very characteristic of
Capablanca 's style to dissolve the tension .... " 14
l:l.fel! ..\tb7 15 d5 or 14 d5! Alekhine.) 14 ...
bxc5 9 [14 ... 'li!ixc5 15 llacl (15 'tVd3 l'2le5 or 15
!:iic4 b5) 15 ... 'liWxc3 16 .l::!.xc3 .itb7 17 b4 lZ'if6 18 lZ'id4
+=] 15 8c4 ..ltb7 16 1Llfe5! ("Again a very
Capablancan move but this time a perfect one.
The idea to keep only the 'good' Knight c4
against the 'bad' one at a6 - while he eliminates
the other two by an exchange - is convincing.")
16 ... l'2lxe5 17 'tVxe5 llad8 18 .l:!.fd 1 (It threatens
19 ltJd6) 18 ... f6 19 'l!fc3 .ihdlt 20 llxdl lld8
2 l lld3 (21 llxdSt 'li!ixd8 22 'tVb3 ±) 21 ... ltJbS!
22 llxdSt ~xd8 23 ~3! .J:i.a6 24 ..lth3! 1Llc6 9
["That Black does really not stand well is already
clear at first sight, l)Ut that he decides to abandon
the threatened Pawn without a fight can only be
explained as a combination mistake." 24 ... Wf?!
25 l'2le3 ~cs 26 e5 (26 Jtn +=; 26 .i.xe6t? 'lifxe6
27 ~xb8 ·~·xe4 28 ~xa7t .i.b7; or 261Llf5 ~c7 oo)
26 ... fxe5? 27 1Llg4 ±] 25 .i.xe6t '.?ith8 26 ..ltd5
ltJd4 27 't/a4 ..ltxc4 28 ~xc4 'l!fc8 29 '.?itg2 'li!ig4 (It
threatened 30 b4) 30 e5 ! fxe5 31 'tVxc5 h5 32
'ff'f8·1· '.?ith7 33 ..\tgSt '.?ith6 34 'tVd6·1· g6 35 'tVfSt
1-0
6 Marshall - Ca1rnblanca A46
1 d4 CLlf6 2 1Llf3 e6 3 ..\tg5 c5 4 c3 ·~6 (4 ... cxd4
5 cxd4 'tVa5t) 5 'tVc2 cxd4 6 1Llxd4 ?! l'2lc6 7 e3 d5
81Lld2 .i.d7 91Ll2f3?! (9 !kl llc8 10 ''I/Ubl=) 9 ...
1Lle4 10 ..ltf4? (10 ..lth4!) 10 ... f6 11 ..ltd3? (The
great combination player miscalculates.) 11 ... e5!
12 ..ltxe4 ( 12 .:'t.:lxc6 .ii.xc6 13 .i.g3 l2:lxg3 14
hxg3 e4) 12 ... dxe4 13 'W'xe4 0-0-0 14 .ll1.g3 (14
l2:lxc6 ..ltxc6 15 'tVf5t ..td7) 14 ... exd4 15 0-0
(15 1Llxd4 l'!e8 or 15 cxd4 ..\tb4t) 15 ... dxe3 16
a4lle817~d3exf2t 18'.?ithl 'tVe319'tVdl.ll1.g4
20 .iixf2 h5 21 ~fl ..ltxf3 22 llxf3 'tVe2 23 ~g 1
h4 24 r!el hxg3 25 Z!xe2 l!xe2 26 .l:!.xg3 ..ltd6 27
'iVfl llhe8 28 'tVf5t '.t>b8 29 llf3 Z!Se5 30 ·~d3
.l;!.elt 31 Z!fl lld5 32 '@'f3 ltJe5 33 'tVf2 llxflt 34
'lifxfl ltJg4 0-1
7 CaJ>ablanca - Marshall A63
1 d4 ltJf6 2 1Llf3 c5 3 d5 e6 4 c4 d6 5 .:'t.:lc3 C'Xd5 6
cxd5 g6 7 g3 ..\tg7 8 ..tg2 0-0 9 0-0 Z!e8 10 ltJd2
(10 ..ltf4; 10 h3) 10 ... 1Llbd7 (10 ... b6) 11 h3
l2:lb6?! (11 ... a6) 12 a4! ..ltd7 13 a5 ~c8 14 .:'t.:lc4
'li!ic7 15 e4 [15 'tVh3 b5 16 axb6 (161Llxb5 9 ? '@'b8)
16 ... 1Llxb6 17 ..\tf4 ltJxc4 18 'W'xc4 llab8 19 .l':!a2
(l'!a6) ±] 15 ... b5 16 axb6 l2:lxb6 17 lila3 (17 .:'t.:la5)
17 ... a6 18 llel llab8 19 '.t>h2 lilc8?! (19 ... .J:i.c8!)
20 ..tfl ! 'i1frb7 21 'tVd3 .lla8
22 'tVf3! (It threatens 23 ..\tg5) 22 ... h6 23 .:'t.:lc4 (23
..txh6? ..txh6 24 ~xf6 ..tg7 25 'liff3 ~xb2) 23 ...
..tb5 (23 ... ltJh7) 24 ltJa5 fgd7 25 .1..xh6 .1..xh6 26
'W'xf6 ..tg7 27 V//if3 l'2lb6 28 '.?itg2 ltJa4? (28 ... c4!?)
29 l'2lxa4 .i.xa4 30 l2:lc4! Ziab8 31 ltJxd6 ~xd6 32
llxa4 llxb2 33 !!xa6 ~e5 34 .l:l.e29 [34 l'!a7 f5 (34
... Z!e7 35 llxe7 'W'xe7 36 .1..c4 followed lle2 +-)
35 d6! 'ill¥xd6 (35 ... fxe4 36 'ilf7t @h7 37 £1.e7!) 36
e5 .itxe5 (36 ... Exe5 37 .l::!.xg7t! @xg7 38 ~c3) 37
ilc4 t @h8 38 .itf7 EfS 39 .itxg6 +-] 34 ... llxe2 35
'W'xe2 ~xe4·1· 36 'lifxe4 l'!xe4 37 lla8t ..tf8 38 Wf3
11
.l!d4 39 .l!d81i;g7 40 @e3 f5 41 .1i.d3 j,,e7 42 .l!d7
1;;£8 43 f4 1;;e8 44 .1i.b5 1;;£8 45 h4 (45 g4 llb4) 45
... !'.!.e4i· 46 1;;£3 l'!.d4 471i;e3 lle4t 48 1;;d3 lld4i·
49 1i;c2 l'!.b4 50 d6 .1i.xh4 ! 51 gxh4 .l!xb5 52 'JJ.e7
!!b4 53 h5 gxh5 54 lle5 !Id4 55 .l!xf5i· 1;;g7 56
Iixh5 .llxd6 57 .llxc5 lld4 58 .llf5 c;,t;,g6 59 .llf8
c;,t;,g7 60 c;,t;,c3 .l:.l.a4 112.112
8 Marshall - Capablanca B 18
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 lbc3 dxe4 4 lbxe4 .1i.f5 5 lbg3
.1i.g6 6 f4?! ("A number of central squares will
be seriously weakened by the advance of the
f-Pawn. It can only be good if it serves the
definite attacks often bound to line openings.") 6
... e6 (6 ... h5) 7 lbf3 (7 h4 h5 8 lbf3 <Xl) 7 ...
.1i.d6! ("With the right idea, to develop the
,;t,night to e7 and thus, to make the possible
advance of the f-Pawn even more difficult.") 8
.1i.d3 lbe7 9 0-0 ltid7 10 <ti;hl?! ["Aprevention
move (against what?), which means a loss of speed
here." 10 l2:le4 .ftc7 11 c3 followed 'it'e2, itd2, .l:fael
and perhaps l'.i:'ie5 ac] 10 ... ·~c7 11 lbe5 lld8! ("It
serves among other things as a preparatory move for
the following exchange, which should put l'.i:'ie5 out of
place.") 12 ~e2 (12 ltixg6; 12 .1i.xg6) 12 ... .1i.xd3!
13 1£lxd3 ( 13 ·~xd3? lbxe5 14 fxe5 1J..xe5) 13 ...
0-0 14 .1i.d2 (''The consequences of the
"pseudoclassic" variation are really
unersprielich for white." 14 b4!) 14 ... c5 15
it'Je4?! (15 ch.c5 lbxc5 16 lbxc5 .1i.xc5 17 Iiadl <X)
=+) 15 ... ltif5! ("Thus, the Knight comes to this
key square, from where he has a powerful effect
on the whole board." 15 ... cxd4? 16 lbxd6 ~xd6
17 .1i.h4) 16 dxc5 (16 ltixd6? lbxd4) 16 ... lbxc5 17
lbdxc5 .1i.xc5 18 .xi..c3 ("Playing with the "threat"
19 ltif6t, which would be calmly answered
anyway if it came to it by Black with 19 ...
c;,t;,h8." 18 c3!?)
18 ... .ltd4! ("Everything is simple and necessary")
19 .lladl .1i.xc3 20 lbxc3 .l:ixdl! 21 lbxdl (21
12
!Ixdl? ~xf4; 21 ~xfl'! lbe3 -+) 21 ... .lld8 (21
... ltid4? 22 'it'e4 lbxc2? 23 lbc3 lba3 24 l'Ic l ltic4
25 ltib5) 22 ltic3 ~6?! (22 ... h6!) 23 lldl! .llxdli·
24 ltixdl ~4 25 ~t'2? (25 g3! 26 'ii'd3 ~elt 27
1;;g2 ltic6 <Xl) 25 ... h5! 26 a3 (26 g3 'ii'd6! 27 lbc3
b5! 28 a3 a5!) 26 ... ~d6 27 lbc3 ~d4! 28
~xd4 [28 @gl lbe3! 29 c;,t;,hl (else 29 ... 'Dxc2!)
29 ... a6 30 h3 g6 31 ~f3 ~d2 321i;h2 h4! (+) 33
lbe4? ~e 1-+] 28 ... lbxd4 29 lbe4 lbxc2 30 'Dd6
lbe3! 31 a4 [31 lbxb7 lbc4] 31 ... lbd5 32 lbxb7
(32 g3 b6 33 1;;g2 1i;f8 34 1;;£3 a6 35 <t;;e4 g6! 36
<ti;e5 1;;e7 +) 32 ... lbxf4 33 b4 lbd5 34 b5 lbc3 35
lba5 lbxa4 36 lbc6 1;;£8 37 lbxa7 c;,t;,e7 38 it'Jc6·1·
c;,t;,d6 39 c;,t;,g 1 f6 40 1i;f2 e5 41 lbd8 1i;d7 42 lbb7
1;;c7 43 lba5 lbc3 44 1;;[3 lbxb5 45 <t;;e4 lbd6i· 46
c;,t;,d5 c;,t;,d7 47 lbc6 lbc8 48 it'Jb8i· @e7 49 1£lc6i·
W 50 ltid8t c;,t;,e8 0-1
9 Nimzovitch - Capablanca 030
"One ofCapablancas most enjoyable games. TI1ere
is artistry of a high order in the clarity and logic of
his play, and in the perfectly natural way in which
his pretty combinative attack arises out of his
positional manoeuvring." (R).
1 c4 ltif6 2 lbf3 e6 3 d4 d5 4 e3 (4 lbc3; 4 .1i.g5) 4
... ffi..e7 5 1£lbd2 ["What is this artistry for?
Everything else (5 Ct:lc3; 5 .1i.d3) was healthier, that
is more appropriate for the demands of the
emerging central problem"] 5 ... 0-0 6 .1i.d3 (6 b3; 6
.fte2) 6 ... c5 ("To prevent P-K4 and take the
initiative. This has been possible thanks to the
system of opening adopted by White.") 7 dxc5?!
lba6! (The Joker in the position. Black will retake
the P attacking the B with the Kt, gaining Time
and Position. Short of a move gaining material, a
move gaining both in Time and Position is an ideal
opening move.") 8 0-0?! [8 lbb3 dxc4 (8 ...
lbxc5? 9 lbxc5 'it'a5t 10 .1i.d2 ~xc5 11 Ziel!) 9
.1i.xc4 ~xdli· 10 <ti;xdl lbxc5 111£lxc5 ffi..xc5 12
1i;e2=] 8 ... lbxc5 9 .1i.e2 b6 10 cxd5? (''This
systematic and unbroken development of the
opponent is the same as a positional harakiri
through the sacrifice of time and space." 10 b3) 10
... lbxd5 11 lbb3 .1i.b7 12 'Dxc5!? .1i.xc5 ("After
his failure in the opening, White, with very good
judgment, attempts to simplify the game hoping to
overcome the loss of time by bringing about a
position where he may through skillful defensive
play neutralize Blacks advantage in
development.") 13 ~a4? ("And now he tries to
exchange the already developed Bishop and allows
the other to sleep calmly!" 13 .1i.d2! ~f6 14 ~b3)
13 ... ~f6! ("Black is aware of Whites plan. He
prepares for one more exchange, at the same
time retarding the development of Whites QB.")
 14 .lta6 ! ..\'.l..xa6 15 ~xa6 l2:lb4 ! ? ( 15 . .. .l:!.fd8
followed by e6-e5-e4.) 16 ~e2 nfd8 ("Black
keeps on developing his pieces in the most logical
way. Outside of the 7th move there is not a single
move of Black that is not simple and logical. Any
one playing over the game would think that he
would have done the same had he been playing the
Black pieces. Yet with every move Black is
faining.") 17 a3 ( 17 lbe 1 l:!d7 ! and l'!ad8 +) 17 ...
.'.'2ld3 18 .'.Llel ti:ixel 19 l'!xel Ll.ac8 20 .llbl ~e5!
("Dieser soviel bewanderte Damenzug sollte
ebensowenig Erfolg haben, wie alles andere."
Alekhine "A finesse to gain time in bringing the
Q into the battle. Black wants to take possession
of the seventh row with one of his rooks and do
that he needs the co-operation of the Q. ") 21 g3
[21 .ltd2 .ltd6! 22 g3 l'!c2 23 ~d3 l'!xb2! 24 ..\'.l..c3
lixbl 25 .ltxe5 .l::!.xel t 26 @g2 .lte7 (+) 27 ~a6?!
l:Z.d5 =+ 21 b4 ..\'.l..d6 22 g3 ~e4 23 .llb2 a5!] 21 ...
~d5! ("The right move because another
weakening will be forced by it." 21 ... ~e4?! 22
..\'.l..d2 ..\'.l..xa3? 2 3 bxa3 l:ic2 24 libel! .llb2 25
!l.edl ~d5 26 e4! ~d7 27 .ltb4! ±) 22 b4 ..\'.l..f8
23 ..\'.l..b2 'fb'a2! 24 llal (Else 24 ... a5! ect. 24
llbdl J:ixdl! 25 lixdl ~b3! +) 24 ... °Wb3 25
..\'.l..d4 (25 .l:!acl llxcl! 26 !!xcl a5) 25 ... I:!c2 26
~a6!? (26 'i1\Vfl!?)
26 ... e5! ! 27 ..\'.l..xe5 lldd2 28 ~b7 [28 llfl
'i1\Vxe3! 29 .ltf4 .l::!.xf2! or 28 ~fl ~d5 29 ..\'.l..d4
~h5! (29 ... 'i1\Vf3 30 .l::!.cl !) 30 h4 'i1\Vf3 +] 28 ...
llxf2 29 g4 ~e6 30 .ltg3 .l::!.xh2! ("The coup de
grace. White cannot take the Rook because of
QxKtP ch followed by Q-R6 and mate.") 31
·~n I:!hg2i· 32 ~xg2 I:!xg2i' 33 Wxg2 'rVxg4
34 l'!adl h5 35 l'!d4 ~g5 36 Wh2 a5 37 l'!e2
(37 bxa5 ~xa5) 37 ... axb4 38 axb4 .lte7 39
l:le4 ..\'.l..f6 40 llf2 '@'d5 41 .lleSi· Wh7 0-1
(Capablanca, Alekhine and Reinfeld).
10 Capablanca - Nimzovitch A46
1 d4 l2:lf6 2 l2:lf3 e6 3 ..\'.l..g5 h6 4 ..\'.l..h4 (4 ..\'.l..xf6
~xf6 5 e4) 4 ... b6 5 i2:lbd2 ..\'.l..b7 6 e3 .lte7 7
..\'.l..d3 d6 8 c3 0-0 9 h3 (9 0-0 c5 10 I:!e 1 or 10 a3
+=) 9 ... c5 10 0-0 lbc6 11 °@'e2 ( 11 l'!e 1) 11 ...
l2:lh5 12 ..\'.l..xe7 ~xe7 13 ..\'.l..a6 ! lbf6 14 llfd l (14
a3; 14 l'!fe l) 14 ... .llfd8 15 e4 ..\'.l..xa6 16 'l:1:Vxa6
~c7 17 I:!acl l'!d7 ! (" A preventative manoeuvre
against the possible dxc5 etc.)
18 b4! I:!ad8 (18 ... cxb4 19 cxb4 l2:lxb4? 20
°@'a4) 19 ~e2 (19 llel; 20 lbb3) 19 ... lbe7 20
ile 1 (20 e5? dxe5 21 lbxe5 l'!d5 !) 20 ... l2:lg6 21
g3 lies 22 bxc5 dxc5!. (22 ... bxc5 23 .l:!.b 1) 23
.'.'2lb3! cxd4 24 cxd4 'Wb7 25 l'!xcSi· ~xc8 26
l;!cl Ll.c7 27 l:!xc7 '@'xc7 28 i2:lfd2 '@'c3 29 ~a6!
~c7 (29 ... lbxe4 30 lbxe4 ~elt 31 Wh2 ~xe4
32 ~xa7) 30 ~e2 ~c3 31 '@'a6 '@'c7 112- 112
11 Nimzovitch - CaJ>ablanca B 12
"For this game Black was awarded the special
pri::,e for the best played game o/ the
Tournament."
"A ve1:v .fine game, despite its lack o/.firell'ork.l·
or other shm1~v .features. The .final ::,11g::,ll'c111g
phase, 1vhich lends the game a parlic11/c1r(v
instructive character must (a/mos/I) have been
enjoyed by Nim::,ovitch himse(/" (R.)
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 .ltf5 4 ..\'.l..d3 (White intends
f2-f4-f5 after exchangig bishops; Black
counterbalances this by exerting pressure on the
centre pawns.) 5 ... ..\'.l..xd3 5 ~xd3 e6 6 lbc3
°Wb6 7 lbge2 c5 (7 ... °@'a6) 8 dxc5 ..\'.l..xc5 9 0-0
(9 ~g3? lbe7! "Black is a little behind in
development, but he has a solid position and can
regain a little time by playing Kt-Q2 or
Kt-QB3) 9 ... l2:le7 10 l2:la4 (10 a3) 10 ... ~c6 11
13
 l'bxc5 'iVxc5 12 i.e3 Wfic7 13 f4 4Jf5 14 c3? ( 14
Z!acl! l'bc6 15 ..tf2 and 16 c4!) 14 ... 4Jc6 ("At
last Black is fully developed and with the
possibility of castling on either side open to
him. In such positions it is generally better to
retard castling as long as possible in order to
compel the opponent to guard against both
possibilities. Besides, should a general exchange
take place, bringing about a Rook ending, the
King would then be better placed where it is,
right in the centre of the board.") 15 .!!ad 1 g6 (A
cunning move tempting a weakness. 15 ... h5
was also good.) 16 g4? ("White has accepted the
invitation to drive away the Kt. He probably
considered that if he did not drive away the
strongly posted Kt, Black would play P-KR4
and then the Kt would be a source of trouble for
the rest of the game. Black had considered other
factors before allowing this move. He felt that
after the exchange of the Kt for the B he would
play P-KR4, forcing White to play P-Kt5. As a
result White's KBP would be very weak. The
whole K's side would be open to any Black
piece able to enter that territory.") 16 ... l'bxe3
17 Wfixe3 h5 (This forces P-Kt5) 18 g5 (18 h3?!
hxg4 19 hxg4 0-0-0 and g6-g5 or .nh4 +) 18 ...
0-0 19 4Jd4 '&b6 20 l!f2 r!fc8 21 a3 'tlc7 22 l!d3
'Lia5 (22 ... 4Je7!) 23 Lte2 .lle8! (23 ... 4Jc4!? 24
'@'f2 l'bxa3? 25 f5! gxf5 26 g6 fxg6 27 r!g3 4Jc4
28 ~xg6t !1g7 29 Wf/g3 +-) 24 24 Wg2 l'bc6!
(Cap~blanca fi~ds the right plan, and forgoes the
seemmgly obv10us move 'Llc4. Let the rooks
have that square to attack e4 and f4 and let us
get rid of the knight on d4 which is preventing
this ... ") 25 !1ed2 (25 l'bxc6 Wfixc6 26 !1d4) 25 ...
llec8 26 !1e2 4Je7 27 .lled2 llc4 ("White has been
marking time for the last few moves. His defensive
position is at the maximum of its force; it cannot
be improved. It is now up to Black to show how to
break down the barriers.") 28 Wfih3 Wg7 29 L!.f2 a5
("Black has everything his own way, so he
prepares his position until he is ready to force a
break.") 30 !1e2 (30 !1fd2 'Lif5 31 l'bxf5 gxf5 32
!1d4) 30 ... 'Lif5! ("Black takes the first opporttmity
to break through. White is forced to take the Kt.")
31 4Jxf5t (31 .lled2 l'bxd4 32 .l:ixd4 l;!xd4 33 cxd4
!!c4 34 Wfie3 a4 +) 31 ... gxf5 32 Wf/f3 (32 ... Wfixh5?
33 !1h8 33 Wf/f3 .l:ih4) 32 ... @g6 33 !1ed2 r!e4 34
!!d4 !!c4 ("Black forces a second exchange in
order to work his Queen into Whites position. ...
Whether White exchanges the Rooks now or later
he always loses because of the fact that all the
resulting Q endings are lost for White owing to his
weak KBP, and the fact that the Black Queen can
work her way in into the open Kings position of
White.") 35 Wfif2 Wfib5 36 Wg3 (36 L!.xc4 Wfixc4 37
14
ild4 Wfib3!) 36 ... .llcxd4 37 cxd4 (37 !1xd4??
!1e2!) 37 ... Wfic4! 38 Wg2 b5! (Again Black is at
liberty to do as he pleases; therefore he prepares
for all eventualities.") 39 Wg 1 b4 40 axb4 axb4 41
Wg2 Wficl ("The first zugzwang.") 42 Wg3 (42 h4
b3 "zugzwang")
42 ... Wfihl! 43 !1d3 (43 !1e2 !1xe2 44 ~':Yxe2 ''@'gl!;
43 Wf/tJ h4"j-!) 43 ... J:lel 44 !1f3 J:ldl ("White is in
zugzwang again.") 45 b3 (45 Wh3 !!d2; 45 nb3
Wfie4 46 !1xb4 !1d3t 47 Wh4 J:1f3) 45 ... l:lcl! 46
.!1e3 (46 h3 J:lglt 47 @h4 !1g4 #!) 46 ... nfl! 0-1
(47 Wfie2 Wfiglt 48 Wh3 J:lel!! Capablanca, Reti
and Reifeld. )"
12 Ca1>ablanca - Nimzovitch E 16
1 d4 'Lif6 2 4Jf3 e6 3 c4 b6 4 g3 ..Qb7 5 .£g2
.£b4t 6 ..Qd2 (6 4Jbd2) 6 ... .£xd2t 7 'l!Uxd2
0-0 8 4Jc3 4Je4 (8 ... d6) 9 4Jxe4 (9 'd'c2 cbxc3
10 4Jg5 Wfixg5 11 i.xb7 'Lixe2! 12 '&'xe2 'Lic6
13 .£xa8 !1xa8=) 9 ... i.xe4 10 0-0 d6! 11
l'be 1 ! [A simplifying manoeuvre necessary
sooner or later, which has the advantage of
pron~isi1~g the Knight at g2 an interesting
poss1b1lity to develop (e3,f4)."] 11 ... ..Qxg2 12
l'LJxg2 l'Lld7 [12 ... 't':Ve7! 13 e4 (13 J:lfdl f5) 13 ... c5]
13 E-4 e5? [13 ... c5! 14 d5 (14 J:ladl l:!c8 15 l'be3
'IJ/Jc7) 14 ... l'LJe5!] 14 'Lie3 4Jf6 (14 ... exd4 15
Wfixd4 Wfif6 16 ~xf6 l'bxf6 17 f3 +=) 15 f3 c5? ( 15
... g6+=) 16 dxe5! dxe5 17 .l:!adl Wfixd2 (17 ... Wfic7
18 'Lif5!) 18 ilxd2 'J:1fd8 19 J:lfdl l:!xd2 (19 ...
r!d4?! 20 'Lif5!) 20 Zixd2 g6 (20 ... Wf8 21 !1d6!)
21 Wf2? ("It can be seen from this move most clearly
that Capabbnca had absolutely no interest in th·e
result of this game." 21 !1d6! Wg7 22 lt'ld5 'Lixd5
23 exd5 Wf8 24 !1d7 ± +-) 21 ... Wf8 22 lt'ld5
l'.ld8 23 @e3 l'Llxd54" 1h- 1h [24 !1xd5 !1xd5 25
exd5 (25 cxd5 b5!) 25 ... f5 26 g4 We7 27 gxf5
gxf5 28 Wf2 @d6 29 @g3 @e7 30 wh4 h6 31
Wh5 Wd6 (Alekhine)]
13 Capablanca - Spielmann 038
1 d4 d5 2 tz:lf3 e6 3 c4 tz:ld7 4 cxd5 exd5 5
.::bc3 tz:lgf6 6 ..\lg5 .ilb4 (Spielmann wants to
force the dubious "counter-tying variation" at
all costs ... But the idea does not seem to be
logical in this position ... ) 7 'iVh3 (7 e3 c5 8
.lid3) 7 ... c5 ! ("Here it is very good because
he threatens with the sudden counterattack
°&d8-a5 etc., and White loses a tempo to bring
the King into safety by castling King's side.")
8 a3 .ilxc3t (8 ... ~a5?! 9 .lid2!) 9 'i'xc3 (9
bxc3 '@'a5! 10 .ild2 tz:le4 =) 9 ... c4! 10 'i'e3i·
( 10 e4? lbxe4!) 10 ... 'Jjj/e7 11 ~xe7t Wxe7 12
.'2id2?! (12 e4 dxe4 13 .::bd2?!) [12 e4! dxe4 13
ZZ'le5 (13 .:'iid2) 13 ... h6 (13 ... b5 14 a4!) 14 fi.xf6i"
'Dxf6 15 .:hc4 "'] 12 ... h6! 13 .ilh4 [13 ..\lxf6t
tZ'lxf6 14 e4 tZ'lxe4 15 tZ'lxe4 dxe4 16 fi.xc4 .l::rd8 17 d5
(17 .l::rdl Si.g4) 17 ... @d6 =+] 13 ... b5 14 e4!? g5 15
Si.g3 lbxe4 16 lbxe4 dxe4 17 a4 ("Naturally the only
possibility to prevent the fortification of the enemy's
Pawn chain by a7-a6.") 17 ... .lia6? [17 ... f5! 18
fi.c7 Si.a6 19 h4 .llhc8 20 .ila5 'Df6! (20 ... g4 21
h5!) =+] 18 axb5 ..\lxb5 19 b3! Iihc8 20 h4 a6 [20
... g4 21 fi.e2 f5 (or 21 ... h5) 22 .l::ra5! a6 23 bxc4
fi.xc4 24 @d2!] 21 bxc4 ..\lxc4 22 hxg5 hxg5
23 Iih6 ("With the dreadful threat 24 i.d6t!") 23
... .::bf6 (23 ... f6? 24 .ilxc4 .llxc4 25 Iih7i· ~6? 26
d5t!) 24 .lla5! (It threatens 25 .ilxc4 .l!!xc4 26
.lle5t!) 24 ... ..\lb5 (24 ... tz:lg4 25 I!.b6 i.xfl 26
!.!.b7t <ties 27 Wxfl llcl i" 28 @e2 !Iac8 29 llb2 oo
=) 25 ..\lxb5 axb5 26 llxb5! !.!.alt 27 c;,t;,d2 I!.a2t
(27 ... e3i·?! 28 fxe3! 'De4t? 29 c;,t;,d3 'Dxg3 30
Iib7i· <t>f8 31.llh8i·) 28 <t>dl .l;l.alt 1h- 1h
14 S11ielmann - Ca11ablanca B 19
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 'Dc3 dxe4 4 'Dxe4 'Df6 5 'Dg3
(5 'Dxf6t!?) 5 ... ..\lg4 (5 ... c5!?; 5 ... h5!?) 6
°i'd3! (6 .ile2 .ilxe2 7 'Dlxe2 e6 8 °i'd3 ctJbd7 =)
6 ... lbbd7 7 h3 i.h5 8 'Dxh5 'Dxh5 9 lbf3 e6 10
g3! i.d6 (10 ... 'i'a5i·!?) 11 i.g2 0-0 12 0-0 'i'c7
13 b3! lbhf6 14 i.b2 e5!? 15 dxe5 'Dxe5 16
'i'f5 ! (White prevents the oppos1tlon of the
enemy's Bishop on e5 and with the following
moves.") 16 ... llfe8 17 .llfel 'Dxf3t 18 i.xf3
(" Again there is nothing better than the double
Rook exchange.") 18 ... .l;l.xelt! 19 !.l.xel .lle8 20
Iixe8t 'Dxe8 21 ..\lg4 ! ("Spielma1m treats this
game very delicately until a certain moment." It
threatens 22 'i'c8!) 21 ... 'i'e7 22 <t>fl (22 ~c8?
~elt 23 @g2 .ilc5) 22 ... ..\lb4 23 c3 (23 ~e5 =
+=) 23 ... 'Dd6 24 °i'd3 i.a5 25 i.a3?! [25 b4!
i.c7 (or 25 ... i.b6 26 c4 c5 27 'i'd5!) 26 c4 ~e4
27 ~xe4 'Dxe4 28 ~2 +=] 25 ... i.c7 26 c4 ~e5
27 ~e2 ~xe2"!"28 Wx.e2 b6 11z_11z (29 c5! +=)
15 Ca11ablanca - S11ielmann D38
This gmne was aw,mled the special prize ji,r the
1110.~t brilliant game of the to11n1t1111e11t.
1 d4 d5 2 .::bf3 e6 3 c4 ctJd7 4 lbc3 tz:lgf6 5 ..\lg5 ..\lb4
6 cxd5 exd5 7 'i'a4 i.xc3t? (7 ... ~e7) 8 bxc3 0-0 9
e3 c5?! ("After the more discreet. .. 9 ... c6 Black
would still have the inferior game because of his
weakness on the Blacks squares and the power of the
hostile Bishops. After the text these difficulties are
even more intensified." R. 9 ... '*'fe8!?) 10 ..\ld3 c4 11
.ilc2 '&e7 ("Already the absence of Blacks KB is
being felt. TI1e Queen has to protect the black
squares." 11 ... .lle8!?) 12 0-0 a6 13 llfel ("White
threatens P-K4, breaking up Blacks game. Black
must stop it.") 13 ... 'i'e6 (13 ... b5? 14 'i'a5 i.b7 15
'i'c7!) 14 'Dd2! b5 15 'i'a5! (Tins move is the Key to
the situation. White was aware of Blacks plan
begi1ming with 13 ... ~e6, and prepared a
combination to destroy the whole scheme.") 15 ...
'De4 ("TI1is is the key to Blacks plan. He wants to
prevent P-B3 either before after P-QR4" 15 ... ..\lb7
16 f3!) 16 ctJxe4 dxe4 17 a4! ~d5! ("Black naturally
expected that Wlnte would now protect Ins Bishop,
after winch Black would play B-Kt2 and obtain a
very satisfactory game. He failed, however, to
consider that Ins expert opponent was not likely to
make tlnngs so easy for lnm" 17 ... rib8 18 .llebl
~d5 19 .ilf4 .llb6 20 .llb4 ±)
15
 18 axb5! ! ["Beginning a combination which is
enchanting not so much because of its brilliancy, but
because it refutes Blacks faulty strategy in so
convmcmg a manner." (R.) 18 ~f4 fJ..b7 19 ilebl
.J£.c6; 18 :?J..e7 l:!e8 19 axb5 ..'.tb7! =] 18 ... ~xg5
(18 ... .ltb7 19 bxa6! ~xa5 20 .llxa5 l:!xa6 21
l:!.xa6 .kxa6 22 :?J..xe4 +-) 19 i.xe4 llb8 (19 ... I:!a7
20 b6! ~xa5 21 bxa7!! .ltb7! 22 .lha5 ..lbe4 23
.l:l:xa6) 20 bxa6! ("Amusing: with a piece down White
can offer the exchange of Queens and Black dare not
accept. The QRP must cost Black at least a piece." R)
20 ... l:l.b5 21 ~c7 (And this deadly penetration
clinches mateers." R.) 21 ... lbb6 22 a7 fJ..h3 23
l:l.ebl! I:!xblt (23 ... I:!cS 24 ~xb6! I:!xb6 25 I:!xb6
+-) 24 .l'!xbl f5! (24 ... lt:\d5 25 '®'b8) 25 i.f3! (25
8 Wxg2 i.e7 (On 8 ... d5 9 ~a4 t see
'i!Vxb6 fxe4 26 g3 ~f5 -+; 25 I:!xb6 fxe4 26 ~g3
Capablanca - Alekhine, 3 Matchgame 1927) 9
'Mfa5 27 I:!bl :?J..e6 -+) 25 ... f4 26 exf4! 1-0
lbc3 0-0?! (9 ... WUcS) 10 e4! ~c8 11 b3 '®'b7 12 f3
(Capablanca, Reinfeld and Alekhine.)
lLlc6 13 i.b2 I:!fd8 14 I:!el lbxd4 (Why did he
16 Spielmann - Capablanca Bl 9 need to develop the White Queen here for
1e4c62 d4 d5 3 l2:\c3 dxe4 4 c2:\xe4 i.f5 5 c2:\g3 i.g6 example? 14 ... d6!?) 15 WUxd4 i.c5 (And now this
6 tbf3 .:'t:ld7 7 h4 h6 8 i.d3 (8 h5!?) 8 ... i.xd3 9 obvious loss of tempo!") 16 ~d3 SJ..e7 17 .l'!adl d6
tJ'xd3 lLlgf6 10 fJ..d2 e6 11 0-0-0 ~d6 ("Black strives ("Despite several inaccuracies Black's position is
for an exchange with this move and the next ones - an still quite strong... ) 18 I:!e2 I:!d7 19 .l'!ed2 .l'!ad8 20
intention that does not hannonise with the given .:'t:le2 ("The easiest way to prevent d6-d5 forever.")
position at all." 11 ... ·®rc7!) 12 lt:\e4 lt:\xe4 13 ~xe4 20 ... WUaS (20 ... lt:\eS 21 e5!) 21 ~e3 h6 22 h4
~c7 14 filel cbf6 (14 ... 0-0-0) 15 ~e2 ..'.tf4?! (What Y&'b7 23 a4 ("To prevent the possibility of freeing
had the hannless Bishop d2 done with him?") 16 b6-b5 once and for all.") 23 ... lLleS 24 ctJf4 1.f6
lt:\e5! iLxd2t 17 Zhd2 0-0-0 18 ~f3! ("As a 25 :?J..xf6 c2:\xf6 26 g4! 4Jh7 27 ~c3 .:'t:\f8 28 g5!'.'
consequence of the inaccurate opening treatment hxg5 29 hxg5 4Jg6 ! 30 ebxg6 (30 c2:\h5 e5 31 Wg3
of the enemy, White puts a lot of pressure on f7, ~c7 followed r!.fS, WUdS oo) 30 ... fxg6 31 "t'Vd4
and all his pieces have more space than Black's ~c6 32 Wg3 WUc5 33 f4 'M7 34 Wg4 a5
anyway.") 18 ... .i:!hf8 ("With the intention 19 ...
.:'t:ld7!; but he has not enough time for that.") 19
~g3 g6?! (19 ... I:!g8) 20 ~a3 9 ["If Spielmann
i1,,d been less hypnotised by the idea of
Capablanca's: "invincibility", he would rather have
decided on the obvious 20 ~f4!": 20 ~f4 lLlg8 (20
... ttih5 21 WUxh6 ~a5 22 @bl) 21 .lle3! (intention
22 I:!f3) 21 ... .:'t:le 7 22 !la3 ±, ±)] 20 ... Wb8 21
I:!e3 ("Here this move is not strong any more.
Capablanca immediately takes advantage of the
first opportunity available for a safe
cotmter-play. ")
(See diagram next column)

21 ... g5! 22 hxg5 hxg5 23 .llf3 c2:\e4! 24 lle2 cbd6

("Capablanca was always good at Knight
manoeuvres... ") 25 c3 I:!h8 26 I:!el .l:!.h2 27 I:!g3
4Jf5 28 I:!g4 cbd6 29 llg3 t2'lf5 112- 112 (29 .i:!g4
I:!dh8!
Capah!anca needed not more than half a pomt to
secure his victory.
17 Ca11ablanca - Vidmar E 15
1 d4 c2:\f6 2 lbr3 e6 3 c4 b6 4 g3 ..'.tb7 5 i.g2 c5 6
0-0 (6 d5! 9 ) 6 ... cxd4 7 cbxd4 (7 '*Yxd4) 7 ... :?J..xg2
35 fil2 (oo +=) 35 ... ~xd4? ("Shortage of time is the
only explanation for Dr Vidmar becoming involved
in a very dubious endgame instead of one without
any pressure.") 36 .lixd4 'f!.e7 37 llhd2 lled7 38 f5! 9
("In my opinion this strategically given breakthrough
should rather happen just after the next tempo, e.g. 38
I:!4d3! We7 39 f5! gxf5t (39 ... Wf7 40 fxe6t Wxe6
41 'f!.d5 followed l:lb5 or occasionally e4-e5!) 40 exf5
exf5t 41 wxf5 Wf7 42 g6t ± +-) 38 ... gxf5t 39
exf5 exf5t 40 @xf5 g6t 41 @g4 @£8! ("The only -

16
temporary - parry against the threat lli4 +- f6 etc.
41 ... @e8? 42 .l:!.h2! ±) 42 .l:!.f2t? [42 .l:!.4d3! @e8 43
iih2! 'itf8 (43 ... !it7 44 .l:ih6!) 44 !'lf3i· @g7 45
l!f6! !!.f8 46 iixf8 @xf8 47 l:':ih8t @g7 48 .llb8 ±]
42 ... !it7 43 !if6 (43 lifd2 @e7 =) 43 ... .llxf6 44
gxf6 ~ 45 @g5 i.ie8 ! 46 .l:!xd6 .lle5t 4 7 'itf4
.l!e6! ("Much easier than .l!f5t and i:ixf6) 48 lid5
~f6 49 !ib5 We7 50 @g5 .l!c6 51 @h6 @f6 52 .llg5
~ 53 .l:!.g3 .lle6 54 i:!.d3 l!ie5 55 .lld7i· @f6 56 lid6t
~ 112- 112 (57 .llxg6? .l!!e6! 58 lixe6 @xe6 59 @g6
@d6 60 @f6 Wc5 61 We6 @b4 62 'itti6 Wxb3 63 c5
iJxc5 b4 @xc5 Wxa4 65 @c4 =J
18 Vidmar - Ca11ablanca 030
l d4 Cbf6 2 Cbf3 e6 3 c4 d5 4 e3 lbbd7 5 i.d3?! dxc4!
6 i.xc4 c5 ("A position of the Queen's Gambit
accepted has developed, but with an extra tempo for
Black. because the flB made two moves. It is trne,
however, that the QKnight would possibly be
better-posted on c6".) 7 0-0 lbb6!? (7 ... a6 8 a4 b6
n) 8 i.d3 i.d7 9 lbc3 .llc8 10 'i'e2 (10 dxc5 .i.xc5
11 e4 oo) 10 ... cxd4 11 lbxd4 (11 exd4!?) 11 ...
.l!!.b4?! (11 ... Z.c5!? 12 lbb3 i.e7 13 e4 e5 14 f4
0-0! 15 fxe5 lbg4 16 i.f4 i.g5 17 i.g3 ~e8! =+)
12 e4! e5 (12 ... i.xc3 13 bxc3 e5 14 Cbf3 +=) 13
tlic2? (13 lbf3 i.xd?! 14 bxc3 .llxc3 15 i.b2 !ic8
16 .l!!.a3!) 13 ... i.xc3 14 bxc3 0-0 15 lbe3 lba4!
("Though he allows White to change his weakling c3
into a very healthy passed Pawn d5, it is at the
expense of another weakening of the whole area on
the left side of the board. Probably only a few players
would have had this idea.") 16 c4 lbc5 17 lbd5 lbxd5
18 cxd5 'i'a5 (It threatens 19 ... lbxd3!) 19 iidl
i9 ... ~xd3'~! [19 ... Jll..a4 20 ~d2 ~xd2 21.llxd2
:--:.ixd3 :: .llxd3 .l::!.c2 ! c4 ): 20 .lld2 lbxd3 21 ~xd3
:lc3 =+] 20 fhd3 'f.Yc3 [20 ... ..1i.a4 (or 20 ... !k3) 21
.id2!] 2 l ..\\i.e3 ~xd3 22 l:!xd3 a5 23 a4 .llc4 24 f3
lfl.lh
19 Ca11ablanca - Vidmar C98
l e4 e5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 i.b5 a6 4 i.a4 lbf6 5 0-0
fi.e7 6 !!.e 1 b5 7 i.b3 d6 8 c3 lba5?! (8 ... 0-0) 9
i.c2 c5 10 d4 'file? l l lbbd2 ( 11 a4!) 11 ... 0-0 12
h3 lbc6 13 d5 (13 dxe5) 13 ... lbd8 (13 ... tl:ia5) 14
a4! b4? ( 14 ... i.ib8) 15 lbc4 ("In this variation this
Kt generally goes around via KB to either KKt3 or
K3 according to the circumstances, but the
development of this particular game makes it
possible and advisable to veer to the left with this
Kt. An examination of the position will show that
the text move is much more aggressive. It
threatens KKtxP, as actually happened in the
game, and also in combination with P-R5 to work
into Black's position.") 15 ... a5?! ("Black
overlooks the danger. He is afraid of P-R5, which
would practically force him to play PxP and would
leave him rather cramped. He had to submit to it.
however, and play 15 ... Kt-K in accord with the
whole scheme of the defence, which consists in
building a barrier behind the Pawn fonnation in
the centre and on the K's side, and wait for
White.") 16 lbfxe5! i.a6 17 i.b3 dxe5 18 d6
i.xd6 19 ~xd6! 9
19 ... ~xd6 20 lbxd6 lbb7!? ("Why should the
weapon of the Bishop pair be given to the
opponent voluntarily?" 20 ... .llb8 21 i.c4 Z.xc4
22 LtJxc4 tl:ic6 23 i.g5 += ±) 21 ttlxb7 .ixb7 22
cxb4 cxb4? (''The smoke of battle has cleared
away and the result is even so far as material is
concerned: but White has two Bishops and the
O!ack Kt is so placed that it will have difficulty in
pai1icipating actively in the game for some time. It
is now up to White to take advantage of the
element of time combined with the better position
of his pieces, which means really the better
position of his QB as compared with Black's Kt.'
2::! ... axb4! 23 f3 i.a6! 24 i.e3 c4 ::!5 .xi.di+=) ::!3
f3 !ifd8?! (23 ... .:bd7 24 i.e3 .llfc8 25 l:!ac 1 Wf8
+=) 24 i.e3 h6 ("Why?") 25 .lled 1 .l!!.c6 26 .l!acl
..ie8 27 Wf2 (27 i.b6! 9 ) 27 ... .llxdl 28 .llxdl .l!c8
29 g4 ("White's position is excellent, but he
ca1mot yet try to win any material, because
Olack's pieces are too well placed defensively.
17
The text move is an advance on the K's side to
drive away the Kt from B3, in order to be able to
play R-Q5" Z9 .ib6 'Lld7 30 ..txa5 'Llc5!) 29 ...
.lid? (29 ... 'itf8 ! ±) 30 .ib6 .ie6 (30 ... .lla8 31
.ic7 !) 31 .ixe6 fxe6 (31 ... lic2 t 32 ~e3 fxe6 33
£l.d2) 32 i:id8i· i:ixd8 33 .ixd8 'Lld7 34 ..txa5 'Llc5
35 b3! 'Llxb3 36 .ixb4 'Lld4 37 a5 1-0 ("A game
played in general clearly and consistently by
Capablanca but rather weakly by Vidmar.")
20 Vidmar - Ca1>ablanca
1 e4 e5 2 'Llf3 'Llc6 3 'Lie 3 'Llf6 4 .1 b5 'Lld4 5
Q)xd4 exd4 6 e5 dxc3 7 exf6 't'Vxf6 8 dxc3 't'Ve5t 9
't'Ve2 't'Vxe2t 10 .ixe2 d5 11 0-0 .if5 12 .ib5t (12
..if4 0-0-0 13 .id3 =) 12 ... c6 13 l!e 1i· ~d7 14
..id3 i.xd3 15 cxd3 .id6 ("Black has kept the
right Knight, that is the one which can
occasionally attack the tied Pawns on the Queen's
side.") 16 d4 .lihe8 17 ..td2 f5 18 g3 g6 19 Wg2
.lle4 20 f3 ihe 1 21 I!.xe 1 b5 'h-'h
Capablanca proved his superiority over the others
with his victory in New York. He was on the zenith.
TI1ere was in fact no need for the following match
against Alekhine, because the Cuban had already
proved perfectly who was the first in the world_
When both of them took part at the same tournament,
our hero had always left the Russian master behind
C48 with several points, and the games played ag,ainst
each other were fairly in favour of the world
champion.. too. All this. of course. lulled
Capablanca's vigilance, who must have taken his
vict01y over his challenger granted. But to be fair:
this conceitedness was not without any basis. He was
the best; it was him who had to wear the crown.
Nevertheless, fate decided otherwise.

Buenos Aires - 1927

The Alekhine - Ca1>ablanca Match
18 1h: 15 112
, I 2 3 4 5 I 6 I 7 X i 9 10 11 12 !Ll:14 15 16 17 I,
- - - , - - - , - - - --1'

fcapablanca 0 'h 1 'h ,12 I '12 I 1 l!z l!z '12 0 0 'Ii 'h '12 I 'h: 'h
:
i, Alekhine ' 1 'h 0 l!z 'h L'il o 'h L 'h l!z _J 1 l!z ;
'h 112 I 'h 'h i

·,-,- - - - - - - - , ~ 9 20 21 22 i 23 1 2-t i 25 ! 26 27 I 2xT29 JO ,_I 31 i-.12 : _ii-_-,;~,~--:,

It--------- - - - , - - - , - - - t - - - - t - - - j - - f - - - - - - - - , - - ---1---------, 1-----i-~- L-
: _ capablanca 1 112 : 112 12 0
1 1/i ! 1/i ! 1h 12
1 1 1 1/i i 1/i i 12 ! 1 i /z
1 1 i 112 i O ! 1h ' 0 ,
'.-A-Je~k1~1~-~-e_-__-__ -_-~,-,-h--1-h-+--,-h-+--1--1 -iz---;;~;:~;;-~i_ 0 i tl 12 1 1 ·~-i-,
Before the totmiament you could read and hear that Capablanca would win for sure, even if not
without any trouble. Reti was the only one who gave Alekl1ine any chance.
In the first game Capablanca was White and opened with the King's Pawn. Alekhine. who
had only seven draws and five losses from a dozen free and tournament games against Capablanca
until then. chose the French defence and won a game at last. This was a surprise for the chess
world and a timely reminder for Capablanca_ As neither he nor Alekhine had ever chosen I. e4 as
an opening move before, an unbroken and sometimes boring series of variations of the Queen's
Gambit and the Queen's Pawns game, which provided references for its treatment for years to
come, developed during the competition.
Capablanca incidentally took the lead by winning the 3rd and 7th games, but Alekhine equalized in
the 11th game. He used the eternal Russian war tactic as he did in the lst game: he let the enemy's anned
forces advance deep into his own territo1y and when they lost contact with the main forces. he put them
out of action. The counter-action won after that.

Alekhine playing with White took over the lead in the 12th meeting_ Capablanca's efforts were
unsuccessful because Alekhine avoided the intensified attacking game contrary to his usual style. Little by
little he crushed the Cuban' s reserves of stren1:,>th, and after the 34th game he resigned.

The Russian master had prepared thoroughly for the match, while Capablanca took it a little too easy:
on his way to the meeting he played simultaneouses light-heartedly in Brazil.

18
21 Ca1>ablanca - Alekhine (1) C 15
i e4 eo :: d4 d5 :; ct:ld ..ab4 4 exd5 exd5 5 ~d3
~c6 b il.:ige2 ei:ige~ 7 0-0 ,,£..f5 8 .JiLxf5 cbxf5 G
W'd3 'fYd7 10 lZ:ld 1?! 0-0 11 'De3 'Dxe3 12 ~xe3
l!fe8 13 .:£\f4 (13 ~f4!) 13 ... i.d6! 14 !!fel?!
(14 'Dxd5? il.xh2'1" 15 'it>xh2 ~xd5 16 c4 ~5i·
17 c;t>gl .l!ad8 18 d5 !!d6! etc.14 c3! =) 14 ...
2t:'ib4! 15 wgb3? (15 'i'd2 'i'f5 16 !!eel h5!
followed .!le4 and h7-h5-h4 +) 15 ... 'i'f5
16 l:iacl! (16 'Dd3 'Dxd3 17 ~xd3 ~xd3 18 cxd3
..tb4 19 lied c6 +) 16 ... 'Dxc2! 17 !!xc2 'i'xf4
(17 ... .ixf4?! 18 l:k5!) 18 g3 (18 ~xd5 ~xh2t 19
Wfl c6) 18 ... ~f5 ( 18 ... ~f3!? 19 ~xb7 h5 20
fib5 h4 21 ~e2 ~f5 +) 19 l:ke2 b6 20 ~5 h5 21
h4 l!ie4 (It threatens 22 ... .l!!xh4!) 22 ~d2! (22
~~d3 !!ae8 23 ~d2 ~e6 +) 22 ... !!xd4?! (22 ...
.l!ae8! 23 ~xe8t r!.xe8 24 Iixe8t c;t>h7 +) 23 ..tc3
.!!d3! (23 ... 1k4? 24 !ie5! or 23 ... l!ig4 24 ..te5!)
24 ~e5 i:id8 25 ~xd6 iixd6 (25 ... cxd6? 26
~~c6!) 26 r!.e5 'i'f3 (26 ... ~g6? 27 !!g5) 27 l:':ixh5
t'Vxh5 (27 ... !!e6?? 28 ~e8t!) 28 l:':ie8t c;t>h7 29
~'Vxd3t ~·g6 30 '&d 1(30 ~xg6t 'it>xg6 31 .lie7 c5
32 .!'!xa7 d4 33 c;t>f1 d3 34 c;t>el .l!!e6t 35 c;t>a2 c4!
36 c;t,c3 b5 + 37 b3 i:id6 38 @d2 c3i·! -+) 30 ...
l::!e6! (30 ... d4? 31 wgf3!) 31.lla8 .l:!e5! 32 !!xa7 c5
33 !l.d7 (33 Wg2 d4 34 .!la3 ~e6 35 wgf3 c4) 33 .. .
'f'1e6 34 wgd3t g6 35 iid8 d4 36 a4 l!ie 1t(36 .. .
~e7! 37 !ib8 wgc7 38 ~b3 .Iie6 39 .l!!a8 ~7 -+)
37 Wg2 ~c6t 38 f3 !ie3 39 't!Hdl wge6 40 g4 !!e2t
41 Wh3 ~e3 42 ~ l wgf4! 43 h5 r!.t'2 0:1
Capablanca was not broken by th.is defeat. he
equalised soon. and even took over leading. But
the course of the match made it clear that
Alekhine's preparation had been more successful.
22 Alekhine - Ca1>ablanca(2) D65
1 d4 ctlf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 d5 4 ~g5 ~e7 5 e3 0-0 6
:2:if3 ~bd~ -: Ziel c6 8 ~c2 a6 9 cxd5 lbxd5 10
Jllxe·7 vilixe: 1 i. ..ae2 Ee8 12 0-0 lbxc3 13 ~xc3
;:5 i.4 :!fd 1 exd4 15 lZ:lxd4 ct.if6 16 .an ..ag4 17
...:!.xg4 il.:ixg4 18 lt.lf5 ~f6 19 't¥xf6 'iJxf6 112- 1,2
23 Capablanca - Aiekhine (3) A47
'Capablanca shows to great advantage here,
while his opponent, as he later admitted, lets
his nerves get the better of him. The second
half of the game is a remarkable example of a
powerful and concentrated attack carried on
by only a few pieces." (R)
1 d4 tbf6 2 tbf3 b6 3 g3 ~b7 4 ~g2 c5 5 0-0
cxd4 6 lbxd4 ~xg2 7 @xg2 d5 8 c4 e6? (8 ...
dxc4! 9 wga4t 'i'd7 10 lbb5? ~c6i· following
11 ... lbbd7) 9 ~a4i·! wgd7 [9 ... lbbd7 10 cxd5
exd5 (10 ... lbxd5 11 !!dl!) 11 ~g5! ±] 10 ctlb5!
.!'.iJc6 11 cxd5 exd5 ("The opening of new lines is
unpleasant for Black. in view of his backward
development." 11 ... wgxd5·1· 12 e4!) 12 ~f4 Z!c8
13 Iicl ~c5?! (13 ... ei:\e4 14 ei:\c7i· .l:l.xc7 15 f.i.xc7
lbc5 16 'i'f4 ei:\e6 17 'i'a4 ei:\c5 14 b4!) 14 b4!
~xb4 (14 ... tb.'<.b4 15 tbd6i· c;t>d8 16 ~xd?i"
'it>xd7 17 lb.'<.c8 .l;!xc8 ± ±) 15 !ixc6! (15 lbc7t
l!ixc7 16 ~xc7 ~c5 17 ~f4 0-0) 15 ... !ixc6 16
~xb4 lbe4 17 lbd2 lb.'<d2 18 'i'xd2 (18 ..txd2!?
'fje7 19 ~2 ~e4t 20 f3 ~xe2t 21 '.tigl ±) 18 ...
0-0 19 i:id 1 ("The following play is most
instructive, Capablanca soon demonstrates in
highly convincing manner the superiority of the
two minor pieces against the Rook. His immediate
object is to remove the weak d5".) 19 ... !k5 20
tbd4 !!e8 2 l tbb3 !!cc8 22 e3 ~a4 ("Deciding that
the QP ca1mot last much longer in any event,
Black decides to exchange it for the QRP. This
looks like a good bargain. as Black secures to
connected passed Pawns on the Queen-side: but so
powerful are Capablancas threats on the other
wing, that these passed Pawns never advance a
single square.") 23 'i'xd5! !ic2 .(24 ... 'W'xa2 25
l!a 1) 24 l:':id2 !:Ixa2 (24 ... 'W'xa2 !? 25 wgd7 i:if8 26
!!xc2 ~xc2 27 tbd4 'i'c5) 25 .lixa2 wgxa2
26 ~c6! ("Beginning the final attack") 26 ... t:!.f8
(26 ... !id8 27 fi.c7 .l!!c8 28 ~d7) 27 tbd4 '.tih8 (27
... f6? 28 ci)e6!) 28 ~e5! f6 29 ltJe6 .l!!g8 30 .Jid4
19
(It threatens 3 l lbxg7! Zhg7 32 ~xf6 ~g8 33 h4!)
30 ... h6 31 h4! (31 CiJxg7? I:!xg7 32 'Vi'xf6 Wfd5t
33 Wgl Wfg5) 31 ... Wfb1 (31 ... wh7 32 Wfe4t
Wh8 33 ·~f5!) 32 lbxg7! ~g6 (32 ... I:!xg7 33
t\ixf6 ~h7 34 'Vi'rn-1- or 33 ... ~e4t 34 Wgl Wfb7
35 ~xh6t Wg8 36 ~xg7t Wfxg7 37 .ltxg7 Wxg7
38 Wfl!l 33 h5! ~f7 34 lbf5 wh7 35 ~e4 l!e8 36
i&'f4 ~f8 37 ti:\d6 I:!e7 (37 ... .&!.d8 38 .!txf6! ~xd6
39 -~f5·1· ~g8 40 ~g6t) 38 .Jtxf6 ~a8t 39 e4 I:!g7
40 .Jixg7 Wxg7 4-1 l2lf5t Wf7 42 Wfc7t 1:0
(Alekhine, Capablanca, Reinfeld etc)
24 Alekhine - CatJablanca (4) D63
1 d4 tl::\f6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 d5 4 .Jig5 .lte7 5 e3 0-0 6
CiJf3 CiJbd7 7 I:!cl c6 8 a3 a6 9 ~c2 I:!e8 10 .Jid3
h6 11 .!tf4 dxc4 12 .!txc4 b5 13 .lta2 .ltb7 14 0-0
c5 15 dxc5 lbxc5 16 l!fd 1 'llib6 17 .Jte5 I:!ac8 18
·~e2 lbce4 19 .!td4 .ltc5 20 l2:lxe4 .Jtxd4 21 ti:\xd4
.ixe4 22 .ltbl I:!xcl 23 I:!xcl .!txbl 24 I:!xbl llc8
25 ~el -~c7 26 h3 lbe4 27 lbe2 ~e5 28 Z!c 1
l!xcl 29 't'Vxcl 'i'c5 30 ~xc5 ti:\xc5 31 ti:\d4 Wf8
32 b4 tl::la4 33 Wfl tl::\b6 34 l2:lb3 e£\c4 35 ei\c5
.'2lxa3 36 l2:lxa6 We7 37 We2 Wd6 38 Wd3 l2:lc4 39
it:lc5 f5 40 ~c3 Wd5 4 l lba6 Wd6 42 ti:\c5 ti:\b6 43
it:ld3 e5 44 ~b3 lt'lc4 45 Wc3 Wd5 46 l2:lc5 lbd6
4 7 Wd3 g5 48 ti:\a6 e4 i· 49 Wc3 Wc6 112- 112
25 Ca1>ablanca - Alekhine (5) D60
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 tl\f6 4 .ltg5 lbbd7 5 e3 c6
6 a3 .Jie7 7 it":lf3 0-0 8 .!td3 dxc4 9 .!txc4 ti:\d5
10 .!txe7 '¥ixe7 11 I:!cl l"ilxc3 12 I:!xc3 e5 13
dxe5 lbxe5 14 lbxe5 Wfxe5 15 0-0 .!te6 16 .!txe6
~xe6 17 I:!d3 ~f6 18 Wfb3 ~e7 19 .l:ifdl I:!ad8
20 h3 I:!xd3 21 l:!xd3 g6 22 'i'd 1 ~e5 23 ~d2 a5
24 I:!d7 b5 25 '¥tc3 ~xc3 26 bxc3
26 ... I:!c8 27 Wfl Wg7 28 I:!a7 a4 29 c4 Wf6 3'.l
I:!::5 We6 31 We2 bxc4 32 I:!c5 Wd6 33 I:!x~4 1
I:!a8 34 lld4 t We6 35 Wd3 c5 36 I:!h4 h5 37 g4
hxg4 38 I:!xg4 Wd6 39 I:!f4 f5 40 I:!h4 Wd5 41
Wc2 I:!a6 42 Wc3 'h- 112
20
26 Alekhine - Ca1>ablanca(6) D67
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 d5 4 .Jig5 CiJbd7 5 e3
.lte7 6 l2:lf3 0-0 7 l:!c 1 c6 8 .Jtd3 dxc4 9 itxc4
l2:ld5 10 .!txe7 ~xe7 11 ti:\e4 'llib4 t ( 11 ... ti:l5f6)
12 ~d2 'i'xd2t 13 Wxd2 I!.d8 14 llhd 1 ti:\5f6 15
l2:lxf6t lbxf6 16 .ltb3! Wf8 (16 ... c5? 17 Wel
cxd4 18 .llxd4 I!.xd4 19 l2:lxd4 ±) 17 We2 We7
18 lbe5 .Jtd7 19 f3 ..te8 20 e4 l2ld7 21 lbc4 (21
it:ld3) 21 ... ti:\b6 22 lbe3 Iid7 23 a4 l:!ad8 24 a5
24 ... l2:la8 ! (24 ... lbc8 9 25 d5 cxd5 26 exd5
exd5 27 .lta4!) 25 d5 cxd5?! (25 ... lbc7 26
dxe6 tz'lxe6 27 lbf5t Wf6 28 ..txe6 fxe6 29
I:!xd7 I:!xd7 30 lbe3 I:!d4 =) 26 exd5 I:!c7 (26
... exd5 27 .!txd5 g6 28 I:!c4! f5 29 I:!b4) 27
dxe6! I:!xdl?! (27 ... fxe6 28 I:!xd8 Wxd8 29
I:!dlt We7 30 ..txe6 Wxe6 31 I:!d8 ..tb5t 32
Wf2 lbb6 33 axb6 axb6 = ±) 28 l2:lf5t! Wf6 29
llxd 1 fxe6 (29 ... Wxf5 30 i;!d8 .ltb5i· 31 Wd2'
fxe6 32 !ha8 I:!d?t 33 Wc3 r!c7t 34 Wd4) 30
lbd6 (30 r!d8 exf5 31 I:!xa8 r!e7t) 30 ... ..tg6
31 I:!d4 'l! (31 ..tc4! We7 32 b3 a6 33 I:!d2 !; 31
... I:!c5 32 b4 I:!c'7 33 We3 ±) 31 ... I:!c5 ! 32
1'.!b4 b6 33 axb6 ti:\xb6 34 Wd2 ~e'7 35 .:{ie4
.!ixe4 36 r!xe4 l2:ld5 37 i.!.xd5 I:!xd5·1· 38 '.,l;'d
a5 39 I:!c4 h5 40 h4 112- 112
27 CatJablanca - Alekhine (7) D52
"Again Alekhine proceeds too ne1vously in the
opening. The maimer in which Capablanca
snatches the attack from him is most interesting."
(R)
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 Lt:\f6 4 l2:lf3 lbbd7 5 ..tg5 c6
6 e3 '{1Va5 7 tz'ld2 .ltb4 8 ~c2 0-0 9 ith4 c5 10
l2lb3 ~a4! 9 (10 ... ~c7 ll ..tg3) ll ..txf6 l2:lxf6 12
dxc5 l2:le4? ( 12 ... l.xc3t 13 ~xc3 lbe4 14 1'fa5
~xa5t 15 lbxa5 lbxc5 16 cxd5 exd5 +=) 13 cxd5
:U.xc3t (13 ... l2:lxc5 14 I:!cl ! exd5 15 lbxc5) 14
bxc3 (!4 ... exd5 15 ..td3) 14 ... l2:lxc5 15 lld 11
exd5 (15 ... I:!d8 16 I:!d4! '¥ta3 17 l2:lxc5 ~xc5 18
dxe6 .!txe6 19 ..td3) 16 I:!xd5 ti:\xb3 17 axb3 'ffc6
18 I:!d4 I:!e8 ("P!ayed to prevent ... f6 ... with
counter chances. But Capablanca continues to play
in the same admirable style:")
19 1..d3 ! ·~xg2 20 1..xh7"!" Wf8 21 1..e4 ~3 22
i'Ud2 1 1..e6 23 c4 a5 ("Again intending
cmmterplay; White must find new attacking
methods.") 24 llgl! '@'xh2 25 !lhl ~c7 26 ~2 (It
threatens 27 ~a3i' @gS 28 1..h7"!" @h8 29 lldh4)
26 ... ·~cs 27 1..d5! !!a6? (27 ... L!.ad8! 28 Iie4?
·~b4'!- 29 @e2 .iixd5!; 28 1..xe6! Iixd4 29 I:!h8i'
We7 30 I:!xe8i' Wxe8 31 1..xf7i' Wxf7 32 ex<l4
't\Yb4·1· 33 @dl a4 34 @c2) 28 Ll.e4! l!d6 (28 ... @g8
29 .l:.!gl) 29 £th7! @e7 (29 ... g6 30 ~g7"!" We7 31
lrxe6i'; 29 ... f6 30 I:!h8; 29 ... '®'b4i' 30 We2 llx<l5
31 °t'fxg7i' @e7 32 WJ/xf7i') 30 Wi/xg7 Wd8 3 l 1..xe6
fxe6 32 ~xb7 ~4"1" ("Forced") 33 '@'xb4 axb4 34
c5 I:!c6 35 I:!xb4 I:!xc5 36 I:!a7! 1-0 (Capablanca,
Alekhine, R. etc.J
28 Alekhine - Ca1>ablanca (8) D62
1 <l4 l£1f6 2 c4 e6 3 l£1f3 d5 4 1..g5 l£1bd7 5 e31..e7
r, lbc3 0-0 7 ~c2 c5 8 cxd5 cxd4 9 lbxd4 l£1xd5
10 1..xe7 ~xe7 11 l£1xd5 exd5 12 1..d3 Wilb4'!- 13
'i'.'Ud2 lbe5 14 1..e2 '@'x<l2i· 15 Wxd2 1..d7 16 I:!ac 1
1':!fr8 17 b3 Wf8 18 f4 l£1c6 191..bS We7201..xc6
bxc6 21 !k5 a5 22 llhcl Wd6 23 I:!1c3 I:!a6 24
lbbSt We7 25 l£1d4 W<l6 26 e4 dxe4 27 We3 Ll.b8
28 lbf5t 1..xf5 29 I:!xf5 f6 30 .lk4 .l:ib5 31 Iid4 i'
We6 32 I:!x b5 ex b5 33 Ll.xe4 i' Wf7 34 .lad4 llc6 35
Z!<l7"1' Wg;6 36 '.19<l2 llc5 37 Ll.a7 b4 38 g4 h5 39 h3
n4 40 fS·i' Wh6 41 Lla8 Wh7 42 ~e3 I:!c3i' 'h- 1h
29 Ca1>ablanca - Alekhine (9) D5 l
1 <l4 <l5 2 c4 e6 3 l£1c3 lbf6 4 1..g5 lbbd7 5 e3 c6 6
'l:':i'c2 ~a5 7 cx<l5 lbx<l5 8 e4 l£1xc3 91..d2 'fia4! 10
'®ixc3 a5! ( 10 ... c5? l l l£1f3 cxd4 12 '@'xd4! '@'xd4
13 l£1xd4 a6 14 !!cl ±) 11 l£1£3 1..b4 12 '@'cl 0-0
13 a3 [131..<l3 e5! 14 dxe5 (14 l£1xe5 1..xd2i' 15
~xd2 '*Vxd4) 14 ... lbc5 15 1..c2 Wi/bs ro +I 13 ...
.Jix<l2i' 14 '@'xd2 e5 15 I:!cl (15 '@'d3 exd4 16 b3
'filb5 17 '@'xb5 cxb5 18 l£1xd4 lbc5 19 f3 l:!<l8 20
.!'!<l l 1..e6) 15 .. . exd4 16 I:!c4 ( 16 lbxd4 lbb6
followed .!'!<l8 !)
16 ... ·flibs! (16 ... ~3 17 I:!xd4! i£1b6 181..e2 ±)
17 !lx<l4 '*Vc5 18 1..e2 (18 I:!x<l7'11..xd7 19 ~x<l7
I:!a<l8) 18 ... '*Ve7! [18 ... lbe5 19 l£1xe5 ~xe5 20
0-0 (It threatens 21 f4!) 20 ... c5 21 ll<l5 '@'xe4 22
I:!xc5 ±] 19 0-0 lbc5 20 '*Ve3 1..g4 21 h3 1..xf3 2'.:
1..xf3 !!f<l8 23 I:!fd l l£1e6 24 I:!xd8i' I:!xd8 25 '@'a71
I:!xd 1i' 26 1..xd 1 '@'c7 27 1..b3 (27 Wi/a8i' lbd8
followed Wg8-f8-e7 =) 27 ... h6 28 1..xe6 fxe6 29
'@'<l4 c5 30 '@'c4 (30 WJ/c3 b5) 30 ... Wifes 31 f4
·~xf4 (31 ... '*1fr'xb2 32 '@'xe6i' Wh7 33 WJ/fSi' Wg8
34 ~xc5 ~ l'I') 32 '@'xe6i' Wh7 33 '@'d5 (33 WJ/f5t
'*Vxf5 34 exf5 a4 35 '.t>f2 g6 36 fxg6·1· Wxg6 37
'.t>e3 '.tfs 38 g3 @es 39 g4 b5 40 h4 b4 41 @d3
Wf4 42 g5 hxg5 43 hxg5 Wxg5 44 Wc4 bxa3 45
bxa3 Wf5 46 Wxc5 We6 4 7 Wb5 W<l6 48 Wxa4
Wc7=) 33 ... '@'cli'34 Wh2 Wi/f4i' lf2.l!z
30 Alekhine - Ca1>ablanca (l 0) D62
1 d4 l£1f6 2 c4 e6 3 l£1c3 d5 4 1..g5 i£1bd7 5 e3
1..e7 6 l£1f3 0-0 7 ~c2 c5 8 cxd5 l£1x<l5 9 l£1x<l5
exd5 10 1..xe7 '*Vxe7 11 1..d3 g6 12 dxc5 l£1xc5
13 !k 1 lbxd3i' 14 '@'xd3 1..f5 15 WJ/d4 .!:i..e4 16
0-0 1..xf3 17 gxf3 '@'g5t 18 Whl WJ/f5 19 Wg2
·*1fg5i' 20 '.t>hl WJ/f5 1h-'h
31 Ca1>ablanca - Alekhine (11) D52
1 <l4 <l5 2 c4 e6 3 l£1c3 l£1f6 4 1..g5 tilbd7 5 e3 c6 6
l£1f3 '@'a5 7 l£1d2 1..b4 8 Wifc2 dxc4 9 1..xf6 l£1xf6
10 l£1xc4 '@'c7 11 a3 1..e7 12 1..e2 0-0 ( 12 ... c5?
13 l£1b5 't'Vb8 14 dxc5 1..xc5 15 b41..e7 16 lbaS!:
13 0-0 1..d7 14 b4 b6 (14 ... I:!f<l8; 15 ... .\le8) 1.5
1..f3! I:!ac8 (15 ... a5 16 lbe5! axb4 17 lbbS ±) 16
I:!f<ll I:!f<l8 17 .l;!acl 1..e8 18 g3! l£1<l5 19 i£1b2 'rlb8
(19 ... ~7! 9 ) 20 l£1d3 1..g5 21 llbl ~7 22 e4
l£1xc3 23 '@'xc3 WJ/e7? (23 ... !!c7 24 itg2 1..f6 25
e5 1..e7 26 !!be 1 Wi/c8) 24 h4! 1..h6 25 l£1e5 g6 26
l£1g4? (26 l£1c41..g7 27 e5! h5 28 l£1<l6 I:!x<l6! 9 29
exd6 '@'xd6 30 'tt'c4 += ±) 26 ... 1..g7 27 e5 h5 28
l£1e3 c5! 29 bxc5 (29 dxc5? bxc5 30 I:!x<l8 I:!xd8
31 bxc5 WJ/c7) 29 ... bxc5 30 d5?! (30 .l;!b7 I:!d7 31
.l:l.xd7 1..xd7 32 d5 (32 dxc5 1..e8 33 c6 '@'c7) 32 ...
21
exd5 33 lt)xd5 ·~eti 34 lbf'4 Sixes =] 30 ... exd5
31 ltJxdS '&e6
32 Q::\f6"!"? (32 .llb7 Sixes 33 '&as <t1g7 34 iixa7)
32 ... Sl.xf6 33 exf6 i:ixdlt 34 .llxdl Sl.c6! 35 l:':iel
"tVf5 36 Z!e3 c4! 37 a4 a5 [37 ... Sl.xa4?! 38 Sl.e4
'i!Hg4 (38 ... '&d7? 39 l:if3 <t1h7 40 '&eS!) 39 Sl.f3
"tVd7 40 '!J.e7 '&d3 41 '&xd3 cxd3 42 i:ixa7 +] 38
.llg2 Sl.xg2 39 ~g2 '&dSi· 40 <t1h2 ~f5 41 i:if3
-~cs 42 .llf4 (42 i:ie3 'i!Hh6 43 .llf3 't'fc6!) 42 ...
@h7 (42 ... ~b4 43 't'fe3 '&xa4 44 .llf5! 't'Vh4 45
z!xh5 gxh5 46 ~h6 = 42 ... 't'Kb6!) 43 .lld4 '&c6?
(43 ... ~6! 44 .llf4 Wg8) 44 "tlxa5!? c3 (44 .. .
~xf6 45 .llf4 W'ir,7 46 ~d5) 45 't'Va7 Wg8 (45 .. .
'ffxf6 46 .!!f4 ~xf4 4 7 gxf4 c2 48 '&xf7i" <t1h6 49
f5! =; 45 ... 't'fc7 46 't'fxc7 .llxc7 47 .lldl; 45 ...
Z!c7 46 'i!Hh8 c2 4 7 i:id8 't'Kxf6 48 l:':ih8i"! ! "tlxh8 49
·~xc7) 46 ~e7 'i!Hh6 (46 ... c2 47 i:id8t .llxd8 48
'@'xd8·1· wh7 49 't'fe7 '@'e6 50 'J/ic7) 47 '@'d7 9 [47
.!'!d7! 'i!Hxf2"1" (4 7 ... i:if8 48 a5 ~xa5 48 .lla7 't'fdS
50 Z!d7 =) 48 Whl! "tla2 49 Z!d8i· i:ixd8 50 'tfxd8"!"
~h7 51 -~f8 =] 47 ... ·t':VcS! 48 Z!e4 ~xf2·1· 49 Wh3
ll1'fl ·1· so ~h2 Wif2·1· s 1 @h3 .llf8 52 "tlc6 "tlfl i" 53
@h2 °'&f2i" 54 @h3 "*'¥fl·1· 55 @h2 @h7! 56 "tlc4
(56 '8Yxc3! "t'ff2i" 57 Wh 1 i:id8 58 'fie 1 °i"¥f3i" 59
Wh2 .l:!.dl 60 .lle3! '@'d5 61 .lle5 "*'Va2·1· 62 .lle2
"*'¥xa4 =+) 56 ... '&f2i" 57 Wh3 ·~gl! 58 l:':ie2 (58
g4 c2! 59 W'ixc2 .lle8!!) 58 ... '&flt? (58 ... ~li·
59 l:!h2 Wi'f3 60 l:!c2? WifSi·) 59 <t1h2 Wixf6 60 a5?
(60 l:!c2 Z!e8 61 Wg2 =) 60 ... .lld8? (60 ... ~fl! 61
't':Ve4 l:!d8 62 a6) 61 a6? (61 Wg2!) 61 ... '@'fl! 62
·~e4 l:!d2 63 .llxd2 cxd2 64 a7 dl'@' 65 a8'& ~gl·I·
66 @h3 't'Ydfl"!" o: 1
32 AlekJ1ine - Ca11ablanca (12) D64
1 d4 Lt:\f6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 d5 4 Sl.g5 ctJbd7 5 e3 Sl.e7
6 tl:if3 0-0 7 l:':icl c6 8 Wic2 a6 9 a3 h6 10 Sl.h4 l!ie8
11 Z!dl b5 12 cxb5 (12 c5 e5! 13 dxe5 lbg4 14
.5li.g3 Sl.xc5 15 h3 cZ:lgxeS 16 lbxe5 lbxe5 17 ctJxdS
cxd5 18 1':Vxc5 Sl.b7 <Y.>) 12 ... cxb5 13 Sl.d3 Sl.b7 14
0-0 Z!c8 15 °@bl '&aS (15 ... Sl.xa3!? 16 bxa3 i:ixc3
17 a4! i)
16 i2:le2 lbb6? (16 ... b4!) 17 lbe5 9 [17 Sl.xf6!
Sl.xf6?! 18 b4 "tla4 (18 ... W'ixa3 19 Sl.h7"1" Wh8 20
.lld3 '&a4 21 lbc3) 19 .lld2 lt)c4 20 .lla2 Sl.e7 21
'@'a 1 ctJb6 22 .llb 1 oo ± 17 ... gxf6! 18 lbf4 lbc4 19
lbxe6! fxe6 20 Sl.xc4 bxc4 (20 ... dxc4 21 ~g6"1"
@h8 22 '&xh6 i" <t1g8 23 ~g6·1· <t1h8 24 d5!J 21
"tlg6i· @h8 22 '&xh6i· <t1g8 23 '&g6i· @h8 24 itlh4
± A. 24 ... Sl.f8!] 17 ... lbc4 18 Sl.xf6?! (18 ctJf3)
18 ... Sl.xf6 (18 ... gxf6 19 lbxf7! ~f7 20 Sl.xc4
+-) 19 Sl.h7i· <t1f8 20 ctJd7t <t1e7 21 i2:lc5 '&b6? [21
... Z!xc5! 22 b4 (22 dxc5 lbxb2) 22 ... lbxa3 23
'i!Hh3 (23 Wi'h2 ~c7 24 bxc5 '&xc5) 23 ... Wi'a4 24
't':Vxa4 bxa4 25 bxc5 g6 26 .lla 1 lbc4 27 Z!xa4 a5
28 lbc3 Sl.c6 29 l:':ia2 @£8 30 lba4 e5 +] 22 loxb7
'&xb7 23 Sl.d3 .llc7? (23 ... @£8! 9 ; 23 ... ~6! 9 ) 24
~a2 .llec8 25 b3 lbd6 26 ~d2 'i!Hh6 27 l!cl Wd7
28 .llxc7i· l!ixc7 29 Sl.b 1 Sl.e7 30 ctJf4 Wc8 31 "tle2
(31 ctJd3 ctJe4 32 'i!Hh2 "tlc6 33 .llcl ~d6 =) 31 ...
g6 (31 ... "tla5?! 32 "tlg4!) 32 ctJd3 lbe4 33 ~ Z!c3
[33 ... lbd6 34 lbc5 lbc4 35 e4 Sl.xc5 (35 ... i:tJxa3
36 exd5 exd5 37 '&f3!; 35 ... dxe4 36 a4!) 36 dxc5
~c6 37 exd5 exd5 38 a4 bxa4 39 Sl.a2 Wi'b5 40
.lld 1 .lld7 41 h4 ro ±) 34 '&b2 '&c7?! (34 ... Z!c7 35
cZ:lcS lbd6 36 a4 ±) 35 lbc5 Sl.xc5 36 dxc5 "tleS 37
f4! '&g7 38 Sl.xe4 dxe4 39 Wf2 (39 l:':if2!) 39 ...
'&f6 40 g3 g5 41 l:':icl 1:0
33 Ca11ablanca - Alek.J>ine (13) D63
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 cZ:ic3 ctJf6 4 Sl.g5 ctJbd7 5 e3 f:L.e7
6 Q:'if3 0-0 7 i:ic 1 a6 8 a3 h6 9 Sl.h4 dxc4 10 Sl.xc4
c5 11 dxc5 lbxc5 12 Sl.e2 b6 13 0-0 Sl.b7 14 cZ:ld4
lbdS 15 Sl.xe7 tl:ixe7 16 b4 cZ:ie4 l 7 ctJxe4 Sl.xe4 18
Sl.f3 Sl.xf3 19 '&xf3 Wi'd7 20 ltJc6
(See diagram on next page)
20 ... .llac8 21 lbxe7i· ~xe7 22 l:':ic6 'i!Hh7 23
.llfc 1 i:ifd8 24 h3 l!ixc6 25 ~xc6 '&xc6 26 l:!xc6
.lld 1·1· 27 <t1h2 i:id3 112- 112
34 Alekhine - Ca11ablanca (14) D64
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbf3 cZ:id7 4 lbc3 Lt:lgf6 5 .!:i.g5
Sl.e7 6 e3 0-0 7 l:':icl c6 8 '&c2 a6 9 a3 h6 10 SLh4
Z!e8 11 cxd5 exd5 12 Sl.d3 ctJh5 13 fi..xe7 Z!xe7 14

0-0 CLihf6 15 h3 CLie8 16 cbe2 cbd6 17 c2:\g3 c2:\f8
18 CLie5 f6 19 CLig6 CLlxg6 2 0 .1..xg6 .1..e6 21 cbe2
'@'d7 22 CLif4 .1..f5 23 .1..xf5 'if'xf5 24 ~xf5 lt:\xf5
25 CLid3 c2:\d6 112-112
35 Capablanca - Alekhine (15) D63
l d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 c2:\c3 c2:\f6 4 ..tg5 CLibd7 5 e3
.1..e7 6 CLif3 0-0 7 .llc l a6 8 a3 h6 9 .1..h4 dxc4 10
JJ..xc4 c5 11 dxc5 CLixc5 12 ..te2 b6 13 ~xd8
.1..xd8 14 0-0 CLib3 15 llcd l ..tb7 16 CLid2 CLixd2
17 .llxd2 CLle4 18 Lbxe4 .1..xh4 19 c2:\d6
19 ... .1..d5 20 e4 llfd8 21 CLixf7 Wxf7 22 exd5
llxd5 23 .llxd5 exd5 24 lld l .1..f6 25 ..tf3 .llc8 26
i!..xd5t Zle7 27 b3 .1..b2 28 a4 llcl 29 llxcl
.ltxcl 30 .ltc4 112-112
36 Alekhine - Ca1>ablanca (16) D67
l d4 c2:\f6 2 c4 e6 3 Lbc3 d5 4 .ltg5 cbbd7 5 e3
S:J..e7 6 Lbf3 0-0 7 .llc l c6 8 JJ..d3 dxc4 9 .ltxc4
CLid5 10 .ltxe7 °'IJ'ixe7 11 lt:\e4 ctJ5f6 12 CLig3
ilVb4 i· 13 tifd2 '*'Vxd2·1· 14 Zlxd2 b6 15 e4 lld8 16
e5 CLie8 17 Zle3 .ltb7 18 llhdl c5 19 d5 exd5 20
.fixd5 .ltxd5 21 llxd5 Lbc7 22 l'!d2 CLif8 23 llcd l
Exd2 24 .llxd2 112-112
37 Capablanca - Alekhine (17) D63
l d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 c2:\c3 c2:\f6 4 JJ..g5 cbbd7 5 e3
.lte7 6 CLif3 0-0 7 llcl a6 8 a3 b6 9 cxd5 exd5 10
.i.d3 .1..b7 11 0-0 c5 12 dxc5 bxc5 13 tif e2 lle8 14
.ltc2 W1/b6 15 llfd 1 llad8 16 CLla4 tifb5? ! (16 ...
'*'Va5 17 .ltf4 llc8) 17 'if'xb5 axb5 18 c2:\c3 .1..c6 19
.i.d3 (19 .i.f5 .1..f8 20 b4 lla8 +=) 19 ... c4? (19 ...
llb8 20 .i.f5 CLif8 21 .1..f4 .llb6 22 CLle5 .1..a8 ±) 20
.i.f5 b4! 21 axb4 .i.xb4 22 c2:\d4 JJ..b7 23 .i.xd7
.llxd7 24 ..txf6 gxf6 25 CLide2?! (25 CLif5! .lle5 26
g4 ± 26 ... h5 27 f4! lle8 28 gxh5) 25 ... .1..d6! 26
llc2 .lte5 27 llcd2 'f1c7 28 lla l Zlg7 29 g3 llc5 30
lla7 llb8 31 CLid4 Zlg6 32 f4 (32 tllce2 f5 !?) 32 .. .
.i.c7 33 ZJf2 (33 c2:\cb5? .1..b6 34 lla l llxb5) 33 .. .
!:!a5 34 .llxa5 .i.xa5 35 g4 h5 36 gxh5t (36 h3
llh8) 36 ... Wxh5 37 ZJf3 llg8 38 llg2 (38 lld l
.1..xc3 39 bxc3 .1..c8 40 Wf2 ~h3 41 .llg 1 .lla8) 38
... .llxg2 (38 ... llg6 39 l;!g3 !) 39 Wxg2 Zlg4 40
h3"!" Zlh4 4 l c2:\f5t Wh5 42 Wg3 (42 c2:\d6 .1..xc3 43
bxc3 d4t) 42 ... ~b4! 43 c2:\d4 Wg6 44 Wg4
44 ... f5t! 45 @g3 Wf6 46 lt:\f3 .ltc5 4 7 Wf2 .1..b4
48 CLig5 .1..d6 49 lt:\f3 .1..b4 50 h4 @g6 51 lt:\e2
.ltc8 52 c2:\g3 .1..e6 53 h5t Wh6 54 We2 .i.e7 55
@d2 .1..d8 56 CLid4 (56 @c3 .i.a5·1· 57 @d4 .i.b6t!)
56 ... .1..c8 57 Wc2 .1..a5 58 Wdl (58 CLidxf5"!"
~xf5·1· 59 lt:\xf5t Wxh5 60 c2:\d6 Wg4 61 CLlxf7
Wf3 =) 58 ... .1..b4 59 @e2..td7 112.112
38 Alekbine - Capablanca (18) D67
1 d4 c2:\f6 2 c4 e6 3 c2:\c3 d5 4 .1..g5 CLibd7 5 e3
JJ..e7 6 CLif3 0-0 7 .llc l c6 8 .i.d3 dxc4 9 .1..xc4
c2:\d5 10 .1..xe7 Wixe7 11 CLie4 ctJ5f6 12 CLig3
tifb4t 13 tifd2 Wixd2t 14 Wxd2 .lld8 15 We2 b6
16 llhdl .ltb7 17 lld2 ZJf8 18 .llcdl We7 19 e4
h6 20 h3 g6 21 lld3 c5 22 <lxc5 lbxc5 23 !:!xd8
l'hd8 24 llxd8 Wxd8 25 lt:\e5 We7 26 f3 c2:\fd7
27 cbxd7 cbxd7 28 Wd3 112-112
39 Capablanca - Alekhine (19) D63
l d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 c2:\c3 CLlf6 4 .1..g5 CLibd7 5 e3 .lte7
6 cbf3 0-0 7 .llc l a6 8 a3 h6 9 .i.h4 dxc4 10 JJ..xc4
c5 11 JJ..e2 cxd4 12 Lbxd4 CLib6 13 .ltg3 CLibd5 14
Lt:\xd5 cbxd5 15 0-0 .ltf6 16 tifb3 .1..xd4 17 exd4 b6
18 ftf3 .ltb7 19 ftc7 tifd7 20 .1..xd5 Wixd5 21
Wixd5 .ltxd5 1h- 1h
40 Alek11ine - Ca11abla11ca (20) D67
l d4 .:bf6 2 c4 e6 3 'L\c3 d5 4 JLg5 .fJ.e7 5 e3 0-0 6
1£lf3 ctJbd'7 7 .l:!.cl co 8 .\td3 dxc4 9 .\txc4 'lld5 10
.ll.xe7 'd"xe7 11 tlie4 CD5f6 12 'Llg3 't!Vb4t 13 ~d2
~xd2i" 14 ~d2 !!.d8 15 .fJ.d3 e5 16 dxe5 ( 16
~xe5 tbxe5 17 dxe5 'llg4) 16 ... 'Llg4 17 e6 (17
We2 tbdxe5 18 'Dxe5 cZ:ixe5 19 .fJ.f5 =) 17 ... 'Llde5
(17 ... fxe6 18 @el! (18 We2 tbde5 19 lbxe5
'Llxe5 20 l!hdl b6!) 18 ... 'llde5?! 19 lbxe5 'Llxe5
20 JLe4 b6 21 f4 'lld3i· 22 .fJ.xd3 !!xd3 23 Iixc6
.fJ.b7 24 '!J.c7 .fJ.xg2 25 !igl +-) 18 'llxe5 'llxe5 19
exf7i" Wxf7 20 !!c3
20 ... b5! (It threatens 21 ... b4 and 22 ... .fJ.a6) 21
f4 b4 22 fxe5! [22 !ib3 'llc4i" 23 Wc2 (23 ~2
i.g4i" 24 Wf2 lba5!) 23 ... lbxe3i" 24 @cl .fJ.e6 25
.fJ.g6i" hxg6 26 .llxe3 .fJ.xa2 27 b3 a5 +] 22 ...
bxc3i· 23 Wxc3 We6 [23 ... I!e8 24 .fJ.c4·1 @g6
{24 ... .ie6 25 'Lle4!) 25 @d4 cS"i· 26 Wxc5 Iixe5i·
27 @j4 Iie8 28 e4 +=] 24 l'ile2! Wxe5 25 'lld4 (25
.ixh7 .fJ.a6!) 25 ... .fJ.b7 26 ..txh7 c5 27 ~f3i" ~6
28 .fJ.d3 (28 Iifl .fJ.a6 29 iif2 g6!) 28 ... Iie8 29
Iie 1 (29 Iifl Iixe3 30 'lld4 i· @e5 31 Iif5t @d6)
29 ... .fJ.xf3 (29 ... .fJ.e4 30 .fJ.xe4 Iixe4 31 'lld2
Iig4 32 r!.e2 <Xl} 30 gxf3 !ih8 31 !ie2 iih4 32 .fJ.e4
!id8! 33 a4 (33 @c4 Iidh8 34 iid2 iixh2 35 lld6t
@e7 36 !ia6 !ixb2 37 Iixa7t @d6 =) 33 ... g5 34
a5 g4 35 fxg4 Iixg4 36 .fJ.d3 '!J.a4 37 Iif2·1· @e7 38
a6 Zia l !? 39 l'ig2 c4 ! 40 .fJ.xc4 Iic8 41 b3 Iixa6 42
e4 r!a l ! 43 @d4 .llh8 11i_ 11z
41 Cat>ablanca - Alekl1ine (21) D63
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 'l\c3 l'Z:lf6 4 .fJ.g5 'llbd7 5 e3 .fJ.e7
6 lbf3 0-0 7 Ziel a6 8 a3 h6 9 .fJ.h4 dxc4 10 .fJ.xc4
b5 11 .fJ.e2 .fJ.b7 12 0-0 (12 b4 a5! 13 ~3 axb4 14
axb4 g5 15 .fJ.g3 lbd5!) 12 ... c5 13 dxc5 lbxc5 14
cZ:ld4 (14 ..ixf6? .fJ.xf6 15 tbxb5 Wfr'xdl 16 l!fxdl
'llb3 17 Iic7 .fJ.xf3 18 ..ixf3 axb5 +) 14 ... Iic8 15
b4 9 ! ( 15 .fJ.f3 'rYb6 16 ~e2) 15 ... ~cd7! 16 .fJ.g3
[16 .\tf3 ~6 17 'lle4 .l:!.xcl 18 'rYxcl !k8 (=+) 19
'i'Vb2 g5 20 'llxf6i· .ixf6 +] 16 ... 'llb6 17 ·>&1J3
~fd5! (It threatens 18 ... ~xc3 19 Iixc3 ..td5 20
24
~2 Iixc3 21 ~xc3 ~a8 followed Iic8 +; 17 ...
'llc4 9 ! 18 .l:ifdl ~6 19 a4!) 18 .if3 Iic4! 19 'Lle4
~c8 20 Iixc4?! (20 ~ l Iid8 21 'Lld2 fixcl 22
'!J.xcl ~a8 23 .fJ.c7 =) 20 ... .::£\xc4 21 !!cl '*'1a8!
<X)
22 IL!c3 (22 'Llc5 .ixc5 23 bxc5 Iic8 24 .i.e2 .llxc5
25 Ji.xc4 ~c8!) 22 ... Z!c8 (It threatens 23 ... 8d2!)
23 lbxd5 ..txd5 24 .fJ.xd5 ~xd5 25 a4 .fJ.f6 26 'L\f3
(26 !!d 1 bxa4 27 ~xa4 'llb2 28 ~xa6 !!a8 -+)
26 ... Jib2! 27 Ziel (27 .lldl bxa4 28 ·,&rxa4 Ct'::ib6
29 .llxd5 'Llxa4 30 Iidl 'l\c3 31 Llel Iic4 32 .id6
'lle4 33 .i.e7 f6 34 Iibl 'Ml 35 ~1 ..ic3 -.,-; 17
iibt 'lla3! 28 ~xb2 'llxbl 29 ~xbl ~b3 30 W:Vfl
bxa4 31 h3 a3 -+) 27 ... .i!d8 28 axb5 axb5 29 h3
e5 30 Iibl e4 31 'lld4 [31 'llel ~d2 32 'rYc2 (32
Wfl Iia8 33 I!d 1 .lla3) 32 ... ~xc2 33 'Llxc2 .lld2
34 'llel 'lla3 +; 31 'llh2 ~d3! 32 !!xb2! 'rYxb3 33
.llxb3 .lldlt 34 'llfl 'lld2 35 .lla3 'Llxfl -"t-] 31 ...
.ixd4 32 Iidl lbxe3! 0: 1
42 Alek11ine - Cat>ablanca (22) 067
"One of the most celebrated games of the match.
Capablancas superhuman patience and defensive
genius in this inordinately difficult game earned
him the enthusiastic praise of all the critics." (R).
1 d4 'Llf6 2 c4 e6 3 'Llc3 d5 4 .fJ.g5 'llbd7 5 e3 ..ie7
6 lbf3 0-0 7 Ziel c6 ("As is well-know,
Capablanca relied exclusively on this defence
throughout the match.") 8 .fJ.d3 dxc4 9 .i.xc4 cZ:ld5
10 .fJ.xe7 ~xe7 11 'lle4 cZ:l5f6 12 'Llg3 ~4·1· ("As
the sequel indicates, the exchange of Queens
leads to a dreary game for Black in which he is
permanently on the defensive." 12 ... e5!?) 13
~d2 ~xd2t 14 Wxd2 !!d8 15 iihdl b6 16 e4 .ib7
17 e5 ct:le8 18 ~3 ~8 19 cZ:lg5 h6 20 lb5e4 We7
21 f4 f5 22 cZ:ic3 'Llc7 23 'Llge2 g5 24 h4 g4? (24 ...
gxh4 25 .llh l .llg8 26 .llxh4 .llxg2 27 .llxh6 .!'!ag8
28 Iih7i· Ii8g7 29 .llxg7"!" Iixg7 30 l!g 1 =) 25 8g3
a5 26 .ib3 Iiac8 27 a3 .llf8 28 .lld2 .fJ.a8 29 .lldc2
c5 30 dxc5 'Llxc5 31 'Lla4 Ci:17a6
32 J:Lxe6 1 (" An interesting sacrifice which leads
to lively and difficult play.") 32 .. . @xe6 33
.:'.Z:lxb6 l'!b8?! [33 ... l'!cd8! 34 .l:hc5! (34 l{'ixa8?
l!d3t 35 Wf2 1:ha8 36 b4 axb4 37 axb4 'L'lxb4 38
l!xc5 I!a2t 39 l{'ie2 l'!dd2) 34 ... 'L'lxc5 35 I:!xc5
l!b8 (35 ... :.&..xg2 36 !.ha5 J;;{b8 37 'L'la4!) 36 'L'la4
l!fc8 37 lhc8 .l:lxc8 38 b4 axb4 39 axb4 +=] 34
.:'.Z:lxa8 .l:!b3t?! (34 ... I:!xa8! 9 35 'L'le2!! 'L'lb3! 36
l'!c6·1· We7 37 l'!dl followed l!dd6 or l!cxh6 +-)
35 l!c3 l'!xc3t 36 bxc3! ! (36 l!xc3 l'!xa8 37 b4 '.'
axb4 38 axb4 l{'ixb4 39 l!xc5 l'!a3i· 40 Wf2 'L'ld3t)
36 ... 1ha8 37 1:l:dl l'!f8 38 !.:l.d6i· We7 39 Ll.xh6
;jjc7 40 Z!h7t Wd8 41 c4 'L'l7e6 42 'Ea7? (42 'L'le2!
'~c8 43 'L'lc3 !.:l.d8 44 l{'id5 +-) 42 ... Q:ic7! 43
D.xa5 Q:i5e6 44 h5?! (44 'L'le2 ! Wd7 45 'L'ld4 'L'lxd4
46 Wxd4 .llbS! 47 .lla7 Wc6 48 e6 Wb6 49 .lla4
Q:ixe6t 50 We5 .lleS 51 Wxf5 g3! +=) 44 ... Wd7
45 h6 'L'lxf4 46 Wxf4 'L'le6t 47 We3 f4t 48 Wf2
fxg3t 49 Wxg3 l!h8! ("Black need not fear 50
l!a7i· 'L'lc7 51 e6i· Wc6 52 e7 Wb6!") 50 l'!d5t
We7 ! 51 , 5 l'!xh6 52 c6 'L\£8 53 l!c5 Wd8 54
Wxg4 l!g6t ("Whites four Pawns are all
disconnected and therefore harmless.") 55 Wf3
JiJc7 56 g4 ,:'.ZJe6 5'7 ~d5 .:bd8 58 .llc5 l{'ie6 5()
;!d5 .'.uf8 60 !!a5 1;l.xc6 61 '.t'e4 'Eel 62 !!a?-1-
gco o3 ::aot '...?d7 64 .l':!a7i· @e6 65 Zia6·1· We7
ob a4 i2:id7 6 7 'Eh6 B.e It 68 Wc\4 i2lxe5 69 a5
it'lxg4 70 I:!117·1· Wd6 71 a6 12:al 72 a7 lbf6 73
l!b7 Ciid7 74 l'!b2 l'!xa7 75 Zid2 l'Z:\c5 76 Wc4t
Wc6 77 l!h2 l!a4t 78 Wc3 I:!g4 79 Wd2 l!g3 80
l:1h5 @b5 81 We2 Wc4 82 l'!h4 t Wc3 83 Wf2
l:1d3 84 l!f4 @d2 85 @g2 .lld5 86 Wf3 @d3 11z. 11z
"A titanic struggle!" (R)
43 Ca11ablanca - Alekhine (23) D63
l d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 ltJc3 l'Z:\f6 4 :.&..g5 Ciibd7 5 e3
5ie7 6 .'.LJf3 0-0 7 l'!c 1 a6 8 cxd5 exd5 9 :.&..d3 c6
10 0-0 Ciie8 11 .Jil.xe7 'W/xe7 12 e4 dxe4 13 l{'ixe4
·'.Lldfo 14 ~c2 l{'ixe4 15 ..lil.xe4 l{'if6 16 :.&..f5 :.&..xf5
l' ·~xf5 Z!ad8 18 l!fel '®'b,-: l9 ~c2 .l:1fe8 20 a3
·~d6 21 ~l 3 l'!xe 1t 22 I:!xe 1 '®'d7 23 h3 h6
24 l!e3 ctJd5 25 l{'ie5 Wfc7 26 l'!el ~6 27 '{/i'"xb6
lox b6 2 8 l{'if3 Wf8 2 9 Lle3 lt'lc4 30 l!c 3 lt'ld6 31
Wfl f6 32 We2 L'bb5 33 .&rc4 We7 34 Wd3 We6 35
I:!c 1 lld5 36 a4 Ci'Jc7 37 l{'ic\2 We7 38 &2Jb3 lt'le6 39
We3 Wd6 40 Llc2 h5 41 h4 g6 12 f3 b6 43 g4 a5
44 .llg2 g5 45 .iih2 hxg4 46 fxg4 gxh4 47 L1xh4
l'!g5 48 'L'ld2 l!z.112
44 Alekhine - Ca1rnblanca (24) D67
1 d4 td:\f6 2 c4 e6 3 lt'lc3 d5 4 :.&..g5 lt'lbd7 5 e3 :.&..e7
6 'L\£3 0-0 7 .l;k 1 c6 8 :.&..d3 dxc4 9 ~xc4 Ci'Jd5 10
:.&..xe7 '®'xe7 11 lt'le4 td:\5f6 12 lt'lg3 ~4 t 13 1//Vc\2
'Wfxd2t 14 Wxd2 .lld8 15 llhd 1 b6 16 e4 :.&..b7 17
e5 L'be8 18 We3 Wf8 19 lt'lg5 h6 20 td:\5e4 We7 21
f4 f5 22 'L'lc3 lt'lc7 23 td:\ge2 g5 24 h4 g4 25 .:bg3
a5 26 :.&..b3 b5
27 d5 cxd5 28 L'bce2 'Eac8 29 ctJd4 L'bb6 30 l!c5 a4
31 :.&..c2 L'bd7 32 l'!c3 b4 33 l!c6 5ixc6 34 ltJ.xc6t
We8 35 ltJ.xd8 Wxd8 36 :.&..xa4 lt'lb6 37 :.&..b3 lt'la6 38
lt'le2 ~7 39 lld4 .llc5 40 ~ .l:!c8 41 We3 'h-'!2
45 Capablanca - Alekhine (25) 063
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 L'bc3 td:\f6 4 :.&..g5 4Jbd7 5 e3
:.&..e7 6 lilf3 0-0 7 l!c 1 a6 8 cxd5 exd5 9 :.&..d3 c6
10 '®'c2 l'!e8 11 0-0 lt'lf8 12 l'!fel .ie6 13 ,:;,2:la4
.:2l6d7 14 J:Lxe7 '®'xe7 15 'L'lc5 .:'iixc5 16 'i&xc5
\/:'Vc7 17 b4 ctJd7 18 '®'c2 h6 19 a4 '®'d6 20 l!b 1
25
.llec8 21 .ilec 1 ~g4 22 li'id2 l:!.c7 23 li'ib3 ~h5 24
lbc5 luxc5 25 ~xc5 'i¥f6 26 b5 axb5 27 axb5 ~g6
28 ~xg6 'i¥xg6 29 .l;l.a 1 .liac8 30 b6 'fl.d7 31 lla7
Wh7 32 llca 1 f5 33 'i¥c2 'fl.e7 34 g3 .lice8 35 .lla8
.l:!.e4 36 llxe8 .lixe8 37 'fia7 llb8 38 h4 h5 39 Wg2
~e6 40 '*1Hd3 Wg6 112- 112
46 Alekhine - Capablanca(26) D64
i d4 4!Jf6 2 c4 e6 3 li'ic3 d5 4 ~g5 li'ibd7 5 e3
l!.e"' 6 [2\f3 0-0 7 l:!cl c6 8 '*1Vc2 a6 9 a3 !:!e8 10
.si<l3 h6 11 ~f4 dxc4 12 ~xc4 b5 13 ~e2 Ji.b7
14 0-0 c5 15 dxc5 'Llxc5 16 .l!fd 1 ~6 17 ~e5
Z!ac8 18 ~d4 Ji.xf3 19 ~xf3 ~8 20 ~xc5
!!.xc5 21 '*1Vb 1 l;!ec8 22 CUe4 112- 112
47 Ca11ablanca - Alekhine (27) D63
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 1Llc3 li'if6 4 ~g5 li'ibd7 5 e3
!i.e7 6 CUf3 0-0 7 .ik 1 a6 8 cxd5 exd5 9 ~d3 c6
10 '*1ic2 h6 11 ..th4 CUe8 12 ..tg3 ..td6 13 0-0
~xg3 14 hxg3 li'id6 15 CUa4 l;!e8 16 l'!fe 1 CUf6
17 li'ie5 li'ife4 18 'iVb3 ~e6 19 li'ic5 CUxc5 20
dxc5 cubs 21 a4 luc7 22 ~b 1 ~c8 23 cuf3 li'ie6
24 e4 dxe4 25 .l!xe4 .l:!.e7 26 .llcel .1..d7 27 ~c2
g6 28 ~a2 ~f8 29 lue5 '*1Vg7 30 CUxd7 Llxd7 31
Ji.xe6 fxe6
32 1!~4 '.t>h7 33 l'!xe6 l'!g8 34 '*1He4 rm
35 f4'l!
"®'f8 36 llgxg6 '*1Vxc5t 37 Wfl '*1Vcl t 38 Wf2
'*1Vd2"!" 112- 1/z
48 Alekhine - Ca1>ablanca(28) D67
1 d4 CUf6 2 c4 e6 3 li'ic3 d5 4 Qg5 CUbd7 5 e3
JJ..e7 6 1Llf3 0-0 7 l'!c 1 c6 8 Qd3 dxc4 9 .1..xc4
CU<l5 10 ~xe7 ~xe7 11 li'ie4 li'i5f6 12 CUg3 '*1Vb4 t
13 '*1H<l2 ~xd2 t 14 Wxd2 £ld8 15 ilhd 1 b6 16 e4
1.b7 17 e5 'Lle8 18 We3 Wf8 19 h4 We7 20 h5
h6 ? 1 (20 ... 'Llc7 21 h6 gxh6 22 Ith 1 c5 =) 21 CUh4
{21 .:be4!) 21 ... c5! (21 ... CiJc7 22 cuhf5t exf5 23
.:'2'lxf5t Wf8 24 li'id6 .llab8 25 li'ixf7 lle8 26 CUh8!)
22 f4 CiJc7 23 <lxc5 CiJxc5 24 l;!xd8 (24 b4 ?! Llx<l l
25 llx<l l li'ia4) 24 ... l!x<l8 25 b4 1Ll5a6 (25 ...
CiJa4? 26 li'ihfS·1· exf5 27 CUxf5t Wf8 28 ..txf7
li'i<l5t 29 Ji.x<l5 .1..xd5 30 .lic7) 26 a3 (26 .1..xa6
li'id5t) 26 ... b5 27 ~b3 ~d5 28 ~xd5 li'ixd5t 29
26
We4 CUb6 30 f5! li'ic4 31 fxe6 fxe6 (31 ... Wxe6 32
li'ihf5 CiJxe5? 33 li'i<l4t) 32 li'ig6t We8 33 li'ie2 li'id2t
34 Wf4 ifr:4 35 We4 ta!Zi- 36 Wf4 lfr4 37 Wg4 ?I ifr:7
38 a4 a6 39 axb5 axb5 40 !!al IWJ! 4 l li'ief4 .l!b3 (41 ...
.lle3 42 Zia7 '.ttl8 43 .&1.xc7 Wxc7 44 luxe6t '.tlxi 45
Wf4 !lb3 46 li'ie7 ro) 42 'JJ.v.17 '.ttl8 43 g3! 'h-'h
49 Capablanca - Alekhine (29) D52
"Another hard-fought battle from this epochai
strnggie. Capablancas opponent puts up a good
fight, but weakens toward the close." (R)
1 <l4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 CiJc3 li'if6 4 .1..g5 li'ibd7 5 e3 c6 6
li'if3 '*1Va5 ("The Cambridge Springs defense,
rehabilitated by Alekhine during this match.") 7
li'id2 Qb4 8 'iWc2 dxc4 9 .1..xf6 li'ixf6 10 li'ixc4
'*1Hc7 11 a3 ~e7 12 g3! 0-0 13 Qg2 Qd7 14 b4 b6
15 0-0 a5?! (Jlac8; .&l.fd8 +=)
16 CiJe5! axb4 17 axb4 llxal (17 ... .1..xb4 18
li'ib5!) 18 llxal llc8 (18 ... c5 19 CUxd7 '*1ix<l7 20
dxc5 bxc5 21 b5) 19 li'ixd7 19 ... '*1Vxd7 (19 ...
li'ixd7 20 '*1Vb3 +=) 20 li'ia4! ~d8 21 '*1Vb3! CiJd5
(21 ... b5 22 li'ic5 ~xc5 23 bxc5! I!.a8 24 !!xa8
'*1Hxa8 25 °®'xb5 cxb5 26 ~xa8 b4 27 Qf3 b3 28
Jil.dl b2 29 ~c2 Wf8 30 e4 +-) 22 b5 cxb5 (22 .. .
c5? 23 <lxc5 bxc5 24 ~c4!) 23 ~xb5 £ta8! (23 .. .
Zilc3? 24 ZZ'ixc3 .l::!.xc3 25 ..tc6!) 24 .l::!.cl .l::!.a5! 25 ~c6
25 ... ..ta3 (25 ... b5 26 ~b7!) 26 .l::!.bl ..tf8 (26 .. .
.llxa4 27 '®'xa4 li'ic3 28 'i¥xa3 li'ixbl 29 '*1Vb4; 26 .. .
b5 27 l'!xb5 l'!xa4 28 l;!xd5!) 27 .1..x<l5 llx<l5 28
li'ixb6 lld6 ("Capablanca has finally won the Pawn,
but due the fact that there are no Q-side Pawns left,
Black has good drawing chances. Hence the
following jockeying for position, in which both
players endeavour to improve the position of their
pieces.") 29 ~7 h5 30 CZ'lc4 .l!<l7 31 'i¥e4 .llc7 32
CZJe5 °®'c8 33 Wg2 ~d6 34 .lla l l'!b7 35 CiJ<l3 g6 36
l:l.a6 ..tf8 37 £l.c6 l'!c7! (''Black offers the exchange
because White's Rook is too well posted on the
sixth rank.") 38 'fixc7 (38 li'ie5 '®'b7 39 °®'f3 Qg7)
38 ... '®'xc7 39 li'ie5 .1..g7 40 ~a8t Wh7 41 CUf3
~f6 (It threatened 42 t2Jg5t Wh6 43 h4 ~f6 44
~g8!) 42 ~a6 rtig7 43 'iVd3 ~7 44 e4 't!Vc6 45 h3
~c7 46 d5 exd5 47 exd5
47 ... ~c3! ("Black's judgment in offering the
exchange of the Queens is excellent.") 48 Dxc3 Lxc3
49 Kfl Kf6 50 Ke:?. Lb4! ("The Bishop is headed
for QB4, from where it can prevent the further
advance of the QP and at the same time keep an
eye on Whites KBP, preventing Whites King
from taking an active part in the game.") 51
'l\d4! ..ic5 52 lbc6 rt;[5 53 rt;f3 (53 f3 i.d6 54
~ ..ic5t) 53 ... rt;f6 54 g4 hxg4 55 hxg4 @g5?
(55 ... ..id6 56 'l\d8 ..ie7) 56 lbe5! (56 ... f5 57 d6!
fxg4·1· 58 @g2 rt;[5 59 d7; 56 ,.. f6 57 lbf7t; 56 ...
.'.&.a3! 57 lt:\xf7i· rt;f6 and 58 ... @e5) 56 ... i.d4?
57 lbxf7t rt;f6 58 'l\d8! .i.b6 59 lbc6 ..ic5 60
Wf4! Jtxf:?. 61 g5t rt;f7 62 'l\e5i· @e7 63 'l\xg6t
~d6 64 rtie4 ..ig3 65 'l\f4 @e7 66 @e5 ..ie 1 67
d6t ~d7 68 g6 ..ib4 69 rtidS @e8 70 d7t! 1-0 "A
terrific struggle which has produced some
highly instructive play." (Capablanca, Alekhine,
Reinfeld etc.J
50 Alekhine - Ca1>ablanca(30) D67
1 d4 Q:\[6 2 c4 e6 3 'l\c3 d5 4 i.g5 'l\bd7 5 e3 ..ie7
6 lt:\f3 0-0 7 Iic 1 c6 8 ..id3 dxc4 9 ..txc4 'l\d5 10
!J..xe7 ~xe7 11 'l\e4 lb5f6 12 'l\g3 ~ t 13 ~d2
i'Hxd2t 14 @xd2 Iid8 15 .lihd 1 b6 16 e4 ..ib7 17
"!5 !tJe8 18 rtie3 @£8 19 h4 @e7 20 h5 lbc7 21
'iJe4 c5 22 dxc5 ..ixe4 23 ·~e4 tbxr5t 24 'i.?e3
~xct J. :5 ~xd l b5 26 Sib3 !k8
i See diagram next colunm)
27 ei.:ld4 lbxb3 28 axb3 ei.:ld5t 29 ~e4 a6 30 .l.'!al
~b4 31 g4 f6 32 f4 fxe5 33 @xe5 .l.'!c5t 34 @e4
h6 35 f5 exf5i· 36 'l\xf5i· rt;f6 37 .l.'!dl .l!e5i· 38
Wf3 .lld5 39 .llxd5 'l\xd5 40 @e4 'l\b4 1/z- 1/i
51 Ca1rnblanca - Alekbine (31) D51
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 Q:\[6 4 ..ig5 'l\bd7 5 e3 c6 6
.std3 ~a5 7 ..ih4 dxc4 8 .i.xc4 b5 9 .i.b3 .i.b7 10
~ r5 11 dxc5 ..ixc5 12 0-0 0-0 13 'l\d4 a6 14 'iVe2
b4 15 cba4 ..ixd4 16 exd4 lbd5 17 i.g3 ..ic6 18
~c2 ..ixa4 19 ..ixa4 !.l.ac8 20 ~d l 'l\7b6 21 ..ic2
'l\c4 22 b3 'l\a3 23 .i.d3 lbb5 24 ..ie5 f5 25 ..ic4
Iifd8 26 .l.'!el ~6 27 'iVd2 ~7 28 ..ixd5 'iVxd5
29 ~xb4 lk2 30 'iVe7 30 ... 'iVd7 31 'iVxd7 !!xd7
32 rt;f 1 rt;f7 33 a4 'l\c3 34 .llac 1 .llxc 1 35 !he 1
'l\d5 36 .l:tc6 .l.'!a7 37 a5 g5 38 h3 h5 39 @e2 g4 40
IicS .l::!.!:>7 41 .l::tb8 1/i- 1/i
52 Alekhine - Capablanca (32) D35
1 d4 'l\f6 2 c4 e6 3 'l\c3 d5 4 .i.g5 lbbd7 5 e3 c6 6
cxd5 exd5 7 ..id3 i.e7 8 'l\ge2 0-0 9 'l\g3 'l\e8 10
h4 'l\df6 11 'iVc2 ..ie6 12 Q:\[5 ..ixf5 13 ..ixf5 'l\d6
14 ..id3 (14 ..ixf6 lbxf5 =) 14 ... h6 15 ..if4 l:ic8
16 g4! 'l\fe4 ( 16 ... lbxg4? 1"' ..ixd6 ..ixd6 18
..tf5) 17 g5 h5 18 ..ixe4 (18 £Xd6!? !tJxd6 19
0-0-0 lbb5 20 rtib 1 lbxc3i· 21 ~xc3 +=) 18 ...
lbxe4 19 'l\xe4 dxe4 20 'iVxe4 'iVa5t 21 rt;£1 (21
~e2 ~St 22 rt;f3 l!tfe8) 21 ... ~d5! 22 ~xd5
cxd5 23 rtig2 !k2 24 Iihrl iifr8 (24 ... l!txb2?! 25
Iicbl!) 25 .l.'!xc2 !ixc2 26 l:'!bl @h7 27 @g3 @g6
28 f3 f6 (28 ... rt;f57 29 e4 t!) 29 gxf6 ..ixf6 30 a4
rt;f5 31 a5 .l.'!e2
32 .l.'!rl!? (32 b4 g5! 33 hxg5 ..ixg5 34 ..ixg5
@xg5 35 f4t @£5 36 @£3 I!h2 37 .l:tgl .l;l.h3t 38
' !.l.g3 .llxg3t 39 Wxg3 =; 32 a6! bxa6 33 !ta 1 g5 34
hxg5 .i.xg5 35 e4 t! 33 ... Il.xb2 34 .l:txa6 .llb7 35
I!.a5 ±) 32 ... .l:txb2 33 Il.c5 @e6 34 e4 ..ixd4 (34 ...
27

dxe4 35 d5t @f5 36 d6i· c;.t>e6 37 fxe4 l:ib3t 38
Wg2 ..bh4 39 llxh5 ±) 35 llxd5 .tc3 (35 ... J..1'2 i·
36 @h3 Iib3 37 !ie5·1· Wf7 38 J..g5! ±) 36 !hh5 a6
[36 ... J..elt 37 @h3 r!.1'2 38 lle5i·! @d7 (38 ...
@f7 39 iif5t) 39 Iid5t followed 40 lld3] 37 J..c7
J..elt (37 ... !ib5 38 Iig5!) 38 c;,t;,g4 i!g2t 39 @h3
(39 Wf4 ?? J..d2#) 39 ... Iif'2 40 c;,t;,g4 llg2t 41 c;,t;,h3
!!1'2 42 f4 r!.f3t 43 @g2 llf'2t 44 @h3 Iif3·1· 45
Wg2 Iit2·1· 46 c;,t;,gl llc2 47 .tb6 r!.c4?! (47 ... .tg3
48 Iie5t Wd6 49 llg5 ±) 48 @g2 g6 (48 ... llxe4??
49 Wf3) 49 !ie5t @d7 50 h5 gxh5 51 Wf3 h4 (51
... !!c3i· 52 c;,t;,e2 J..g3 53 J..e3 h4 54 .l:ih5) 52 Iih5
.l:l.c3·i· 53 c;.t>g4 Iic4 54 @£5! J..xa5 55 Iih7·1· @c6
56 ..'ha5 lic5i· 57 ·illte6 Iixa5 58 f5 lla3 59 f6 Iif3
60 f7 b5 61 Iih5! h3 62 Iif5 lixf5 63 exf5 1:0
53 Ca1>ablanca - Alekhine (33) D5 l
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 c'tlf6 4 J..g5 c'tlbd7 5 e3 c6 6
J..d3 ~a5 7 J..h4 dxc4 8 J..xc4 b5 9 J..d3 .tb7 10
lbge2 a6 11 J..xf6 lbxf6 12 a3 ~6 13 lbe4 lbxe4
14 J..xe4 c5 15 dxc5 J..xc5 16 J..xb7 ~xb7 17 0-0
0-0 18 !icl Iiac8 1/i- 112
54 Alekhine - Capablanca(34) D5 l
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 c'tlf6 4 J..g5 c'tlbd7 5 e3 c6 6
a3 J..e7 7 c'tlf3 0-0 8 J..d3 dxc4 (8 ... h6 9 J..h4 c5)
9 J..xc4 lbd5 10 J..xe7 ~xe7 11 lbe4 lb5f6 12
lbg3 c5 (12 ... b6) 13 0-0 c'tlb6 14 .ta2 cxd4 15
1£lxd4 g6 16 Ziel .td7 17 ~e2 .l:!.ac8 18 e4 e5 19
~f3 Wg7?! (19 ... .l!xcl 20 llxcl llc8 21 !lxc8t
lbxc8 22 lbg5?! J..e8) 20 h3 h6?
,.
21 ~d2! (It threatens 22 "V/i/a5) 21 ... J..e6? [21 ...
.tc6 22 c'tlh4! lbxe4 (22 ... J..xe4 23 ~e3!) 23 c'tlhf5·1·
gxf5 24 'L'lxf5t <M6 25 ~xh6t @xf5 26 g4#! 21 .. .
f.i:'ia4! Lasker.] 22 J..xe6 "V/i/xe6 23 ~a5 t2:'ic4 (23 .. .
~3 24 "iixe5 t2:'ic4 25 °iid4 ±) 24 ~xa7 t2:'ixb2 25
Iixc8 Iixc8 26 °iixb7 'llc4 27 ~4 Iia8 28 l:!al
~c6 29 a4 t2:'ixe4 30 'llxe5 (30 t2:'ixe4 ~xe4 31
!!cl rl.c8 32 t2:'ixe5? 'lle3 ! 33 ~xe4 .l!xcl t 34 Wh2
'llfl t 35 c;,t;,g 1 t2:'ig3i·) 30 ... ~d6! 31 "iixc4 'i'xe5
32 lle 1 t2:'id6 33 VNc 1 ~f6 34 t2:'ie4 t2:'ixe4 35 Iixe4
!ib8 36 lle2 Il.a8 37 lla2 Il.a5 38 "V/i/c7 ~a6 39
·~c3t @h7 40 L!d2! "V/i/b6 41 r!.d7 '&blt 42 @h2
~8i· 43 g3 .l:if5 44 ~d4 ~e8 (It threatens 45 ...
Iixf'2t) 45 Iid5 Iif3 46 h4 ~h8 47 't!Vb6! ~al 48
@g2 .l:!.f6 (48 ... !ia3 49 l:!d7 @g8 50 ~ds·1· @g7
51 ~e7 ~a2 52 ~e5i· @117 53 ~f6) 49 '&d4 !
·~xd4 50 I!xd4 c;,t;,g7 (50 ... Iia6 51 @f3 followed
c;,t;,e4-d5 +-) 51 a5 lla6 52 iid5 iif6 53 Iid4 l:!a6

54 Iia4 @f6 55 @f3 We5 56 We3 h5 57 @d3 Wd5

58 @c3 @c5 59 Iia2 @b5 60 @b3 Wc5 61 Wc3
Wb5 62 @d4 Iid6i· (62 ... Wb4 63 .l:ial!) 63 @e5
Iie6·1· 64 @f4 Wa6 65 @g5 !ie5t 66 Wh6 !if5 67
f4 [67 @g7!? Iif3 68 @g8 llf6 69 Wf&! iif3 (69 ...
Jlf5 70 f4) 70 @g7 .lif5 71 f4] 67 ... Iic5 ! 68 Iia3 Z!c7
69 @g7 .lid7 70 f5 (70 <M6! .lic7 71 f5!) 70 ... gxf5
71 @h6 f4 72 gxf4 .lid5 73 @g7 .lif5 74 .lia4 @b5 75
.lie4 @a6 76 @h6 .lixa5 (76 ... @b7 77 .lie5 .lixf4 78
@g5! .lifl 79 @xh5 f5 80 @g5 f4 81 .lif5 f3 82 @g4
+-) 77 Iie5 lla 1 78 'it>xh5 Iig 1 79 llg5 r!.h 1 80 iif5
@b6 81 .lixf7 @c6 82 .lie7 1-0

*
"Before the second resumption Capablanca convinced himself that the game could not be saved and
sent a letter to his opponent." (L.) "Dear Alekhine. I resign from the match. TI1erefore you are the world
champion. I congratulate you on this success and wish you and your wife the best. Yours sincerely, Jose
Raoul Capablanca."
*
"Cause and effect often become obscure in both personal and sports relationship between Alekhine and
Capablanca. We do not know who started it; the friction arose from rivalry, frustrated with social and personal
motives. TI1ey came from two different worlds, with strong racial and family characteristics under the disguise

28
of the cosmopolitan. One of them is in actual possession - bean.ts possidens -, the other - ante portas - is
ready for a siege, a successio1t TI1ey were heated by the eternal contradiction of retention and conquering.
Tanasch and Lasker evaded each other for decades, until the older had had his time when the desired meeting
was realised. Chess world should be grateful that this manoeuvring did not recur in this case. TI1ey fought in
their full strength, in their flower of manhood, and we can feel the burning fire of seeking and passionate
composition of the wi.tmer even 1mder the smooth surface in the games that were drawn. It is both criticism and
self-c1iticism how Alekhine admits the way in which he worked from tournament to tournament on improving
himself and how he rnled out the shortcomings that were in favour of Capablanca from his own style. Inunense
volition. continued effort together with gifted nan1ral endowments, and the work gradually yields its fruit." (CT)

ALEKHINE about CAPABLANCA

"The 1927 New York tournament as the prelude of the Buenos Aires match."
Alekhine's article starts like this:
I. "As we know the year 1925 brought Capablanca the bitterest disappointment in his life: he achieved only
the third place at the great Moscow totllllllment after a tremendotts effort. Even then there were voices echoing
ce1tain wonying effects in Capablanca's play. A sttspicion emerged tllllt Capablanca's play was not quite the
same as it lllld promised to be in the beginning. TI1is was obviotts from Capablanca's efforts, which became
increasingly strong as time went by, to simplify and divert the battle towards the field of teclmique. TI1ese
ambitions killed off his earlier lively spirit, which was so apparent in the games played at the San Remo
tournament in I 911 and at the St. Petersburg tournament in I 914.
II. It became obviotts for me how exaggerated the general awe, with which Capablanca was revered
for the quality of his achievements at these tournaments. was: 'A chess machine!' 'The champion of all
times!'
Capablanca is a first class chess master whose strength is rather in his inn1ition than in the logical
train of thought.
Before the match I lllld to detennine impartially how and to what extent Capablanca's most typical
characteristics exercised their influence in the different parts of the game. My findings, which were
essentially proved during the match for the title of world cllllmpion, were the followi.t1g:

Opening: As Capablanca admits in one of his own books, in theory he employs only one or two openings,
or just one or other sub-variations of the very same opening at the same tournament. He, however, ponders over
this nanow repertoire thoroughly. Capablanca's theoretical knowledge lllls never been versatile, but it is very
profoundly imposing and above all appropriate. Tins economical ope1nng-aillllysing method is not to be
rejected, what is more this method may be more likely to lead us to create lasting values tlllln the widespread but
unsystematic research of our days' so-called 'theoreticals'. We nutst not forget that. although Lasker' s repertoire
was very IlllITOW even during his long lasting days of glory, nobody could llllve reproached 1nm for being
superficial or lacking in detemntllltion to win... It was see1ningly logical to draw the conclttsion from the above
mentioned statements that it would be favourable to keep cllllnging the openings or their sub-variations as far as
possible during the match, so tllllt I could make him leave the well-known patl1s. Tins kind of conclttsion would
only be rigl1t if a rnnque fearure could not be traced back throughout Capablanca 's art and in recent years in all
his chess activity. TI1is was tl1e instinct of aiming at a cautious play, for the sake of which he sacrificed so nlllny
channing ideas and posted Ins Rooks into an exclllll1ge on the open files. TI1is instinct, to winch Capablanca's
subtle chess sense is still nearly totally suborditlllted, dooms each attempt to gain advantage in the ope1nng
with an unexpected n1rn to failure. I myself at least do not know about a single game in which anyone managed
to get Capablanca out of the mt with a novelty in the ope1nng; on the contrary, he is able to accumulate all his
stren1::,>th in a case like this and always finds the only correct continuation. Capablanca lllls never got into a losing
position followi.t1g an tmexpected combitllltion during the ope1nng.
Tins exceptional carefuh1ess against the most different kinds of danger makes it understandable that
in a position winch contains menace Capablanca easily employs Ins characteristic style, winch lllls secured
superiority for him even over masters of top quality for a long time. It is a 111nque defending teclunque

29
which is based on the simplification of the play. It had been a real weapon in his hands, but only up to the
moment until he started to use it indiscriminately.
III. Middle-game: From that moment onwards when exact knowledge gives place 10 pure art,
Capablanca· s characteristic. which almost founded his legendary fame, emerges: it is first of all the
swiftness with which he realises the situation.. and then the nearly absolutely faultless judgement of the
position. Amazingly, exactly these two characteristics which, if they had been employed properly, would
have raised Capablanca as an artist to a height that perhaps had never been achieved before. in reality
brought him to a contrasting position, i.e. a standstill. They convinced him that the art of chess is almost in
ruins. is in decay and is desperate for ideas. How could this have happened? Ifwe want a proper answer to
this question, we will have to stop for a moment to consider the mental dangers involved in the first of the
above mentioned two characteristics of Capablanca. The ability to assess the position and the faculty
which makes it possible to envisage a whole series of tactical motifs in certain difficult positions at one
stride, (economical thinking and, as a consequence of this, man's trust in himself) carry certain elements of
danger. too. The chess player may wrongly conclude that those good moves he sees inuuediately at the
stmting moment of analysing the position must be the best ones by all means. As a consequence he loses as
much in depth as he gains in easiness. This gradual abandonment of seeking the really best move, and his
being content with only good moves was unfornmately typical ofCapablanca's creative art between 1922
and 1927, which was a loss to the art of chess.
There are only two exceptions to this. 111ese are those situations where combinative elements are dominant
and Capablanca is literary forced to ponder over them, and where after his opponent's one or two obviously
refutable mistakes Capablanca enjoys an advantage to enforce a victory. On occasions like this the a1tist flares
up in him. who indulges in finishing the game the quickest and most beautiful way possible.
It is obvious that this sudden enthusiasm of combinative abilities can be regarded only as exceptions.
At the same time we can state that as a rule Capablanca penetrates into the depths of position less and less
as time goes by. The cause behind all this lies in his unswerving trust in his faultless intuitioIL Ca-
pablanca 's tragedy was that before our match his 'only a good move' based system had been nearly always
satisfactory for winning, because his opponents stood up against him with a more or less weak positional
play. As Capablanca was able to employ the method of not the best move without punishment during the
games. on the one hand he became unaccustomed to concentration, which is. however, the only guarantee
against basic blunders, and on the other hand his self-assurance grew out of all proportion and it nearly
turned into self-admiration. For example, before the match he wrote in a newspaper that a miracle was
nece~sary for someone else to become world champion.
I\l. Endings: There are even more legends about Capablanca's art concerning this half-technical pa1t of
the chess game than about the opening or the middle-game. All these exaggerations stem from the fact that
Capablanca defeated Lasker. whose unique maste1y and brilliance at the difficult, not clearly technical-like
endings was umuatched for two decades. However, umnistakable missed opportunities are obvious in several
endings of Capablanca, who made many more errors in this part of the game than in the middle-game. All this
strenb>thened my conviction that Capablanca is not an umnatchable master in the endings, and that his art in this
part of the game is mainly technical-like.
*
After his victory over Capablanca Alekhine refrained from tournaments for a year, but when he
appeared on the scene again, he looked as if he were a new person. His life had previously been charac-
terised by his subordination to Capablanca, his goal in life had been to prepare against the Cuban. Now he
got rid of both and. thus relieved, he started a wi1ming series never seen before. Spielman aptly remarked
at the beginning of the 1930s that 'Alekhine has been one of us so far' (and now he suddenly soared above
eve1yone).
*
Capablanca never recovered from this blow. His invohmtary perfection and divine clarity left him,
and for the first time in his life he moved a piece into capture in Karlsbad (1929). He remained a great and
excellent player but not a god any more. (Dr Hannak.)

30
 The title was given in advance to Alekhine by fate. Although he won against Capablanca in 1927, in
practice the Cuban remained the first in the world. The victory, however, gave wings to the Russian
master, who at the beginning of the 1930s proved his rank convincingly with a mastery which had never
been seen before.'
24 'Lle7i·! ~g7 25 ihh?i"! ihh7 26 .l:!xh7·1· Wxh7
SIMULTANEOUS with Clocks - 1927 27 ti'h4i" 1-0
Sao Paulo - 1927 56 Capablanca -
55 Ca1>ablanca - Prestes C15 Souza, Marco Andre BOO
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 'Llc3 .tb4 4 .td3 (4 ... c5; 4 1 e4 b6 2 d4 .tb7 3 .td3 (3 'Llc3) 3 ... e6 (3 ... f5? 4
... d'<.e4) 4 ... 'Llf6 5 e5 'Llfd7 6 wgg4 g6 7 .tg5 (7 exf5! .txg2 5 ti'h5i" g6 6 fxg6 +-) 4 'Llf3 c5 5 0-0
e£if3 c5 8 dxc5 'Llc6 9 .td2 .txc5 10 ~g3 a6 11 cxd4 6 tzlxd4 lZ:ie7 7 lZ:ic3 tzlg6 8 .te3 .tc5 9 ~5!
0-0-0 b5 12 h4 ±) 7 ... .te7 8 h4 f5 9 wgf4 c5 10 0-0 10 .l:fodl .txd4 11 .txd4 l'L'lc6 12 .te3 e5 13 ..ic4
cbb5 .txg5 11 'Lld6i" ~8 12 hxg5 cxd4 13 g4 @h8 14 l::rd6 Wie7 15 l::rfdl l::rad8 16 .tg5 f6
cbb6 14 gxf5 exf5 15 'Llf3 'Llc6 16 'Llxd4 ~e7 17
cbxc6 bxc6 18 0-0-0 .te6 19 !!h6 !id8 20 iidh 1
-~g7 21 i.xf5 .txf5 22 'Llxf5 ~f7 23 ~4 i· ~g8

17 't1Vxg6!! hxg6 18 i:!6d3 iif7 19 'Lld5 ~c5 20

.l'!h3i" ~g8 21 'Llxf6i· ~8 22 .l:ih8i" ~e7 23 i:ie8i"!
.l.'!xe8 24 .lixd7i" ~8 25 rlf7# 1-0
lfwe say Capablanca, then we catmot help thinking of another two names: Lasker and Alekhine. The
predecessor and the successor. We have already talked about Lasker in detail, let us see Alekhine now:
(V arnusz-Fiildeak: Alekhine, der Griiflte!)
Alekhine, the greatest!
Alekhine, the greatest?
This statement is a little daring, a bit provocative. What about Morphy, Lasker, Capablanca, Fischer.
Karpov and Kasparov?
Let us examine whether or not Alekhine was the champion of all times. At first it seems easy. but in
reality it is not. There is, however, no objective standard. Seemingly there is one, the so-called ELO
system There have been inept experiments in which this system was used to compare Morphy to Fischer
for example. The ELO system contains a certain margin of error even when you compare contemporary
players, and it increases even more ifwe try to analyse the past. It is enough to alter one single factor and
the result we get will be totally different. The fact that the ELO system is slowly but constantly affected by
'inflation' is a similar problem. Thus, the strongest tournament of the given year is at the same time the
strongest tournament ever, and the present champion is the greatest of the greatest. It sounds all right in a
sensational newspaper article, but it is not trne. To prove it, we only have to go ten years back in time.
Somebody who was at the top would qualify 8-10 places lower with the same amount of ELO points.
Would development be so considerable? We have to fall back on the old trnth: champions should be
compared only to their contemporaries, and we have to be really cautious if we step out of this circle.

31
 But let us see Alekhine himself at last.
When with some subjectivism we regard him as the greatest. this is based on the fact that the
remarkably talented Russian master set more records in chess history than anyone else. It is true that some
of them have already been broken, but the two most important records are still stand. First of all Alekhine
won 45 international tournaments outright or in a tie. TI1is was a unique achievement for a long time.
(After him Keres was the second among the classical players.) This record must have been broken in the
tournament dumping of recent years. TI1e Author has not checked, but Karpov must be the record holder
nowadays. and Kasparov is also on his way towards it.
Another one of Alekh.ine's records, which has since been broken but filled the chess world with
admiration, was that he broke one of the superstitions in chess and retrieved the title of world champion
(1937 Euwe). Botvinnik surpassed this record, but it remains unique that Alekhine died as world cham-
pion. It is a remarkable thing, even if we can be certain that Alekhine, broken both mentally and physi-
cally, was only pro fonna the fast in the world in 1946.
There are two records from Alekhine's golden age that are still valid:
one is a brilliant series of victory, from the 1927 Kecskemet tournament to the 1935 Ore bro match
during which he was first 17 times out of 18 tournaments with only one second-third place, and won three
matches for the title of the world champion.
As for the matches: he defeated Capablanca who was at the height of his power and who was
considered the best match-player in the world; and twice virtually smashed Bogoljubow, who was in his
golden age. Although among his tournament victories there were some shared first places, he often won
outright, several times with a walkover victory. But th.is belongs to the next record, however. No one has
ever won with such a great adv;mtage at a world tournament (5 112 points) as Alekhine did in Bled in 1931;
his other great victory, with a 3 1h point advantage which was of higher quality, in San Remo can only be
compared to that of Lasker in London in l 899 and Paris in 1900; or, considering the newer players, to that
of Botvi1mik in Hague-Moscow in 1948 and Fischer in Buenos A.ires and Pahna Mallorca, both in l 970.
Furthennore. if we add his 3 excellent perfonnances at the Chess Olympiads (Hamburg 1930: 9 out
of 9, Prague 1931: 13 112 out of 18, Folkestone 1933: 9 112 out of 12) to his 17 tournament victories. then no
one in chess history can rival this winning series.
Panow is right:
'Each and every time he proved his unquestionable and decisive superiority over all the other
champions in the world. By 1935 he virtually got bored with playing and winning tournaments. All his
ambitions had become trne, he had nothing to aim for. he had practically no rival.'
For the sake of objectivity we must add that even these compelling results do not make his absolute
primacy indisputable. Let us speak honestly about the shadows of these achievements. Alekhine gained many of
his victories at tournaments that were of relatively minor importance at that time. Today's champions do not
take part in such tournaments because they are concerned with their ELO points. Of course, the average level
was lower than today. but regarding the top players this difference is practically insignificant.
The real greatness of Alekhine showed between 1929-34, but he got to the top slowly and through
considerable effort. He did not start as a child prodigy, and he became world champion rather late. He had
been the third player in the world after Capablanca and Lasker since more or less 1914, and it took him 13
years to gain the 'crown'. But before we disparage Alekhine's achievement, let us take a look at the histo1y
book. Our hero entered an age that was of great imp011ance and crucial for the development of a chess
player. 1914 was the year when the First World War broke out, and at the end of the war came the Russian
Revolution. Alekhine's circumstances changed greatly. He was wounded in the war and his family lost
their vast fortime. What is more. according to some unconfinned sources he was sentenced to death by a
Bolshevik court. His life was only saved by a chess-loving judge. who refused to sign the verdict.
(Alekhine himself did not confinu this statement. but nevertheless it might be true; he obviously kept the
option of returning home open.)

32
 Eventually, in I 921, he was forced to emigrate. But even if we do not consider these hardships and
just look at the fact that Alekhine was not or hardly able to play during 7 very important years, then
everything is quite clear. Let us just imagine what would have happened to Karpov or Kasparov, if they
had had to stop playing chess for 7 years in 1970 or 1980 respectively?
It is also true that Alekhine was not so convincing in the second half of his reign as earlier Lasker or
later Karpov were during the same period. If we consider his second golden age during the war. he was
simply the first among equals. Of course, his increasing addiction to alcohol (according to some to drugs,
too) played a significant role. The last period of his life must have been overcast by the shadow that as a
French citizen he collaborated with The Third Reich, (for instance with Dr. Frank who was executed
during the Nuremberg Trials), even if this collaboration was confined to the field of chess and not politics.
He was attacked for this after the war by many people, and this also shortened his life.
We can see that it is not easy to really name the greatest player of chess either in a mathematical or in
any other way. It is a bit subjective to regard Alekhine as the best, but it is a fact that he was one of the
greatest. Nonetheless, he had some rivals.
Here are some comparisons:
Morphy's career was short, but it was a series of victories, which did not contain the long struggle to
the top our hero had to endure. It lasted only for 2 years, and it happened at the very beginning of chess.
Lasker held his crown firmly for a long time. but he evaded ·several strong rivals. (e.g. Rubinstein) and
during his 27 years as world champion he did not play half as many tournaments as Alekhine did during
his best 7 - 8 years. It can be said that he did not become worn out to such an extent. Capablanca. the great
rival, got to the top much easier than the Russian master. What is more, as an oppo 1ent he was as hard as
steel. and Alekhine only managed to leave him well behind once, at the end of his lif~. On the other hand.
the great Cuban's career lacks the remarkable series of victories that made Alekhine inunortal, and he held
the title only for 6 years. Botvinnik had excellent years, but he was not really convincing as world
champion. None of his successors, with the possible exception of Smyslov, were able to remain at the top
for a long period. After Alekhine it was Fischer who approached such heights. but he played too little to
surpass him. Karpov and Kasparov are the stars of our day, and both being at full stren1:,>th might surpass
the great Russian master.
There is, however, another important point of view. It is well-known that chess is not only a game or
spo11, but also a kind of art, which delights the eye. It is not only the results but also the beauty of their
works, or games, that is typical of a great chess player. Alekhine considered chess as a fonn of a11. and
himself as an artist. ('For me chess is not a game, but a fonn of art. Yes, I consider chess as a form of art.')
However impo11ant a winning was for him he did not content himself with purely collecting points,
because he wanted to create a work of at1. This ambition was crowned with success. There was no other
master in chess hist01y. including Morphy, who played very little anyway, who created so many beautiful
works of art as Alekhine. Keres,Tal, Spasski, Stein, Kasparow possibly approached the glitter of his
combinations, his artistic perfection, but they were not able to reach exactly the same level.

Alekhine's career
1892 Alexander Alekhine was born in Moscow on 1st November I 892, into a rich noble family.
The name of the family was Alekhine. (As it is spelt in the Anglo-Saxon world.)
1899 He learnt the basics of chess from his mother at the age of 7.
1902 At the age of ten he was already a keen correspondence-chess player, but not a child prodigy.
His brother Alexei played chess, too.
1907 At the age of 15 he took part in his first chess tournament.
1908 He was 4 - 5th at an amateur tournament in Dusseldorf
1909 At the age of 16 he acquired the title of master.

33
 191 O-l 1 TI1e fast real international test: Hamburg 1910. 7 - 8th place. Respectable performance at
the great Carlsbad tournament (1911 ). It was typical of the financial situation of his family that, according
to a contemporary eye-witness, the eighteen-year-old Alekhine arrived at the tournament accompanied by
a man-servant and a secretary. He started his legal studies.

1912-14 His strength was increasing, he won several tournaments: Stockholm 1912. Scheveni.n-
gen 1913, 1914 St. Petersburg 1-2 places. (All-Russian championship)
1914 He practically became the third player in the world after Capablanca and Lasker with two
glittering successes (St. Petersburg 3rd place, Mannheim I st place). Alekhine was ante portas, but fate had
a say: at the end of the Mannheim tournament the First World War broke out. Alekhine was interned. but
later he was released and allowed to go home. (He gave his word of honour that he would not fight against
the axis powers. Romantic days!)
1914-20 He spent the war at the front as a commandant of a mobile unit of the Red Cross. He was
credited for his bravery on several occasions. He was seriously wotmded. He hardly played any chess
during these seven years (apart from two relatively small tournaments he gave blindfold simultaneouses..l
The revolution caught the discharged soldier in Moscow. He stayed in Odessa in 1918, where he recuper-
ated from the consequences of his wound. In the meantime he played a lot of chess in cafs. According to
some sources. when the Bolsheviks came into power, he was arrested and sentenced to death. (Soviet
sources refute these allegations.)

1921-24 Alekhine managed to escape from the count1y. and in 1921 - just like many other white
Russian emibrrants - he settled in France and obtained French citiz.enship. As for chess. he tried to make up
for lost time and played tournament after tournament. In 1921 he proved that he was at least the third in the
world with three first places (Tri.berg, The Hague and Budapest). But then in the following years he did not
progress further; the new world champion Capablanca and the great Lasker were still the favourites. The
result of the 1924 New York tournament clearly demonstrated this, too. Alekhine changed his name to
Alekhine. He qualified as a lawyer from the Sorbonne in 1923. He set up a wonderful world record in
blindfold-simultaneous chess, which has since been broken, but against much weaker participants. After
the New York tournament he refrained from tournaments for a year. in which he self-critically assessed his
style. Exercising merciless self-criticism was always one of his strong points.

1925-27 Alekhine very consciously prepared to gain the title of world champio1t He topped off
his previous career with a walkover victory at the Baden-Baden tournament in 1925. His first place was the
forerunner of San Remo and Bled, and it was possibly the greatest achievement of the 1920s. even if we
compare it to that of Lasker and Capablanca. His tournament results were extremely reliable. Contra1y to
his young rivals (Bogoljubow, Nimzovitch), Alekhine always came to the fore. By this time Lasker had
already retired. but Capablanca was still clearly better. This was proved by the New York tournament,
which took place before their match, where the Cuban left Alekhine, who was the runner-up, behind with
2.5 points. Our hero had not played so feebly for years. He was preparing for the great trial.
192 7 Before the great match Alekhine tested his strength once more (Kecskemet), and on 16th
September the 3-month-long battle against Capablanca for the title of the world champion started in
Buenos Aires. The trade press was absolutely certain that the Cuban would win. Capablanca was at full
strenb>th; he had left Alekhine behind at each tournament so far, and had beaten him a number of times
without losing a single game. Alekhine, nevertheless, broke this series right in the first game, and finally
won 6:3 together with 25 draws in a heroic stmggle. He became world champion.

1929-35 After gaining the desired title Alekhine resigned from playing for over a year. During
this time he assessed his style, and when he appeared again at the tournament hall, the world saw an almost
totally new Alekhine. We have already talked about the series of success that started now, so here we just
state that it was these years that raised him among the very greatest of chess players. It is trne that he and
Capablanca evaded each other, but the Cuban, playing tournaments in a similar way, was not able to
approach his achievements between 1930 and 1934.

34
 1935-37 TI1e downfall of our hero cast its shadow forward during the early thirties. His play bore
the signs of impatience and lack of concentration. ('Tactics overcomes strategy in his play.' wrote a critic.)
To everyone's great surprise Alekhine lost the title against Euwe in 1935, and he entered a personal crisis.
His great superiority disappeared from tournaments. He was now just one among equals. The main reasons
for this astounding decline must have been due to the excessive consumption of alcohol, possibly drngs
and cigarettes. From that moment Alekhine devoted all his energy to the thought of the return match. He
underwent detoxification treatment, drank milk and gave up smoking. He was preparing against Euwe.
1935-39 He achieved a glittering success at the return matclt TI1e public cheered him enthusiastically:
he had broken the superstition, no world champion had regained the title before. TI1e contemporaries overesti-
mated his victory a little. Alekhine was not his good old self during the pre-war years. His name was still
prestigious, but he was not able to win a really important tournament any more.
1940-44 The outbreak of the Second World War caught Alekhi.ne, together with the leading chess
players in the world, at the chess Olympiad in Buenos Aires in 1939. Our hero's new home-country, and
ve1y soon half of Europe. were occupied by the Gennans. Alekhine, who was a professional chess player
making his living from chess, could only find serious tournaments in The Third Reich. This was not very
difficult for him, because he had good personal connections with the Gennan leaders. He slowly drifted to
the other side. He moved to Prague and enjoyed the personal support of Dr. Frank. It was during these
years that some articles by him written on the basis of racial theory appeared. Due to this he was subjected
to vehement attacks after the war. It is amazing that in spite of such severe hardships his second golden age
came. Although the tournaments were not so strong as in the years of peace, but among the regular
pa11icipants of the tournaments were Keres, the number one candidate for the title, the old rival Bo-
goljubowe and a new talent: Junge. Alekhine won tournament after tournament, (he left the Estonian
grandmaster behind in Prague in 1943 with 2. 5 points!). and he only occasionally had to share first place.
The quality of his games were often clearly higher than in the second half of the 1930s, but the opinion
that he was again in the same fonn as in San Remo and Bled was really over-exaggerated.
1944-45 Towards the end of the war Alekhine managed to get out of Gennany, he settled down
in Spain and then in Portugal, where the victory of the Allied Forces fotU1d him. He played tournaments
only on the Iberian peninsula, but was just a shadow of his fonner self. In the meantime a manhunt was
launched against him. Euwe and the American chess players declared a boycott against him He was
charged with collaborating with the Gennans, and accused of failing to help the Jewish chess master
Przepriorka, who was languishing in a concentration camp. (It turned out later that the victim had already
been dead long before Alekhine's help was called for.)
1946 At the beginning of March Alekhine received Botvinnik' s challenge for the match. which
made him not only very happy but fatally excited as well.
'At about ten o'clock on 24th May I was urgently called to Estoril, because something had happened
to old Alex. I entered the room together with the officials of the Portuguese authorities. He was there.
sitting in his annchair, in such a calm position as ifhe were asleep. TI1e doctor's statement of the cause of
the death was absolutely meaningless for me, I could not help thinking that the number one chess player in
the world sank to the ground after his most dramatic battle, which he had played on the real chess board of
life.' (F.Lupi).
Epilogue
Alekhine's life was really dramatically eventful; it was a roman-o-clef to understand the first half of
the century. It can easily be seen in his photographs. A handsome, nice-faced yotU1g man looks at us from
the photos of the 1920s; the new world champion is full of animal spirits around the 1930s, and we can see
a broken, ageing man in the photos taken in 1935. (He defeated his most dangerous opponent in 1937, but
his hands were so shaky that he was not able to cut meat with a knife and fork any more.) In 1945 at the
age of 52 he was a very old man, as if he had emerged from a Dostoevski novel with his passion for games
and exaggeration. He was both heroic and pathetic. In hard times he did not always behave irreproachably,
because he devoted everything to his chess career. There have been many great chess players, but none

35
loved chess so much as he did. Flohr said he was chess himself. Apart from playing tournaments he wrote
chess books, articles of literary value, and he was an excellent player in blindfold-chess. His cult did not
end with his death, but rather was strengthened by it, and it will last as long as there is chess in the world.
*
The author of the book quoted called Alekhine the greatest chess player ever, not because of a
personal conviction but rather in the sense that with a certain subjectivity he can be regarded as the
champion of champions just as Lasker, Fischer, Karpow or Kasparov can too. And we still have not
mentioned Morphy, who cam1ot be compared due to his extremely short career. or Capablanca, who was
considered the greatest talent of chess history by many prominent grandmasters.
*
"After Capablanca had lost the world championship in an 1mprecedentedly difficult tournament, he
did not give up hope of winning it back in a return matclL "(L.)

1928
Under the influence of the defeat the so-called phlegmatic Cuban ex-world champion plunged into
unparalleled activity with significant success. He accepted every invitation, even to middle and western
European tournaments. The organisers of the tournaments tried to arrange a meeting against his rival, but
Alekhine was occupied with his literary work and the preparations for the Bogoljubow match. His f111an-
cial demands, too, were most of the time so high that it was impossible to satisfy both of them at the same
time. So Alekhine gave the tournament halls over to Capablanca for two years. (CT)
'l11e elite tournament in Kissingen is the first on the list, where I was able to see Capablanca face to face
for the first time. TI1e then 41-year-old man started to wear horn-rinuned spectacles from time to time, his
forehead had already grown higher at the sides, his play became slower and his easy pacing up and down during
games came to an end. It was obvious that the once remarkable superiority had disappeared, and only after the
games in the evenings was he the old Capablanca.' (CT)
Although the Cuban had many successes during these years, he was behind Bogolubow at the
Kissingen to1m1ament. It was the second time it had happened since 1925, which was all the more
awkward as in the following year Alekhine, who started playing again, defeated his fonner countryman
easily.

Bad Kissingen - 1928
1 Bogoljubow 8 2 Capablanca 7 3--1 Euwe,
Rubinstein 6 112 5 Nimzovitch 6 6 Reti 5 1/i
7-<J Yates, Tartakover, Marshall 5 10
Spielmaim 4 112 11 Tarrasch 4 12 Mieses 3
1 Bogoljubow - Capablanca El'.!
"A very remarkable game, Capablanca has the
pleasme of defeating the first prize-winner. Just
how this is accomplished must in the last analysis
remain a psychological secret. Both players sta11
out from perfectly level positions, and
Bogoljubow begins to commit errors none of
which seem fatal; yet he is imperceptibly slipping,
and the eventual catastrophe is all the more
crnshing because it has made its appearance so
unobtrnsively." (R)
1 d4 t'bf6 2 c4 e6 3 'Llf3 b6 4 lbc3 .ib7 5 .ig5
.YJ.e7 6 e3 lbe4 (6 ... h6 7 .ih4 .ib4) 7 .ixe7 (7
lbxe4! .ixe4 8 .if4!? 0-0 9 .id3!) 7 ... ~xe7 8
lbxe4 .ixe4 9 ltld2 (9 .ie2 !? 0-0 10 0-0 d6 11
lbd2!) 9 ... .ib7 10 .ie2 ~g5 (10 ... 1i..xg2'? 11 .l!gl
.ib7 12 .if3 ± 10 ... e5!?) 11 .if3 .ixf3 12 ~xf3
(12 lbxf3 ~f6 =) 12 ... lbc6 13 ~g3 (13 0-0 0-0
14 a3 ~g6 15 I1acl =) 13 ... ~xg3 14 hxg3 1i;e7
15 g4 h6 16 a3 (16 c;,t;,e2) 16 ... a6 17 <ti;e2 l:':ihb8!
18 lbe4?! (18 b4 b5 18 c5 a5 ao 18 I!hbl b5 19
1i;d3 =) 18 ... b5 19 c5 (19 cxb5 I1xb5 20 rl.hbl
!iab8 +) 19 ... d5! 20 cxd6t (20 lbc3 b4! or 20
lbd2 e5 +) 20 ... cxd6 21 f4? (21 !iacl! @d7 22
g5!) 21 ... I1c8 22 f5? (22 .l!hcl) 22 ... lba5 23
c;,t;,d3 lbc4 24 i:iabl (24 l:':ia2 .l!c6 25 b3 lba5 26
!ic2 .llac8 27 !ihcl =) 24 ... d5! ("Beginning a
series of energetic strokes which soon reduces
White to helplessness.") 25 lbc3 (25 Ci:lc5 e5 26 e4
dxe4t 27 lbxe4 .l!d8 25 ... lbe5t 26 dx5 !:!xc5 27
I1bc l l!iac8 28 I1xc5 I1xc5t; 25 'Lld2 lbxd2 26
<ti;xd2 exf5 27 gxf5 @f6 28 g4 !ic4 +) 25 ... l:':ic6
26 fxe6 fxe6 27 g5 (27 .l!h5 .llac8 28 g5 lbxb2; 27
e4 .llac8! 28 iihcl dxe4i· 29 ltlxe4 lb.xb2·1· -+) 27

36
... hxg5 28 l:':ih5 ~6 29 llh3 !'lac8 ("By way of
showing his appreciation of the gift of the c-file,
Capablanca now tums it to decisive account. The
inunediate threat is 'Llxb2i"'') 30 'Lle2 a5! 31 llf3t
~g6 32 g4 'Lld6! ("And now the mating
possibilities of this position begin to make their
appearance.") 33 'Llc3 b4 34 axb4 axb4 35 'Lldl
(35 'Lla2 'Lle4 36 'Llb4 .llc4 37 'Lla2 llc2 38 lld 1
i:ixb2) 35 ... !ic2 (Direct mate threats are
starting.)36 .llf2 b3! ("Nailing down the coffin.")
37 llal 'Lle4 38 iie2 !i8c6 !39 llbl e5! 40 llal
l:':i6c4 41 !ia5
41 ... 'Llc5t! 0-1 (Tartakover, Reinfeld and Euwe).
* ..te4 23 .l:!.f2 llxf2 24 ~xf2 !ixh2?? 25 Jte6i·)]
"If I play with White, I win because I am White. If
1 play with Black, I win because I am
Bogolubow."
*
"Alekhine expressed his opinion about Capablanca
that he only played openings with a defending
character excellently, and that he did not really
surpassed the good and average masters in the
field of the endings, but presented world champion
stren!,>th in the middle game and in perfonning
combinations." (Dr. Vajda. 1)
*
2 Ca11ablanca - Ta11akover A52
1 d4 'Llf6 2 c4 e5 3 dxe5 'Llg4 4 e4 (4 .i..f4!) 4 ...
d6? ("111e selection of this tricky opening,
especially with a difficult and unfamiliar line of
play, is excellent psychology on Black's part. But,
whatever the merit of this line of play may be
theoretically, the stronger player triumphs over the
board." 4 ... 'Llxe5!? ao) 5 exd6 (5 .i..e2!?) 5 ...
..txd6 6 ..te2! f5 (6 ... 'Llxh2 7 g3) 7 exf5 ~e7 8
1 Alekhine 's criticism is rather biased as the public praised Capablanca' s teclmique in the ending
most of all and it contains a strong inclination to dumbfound the bourgeois.
'Llf3 ..txf5 9 ..tg5 'Llf6 10 'L'lc3 'Llc6 (10 ... c6 11
'Lld4 ..tg6 12 0-0 0-0 13 ..tf3 ±) 11 'Lld5 ~f7 (11
... ..tb4t 12 'Lld2!) 12 0-0 0-0-0 ("Tartakover
subsequently concluded that .... 0-0 would have
been better. The text looks fonnidable enough, as
all of Black's pieces are fully in play and White's
position on the King-side and on the Q file is
somewhat precarious." 12 ... 0-0!? 13 lbxf6t gxf6
14 ..th6 .llfe8 15 'Llh4!? ..tg6 16 lbxg6 hxg6) 13
'Lld4! 'Llxd4 (13 ... ..td7) 14 ~xd4 c6 [14 ... lbxd5
15 cxd5 (15 ftxd8? lbf4) 15 ... .l:!.de8 16 .stg4; 14 ...
c515 ~4 'Llxd5 16 cxd5! .llde8 17.i..g4!] 15 ..txf6!
gxf6 ["111e cmcial position. As will be seen,
Capablancas next move (played in his favorite
simplifying style) is not adequate to meet the
situation."] 16 ~xf6?! [16 'ii'xa7! cxd5 17 cxd5
'ii'xd5 18 ..tf3 ..te4 19 llacli· ..tc7!? 20 'ii'a8i·
Wd7 21 ~a4i·! +-; 18 ... 'ii'b5 19 .llaclt ..tc7 20
l:':ic5 ~d3 21 l:':ifcl +-; 17 ... ~7 18 .llfel! ..te5
(18 ... ~xd5 19 ~xa4t! ~8 20 ..tf3 +-) 19..tb5t
@e7 20 ~a3t! .l:!.d6 21 f4 +-] 16 ... ~xf6? [16 ...
~d7? 17 'Lle3 llfd8 18 ~4! 16 ... ~g6!! (Dr.
Balogh) 17 'ii'xg6 hxg6 18 g4! .i..xh2i· 19 ~g2
Jte4 t 20 f3 cxd5 21 fxe4 dxe4 22 I!.ad 1 ..te5 23
llxd8t llxd8 (23 ... 'i.t>xd8 24 .llf7 ao) 24 I!.d 1 ..tx b2
25 .l!xd8t @xd8 26 ..tdl =+ =; 17 c5!? ..txc5 18
~xg6 hxg6 19 'Lle3 (19 'Llc3 .lld2! =+) 19 lld2
20 Jtc4 .i..xe3 21 fxe3 .l:txb2 22 !ladl = (22 ...
17 lbxf6 fte5 (17 ... .l:!.hf8 18 lbg4 h5 19 l.i:'ie3)
18 Jtg4! ..txf6 [18 ... Jtxg4 19 'Llxg4 Jtxb2 20
liadl += ±] 19 Jtxf5t ~7 ("AfterthismoveB!ack
will have the 'choice' of ceding the seventh rank
or losing the KRP." 19 ... c;,t;,b8 20 .lladl! I!xdl 21
L!xd 1 .i..xb2 22 I!.d7 h6 ± ±) 20 .l:!.adl! (20 i:iael
.l:!d2! 21 .l!e6 .l:!.f8!) 20 ... .i..xb2 (20 ... h6) 21
.l!xd8! .l!xd8 (21 ... ~xd8 22 I!.dl t c;,t;,c7 23 lld7i·
37
'.t>b6 24 ~xh7) 22 ~xh7 Iid4 (22 ... b5 23 cxb5 c5
24 g3 or 22 ... i:!d2!? <X> ±) 23 g3! [23 i.g8 l:!g4 24
llbl .th8! (24 ... .td4 25 .th7 lif4 26 lifl) 25 .th7
l:ih4 oc)] 23 ... !!.xc4 24 h4 b5 (24 ... i:!cl; 24 ... lid4)
25 @g2 a5 26 h5! .i.g7 27 f4 .i.h6 (It threatens 28 g4)
28 liel! lia4 29 .i.g8 lid4 (29 ... '.t>d7 30 i.e6t!
'.t>d8 31 ~b3 and 32 Iie6) 30 Ee7t! .l!d7 (30 ...
Wb6 31 .lle6 ~f8 32 h6) 31 .i!xd7t '.t>xd7 32 @f3
c5 (32 ... '.t>e7 33 g4 @f6 34 '.t>e4!) 33 g4 c4 34 g5
~f8 35 h6 a4 3S f5! '.t>c6 37 h7 ~g7 38 f6 c3 39
·~e2 ~h8 40 f7 (Tartakover and Reinfeld)
3 Capablanca - Mieses D63
1 d4 li:\f6 2 c4 e6 3 li:\c3 d5 4 ~g5 ~e7 5 e3 'Libd7 6
~f3 0-0 7 Ziel a6?! 8 cxd5! exd5 9 ~3 (9 ~d3!?) 9
... c6 10 ~d3 'Llh5? (10 ... i!e8!) 11 ~xe7 'iilxe7 12
0-0 ltJ!i.f6 13 c't114! ("Initiating what proves to be
extremely troublesome pressure on Black's Q-side".)
13 ... lbe4? 14 ~xe4! ("A surprising reply, but a very
good one.")_ 14 ... 'W'xe4 ( 14 ... dxe4 15 lbd2 i2:\£6 16
Cilc5!) 15 'W'b4! ("More pressure on the black
squares.") 15 ... 'iilg6 (15 ... f6!? 16 'iild6 Iie8,
followed 'W'e7!?) 16 'W'e7! ("Further utilization of the
black squares to impede Blacks development, for
... Iie8 is prevented.") 16 ... f6 17 .l!c3 't1fe8 18 ~d6!
("Capablanca is willing to exchange Queens ... for
a price. First he gains a useful tempo.") 18 ... Iif7
19 .llfc l! ~f8 20 ~xf8t '.t>xf8 (20 ... lbxf8 21
lbb6 Iib8 22 lbxd5 ! "The ending is much in Whites
favor. as he has more mobility and the initiative-plus
the undiminished pressure on the black squares. Black
not only has trouble in getting out his Bishop, but this
piece is doomed to inactivity in any event, as it will
be restricted in scope by the Black Pawns on white
squares.") 21 lbe 1! ("More pressure on the black
square!") 21 ... '.t>e8 22 lbd3 Iib8 23 f3 Iie7 24 ~
i2:\IB 25 .llb3 i2:\d7 26 g4 b5?! ("Realizing after Whites
last move that Capablanca is prepared for a leisurely
advance on both wings, Mieses loses patience and
makes a violent attempt to free himself. As is usual in
such cases, he only hastens the end!") 27 li:\ac5
38
27 ... lbb6 28 lbb4! ("After this powerful stroke,
Blacks Q-side collapses in mins.") 28 ... ~b7 29
lbxb7 i:!bxb7 30 .l:Ixc6 a5 31 l!xb6 axb4 32 Iixb7
.l!xb7 33 Iixb4 1-0 (Tartakover and Reinfeld)
4 Capablanca - Yates A3 l
1 e4 c5 2 it:\e2 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 lbxd4 g6? (" Allowing
White to obtain the Maroczy bind... ") 5 c4! ("TI1is
strong move gives White control of the centre and
Black must grovel about to find a counter-attack.") 5
... ~g7 6 lbc3 Q:\£6 7 ~e2 0-0 8 0-0 lbbd7 9 ~e3
lbc5 10 f3 ~d7 11 'if!d2 ("White is proceeding
systematically... ") 11 ... Iic8 12 .llfdl a6 13 Iiacl
lbe6 14 b3 ("Whites Pawn strncture is very
impressive; Black is hard put to it to discover a
reasonably good continuation.") 14 ... lbh5?! (14 ...
lbe8!?) 15 lbxe6 ~xe6 16 lba4! ("Causing Black
bitterly to regret his 12th move. White now threatens
17 ~b6 and 18 c5!) 16 ... .l:k6 ("Directly countering
the above threat, but now White cmmingly tackles
the problem from the other side.") 17 f4 it:\f6 18
~f3! lbg4 19 e5! lbxe3 20 't1fxe3 l!c7
21 c5! ("Winning the Q Pawn; the cor.'!bi.'led
pressure of Whites centralised pieces is too
powerful for Black to resist.") 21 ... ~8 22 exd6
exd6 23 .llxd6 .lle8 24 'iild2 b5 25 lbb6! ~f8 26
!t:ld5 ! (TI1e only move - but sufficient.) 26 ... .l!xc5 !?
(" An ingenious move which is still more ingeniously
met." 26 ... ~xd6 27 it:\f6t @f8! 28 't1fxd6i· Iiee7
29 lbxh7t '.t>g7 30 i2:\f6! +-) 27 i2:\£6i" ~h8 28
lbxe8 i:!xclt 29 ~·xc1 ~xe8 (29 ... ~xd6? 30
~2t) 30 Iixa6 '¥Jie7 31 ~c3t ~g8 (31 ... f6 32
~e3!) 32 ~e5 b4 33 ~e4 ~d8 34 h3 ..txh3! 35
~d5! ~4 36 '¥Jif6! i.c5t 37 @h2 1-0
(Tartakover and Golombek).
5 Capablanca - Nimzovitch E34
"Capablanca was lucky to extract a half-point from
this game, but one can hardly begrndge him this
fortunate result. A thrilling strnggle all the way."
(R).
 1 d4 'Llf6 2 c4 e6 3 'Llc3 i.b4 4 ~c2 d5 5 i.g5 (5
a3; 5 cxd5) 5 ... dxc4 6 'Llf3 b5 7 a4 c6 8 i.xf6?!
(8 e4!?) 8 ... gxf6 (8 ... ~xf6 9 axb5 cxb5 10 ~e4
~g6! 11 ~xa8 ~c2) 9 g3! (9 axb5 axb5 10 'i'e4
~d5) 9 ... a6 10 i.g2 !ia7! ("An original but clumsy
manoeuvre, intended to take the Rook out of the
range of Whites Bishop.") 11 0-0 l!d7 12 ~cl (12
e4!) 12 ... 0-0 13 ~6 i.xc3! (13 ... 'it>h8? 14 'Lle4
Sie7 15 'Llfg5! ! fxg5 16 'Llf6! ! i.xf6 17 i.e4) 14
bxc3 'ith8 15 'Lld2! f5 16 .l:!.fbl!? [16 'i'f4 'i'c7!; 16
e4 e5! 17 exf5 Ll.d6 18 ~5 exd4 19 'Lle4 dxc3! 20
!t::lxd6 (20 'Llg5 h6 21 'Llxf7t .llxf7 22 ~xf7 ~d7)
20 ... ~xd6] 16 ... e5! (16 ... .llb7 17 'Llxc4! bxc4
18 i:ixb7 i.xb7 19 l:':ibl i.a8 20 !l.xb8 ~xb8 21
~f6i· 'it>g8 22 ~g5i· 'it>h8 23 ~f6t etc. 16 ...
.i..b7?! 17 axb5 axb5 18 !!a7) 17 'Llf3?! (17 'Llxc4
exd4 18 'Lle5 l:id6 19 ~c 1 dxc3 20 'i'xc3 ~f6 oc, ;l;
17 ... .!id6! ["An important intermediary move." 17
... e4? 18 'Llg5 f6 19 'Lle6) 18 ~e3 (18 ~5 exd4!
19 'Llg5 h6! 20 'Llxf7t lixf7 21 ~xf7 dxc3 +)] 18
... e4 19 lLld2 'Lld7 ("As Black is now on the way
toward consolidating his position 'Lld7-f6-d5,
Capablanca adopts a wild course which is far from
characteristic of his style.") 20 g4! (20 f3 'Llf6) 20 ...
'Llf6 21 gxf5 ~xf5?! ("Having obtained a won game
:igainst Capablanca for the first time in his life.
Nimzovitch should have continued with 21 ... 'Lld5!
22 ~xe4 'Llxc3; 22 ~3 i.ig8 23 e3 'Llxc3) 22 ~f4
~d7! 23 ~xe4! 'Llxe4 24 'Llxe4 .l!g6t 25 'Llg3 [25
@hl (fl) ~d5!] 25 ... Sixbl 26 .llxbl f5 27 f3 ~g7
i27 ... "&'d6!) 28 @f2 ~f6 29 axb5 cxb5 30 i:idl!
'.":'i?g8 (30 ... ~d6!) 31 d5! ~xc3? (31 ... 't!Vd6!) 32 d6
-~f6 33 d7 c3 34 !t::lxf5! c2! ("Anexcitingposition!")
35 .lid6! ~d8 (35 ... ~xd6 36 'Llxd6 .lixf4 37
d8~t i:if8 38 ~c7 i!xd6 39 'i'xc2 oc,)
36 ~e5! ! !hf5 (36 ... !ig2·1· 37 ~g2 't!Vg5t 38 'it>f2
cl~ 39 't!Vd5t 'it>h8 =) 37 rl.xg6t hxg6 38 't!Ve8t
l:!f8 39 ~xg6t 1h- 1h (Tartakover and Reinfeld)
'I did not want to believe that Capablanca had
seen all this' Nimz.ovitch complained to
Chalupetzky when he got up from the chess board
wiping his forehead. Bogoljubow never won
against the ex-world-champion, and it was the first
occasion that Nimz.ovitch, too, achieved a winning
position against him.
*
6 Ca11ablanca - Rubinstein D20
1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 e4 c5 4 'Llf3 (4 d5) 4 ... cxd4 5
~xd4 ~xd4 6 'Llxd4 Sid7 7 i.xc4 a6 (7 ... .:£\c6 8
'Llxc6 ~xc6 9 f3 e6 +=) 8 'Llc3 (8 i.e3) 8 ... e6 9
0-0 'Llc6 10 i.e3 l!c8 11 i.e2 'Llf6 12 !!ac 1 i.e7
13 l:ifdl (13 'Llb3!) 13 ... 'Llxd4! 14 i.xd4 i.c6 15
f3 0-0 16 'it>f2 i!fd8 17 i.b6 l:ixd 1 18 'Llxd 1 i.d7
19 i!xc8t i.xc8 20 'Lle3 'Lld7 21 i.d4 b5 22 a3
@f8 23 'Llc2 e5 24 i.a7 i.c5t 25 i.xc5i· .:£\xc5 26
b4 lt::la4 27 'it>e3 i.e6 28 c;,t;,d2 c;,t;,e7 29 'Lle3 c;,t;,d6
30 i.d3 f6 31 Sic2 112- 112 (" After this game
Capablanca talked about a sneaking "castling
death" in chess again." T.)
7 Tanasch - Capablanca B 19
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 'Llc3 dxe4 4 'Llxe4 i.f5 5 .:£\g3
Sig6 6 h4 h6 7 'Llf3 'Lld7 8 i.d3 (8 h5!? i.h7 9
i.d3) 8 ... i.xd3 9 ~xd3 'Llgf6 10 i.d2 e6 11
0-0-0 i.d6 (11 ... ~c7) 12 l:ihel! [12 'Lle4 'Llxe4
13 ~xe4 'Llf6 14 ~e2 ~c7 15 .llhel c5! (15 ... i.f4
Spielmann - Capablanca, New York 1927) <X)
Alekhine] 12 ... ~xg3! (12 ... ~c7 13 'Llf5! i.f8 14
lbe3! 0-0-0 15 lbc4 ±) 13 fxg3 0-0 14 ~b4 l::re8 15
lbe5?! (15 'Llh2!? followed by g3-g4-g5) 15 ... !t::lxe5
16 dxe5 ~xd3 17 .llxd3 'Lld5 18 i.d6 b5! 19 g4!?
("This move shows that the ex-champion does
definitely not want to be passive in the
following endgame. In fact, the entire
following game phase still offers very nice
and lively moments.") 19 ... l!ied8 20 .l:!.e4! f6!
21 c4! (21 g5? f5!) 21 ... fxe5 22 i.xe5
22 ... cbb4! 23 .lixd8t l:ixd8 24 cxb5 'Lld3t 25
c;,t;,c2 cxb5 26 i.c7! l!d7 27 .llxe6 ltixb2! 28 @xb2
!!xc7 29 !!e8t c;,t;,h7 (29 ... Wf?!?) 30 l:':ie4! !l.c5 31
a4! a5 32 axb5 .l!xb5t 33 ~3 i!c5t 34 'it>d3 .l.:ic8!
39
35 .l:ta4 .lia8 36 <t>e4! (It would be much more
dangerous to fall to the enemy's passed Pawit" T.)
36 ... @g6 37 <t>e5 .l:ta6 38 g3 ~a7 39 @e6 ~a8 40
@e5 lla6 41 @d5 @f6 42 .l:!.f4 t @e7 43 l!e4 t 'it>d7
44 lla4 @c7 45 @c5 .l:te6 46 @d5 (46 .lixa5??
~e5t 47 @b4 llxa5 48 Wx.a5 @c6 49 @b4 @d5
-+)46 ... lla647@c5 112- 112
8 Ca1>ablanca - Spielmann DI 5
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 0.c3 0.f6 4 0.f3 dxc4 5 e3
b5 6 a4 b4 7 0.a2?! (7 0.bl) 7 ... e6 8 i.xc4
i.e7 (8 ... i.b7 9 0-0 i.e7 10 ~e2 =) 9 0-0 (9
a5!? ~xa5 10 i.d2 ~b6 11 ~a4! 0-0 12 .txb4
.i.xb4·1· 13 0.xb4 c5 14 dxc5 dxc5 =
Miles-Portisch, Bugojno 1986) 9 ... 0-0 10 b3
( 10 .td2 a5 11 ~e2) 10 ... c5! 11 .tb2 i.b7 12
0.cl 0.c6 (12 ... a5; 12 ... 0.bd7) 13 dxc5!?
(" A nerve-racking tactic, often used by
Capablanca in several similar positions of the
Queen's Gambit .... " 13 0.d3!) 13 ... 0.a5! ("A
move par excellence" 13 ... .i..xc5 14 0.d3
.te7 15 ~e2 0.a5 16 0.de5 <Xl) 14 0.e5 (14
'Lid3?! l2:lxc4 15 bxc4 a5 +) 14 :.. t'ilxc4 15 l'ilxc4
..txc5 16 lild3! [16 ~xd8 (16 a5 ~e7) 16 ... !ffxd8
17a5.i.a6+=) 16 ... ~d5! 170.f4(17f3?l:iad818
~f-'2 ~g5 19 ~e2 .ta6J 17 ... ~g5 18 .txf6! (It
threatened 18 ... llfd8 and 19 ... 0.d5) 18 ... ~xf6
19 llcl .lifd8 20 ~5 .l:tac8 21 Lifd 1 (21 0.a5?
.ta6 22 llxc5? Ll.xc5 23 ~xc5 .i..xfl 24 Wxfl
~alt 25 We2 ~dl#) 21 ... g6 22 llxd8t?! ("He
wants to remain faithful to his main plan to
leave the Queen in the middle of the battle field"
22 ~e2 llxdl i· 23 Ihdl ~c3 24 ~d3 ''i'xd3 25
0.xd3 =; 23 ... .ta6 24 .l:tc l l!d8 25 h3; 23 ... e5
24 t2::ld3 ~g5 25 f3 <Xl) 22 ... ~xd8 23 ~e5? (23
~e2! e5 24 0.d3) 23 ... i.e7! 24 h3?! ("24 ~5!
would be tougher and above all more consistent
so that he could stay with his main piece in the
middle of the battle as long as possible... ") 24 ...
!!.c5! 25 ~al .tf6 26 .l:tdl (26 'Wbl)
26 ... .&!.d5 !! ("The course of the game up to this
point was totally upset by this splendid and, by
40
White, totally unexpected riposte.") 27 !ixd5 (2 7
~b2 llxdli· 28 ~xdl ~xdlt 29 0.xdl .te4 +
-+) 27 ... exd5 28 t2:'ie5?! (28 0.b2 d4! 29 ~dl
dxe3! 30 ~xd8i· .txd8 31 fxe3 .te4 +) 28 ... ~d6!
(28 ... ~c7 29 t2:'ifd3 .ta6 30 0.xb4! 'Wd6 31 lt:\xa6
i.xe5 32 ~dl ~xa6 33 ~xd5 +) 29 t2::lfd3 .ta6 30
~el [30 ~d4 (or 30 f4) 30 ... i.xd3 -+] 30 ...
i.xe5 31 0.xe5 ~xe5 32 ~xb4 .td3 33 'Wc5
''i'b8! 34 b4 (34 ~xd5 .i..c2) 34 ... ~b7 35 b5 h5
36 ~c3 i.c4 37 e4 ~e7 38 exd5 .i..xd5 39 a5
~e4 0-1
9 Euwe - Capablanca A30
l 0.f3 0.f6 2 c4 c5 3 g3 (3 0.c3) 3 ... b6 4 .tg2
.tb7 5 0-0 g6 (5 ... e6) 6 d4 cxd4 7 Q)xd4 .txg2
8 Wxg2 .tg7 (8 ... ~c8) 9 0.c3 0-0 (9 ... ~c8 10
b3 ~b7i· 11 f3 +=) 10 .tg5 (10 e4!) 10 ... 4Jc6
11 4':lxc6 ( 11 0.c2) 11 ... dxc6 12 ~xd8 Iifxd8
13 .l!adl @f8! ("The black King will suddenly
become the protagonist of the whole spectacle.")
14 iixd8t ( 14 @f3 !? @e8 15 iid3) 14 ... .lixd8
15 .txf6 (15 Iid 1 @e8) 15 ... .txf6 16 lld 1 @e8!
17 llxd8i· @xd8 18 lt:\dl @d7 19 @f3 @d6 20
@e3 Wc5! 21 @d3 @b4! ("It is done! Both of
White's pieces are in stalemate as guardians of
the Pawns b2 and c4.") 22 f4 (22 f3 .tg7 23 e3
f5 and It threatens Zugzwang.) 22 ... e5! 23 e4
exf4 [23 ... .tg7 24 0.e3 exf4 25 0.c2t @c5 (25 ...
@a4 26 b3t) 26 b4t @d6 27 gxf4 =] 24 gxf4 .tg7!
25 e5 .i.h6 ("He has to win a Pawn in all variations
in this position reached through a really crystalline
play by the follower. The sparklingly intelligent
rescue idea which was fotutd by the young Dutch
is even more admirable in this way.") 26 4':le3!!
.txf4 27 0.c2t Wa5! [27 ... @a4 (27 ... @c5?? 28
b4#) 28 b3t! @a5 29 l2:ld4! .txh2 30 'Llxc6t @a6 31
@e4 o::] 28 We4!! [28 0.d4 c5! 29 0.c6t Wa4! 30
~ .i..c 131 b3t Wa3 32 0.d8 Wxa2 33 0.xf.7 .tb2 ! 34
0.d6 (34 e6 i.f6) 34 ... Wxb3 +] 28 ... i.xh2 [28 ...
<X)
.tel 29 b3 .i.b2 (29 ... c5 30 @d5) 30 a4 "'=+] 29 4Jd4
@b4! 30 0..xc6·1· Wxc4 310.d8! (310..xa7 h5)
31 ... ..txe5 !! ("The counter-thought. - Naturally
the victim must have seen that White could have
returned to e5 with the Knight instead of the
KinR before the move. 31 ... h5? 32 l2lxf7 ..txe5
33 ct..ixe5i-!) 32 Wxe5 Wd3? [32 ... f5! 33 l2:le6 (33
Ciic6 a5J 33 ... @d3 34 t2'if8 @c2 (34 ... h5 35 'Llxg6
@c2 36 b4!!) 35 t'iixh7 (35 b4!?) 35 ... Wxb2 36 Ciif8
@xa2 37 liixg6 b5 -+] 33 lbxf7 Wc2 34 b4! ("Deus
ex machina.") 34 ... Wc3 [34 ... a6 35 Wd5! Wc3
(35 ... Wb2 36 a4 Wb3 37 b5) 36 Wc6 Wxb4 37
Wxb6 a5 38 aW Wxa3 39 Wxa5 Wb3 40 Wb5 =;
34 ... 'itb2 35 b5! Wxa2 36 lbd6 Wb3 37 l2:\c8 Wc4
38 l2:lxa7 =] 35 b5 Wb4 36 lbd6 h5 37 ~4 Wc5 38
l2:lc8 Wxb5 39 l2:lxa7t Wb4 40 l2:lc8 b5 41 lbe7!
Wa3 42 lbxg6 Wxa2 43 lbe5 112- 112
10 Marshall - Ca1rnblanca A47
1 d4 l2:\f6 2 lbf3 b6 3 ..tg5 .li!.b7 4 lbbd2 c5 5 c3
l2:lc6 6 e3 e6 7 ..td3 ..te7 8 '&e2 (8 0-0 0-0 9 e4!) 9
... l2ld5! 9 ..txe7 ~xe7 10 0-0 0-0 11 .li!.a6 ..txa6!
12 'llfxa6 ct'\c: 13 %ile2! (13 ~b7 '@'d8 or 13 ...
1:\fc8; 13 .. . d5 14 e4 ("It seems to be a
development but in reality it is a simplification of
the battle field. the tension of which will soon be
absorbed by the question of the isolated Pawn d4."
T.) 14 ... cxd4 (=) 15 cxd4 dxe4 16 ~xe4 lbd5 17
l:!acl I:!ac8 18 a3 ~f6 19 I:!c2 lbce7 20 .ilfc 1 ~g6
21 I:!xc8 I:!xc8 22 llxcSi- l2:lxc8 23 ~xg6 hxg6 24
g3 f6 25 l2:lc4 W 26 Wfl We7 27 We2 g5 28 h3
Wd7 29 wd3 Wc6 30 lbfd2 lbd6 31 l2:lxd6 Wxd6
32 l2:lc4 t Wc6 33 b3 lbc7 34 We4 lbb5 35 Wd3
LLld6 36 l£le3 a5 37 a4 lbeS 38 lbc4 l2:lc7 39 l2:le3
'h-'h
11 Reti - Ca1rnblanca El6
1 d4 Ciif6 2 c4 e6 3 l2:\f3 b6 4 g3 ..tb7 5 ..tg2
~b4 t 6 l£lbd2 'l! lbe4 7 0-0 l.'llxd2 8 ..txd2
±xd2 9 ~xd2 d6 10 llfdl 0-0 11 llacl ~e7
12 ltle 1 ! (" A very good positional manoeuvre
introduced by Rubinstein ... ") 12 ... ..txg2 13
i2lxg2 lbd7 14 e4 I:!fd8 15 l2:le3 g6 16 f3 h5 17
h4! l:!ac8 18 Wg2 c5 19 ~c2 l2:\f6 20 d5 e5 21
l:!hl Wg7 22 !!h2 I:!hS 23 Zlgl llb8 24 Whl a6
25 ~g2 (25 g4 hxg4 26 fxg4 I:!h7) 25 ... I:!h7
26 J;l.fl b5 27 b3 b4 28 g4 'it>gS! 29 g5 l2ld7 30
l:l.h3 a5 31 lbd 1 llf8 32 .l;!g3 112- 112
*
"One would have thought that Capablanca would
have been disheartened by his tournament result,
especially as the winner of the tournament
Bogoljubow challenged the world champion
Alekhine to the world championship a few days
later." (L)
* 17 l2:lh4! l2ld8 18 lbxb7 lbxb7 19 'ilfr'c6!
Dr. X. Ta11akover:
"What are your present plans, Senor Capablanca?"
"It is impo11ant to stick with reality. It is not the
chess world that is here for me but it is me who is
here for the chess world 1 I feel strong and look
quietly at the future. Alekhi.ne's success was
deserved, Bogoljubow's success was deserved, it
is possible that I did not deserve the success. The
past is behind me but I did not fight against it and
I accepted Alekhine's challenge. The present turns
against me but I definitely do not give up . "
*
Kissingen was the last tournament for Tarrasch,
who I never saw again. l11e always bright-eyed
neat old man devoted his entire life to chess
literature afterwards. l11is remarkable man who
popularised chess so much died in Munich on 17th
Febmary 1934. (CT)
Buda11est 1928
j Capablanca 7 2 Marshall 6 3-../ Spielmann,
Kmoch 5 5-6 Vajda, A.Steiner 4 112 --x Havasi,
Stoner 4 Yvon Balla 3 1O Merenyi 2
12 Capablanca - Balla E3 8
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 .li!.b4 4 ~c2 c5 5 dxc5
l£lc6 (5 ... 0-0!) 6 a3 .li!.xc5 7 b4! ..te7 8 lbf3 VJ1c7? 1
("Not only a loss of time, but it soon involves
Black in serious tactical difficulties." 8 ... d5) 9 g3
b6 10 ..tg2 .li!.b7? (10 ... a6) 11 ..tf4! d6 12 l2:lb5
~8 (12 ... 'rfd8 13 l2dl!) 13 c5! e5 14 cxd6
..txd6(14 ... exf4 15 l2:lc7i- Wd8 16 dxe7t Wxc7 17
lbe5 +-) 15 lldl! (The winning move!" 15
lbxd6i"? '&xd6 16 lbxe5 l2:\xb4!) 15 ... 0-0! ["The
"safe" move, but now White wins a piece'" 15
... .li!.e7 16 l2:lxe5 lbxe5 17 lbc?t Wf'S 18 .li!.xe5
~xg2 19 l2:le6t or 16 ... lbxb4 17 .li!.c6t! l2:lxc6 18
:'2:lxc6 ~c8 19 lbc?t +-] 16 lbxd6 exf4
("Tartakover would call this 'stealing a Knight in
41
broad daylight."') 19 ... fxg3 20 hxg3 'J/Jje5!? 21
'i'xb7 'J/Jjc3t 22 @fl .&!.ad8 23 !!el (23 .llxd8??
'J/Jjcli·) 23 ... 'J/Jjxa3 24 t2Jf5! (24 b5 +=) 24 ... Iid7
25 'J/Jjf3 'J/ijxb4 26 !:Ih4 ~2 27 ~f4! i:ifd8 28 i.c6
.lld2 29 ~g5 g6 (29 ... lbe8 30 ..be8 .l:!.xe8 31
idxg7!) 30 ltie3! 'J/Jjc3 31 .&!.c4! ~2 32 I!.f4! 'Llh5
("Forced; the way in which Capablanca has gained
time is extremely interesting.") 33 lbc4 f6 34 'J/Jjg4
~a2 35 ~e6t c;,t;,hs 36 .lle4 l'!d 1 37 llxd 1 (It
threatened 37 ... l'!elt 38 @:<el ~al#) 37 ...
llxdlt 38 c;,t;,g2 1-0 (Tartakover and Reinfeld)
13 Ca1>ablanca - Havasi D2 l
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 'Llf3 dxc4 4 e4 c5 5 i.xc4 cxd4 6
'Llxd4 t2Jf6 7 ~c3 a6 (on 7 ... i.c5?! see
Capablanca - Bogolyubov, Moscow 1925) 8 0-0
i.c5?! 9 .lte3 lbbd7? ("Allowing the sacrifice in
an even stronger form, since White has already
castled. But it is difficult to suggest a wholly
satisfactory move.") 10 .txe6! ("More of a sound
investment than a sacrifice: White will have three
Pawns and lasting attack to boot for the piece.") 10
... fxe6 11 'Llxe6 ~a5 ("The only move, now that
White is castled." 11 ... ~6? 12 lbxc5 'Llxc5 13
it"Ja4) 12 'Llxg7t @f7 13 lDf5 lbe5 14 ~3t! ~g6
[14 ... i.e6!? (Brinckmann) 15 itJh6t! c;,t;,e7 16
~xb7t t2Jfd7 17 'Lld5t i.xd5 18 ~xd5 ±] 15 Iiacl
i.f8! (It threatened 16 i.xc5 ~xc5 17 'Lle2!) 16
lbe2! h5 (16 ... lbxe4? 17 llxc8!) 17 .l:!.fdl! (17
i.b6 ~5 18 lbf4·1 ~h7 19 Ik7t .td7) 17 ... .l.'!g8
18 Q:\f4i· ~h7 19 i.b6 'J/ijb5 20 l:':ic7i· ~h8 (20 ...
!JJ..g7 21 ~xg8i·! or 20 ... .ltd? 21 lbd5 ! lbxd5 22
l;l.xd5 ~xb3 23 axb3 +-)
21 ~xb5! ("This seemingly 'dull' move is really
the point of departure for a chanuing
combination.") 21 .. . ax b5 22 iid8 ! l!ixa2 (22 ...
.txf5 23 l!ixa8 .txe4 24 llcc8!) 23 lldxc8 lbc4 24
h3! ll\.xb6 25 .llxf8! ("TI1e point:.. RxR would now
lead to mate in two.") 25 ... lbfd7 26 £!.f7 llxb2 27
lbd5 1-0 (Brickman, Becker and Reinfeld)
42
14 Capablanca - Marshall E38
1 d4 t2Jf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 i.b4 4 'J/Jjc2 c5 5 dxc5
i.xc5 (5 ... 0-0) 6 lbf3 lbc6 (6 ... d5) 7 a3 lbd4! 8
lbxd4 i.xd4 9 e3 i.xc3t 10 ~xc3 0-0 11 b4 d5 12
i.b2 dxc4 13 .ltxc4 .ltd7 14 !:Icl (14 0-0) 14 ... b5
15 i.e2 !k8 16 ~d4 £!.xclt 17 i.xcl ~·as 18 !JJ..f3
i.c6 19 i.xc6 ~xc6 20 0-0 ~c7 21 iidl £!.c8 22
i.b2 h6 23 h3 ~e7 24 lld2 a6 25 Wh2 ~c7t 26
'.tigl 'J/Jje7 27 f3 (27 ~6 lbe4 28 i!d4? lbxf2!) 27
... ~c7 28 'itlf2 a5! 29 ~e5 ~xe5 30 i.xe5 axb4
31 i.xf6 gxf6 32 axb4 !:Ic4 33 iid4 !ic2t 34 Wg3
l:':ib2 35 f4 c;,t;,g7 36 f5! exf5 37 @f3 c;,t;,g6 38 g3 h5
39 !if4 !ic2 40 iid4 112- 112
15 Capablanca - Spielmann A.32
1 d4 e6 2 ltif3 c5 3 c4 cxd4 4 lbxd4 lbf6 5 tl:ic3
i.b4 6 'J/Jjc2 lbc6 7 lbxc6 dxc6 8 a3 i.d6 9 i.g5
~a5 10 i.xf6 gxf6 11 e3 f5 12 i.e2 ~c7 13 g3 e5
14 0-0-0 i.e6 15 .l.'!d2 0-0-0 16 i:ihd 1 i.e7 17 i.d3
e4 18 .tfl llxd2 19 .llxd2 !id8 20 Iixd8t ~xd8 21
~dl ~xdlt 22 @xdl <t;c7 23 c;,t;,c2 a6 24 i.e2 b5
25 cxb5 axb5 26 b4 ~b6 27 i.fl i.d6 28 .lte2
iiJ..e7 29 c;,t;,b2 iiJ..f6 30 <t;c2 112- 112
16 Ca1>ablanca - H. Steiner D67
"One of the great Capablanca games. A slight
inaccuracy in the opening leaves Black exposed to
relentless pres~ure for the remainder of the game.
The exploitation of the open c-file is most
instructive." (R).
1 d4 ltif6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 d5 4 i.g5 lbbd7 5 e3 ilJ..e:
6 lbf3 0-0 7 .licl c6 8 iiJ..d3 dxc4 9 JJ..xc4 ltid5
("Using one of Capablancas favorite weapons
against him! However, Black soon misses
important finesse.") 10 i.xe7 'fiixe7 11 0-0 lbxc3
12 l!ixc3 b6? (12 ... e5!) 13 'J/Jjc2! c5 (13 ... iiJ..b7 14
.td3! h6 15 ilJ..e4 or 14 ... t2Jf6 15 lbe5 ±. "The text
is therefore forced. but it has the unfortunate
sequel of leading to the opening of lines which
will be controlled by White because of his superior
development.") 14 dxc5 lbxc5 15 b4! lba6 ["The
Kt is of course wretchedly placed here, but Black
has little choice:" 15 ... ltid7 16 ..td3! t2Jf6 (16 ...
h6 17 iic7! ~xb4 18 'J/Jjc6!; 16 ... 'i'xb4 17 i.xh7t
~h8 18 Iic4! 'i'e7 19 llh4 +-) 17 a3 i.d7 18 .llcl
±] 16 a3 ..tb7 17 ..td3 g6 18 .l:kl Ibd8 (18 ... lic8 19
.l:hc8! .l:txc8 20 ~xc8t +-) 19 lbe5 ~d6 (It
threatened 20 ..txa6 ..txa6 21 luc6) 20 f4 l2lb8 [20
... f6 21 lbxg6! hxg6 22 i.xa6 .ixa6 23 ~xg6t
~h8 24 b5! (24 e4?? ~d4i·!) 24 ... i.b7 (24 ...
i.xb5 25 ~5t) 25 e4 ~d4·1· 26 <t;fl!] 21 "f!.c7
i.a8 (21 ... !k8 22 lbxf7 llxf7 23 llxc8"!" i.xc8 24
'J/Jjxc8t .llf8 25 ~c3) 22 l'!xa7 lbc6 ("Hoping for
some complications, but Capablanca selects the
simplest and most conclusive course.") 23 l!ixa8!
lbxe5 24 !hd8 .l:::!.xd8

25 i.e2! 'i'c12 (25 ... ~7 26 !ldl ~8 27 °ii'd2) 26
°ii'xd2! ("Simplicity is still the keynote": 26 fxe5
~xe3i· 27 'it>hl .lld2 28 °ii'c8t ~g7 29 .i.f3 "ii'xa3
±) 26 ... 1lxd2 27 .llc8t ~g7 28 @fl ltid7 (28 ...
ibd3 29 .l:!.d8) 29 .lld8 ("Forcing the win of
exchange. This was the point of 23 Txa8! and it
was the logical outcome of Whites rentless
utilization of the c-file. ") 29 ... @f-'6 30 .i.bS .lld5 31
a4! (Much simpler than 31 ..ixd7 ~e7 32 .llb8
.l!xd7 33 Ll.xb6 .lla7 ±} 31 ... Ll.xb5 32 axb5 ~e7 33
1lc8! e5 34 .llc6! e4 35 'it>e2 f5 36 ~d2 Wf7 37
'.t>c3 1-0 ["A gem of a game".(R.) Tartakover and
Reinfeld.]
17 Merenyi - Capablanca B27
1 e4 c5 2 1£lf3 g6!? 3 c3 d5! 4 i.bSt?! (4 exd5
~xd5 5 d4) 4 ... ..id7 5 ..ixd7t (5 'i'e2 dxe4 6
..txd7i· 'i'xd7 7 "ii'xe4 1£lf6 =+) 5 ... 'i'xd7 6 exd5
("Having in mind a further simplification
involving the exchange of Queens, after which he
hopes the draw will become apparent because of
the diminution of material on the board. C.,
however, is not content with the half point and
extracts all that is possible from the position to
secure a win." 6 e5!?) 6 ... ·~xd5 7 d4 cxd4 8
'&xd4 'i'xd4 9 1£lxd4 e5! 10 ltibS? ("A plausible
move which would be effective enough if Black
were forced to reply 10 ... ltia6" 10 CLlf3) 10 ...
'.t>d7! ("With this and the next move Blacks King
becomes a fighting piece in its own right- an
extraordinary and rare occurrence for the second
player as early as the l 0th move.") 11 Ke2 Kc6!
("There is a good deal of impish humour behind
this move.") 12 a4 1£ld7 13 ..ie3 a6 14 .lldl ltigf6
15 ibd2 ("Temporarily, at any rate, White is able to
develop his pieces, but they will be rapidly driven
back and disorganised. Whites play is characterised
by a move-to-move combinational progress rather
than far-sighted positional playi.n~" 15 c4! followed
by ltic3-d5) 15 ... Itd8 16 loa3 ltJd5 17 lbdc4 b6!
("An important move with a double purpose; firstly,
it prevents Whites threatened ltia5t; secondly, it
foreshadows the positional idea of blocking
Whites Q side Pawns by an eventual ... a5 ") 18
nc12 i.xa3 19 1i'<a3 nhe8 20 lbd6? (''White
pursues his hand-to-mouth existence with a faulty
combination, permitting Black to obtain a
terrifyingly overwhelming position in the centre.)
20 ... .lle7! 21 c4 (21 1£lc4!) 21 ... ltixe3 22 fxe3
("With vague hopes of counter on the f-file." 22
@xe3!?) 22 ... ltJcS 1£le4 ("Ingeniously escaping
from material loss, but C.s next series of powerful
moves shows up the positional insufficiency of
Whites plan in glaring fashion.") 23 ... .llxd2t 24
1£lxd2 a5! ("This fixes the Q side for good.") 25 ltibl
Ll.d7 26 1£ld2 (26 1£lc3 1£ld3 27 .lla2 1£lb4) 26 ... e4
271£lb3 ltid3 281£ld4t ~5 29 b3 f5
30 Ila 1 ("Hoping for time to play .llfl, but now
Black crowns his fine play with a conclusive
positional sacrifice.") 30 ... iixd4! ("Black gives
up the exchange on the correct assumption that
the dominating position of his King and Kt will
prevent White from stemming the advance of his
K side Pawns.") 31 exd4t @xd4 32 g3 (32 h4!)
32 ... g5 33 b4!? f4! 34 c5 f3t 35 @fl e3 36 .llel
bxc5 37 .llxe3 ~xe3 38 bxa5 c4 0-1
(Brinckmann and Golombek).
18 Kmocb - Capablanca E24
1 d4 CLlf6 2 c4 e6 3 1£lc3 i.b4 4 a3 ..ixc3i· 5 bxc3
b6!? 6 °ii'c2?! (6 f3) 6 ... ..ib7 (6 ... 1£lc67e41£la5 8
..igS h6 9 ..ih4 ..ia6) 7 f3 d6 (7 ... d5) 8 e4 e5 9 ..id3
c5 10 1£le2 1£lc6 11 ..ie3 °ii'e7 12 0-0 0-0-0!? 13 a4!
ltia5 14 lbcl! ~c7? (14 ... 1£ld7!) 15 1£lb3 lb.'<b3 16
°ii'xb3 a5 17 ..igS! (It threatens .llbl!) 17 ... ..ic6 18
.llab 1 .llb8 19 d'<e5 d'<e5 20 f4! h6 21 ..ih4!? (21
..ixf6) 21 ... exf4 22 .llxf4 g5 23 .llxf6 °ii'xf6 24
..ig3t ~d7 25 .llfl °ii'g7 26 i.e2! ~7! (It
threatened 27 °ii'dlt!) 27 ~h5 f6 (27 ... .llhf8?? 28
..ixb8 or 27 ... .llbf8 28 °ii'xb6 +-)
(See diagram on next page)
28 ..ixb8? [28 e5 fxe5 (28 ... f5 29 .llxf5 ..ie8 30
.be8! !'thxe8 31 !'tf6!) 29 !'tf7t ~xf7 30..ixf7@xf7
43
31 iJ...xe5 llhe8 32 .llxb8 .l;!xb8 33 'l/Hc2 ±] 28 ...
.lhb8 29 e5! fxe5 30 mn W/xf7 31 .flxf7 <t>,;f7 32
Widl Jle8 33 Wid6 .l:ie6 34 Wic?t @g6 35 \'i'c8 (35
\\l\lxb6 e4 36 c.M2 e3t 37 @el oc) 35 ...c.M7 36 'il'c7t
@g6 37 \\Illes 11z- 11z
19 E. Steiner - Capablanca C74
1 e4 e5 2 l'Z:lf3 lbc6 3 .llb5 a6 4 iJ...a4 d6 5 c3
f5 ['Siesta Variation'. We note that the
move 5 . f5 turned up at the
Capablanca UMarshall match, too (1909),
but Capa was White then. The risky advance
of the f-Pawn changed into a gambit
opening by the Spanish which often got lost
in positional paths.] 6 exf5 iJ...xf5 7 d4 (7 0-0!?) 7
... e4 8 .llg5?! (8 'l/He2?! Marshall - Capablanca
1909; 8 d5?! Capablanca - H.lbteiner 1931;
8 lbg5!) 8 ... .lle7 9 lbh4 iJ...e6! 10 iJ...xe7 (10
d5? .llxg5 11 dxc6 b5 -+) 10 ... lbgxe711 'l:Wh5i·
g6 (11 ... .flf7?! 12 'i\'g4) 12 'l'i'h6 l2:lg8! ("Totally
unexrected. Black invites the white Queen
to g7 seemingly 'hospitably'." Linder) 13
'JJiff4 (13 'l/Hg7? 'l/Hxh4 14 'l/Hxh8 0-0-0 15 d5 lbf6
16 'l/Hg7 f!g8 17 'l/Hxg8·1· iJ...xg8 18 dxc6 e3! or 14
.llxc6t bxc6 15 'l:Wxh8 0-0-0 16 lba3 e3 17 0-0-0
e2 18 lldel lLlf6 19 'l/Hg7 'l/Hf4t 20 Wbl .llg8 21
Wf e7 lle8 22 'iikg7 'l/Hxf2 -+) 13 ... lbf6 14 lbd2 0-0
15 0-0 (15 C/Jxe4? C/Jxe4 16 'l/Hxe4 iJ...c4! 17 0-0-0
'tVg5t 18 Wbl llae8 19 lbf3 'l/Hxg2 or 15 ... lbh5!
16 'iikg5 lli4!) 15 ... d5 16 'ti'g5 (It threatened 16 ...
!:2:lh5 or 16 ... lbg4) 16 ... lbh5! 17 'l/Hxd8 lbxd8 18 g3
(It takes the burden of 18 ... g5 off the Knight,
but weakens the squares f3 and h3.) 18 ... iJ...h3
19 lbg2 lbe6 20 .llb3 c6 21 iJ...dl llae8 22 .llxh5
gxh5 23 f4 (23 llfel!? 24 Z!e3!?) 23 ... h4! 24 .llfel
(24 lbxh4!?) 24 ... lLxg3 25 lLxg3 .llxg2! (It would
have been dangerous to leave the Knight in a
blocked position.) 26 ~g2 '/J.e7 27 lbfl (27 .&rhl
Eg7 28 ~ e3t 29 ~e3 llxg3t 30 ~ .l:!g4) 27
... llg7! 28 Whl h5 29 c4!? (Waiting passively,
White's fate will be sealed sooner or later.)
29 ... lbxd4! 30 lled l lbf3 31 cxd5
44
31 ... h4! (According to some sources after the game
Capablanca stated that he had planned 31 ... '/J.xf4
here, but due to his excitement over an incident at
another chessboard, he was not patient enough to
compute his opponent's checks. His argument: 32
dxc6 llxg3! 33 lbxg3 '!J.h4t 34 Wg2 .&l.h2t 35 Wfl
e3! 36 lld8i· W 37 ild7t We8 38 lle7·1· ~e7 39
lbr5t ~6 40 lbxe3 bxc6 41 Zbell! (Euwe's
improvement. 41 lldl? .lixb2 -+) 41 ... llc2 "and
although Black should win, the course of the events
does not speak for this continuation in contrast to the
one in the game." Capablanca.) 32 d6 hxg3 33 Wg2
'Lih4 t 34 @g 1 g2? (34 ... CLJf5 ! -+) 35 lbh2 llxf4 36
Jld4! [36 d7 !!.flt! 37 l:.hfl (37 lbxfl? lbf3i·!) 37 ...
gxflW/t 38 Wxfl .l:ixd7] 36 ... lld7 37 llel! Q:\f5 38
.l:iclxe4 .l:ixe4 39 .l:ixe4 Exd6 40 l2:\f3 .l:ig6 41 .l:ie5
i'Lld6 42 Ee2 c.Ms 43 Exg2 .lH6 44 'Lie5 We7 45 .l:if2
Ee6 46 i'Lld3 .l:ie3 4 7 l2:lf4 C/Jc4 48 b3 t1Je5 49 C/Jg2? !
(49 Ee2! .l:Ig3t 50 Wf2 .l:if3t 51 Wg2 Exf4 52 Exe5'j"
@d6 53 Ee2 @c5 +) 49 ... Ec3 50 .l:ie2 @d6 51 c.M1
.l:icl t 52 c.M2 l2:ld3t 53 We3 l2:lb4 54 a3 llc3t! 55
Wd4 [55 Wd2 '/J.c2i· 56 Well llxe2 57 ~e2 lbc2 58
a4 l2:ld4 t] 55 ... llc2 ! 56 lle 1 c5t! 57 We4 llxg2 58
axb4 .l:ig4t 59 @d3 .l:ixb4 60 @c3 a5 61 .l:ial b6 62
.l:ia2 @c6 63 Ira l @b5 64 Ea2 a4 65 bxa4 t .l:ixa4 66
.l:ib2 t .l:ib4 67 .l:ih2 .l:Ig4 0-1
20 Vajda - CaJJablanca C49
l e4 e5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 lbc3 lbf6 4 .llb5 .llb4 5 0-0
0-0 6 d3 d6 7 iJ...g5 iJ...xc3 8 bxc3 ·JJile7 9 .llxc6
bxc6 10 .llb 1 h6 11 iJ...xf6 'l/Hxf6 12 lbd2 .lle6 13
.i'!b7 );!fb8 14 'JJiJb l 1h- 1h
Berlin 1928
I Capablanca 8 112 2 Nimzovitch 7 3 Spielmann
6,5 ./ Tartakover 5 1h 5-6 Rubinstein, Reti 5 :7
Marshall 4 1h
21 Ca1>ablanca - Spielmann D47
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 lbc3 lbf6 4 e3 e6 5 l2:\f3 lbbd7 6
iJ...d3 dxc4 7 iJ...xc4 b5 8 .lle2 (Capa favoured this
modestly aimed move during those years.) 8 ...
a6?! (8 ... b4; 8 ... .ib7) 9 0-0 (9 e4! b4 10 e5) 9 ...
.ib7 10 a3 c5 11 dxc5 lbxc5 12 b4 ~xd 1 13 I!.xd 1
l2:ib3 14 rl.bl ll:ixcl 15 I!.bxcl .ie7 16 l2:ie5 0-0 17
.ltf3 (17 l2:ixb5? axb5 18 '!J.c7 .id6! ! 19 !ixd6
l2::le8) 17 ... .ixf3 18 gxf3 .l:iac8 19 ltie4! l2:ixe4 20
fxe4 g6 21 ltic6 (21 !!xc8!? !:!xc8 22 I!.d7 .if6 23
l2:ixf7 .llc3 24 ltih6t Wh8 25 e5 .ih4 26 ltig4 .llxa3
27 c'tlf6 +=) 21 ... !lc7! 22 ltixe7t I!.xe7 23 .lld6
.lia8 24 e5 h5 !
25 c;,t;,g2 c;,t;,g7 26 .l:!.cc6 .l;!ea7 27 h4 (27 '!J.b6!?) 27
... a5! (Waiting idly is dangerous. The Rook is a
typical attacking piece, not really suitable for
defence.) 28 .i!b6 axb4 29 axb4 !'lc8 30 !!d4 (30
l!xb5 Ik4 31 .lld4 !'lxd4 32 exd4 !!d7 33 d5!?) 30
... .llc4 ! 31 !'lxc4 bxc4 32 !lc6 i!a2 33 Itxc4 '!J.b2 !
34 Wg3 .!.!bl 35 c;.t,f4 !!b2 36 f3 1Ih2 37 @g3 I!.b2
(Owing to the weakness of the h-pawn, the White
King cannot march onto the Queen's side.) 38 f4
f5! 39 exf6t! (Otherwise the White King
remains cut off. 39 !!c7t @f8 40 Itb7 c;,t;,gs 41
!!e7 !!xb4 42 !:!xe6 @f7 Remis. 39 e4!?) 39 ...
~xf6 40 Wf3 e5! 41 c;,t;,e4 (41 Il.c6t@f? 42 fxe5
l!xb4 +=, =) 41 ... exf4 42 Wxf4 Il.g2 43 @f3
!ib2 44 c;,t;,e4 g5 45 !ic6t c;,t;,g7 46 hxg5 !lxb4 t
47 Wf5 .llb5t 48 @f4 !!bl 49 Il.h6 II.flt 50 @e5
l:!hl 51 e4 h4 52 Wf5! (52 c;,t;,e6 h3 53 e5 h2 54
We7 ~e 1 55 .&l.xh2 !ixe5t) 52 ... h3 53 e5 h2 54
@e6 Wg8 55 .llg6i· Wh7 56 .llf6 Wg7 57 !if2
Wg6 58 .l'lg2 Wh7 59 We7! (In move 54 Black
was in Zugzwang; now White is in it.) 59 ...
~g7 60 e6 @g6 61 I!.f2 @g7! (61 ... Wxg5? 62
!ig2i" @f5 63 @f7!) 62 .lid2 @g6 63 @d7 Ital!
64 .llxh2 !!a7t 65 Wc8 .lle7 66 .l;!.e2 @f5 67 g6
.l:!xe6 68 g7 .l;!g6 112-112
22 Nimzovitch - Capablanca A34
1 c4 l2:if6 2 l2:ic3 c5 3 e4 ltic6 4 f4 (4 g3) 4 ... d6 5
d3 g6 6 i.e2 i.g7 7 .ie3 0-0 8 lbf3 .ig4 9 0-0
c'tld7 (9 .ixf3) 10 l2:ig5 .ixe2 11 ~xe2 l2:id4 12
.ixd4 .ixd4t 13 Whl .ig7 14 h4 e6 15 g3 a6 16
h5 .:lf6 17 Q:if3 112- 112 (17 ... .ixc5 18 bxc5 ~f6 =)
23 Marshall - Capablanca E 11
"Because Whites attack is not grounded in the
realities of the position, he suffers a stinging
setback." (R)
1 d4 l2:if6 2 ltif3 e6 3 c4 .ib4i· 4 .id2 ~e7 5
ltic3 (5 g3) 5 ... b6 (5 ... 0-0) 6 e3 .ixc3!? 7
.ixc3 ltie4 8 !!cl i.b7 9 i.d3 0-0 10 0-0 d6 (10
... ltixc3) 11 itid2 (11 .iel!) 11 ... l2:ixc3 12
lixc3 c5 ("Black has a shade better of it because
of his opponent's misplaced Rook. However,
White could doubtless have maintained equality
by some such move as l2:if3 or i.e4") 13 dxc5
dxc5 ("Because of the superior placement of his
Rooks, Black will be able to command the Q
file. But it is by no means certain that this factor
would have been absolutely decisive; whereas
the line of play White now adopts, leads to
irremediable ruin in a few moves.") 14 'i'h5?! h6
15 f4?! itld7 16 e4 e5! ["A simple but very
powerful reply: if now 17 fxe5 l2:ixe5 and Black
has pressure on the e4, which cannot hold out
very long, supplemented by play in the d-file,
supported the (18 f5? itif6 19 ~4 l2:ixe4!)] 17
ltif3 .llae8 18 ltih4 exf4 !
19 I!.xf4 (19 l2:if5 ~e5) 19 ... ~g5! ("Clearly
forcing a retreat.") 20 ~f3 l2:ie5 21 ~f2 lilxd3 22
lixd3 lixe4 ("Blacks position is still so
superior that the remainder offers a
minimum of technical difficulties.") 23 .l!xe4
i.xe4 24 lle3 f5! 25 h3 I!.d8 26 a3 '!J.dlt 27 Wh2
~f6 2s ~f4 g5!? c2s ... ~d6!) 29 !lg3 <J;ifs 30
~St .lld8 31 ~e5 ("Whites ingenuitv is wasted
on a barren cause.") 31 ... ~xe5 32 l2:ig61" ~ 33
lbxe5t Wf6 0-1 (Reinfeld).
24 Capablanca - Rubinstein D02
"This was Capablancas fast and only win against
Rubinstein. The play is quite intricate and
difficult, and the mam1er in which the Cuban
exploits his advantage is most instructive." (R).
45
 1 d4 d5 2 .:'bf3 c5 ("This is an attempt to take the
initiative away from White. What is best now is
difficult to say, but on general theory Black's
move should be faulty, because the second player
ca1mot, without serious risk, pretend to take the
initiative so early in the game against a natural
developing move like Kt-KB3") 3 dxc5!? e6 4 e4
("White plays to leave Black with an isolated
centre Pawn. The drawback to this system is that it
pennits Black to develop his pieces without the
slightest trouble. The isolated centre Pawn,
however, is a weakness which keeps Black
occupied all the time. It is yet to be proved
however, whether or not that weakness is enough
to justify the fonn of development adopted by
White in this game.") 4 ... ilxc5 (4 ... dxe4? 5
~xd8i- ~d8 6 C2lg5) 5 exd5 exd5 6 ilb5t
("White plays to castle quickly, before devoting
his attention to the isolated Pa\,\,11, The drawback
to this move is that sooner or later the B will have
to come back either to Q3 or K2, thus losing
time.") 6 ... l2:lc6 7 0-0 l2:lge7 8 C2lbd2 0-0 9 1Llb3
(See 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 1Lld2 c5 4 exd5 exd5 5
ilb5i- C2lc6 6 .:'bf3 ild6 7 0-0 C2le7 8 dxc5 ilxc5 9
C2lb3) 9 ... ilb6 10 I:!el ilg4 (It threatens 11 .. .
j)__xf2t!) 11 j)__d3?! [11 h3! (11 ile3 d4!) 11 .. .
~xf3! (11 ... hf2? 12 ~f2 'llVb6t 13 ile3 ilxf3
14 ~xb6 ~xdl 15 ~c5 +-; 11 ... ilh5 12 c3 ±) 12
'@'xf3 +=] 11 ... it:'ig6 12 h3 ilxf3 13 'iVxf3 C2lce5
14 ~f5 C2ixd3 15 ~xd3 d4?! (15 ... 'iVf6! 16 ile3
ihb2 17 ~xd5 j)__xe3 18 Ltxe3 =) 16 ild2! ~f6
17 I:!e4 I:!ad8?! ( 17 ... l2:le5 18 ~e2 1Llc6 or 17 ...
!!fd8 +=) 18 Z!ael ~c6 19 g3! ("A very important
move. It completely blocks the action of the Kt
at KKt:. and makes room for the King at KKt2.
The fact that there is no B along the white
diagonals makes the K position safe enough,
since White controls the only open file with his
Rooks." 19 ila5? f5! 20 l:!.e6 l2Jf4!) 19 ... Ll.fe8 (19
... h6 20 j)__b4 I:!fe8 21 .llxe8i- Ihe8 22 .l!xe8t
~xe8 231Llxd4 C2le5 24 'llVb5!; 19 ... f6 20 f4 ±)
46
20 .i.a5 ! (20 .llxe8t £!xe8 21 '!J.xe8-1- 'i\Vxe8 22
C2ixd4 ?? C2le5) 20 ... '!J.xe4 21 'iVxe4 (From now on
White is able to force the game.") 21 ... .:'bf8
(White wanted 22 ilxb6 'i\Vxb6 23 l:!.d 1 etc.) 21 ...
'iVxe4 22 l;txe4 ilxa5 23 l2:lxa5 f5 24 I:!e2) 22
'iVxc6 bxc6 23 '!J.e7 '!J.d5 [23 ... 1Lle6 24 ilxb6
axb6 25 .llb7 b5 26 '!J.b6 .llc8 27 l2:la5 C2id8 28 Wfl
± 23 ... d3 24 cxd3 l;txd3 25 ~xb6 axb6 26 llb7
!!dlt 27 @g2 '!J.bl (or 27 ... b5 28 C2la5 £!bl 29
l2:lxc6 .llxbl 30 C2le7t +-) 28 £!xb6 .i:lxb2 29 a4 c5
30 a5 c4 31 lt:ld4 c3 32 .l::!.c6 .l::!.a2 33 a6 ±] 24 ~xb6
axb6 25 l:;!.b7 1Lld7 26 l;tc7 '!J.d6 27 !:!.c8i- .:'bf8 28
C2id2 c5 (28 ... b5 29 1Llb3 and 30 l2:la5 ±) 29 C2lc4
I:!e6 30 I:!b8 !:!.e 1t 31 @g2 g5 32 a4 r!a 1 33 lbx b6
@g7 34 I:!c8 1Lle6 35 1Lld7 llxa4 36 l2:lxc5 I:!b4 (36
... 1Llxc5 37 I:!xc5 r.l.b4 38 b3!) 37 1Lld3 .l!b5 38
@f3 h6 39 b4 h5 40 g4 hxg4 t 41 hxg4 f6 42 llc4
@£7 43 l2:lc5! l2ld8 44 C2lb3 1-0
25 Tariakover - Capablanca C72
1 e4 e5 2 1Llf3 1Llc6 3 .ib5 a6 4 .ia4 d6 5 0-0 .id7
(5 ... .ig4) 6 C2lc3 (6 c3; 6 c4! ?) 6 ... g6 7 d4 j)__g7
8 dxe5 C2lxe5 9 j)__xd7t ~xd7 10 C2ixe5 j)__xe5 11
it:'id5 C2le7 12 j)__h6 1Llxd5 13 exd5 0-0-0 14 c3 ~b5
15 ~d2 'i\Vc4 16 I:!fel I:!de8 17 h3 j)__f6 18 ~f4
~xf4 19 .ixf4 @d7 20 @fl 1h- 1h
26 Capablanca - Reti D5 l
1 d4 1Llf6 2 c4 e6 3 C2lc3 d5 4 .ig5 C2lbd7 5 e3 c6 6
a3 (The aim is to avoid the then very popular
Cambridge-Springs variation.) 6 ... .ie7 7 .:'bf3 0-0
8 ~c2 a6 9 cxd5 exd5 10 .id3 lle8 11 0-0 l2:le4?
(Overlooking a pawn.) 12 j)__xe4! dxe4 13 C2lxe4
f6?! 14 j)__f4 .:'bf8 15 C2lc5 l2:le6?! 16 ~c4! ~d5 17
~xd5 cxd5 181Llxe6 j)__xe6 19 '!J.fcl '!1.ac8 20 j)__c7!
(Where it was necessary Capablanca forced the
exchange, but now avoiding it gives more
chances.) 20 ... j)__d7 21 llc3! j)__c6 22 j)__b6 .id6 23
llacl f5 24 g3 @£7 25 1Lld2! g5 26 C2lb3 .&l.e6 27
l2:la5 j)__b8 28 .lib3 f4 29 exf4 gxf4 30 C2ixc6 l:!exc6
31 I:!xc6 bxc6 32 .ic5 .ic7 33 llb7 @e6 34 @g2
@f5 35 @£3 h5 36 b4 fxg3 37 hxg3 a5
38 bxa5 ! ..txa5 39 .lJ.f7t Wg6 40 I!.f8 I!.c7 41 .lla8
i!f7t 42 '.t>e2 1-0
27 S1>ielmann - Capablanca D15
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 l2:lc3 lbf6 4 l2:lf3 ..tf5 5 cxd5
lbxd5 6 e3?! e6 7 ..td3 i.b4 8 '@'c2 ..txd3 9 ~xd3
·~a5 10 ..td2 '@'a6 11 ~xa6 l2:lxa6 12 'Dxd5 cxd5
13 i.xb4 l2:lxb4 14 Wd2 We7 15 Ll.hcl Z!hc8 16
lbe5 f6 17 i2:ld3 'Dxd3 18 '.t>xd3 Wd6 19 f3 !!c6 20
.llxc6t bxc6 21 I!.cl .lJ.b8 22 b3 l::!b5 23 .l:!.c3 1h- 1h
28 Ca1>ablanca - Nimzovitch E34
1 d4 'Df6 2 c4 e6 3 'Dc3 ..tb4 4 ~c2 d5 5 e3?! c5
6 .:'2lf3 lbc6 7 a3 .ltxc3t 8 bxc3 0-0 9 a4 cxd4 10
cxd4 Ci'ie4 11 ..te2 ~a5t 12 i.d2?! (12 'Dd2! ~c3
13 ~xd 'Dxc3 14 ..tf3; 12 ... l2:lc3 13 i.d3; 12 ...
lbb4 13 ~3! +=) 12 ... 'Dxd2 13 ~xd2 dxc4 14
i.xc4 b6 15 ..tb5 ~xd2i· 16 lbxd2 112- 112
29 Ca1>ablanca - Marshall E70
1 d4 .:Z:\f6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 g6 4 'Dc3 ..tg7 5 e4 d6 6
Jtd3 0-0 7 Ci'ige2 lbbd7?! (7 ... e6!? 7 ... lba6!?) 8
.ltc2 'Db6? 9 b3 e6 10 dxe6! fxe6 11 0-0 d5? (11 ...
e5) 12 .1.g5! 12 ... ~e8?! (12 ... d4? 13 e5! dxc3
14 ~xd8! .llxd8 15 exf6 +- 12 ... h6! 13 i.xf6
'\/iixf6 14 exd5 exd5 15 cxd5 .!tf5! += ±) 13 exd5
exd5 14 cxd5 i.g4!'.' 15 f3 .!tf5 16 .!txf5 g.-,,:f5 17
1\Yd3 Ed8 18 Eadl l'Z:ibxd5 19 ~c4 ~f7 20 .!txf6
ZZ:ixf6 21 fhc5 f4 22 ~xa7 lZld5 23 lZlxd5 Exd5 24
@hl .l::!.e5 25 luc3 .l:ie3 26 tZ:ie4 Ee2 27 .l::!.f2! 'il'd7!?
28 .l:!.xd7! .lJ.elt 29 .llfl Z!xflt 30 ~gl l!xgli· 31
~gl !l.c8 32 h4 b5 33 .l:l.b7 !!as 34 'Dg5! ..td4t
35 Wh2 i.e3 36 'Dxh7 I!.xa2 37 'Df6t Wf8 38 lbd5
~a 1 39 llxb5 i.g 1t 40 Wh3 ..tf2 41 Wg4 llh 1 42
h5 !!h4t 43 '.t>g5 ..tg3 44 '.t>g6 wes 45 h6 ..th2 46
h7 1-0
30 Rubinstein - Capablanca D05
1 d4 e6 2 lbf3 lbf6 3 e3 c5 4 ibbd2 d5 5 a3 ("This
modest-looking move is one of the distinctive
feamres of Rubinsteins idea; as will be seen later
on, it develops the QB with gain of tempo - a very
economical manoeuvre.") 5 ... lbbd7 (5 ... 'Dc6) 6
dxc5 Jtxc5 7 b4 ..te7 8 ..tb2 0-0 (8 ... a5!?) 9 c4
dxc4 (9 ... a5 10 c5 a:,) 10 lb.xc4 lbb6 11 lb.xb6
'@'xb6 12 ..td3 ..td7 13 ..td4! ("Very strong!") 13
... ~c6 (13 ... '@'d8!?) 14 0-0! (14 llcl '@'a4 15
~xa4 i.xa4 16 .llc7 ..td6!) 14 ... ~d5 15 ~e2
llic8 (15 ... ~5!? 16 'De5 '@'xe2 17 i.xe2 ..ta4!
18 ..tf3 i2:ld5 oc,)16 .l:l.adl ("White must now win a
Pawn by force.") 16 ... ~3! 17 ..txf6! i.xf6 18
..txh7t Wxh7 19 I!.xd7 Wg8 20 h4?! ["An over
refinement by which White loses the fruits of his
previous fine play." 20 Zixb7! °@'xa3 21 g4! g6! (21
... a5?! 22 g5 ..tc3 23 g6! fxg6!? 24 ~d3 Wh7 25
t'Zle5 + - or 21 ... ·~3 21 lld 1 lld8 ! 22 .llxd8 Exd8
23 ~b5 ±) 22 g5 .!tg7 23 t'Lld2 .l:iab8! +=] 20 ... ~xa3
21 l'Z:ig5!? .!txg5 22 hxg5 'il'xb4 23 ~f3 \\l\lf8! 24
.l:ixb7 a5! ("Best. Black can only prevent White from
establishing his Rooks on the 7th by giving up the
QRP. and even then he would have to be content with
a defensive position with an eventual loss in sight.")
25 .l:idl! a4! (25 ... .l:id8 26 Exd8 Exd8 27 .l::!.a7!) 26
.l:idd7 ("Whites position now seems overwhelming,
but Black puts his trust in the QRP, and rightly so.")
26 ... a3! 27 I!.xf7 a2! 28 I!.xg7t ·~xg7 29 llxg7t
~g7 30 ~f6t '.t>g8 31 ~g6t '.t>fs 32 ~f6t 112- 112
(Golombek).
31 Ca1>ablanca -Ta1iakover COl
1 d4 e6 2 e4 d5 3 exd5 exd5 4 i.d3 i.d6 5 'Df3
~e7t 6 ~e2 °@'xe2t 7 '.t>xe2 'De7 8 l!el 0-0 9 Wfl
..tf5 10 ..txf5 l2:lxf5 11 'Dc3 c6 12 ..td2 'Dd7 13
r!e2 .i:!fe8 14 Z!ael Wf8 15 .l!xe8t I!.xe8 16 .llxe8t
'.t>xe8 'h-'h
32 Reti - Capablanca C74
1 e4 e5 2 l2:lf3 lbc6 3 ..tb5 d6 4 c3 a6 5 ..ta4 f5 6
d4 ?! fxe4 7 'Dg5 (7 l2:lxe5 !?) 7 ... exd4 8 lb.xe4
'Df6 (8 ... i.f5 9 ~xd4 ~e7 10 f3 b5 +) 9 ..tg5
..te7 10 '@'xd4? (10 ..txf6 ..txf6 11 ·~st Wf8! +:
10 ..txc6t! bxc6 11 ~xd4 0-0 12 l2:lxf6t i.xf6 13
..txf6 ~xf6) 10 ... b5! 11 lb.xf6t gxf6! 12 '@'d5
bxa4 (12 ... fxg5? 13 ..tdl '@'d7 14 ..tg4! °@'xg4 15
°@'xc6t) 13 Jth6 ~d7! (13 ... i.d7?? 14 '@'h5#!; 13
... i.b7? 14 ~St followed 15 '@'f5t =) 14 0-0 (14
47
j_g7 't!Ve6t 15 't1Vxe6 i.xe6 16 i.xh8 <;t,t7 + -+) 14
... ..iib7 15 ..ag7 0-0-0 16 ..axh8 l'.be5! 17 °li'dl
17 ... Jif3!! (17 ... !I.xh8 18 'Dd2 !Ig8 19 f3 ~3 20
~e2) 18 gxf3 (18 ~d4 ~3! !) 18 ... 't!Vh3 0-1
33 Tarrasclt - Ca1>abfanca C71
1 e4 e5 2 e£\f3 ltic6 3 i.b5 ab 4 i.a4 d6 5 d4 (5
u-0; 5 c3; 5 itxc6t) 5 ... i.d7 (5 ... b5!?) 6 cb::e5
.:iJxeS 7 i.xd7t e£\xd7!? 8 0-0 i.e7 9 ltic3 ltigf6
10 c'tld4 0-0 11 lt!f5 g6! 12 ltixe7i· 't!Vxe7 13 i.h6
!Ife8 14 !!.el ~e5 15 'i'd2 e£\c5 16 f3 ltie6 17 i.e3
.liad8 18 e£\d5 itid7 19 c3 c6 20 itlf4 itidf8 21
!!.adl ~a5 22 a3 d5 23 exd5 ltixf4 24 i.xf4 !!.xelt
25 ~xel iixd5 26 .l'hd5 ~xd5 27 ~e5?! 't1Vxe5 28
.1.xe5 itld7 29 i.d6?! f6 30 Wf'2 <tJf7 31 c4 (31
@e3 @e6 32 i.g3 @d5 =+) 31 ... 'it>e6 32 i.f4 gS!
33 i.e3 ltie5 34 b3
34 ... g4! 35 We2 gxf3t 36 gxf3 @£5 37 i.d4 itld7
38 Wf'2 c5 ! 39 i.e3 ltie5 40 We2 b6 41 i.d2 a5 42
.icl a4! 43 bxa4 ltixc4 44 Wd3 ltie5t 45 We2
We6 46 f4 ltic4 4 7 Wd3 @d5 48 f5 e£\e5t 0-1
The l 1/i point victory in Berlin is one of
Capablanca's six best results. (San Sebastian 1911,
London 1922, New York 1927, Moscow 1936,
Nottingham 1936.) The Cuban won the
tournament very convincingly, and, after having
48
waited for 17 years, he took his revenge on
Rubinstein for the defeat in San Sebastian. Our
hero played several remarkable games, so the
inner value of his victory is also high. Everybody
who mateered, with the exception of Alekhine and
Bogoljubow, was there at the elite tournament.
The tournament was originally planned for 8
participants, but Dr. Tarrasch became ill and
withdrew from the tournament (following his
defeat against Capablanca). He never enrolled in a
tournament again.
CONSULTATION GAMES - 1928
Rio de Janeiro - 1928
34 Cruz, Mandes and Pulcltedo-
Ca1>ablanca A47
1 d4 ltif6 2 c'tlf3 b6 3 g3 i.b7 4 i.g2 c5 5 0-0
cxd4 6 e£\xd4 i.xg2 7 Wxg2 g6 8 c4 i.g7 9 cbc3
't1Vc8 10 b3 .:bc6 11 i.b2 0-0 12 't)f3 d6 13 ~d2
°fifS 14 Ziad 1 !iac8 15 Iife 1 e£\e4 16 c'tlxe4 ~xe4
17 itxg7 Wxg7 18 ~d3 ~xd3 19 exd3? l:!fd8 2G
!!.e2 (20 d4 d5 21 c5 e6 22 a3 bxc5 23 dxc5 a5
=+) 20 ... e6 21 lk 1 l!d7 22 a3 h6 23 b4 (23 d4
ltia5!) 23 ... @£6 24 Iiec2 g5 25 h3 h5 26 b5
ltie5 27 ltiel !idc7 28 @fl (28 !!.e2 d5!)
28 ... h4! 29 a4 g4! 30 hxg4 hxg3 31 f3 Wg5! 32
Wg2 @£4 33 Iie2! f5 34 gxf5 exf5 35 d4 !ih7! (35
... c'tlg6 36 tti<l3t c;,t;,g5 37 c5! 00 ±) 36 dxe5 iih2t
37 @fl !!.ch8 38 .llg2 dxe5 39 c5! bxc5 40 .l.'!xc5
e4 41 fxe4 fxe4 42 'fl.c7 ~hli· 11z_11z [43 !!gl (43
c;,t;,e2 rl.8h2 44 l:tf?t We5 45 iifl !ixg2t 46 ltixg2
!!.xfl 47 Wxfl ~4 =) 43 ... Ii1h7 44 iixh7 .l!xh7
45 'fl.g2 .llhlt 46 c;,t;,e2 !!.h2 47 @dl c;,t;,e5 48 !ixg3
Lia2 =]
Havana - 1928
35 Blanco, J.Corzo and Gelabe11-
Ca1>ablanca B 18
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e£\c3 dxe4 4 ltixe4 itf5 5 e£\g3
i.g6 6 ttif3 Q:)d7 7 i.d3 itlgf6 8 c3 (8 0-0 e6 9 c4!)
:;: ... eo 9 .llf4 ~d5 10 .s.l.g5 'tt'b6 11 .l!bl h6 12
i:.d Jtxd3 13 '&xd3 ·~5! 14 c4 tfa5i·!? (14 ...
~h6) 15 ..'id2 'Llb4 16 ·~3 '&xa2!? ("The
difference between X and myself, the Master says.
is that both of us would go to the arse of a dog for
a pawn, but he would even et!joy it.") 17 '&xa2
t2::ixa2 18 b4 (18 c5 e5!) 18 ... tllb6! 19 lbe5? (19
c5 lbc4 20 lbe5 ctJxe5 21 dxe5 0-0-0 22 Iib2
'llxb4 23 .ixb4 .lld5; 19 .llb2 lbxc4 20 Iixa2
tbxd2 ro) 19 ... Iid8? (19 ... i.d6! 20 c5 i.xe5 21
dxe5 lbc4) 20 lbe2 i.d6 21 c5 i.xe5 22 cxb6 i.f6
23 .l:l.b2? (23 bxa7!) 23 ... axb6 24 Iixa2 i.xd4 25
J:!a7?! (25 lbxd4) 25 ... i.xf2t! 26 Wxf2 Iixd2 27
Exb7 0-0! 28 .llxb6 Iia8 29 .l:!.xc6 Iiaa2 30 .lle 1
J:idb2 11z_ 11z (31 Iib6 Iia4)
SIMULTANEOUS with Clocks -1928
Stockholm - 1928
36 Ca1,ablanca - Nyholm A04
1 t2::if3 e6 2 g3 f5 3 .ig2 lbf6 4 0-0 i.e7 5 lbc3 0-0
6 d3 d6 7 lbel lbc6 8 d4 d5 9 i.f4 i.d6 10 lbf3
1.xf4 11 gxf4 lbe4 12 e3 i.d7 13 @hl Iif6 14
'ilfel Z!h6 15 Iigl '&e8 16 i.fl ~5 17 i.e2 lbf6
18 .l:!.g5 '&h3 19 .llg3 ~5 20 ~fl ctJg4 21 h3 '&f7
22 ·~g2 lZ'if6 23 tlle5 lbxe5 24 fxe5 f4 25 exf4
tbe4 26 Z!g4 Iif8 27 lbxe4 dxe4 28 @h2 .llg6 29
l:!xg6 hxg6 30 ~g5 '&xf4t 31 't'Vxf4 .llxf4 32 @g3
Iif8 33 i.g4 Wf7 34 c4 1-0
37 Dahl - Caf)ablanca E30
1 d4 'Df6 2 c4 e6 3 ctJc3 i.b4 4 i.g5 h6 5 i.xf6
Wfxf6 6 lbf3 c5 7 e3 lbc6 8 Iic 1 cxd4 9 exd4 0-0
10 i.d3 d5 11 0-0 dxc4 12 i.xc4 Iid8 13 lbe4 ~f4
14 '&d3 .td7 15 a3 i.e7 16 i.a2 .i..e8 17 Iifdl
l:l.ac8 18 g3 ~f5 19 ~e3 ~5 20 b4 a5 21 lbc5
Wh8 22 .i..c4 ~6 23 lba4 ~a7 24 b5 lbb8 25 b6
WJa8 26 'Llc5 ctJd7 27 lb.'<d7 .llxd7 28 lbe5 .lld6 29
.:Ug4 Iidc6 30 i.d3 !l.xc 1 31 Iixc 1 i.xa3 32 Iic7
!he: 33 bxc7 'of¥c8 34 't'Ve5 @g8 35 d5 i.d7 36
dxe6 .i.xe6 37 ~xa5 Sld6 38 lbe3 ~xc7 39 't'Va8;·
ffb8 40 ~a5 b6 41 ~5 i.f8 42 lbf5 '&d8 43 '&f3
g6 44 t2::ih4 °&d4 45 .tfl @g7 0-1
1929
Ramsgate - 1929
/ Capablanca 5 1h 2-3 Rubinstein, Miss
Menchik 5 ./-5 Mar6czy, Koltanowsky 4 1/z 6
Soultanbeieff 4 7 Znosko-Borowsky 3
(The tournament was organised in a Scheveningen
system; 7 foreigners played against 7 Britons).
i Price- Ca1>ablanca El6
I d4 '8f6: c4 e6 3 ~3 b6 4 g3 i.b7 5 .\%.g2 i.b4i"
'J '1'.Jbd2?! 0-0 '7 0-0 .tlc6 (7 ... d5; : ... c5) 8 ~c2
l8 a.3 ~xd2 9 .lixd2 tbe4) 8 ... d5 9 e3 (9 cxd5; 8
38 Stoltz - Ca1>ablanca E 16
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 'Df3 b6 4 g3 i.b7 5 .ig2 .tb4 ·1·
6 .1.d2 'fie7 7 0-0 0-0 8 lbc3 d6 9 '&c2 c5 10 Iiadl
i.xc 3 11 .1.xc3 ctJe4 12 .1.e 1 f5 13 dxc5 bxc5 14
'Lld2 lbf6 15 e4 ctJc6 16 f4 lbd4 17 '&d3 Iiab8 18
b3 lbg4 19 h3 lbh6 20 .tf2 e5 21 .lldel Z!be8 22
b4 ~d7 23 b5 Iie7 24 a4 fxe4 25 lbxe4 g6 26 fxe5
i.xe4 27 i.xe4 che5 28 i.d5i· @g7 29 @g2 'Llhf5
30 g4 lbd6 31 .1.h4 .l!!ee8 32 Iixf8 Iixf8 33 Iixe5
@h8 34 .lle7 't'Vd8 35 '&e3 lbxc4 36 .1.xc4 '*'*'a8·1·
37 '&e4 0-1
39 Ca1>ablanca - Lundin C90
1 e4 e5 2 lbf3 '1Jc6 3 i.b5 a6 4 .1.a4 'Llf6 5 0-0
i.e7 6 .llel b5 7 i.b3 d6 8 c3 lba5 9 ! 9 .1%.c2 c5 10
d4 'fic7 11 lbbd2 .1.g4?! (11 ... 0-0 12 a4!) 12 h3
.th5 13 d5 0-0 14 'Dfl lbb7 15 g4 i.g6 16 lbg3
lbd7 17 h4! f6 18 h5 .1.e8 19 a4 tllb6 20 a5! '1Jc4
21 b4 g6 ! 22 hxg6 hxg6 23 Wg2 .td7 24 ctJh4
@g7
25 lbgf5i·! ! gxf5 26 gxf5 .llg8 27 'fih5 .1.e8 28
lbg6 i.d8 29 W! 1-0 (29 ... Wf7 30 .llhl!)
*
Capablanca played a simultaneous against the
seven best players in Sweden. From among his
young opponents Lundin and Stoltz became
well-known grandmasters later.
a3) 9 ... .1.d6 10 b3 "dlle7 11 a3 lbd8 12 .1.b2 Z!c8
13 c5? (13 lbe5) 13 ... bxc5 14 dxc5 .1.xc5 15 'Llg5
e5 (else 16 i.xf6) 16 i.h3 Iib8 17 b4 i.d6 18 f4
e4! 19 lbdf3!
(See diagram on next page)
19 ... .1.c8! 20 i.xc8 Iixc8 21 lbh4 (21 lbd4 'ffd7
22 f5 h6 23 lbh3 lbg4 24 "dlie2 lbe5 =+) 21 ... 't'fd7
22 Iiadl c6! 23 @g2 (23 i.xf6?? gxf6) 23 ... t2:le8
24 f5 f6 25 lbh3 lbf7 26 'Df4 .'&.xf4! 27 Iixf4 [27
exf4 lbed6 28 g4 g5!? or 28 ... h5!?] 27 ... 4Jed6
28 't'Ve2 lbe5! 29 .'&.d4 ctJb5 30 i.b2 9 ! 'Lld3 31
49
Iiffl (31 .l.'!xd3!?) 31 ... c5! 32 bxc5 .l:!.xc5 33 a4
ti:ic3 34 .ixc3 l!xc3 35 Zia 1 Iib8 36 Lifb 1 I!.xb l!
37 !'lxb 1 ~c8 38 @h3 g5 0-1
2 Ca1>ablanca - Sergeant 030
1 c4 e6 2 ti:if3 d5 3 d4 lbf'6 4 .ig5 .ie7 5 e3 cbbd7
6 cbbd2 (Capa favoured this grouping, the aim
of which is that the Knight can take on c4
after ... dxc4.) 6 ... 0-0 7 l!icl b6 (7 ... c5!?) 8
cxd5 .!:bxd5 (8 ... exd5!) 9 .ixe7 .!:bxe7 10 .id3
~b7? (10 ... c5) 11 ~c2 c5 12 i.xh7t c;,t;,h8 13
~e4 cbd5 14 0-0 .l:!.c8 · 15 'i'a4 i.c6 16 ~a3 ( 16
16 'i'xa7? Iia8) 16 ... f5 17 i.xd5 .ixd5 18
!!.fdl c4 19 Ziel! 'i'c7 (19 ... ct\f6 20 cbe5) 20
e4! fxe4 21 cbg5! ctJf6 22 'i'h3t @g8 23
cbdxe4 'i&'f4 24 tilxe6! ~xe6 25 ~xe6·1· @h8
2 6 Iic3 ! Iice8
27 .!:bxf6! 1-0
31 Yates - Ca1rnblanca C76
1 e4 e5 2 ti:if3 cbc6 3 ~b5 a6 4 f.i..a4 d6 5 0-0 .id7
6 c3 g6 7 d4 Jfi..g7 8 i.e3 (8 dxe5!?) 8 ... cbge7 9
c4!? exd4 10 cbxd4 0-0 11 cbc3 cbxd4 12 .ixd4
.ixa4 13 .!:bxa4 .i.xd4 14 'i'xd4 cbc6 15 'i'd2 'i'f6
16 Ziad 1 (16 cbc3 ~d4 17 Iifd 1 'i'xc4 18 ctJd5
@h8 <x:>) 16 ... ~e6 17 ~e2 f5 18 cbc3 fxe4 19
~xe4
50
19 ... b5! 20 b3 (20 cxb5 axb5 21 '§'xb5 'i1fxe4
22 !!fe 1 Llab8 23 '§'a6 l'!b6) 20 ... bxc4 21 bxc4
Iiab8 22 Iifel! l'!b4 23 a3! Iia4 (23 ... !ixc4? 24
ct\f6t!) 24 'i'h2 cbe5 (24 ... 'i'xc4? 25 !k 1 '@'d5
26 '§'c2; 24 ... Iixc4? 25 cbxd6!) 25 cbc5! dxc5
26 l!ixe5 'i'f6 (26 ... ~xc4? 27 !ie7) 27 fie2
Iixa3 28 Ziel (28 .i!e6 I!a2! 29 lixf6 fixe2 30
iixa6?? iifxf2) 28 ... Iib3 29 h3 Iib6 30 ~e3
.llb2 31 f3 ~f4! 32 ~xf4 Iixf4 33 l!xc5 Iif7
34 !fa 1 .l'!d7 35 !ha6 I!.dd2 36 .l::!.xc7 11z_ 112
4 Ca1>ablanca - Michell A25
1 c4 e5 2 cbc3 ct\f6 3 g3 cbc6 4 .ig2 g6 5 d3
.ig7 6 .id2 cbe7?! 7 ct\f3 d6 8 0-0 0-0 9 ~c 1
ctJh5 ! 10 .ih6 f5 11 .ixg7 @xg7 12 e3 h6 13
ctJe2 .ie6 14 'i'c3 c;,t;,h7 15 ctJd2 c6 16 Iiae 1!
~d7 17 f4 exf4 18 ct\xf4 cbxf4 19 gxf4 .l!ae8
20 Iif3 ctJg8 21 .l:!.g3 ct\f6 22 .if3 d5! 23 b3
Iid8 24 d4 (It threatened 24 ... dxc4) 24 ...
l2:ie4 25 .!:bxe4 fxe4 26 i.e2 ~e7 27 .l!fl Iif7
28 ~a5 a6 29 Iif2 ..i.f5 30 l!ifg2 Iid6 31 .ig4!
.ixg4 32 Iixg4 'i'd7 33 h4 Iif5 34 c5 ! Iidf6 35
a4 'i'e7 36 '§'b6 Iie6 37 'i'a5 Iih5 38 '@'e 1 !!f6
39 b4 'i'd7 40 'i'g3 ~e6 41 !ib2 Iihf5 42 ~g2
Iif7 43 b5 axb5 44 axb5 !ic7 45 @h2 W?f6 46
~fl h5?! (46 ... Iif7! 47 bxc6 bxc6 48 'i1Ha6?
Iih5 49 c;,t;,g3 g5!) 47 l!ig5 .l!xg5?! ("This
exch:rnge can also be criticized because no\\
the problem child of White, Bh4, gets into a
covered position and moreover White is
threatened by a breakthrough. f4-f5. ") 48 hxg5
~f5 49 '§'h3! ~xh3t? (49 ... @g7 50 ~xf5
gxf5 51 Wg3 @g6 52 @h4 ±) 50 Wxh3 ~g?
(See diagram on next page_1
51 c;,t;,h4 ! ("This would not have been possible
if Black had not exchanged.") 51 ... Wf7 52
bxc6 bxc6 53 l1.b8 !'!.e7 [53 ... Iia7 54 Iic8 .lla3
55 .l!c7t @f8 56 Iixc6 .l!xe3 (56 ... Wf7 57 Iic7i·
@f8 58 f5!) 57 Iixg6 Iid3 58 @xh5 iixd4 59 !!.e6
-r-] 54 !ic8 !ie6 55 l!c7t c;,t;,g8 56 c;,t;,g3! @f8 57 f5!
gxf5 58 Wf4 'fle7 59 'flxc6 h4 60 lih6 l;tg7 61
l:1xh4 1-0
5 Winter - Capablanca E43
"A subtle, difficult game, in which Capablanca
makes quite a few far from obvious moves." (R)
l <l4 l2:lf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 ilb4 4 lbf3 b6 5 e3 ilb7
6 2.d3 0!Je4 7 ~c2 (7 0-0!?) 7 ... f5 ("Capablanca
seems to be playing for the control of KS - yet
at the very next move he has a change of
heart.") 8 0-0 l2:lxc3?! (8 ... ilxc3 9 bxc3 0-0 10
lLlel += "Instead Capablanca drops the
hypermodern motif and actually exchanges the
long-range Bishop.") 9 bxc3 ilxf3 10 gxf3
~g5t 11 whl ilc!6 12 f4 ~6 13 ligl (13 f3! o-o
14 'lfYcl2! c5?! 15 d5 ±) 13 ... l2:lc6! ("Capablancas
intention, when making the previous
exchanges, must have been to create
weaknesses in his opponents Pawn position,
with the idea of exploiting them later on.") 14
'@°e2 ~f6 15 'viff3 0-0 16 ild2 g6 17 rl.g2 'flf7 18
l:!agl ("Blacks last two moves should have
been sufficient indication that a King-side
attack is doomed to failure. But Winter
stubbornly continues with his faulty plan.") 18
... l:l.af8 19 ~5 'flg7 ("Putting an end to the
transparent threat of .i:hg6i". If now 20 ~6
ftlcl8 21 h4? 9 lbf7 and the Queen lost!") 20 ~3
ftle'7 21 ilel 'viff7 22 f3 lbc8 23 ilh4 ile7
!"Capablanca has timed his last few moves
with a view to preventing Lg5-h6") 24 ilxe7
the725 '*Vg3 d5 1) 26 e4?! (26 h4 ro)
(See diagram next colunm)
26 ... fxe4 27 fxe4 dxe4 28 ilxe4 'vif d6 29 'flf2
("The logical course is now 29 ... R/2/-B2 to
strengthen the pressure on the KBP. But this
would be a serious bl under.") 2 9 ... l2:le7 ! [2 9
... l:l.7f7 9 30 ilxg6 ! hxg6 31 ~xg6i· Wh8 32
!tf3! .l':!h7 (32 ... ~c6 33 d5!) 33 '*Yxh7i"!!] 30
!tel 'flgf7 31 'flefl l2:lf5! ("Forcing the
following exchange, in view of the threat of
l2:lg7-h5") 32 ilxf5 'flxf5 33 Wr,1 '®'c6 34 '®'d3
Wh8 ! ("Threatening .... g5 and thus forcing the
following weakening reply. White is very
much on the defensive and Capablanca in his
element.") 35 h4? ! llh5 36 'flg2 'flhf5 3 7 'flgf2
'*Vd6 38 '®'e3 'vif d8! (White must consent to the
following exchange, for on some such move
as 39 ~g3 there follows 39 ... ·JJUf6# and
eventually h4-f4# with new pressure") 39
'®'xe6?! (39 '®'g3 ± ro) 39 ... 'i'xh4 40 '*Ve3 'flh5
41 !lg2 'i'h 1i" 42 ~2 'i'h3! ("This leaves
White without a satisfactory reply, for it 43
'®'xh3 llxh3 and Whites Pawns are due for a
massacre." 43 '*Vf3 'flxf4! 44 '*Vxf4 'flf5 45 '®'xf5
'®'xf5i" 46 Wg l ~d3 -+) 43 '®'g3 '&e6! ("Winning
a Pawn, with more in sight.") 44 Kgl Dxc4 45
Tel Df7 46 Tf2 Tf5 47 Te4 g5 0-1 (Reinfeld
and Golombek).
6 Capablanca -Tylor Al5
l c4 0!Jf6 2 lbf3 g6 3 b4 ilg7 4 ilb2 0-0 5 g3
c6 6 2.g2 d5 7 cxd5 lbxd5 8 ilxg7 Wxg7 9
'tVb3 '®'b6 10 a3 a5 11 l2:lc3 axb4 12 l2:lxd5
cxd5 13 0-0 '@'f6 14 '®'x b4 0!Jc6 15 tb'b3 'fld8
16 'flfcl e5 17 e3 e4 18 Ebe 1 lba5 19 'vifb4 l2:lc6
20 '@'b5 'fla5 21 '®'b3 'fla7 22 d3 2.e6 23 '*Vb6
exd3 24 l2:lxd3 .&!:da8 25 lbf4 Z!xa3 26 rl.xa3
rl.xa3 27 '®'xb7 l2:le7 28 .ixd5 .ixd5 29 lbxc!5
l2:lxd5 30 '®'xd5 .lj,al 31 l:!xal '&xal·I· 32 Wg2
'®'el 33 h4 h5 34 Wie5t Wg8 35 'i'g5 'i'e2 36
tb'f4 °*Veil 37 '@'f3 '*Vd7 38 e4 'tfo6 39 'e'd3
'@'g4 40 f3 Wie6 41 f4 'i'a2i" 42 ~3 'i'al 43 f5
Wih l i" 44 ~4 ·JJUc 1i" 45 '&e3 Wlc7t 46 ~3
'&e5 47 fxg6 fxg6 48 'iVb3t wg7 49 ~7i"
Wf6 50 '®'c6i" Wg7 51 '&l'c!5 '&c3·1· 52 Wf4
'®'cli" 53 We5 tb'c3i" 54 We6 '@'xg3 55 ·JJUc14·1·
wh7 56 e5 tb'g4i· 57 wc!5 '®'c!7i" 58 we4 '®'g4t
59 wd3 'JJHc! 1t 112- 112
7 Thomas - Ca1>ablanca E 16
l d4 lbf6 2 lbf3 e6 3 c4 b6 4 g3 2.b7 5 2.g2
ilb4i" 6 2.d2 '*Ve7 7 0-0 0-0 8 l2:lc3 d6 9 llcl
51
c5 10 a3 Sixd 11 JU..xd lbe4 12 °&d3 f5 13 lbd2
i.i::lxc3 14 Sixb7 '&xb7 15 I:!xc3 1Llc6 16 l2::if3 I:!ad8
17 't'Ve3 I:!fe8 18 I:!d 1 d5 19 'tVc 1 dxc4 20 dxc5
!!.xd 1t 21 '&xd 1 lld8 22 'tVc2 b5 23 b3 I:!d5 24
bxc4 I:!xc5 25 cxb5 I:!xc3 26 'tVxc3 'l&'xb5 27 ltld4
l2::ixd4 28 't1'xd4 1/2- 1/2
* 'tVxc4 Jie6 =+ 8 'tVa3?!; 8 Jie2) 8 ... e6 [8 ... 'L\xe5
A surprising item of news appeared in the
international trade-press in connection with
Capablanca in 1929: he proposed a reform in the
mies of chess. His reasoning was well-known:
rhe technique of chess would develop to such an
-=xtent that the best players would be able to
produce a draw whenever they wanted. The
game thus would become uninteresting and it
would lose its public. He proposed introducing a
IO x 10 chessboard with two extra-pawns and
two extra-major pieces for both players.
Capablanca' s suggestion did not produce a
positive response. On the contrary, his fellow
grandmasters clearly condemned it.
*
Karlsbad 1929
.' .'\limzovitch 15 2-3 Capablanca, Spielmann
14,5 ./ Rubinstein 13 1h 5-"' Becker, Euwe.
Vidmar 12 8 Bogoljubow 11 112 9 Griinfeld 11
10-11 Canal, mateison 10 112 12-15 Colle,
Mar6czy, Tartakover, Treybal 10 16-17
Saemish, Yates 9 1h 18-19 P.Jolmer, Marshall 9
20 Gilg 8 21 Thomas 6 22 Miss Menchik 3
In the first decades of the century the name
Karlsbad was incomparable. Amongst the many
1:,rreat tournaments, possibly that of 1929 was the
greatest. In the 1920s only the 1925 Moscow and
Baden Baden tournaments were of similar size and
quality. Capablanca also played excellently in
Karlsbad and it was only a 'Deus ex machina',
overlooking a piece, which was not typical of him,
that deprived him of the well-deserved first prize.
This momentary standstill was enough for
N imzovitch to creep in stealthily for the first
prize. which he had long well deserved at great
tournaments like this.
* 0-0 c5! 10 l'!cl b6 11 cxd5 exd5 12 dxc5 l2::ixc5!
The analyses of the games are mainly taken from
the excellent tournament book by Tartakover.
: Alas, this genre has almost completely
disappeared today.)
* We8 29 c4 Wd8 30 lle7 .£e6) 28 ... .£e6 29 'L\d4
52
8 Tartakover - Capablanca A03
1 f4 d5 2 e3 g6 3 c4 ("Sharp, or rather very
sharp.") 3 ... l2::if6 4 lbc3 J:lg7 (4 ... d4 5 exd4
'tVxd4 6 d3 ro) 5 1Llf3 0-0 6 'tVh3 (6 cxd5 4Jxd5 7
'tVh3 lbb6 followed 8 ... Sie6 ro 6 d4!?) 6 ... dxc4 7
ii..xc4 'L\c6! 8 l2::ie5 (8 d4 ltla5 9 'tVa4 'L\xc4 10
9 fxe5 ZZld7 (9 ... ZZlg4? ! l O d4 c5 11 t'Zle2 ±) 10
Jtxf7t! (10 d4 t'Zlb6 11 .lie2 .lie6 12 'i:¥ic2 c5!) 10 ...
@h8 ( 10 ... .l::!.xf7? 11 e6/ 11 d4 e6! 12 .lixe6 Z2Jc5 ( 12
... t'Zlxe5!?) 13 dxc5 .lixe5 cc] 9 'l'lxc6?!
["Questionable." 9 Jie2 ! (9 d4 'L\a5 10 '@'a4 4Jxc4 11
\'/Uxc4 b6!) 9 ... •l'lxe5 11 fxe5 l2id7 12 d4 +=] 9 ...
bxc6 10 d4 (This Pawn move happened quite late
but maybe still too early!" 10 0-0!?) 10 ... 'fVd6 (10
... c5 !? 11 dxc5 'iiVe7! Alekhine.) 11 Jid2 ("TI1e
Bishop goes into action." 11 lba4 'L\d7! 12 Jid2
I:!b8) 11 ... c5 12 lba4! l2::ie4 ( 12 ... cxd4 13 JU..b4 ·~c6
14 Jixf8 't'Vxg2 15 0-0-0 ii..xf8 16 exd4 += ± Getting
into a critical position, Capablanca makes the best
moves from now on.") 13 lbxc5 lbxc5 (13 ... 'L\xd2
14 Wxd2 l!d8 15 We2 ±) 14 dxc5
14 ... W¥c6! 15 §J.c3 (15 0-0 Jib7 16 l'!f2 !!.fb8 17
'k'fa3 §J.f8 ro 15 0-0-0; 15 I:!g 1) 15 ... .stxc3·1·! [15
... l'!d8 (15 ... 't'Vxg2 16 0-0-0) 16 0-0 Jib7 17 I:!f2
§J.f8 18 Jid4 += ±] 16 '>l&'xc3 I:!d8! 17 0-0 §J.b7 18
l'!f2 '>l&'xc5 19 l'!cl l'!d7 20 ii.fl 'tVh6 (20 ... 'tVxc3
21 l!xc3 llad8 22 h4 =) 21 l'!d2 llad8 22 llcd 1
I:!xd2 23 llxd2 l'!xd2 24 'tVxd2 Jid5 25 a3 f6 26
'tVd4 112- 112 (Dr. Tartakover.)
9 Ca1>ablanca -Thomas D30
1 d4 ltlf6 2 c4 e6 3 lt\f3 d5 4 Jig5 lbbd7 5 e3 h6 6
ii..h4 c6 7 lbbd2 (7 'L\c3) 7 ... ii..e7 8 Jid3 0-0 9
(=) 13 ..lte2 l2::ife4 14 ii..xe7 'tVxe7 15 l2::id4 l2::ixd2
16 'tVxd2 .£b7 17 'tVc3 'tVf6 ! 18 l2::if3 'tVxc3 19
.!!xc3 l'!fc8? (9 ... lbe6! =) 20 l2:ld4 l2:\e6 21 .:bf5
1:!.xc3 22 bxc3 lbc5 23 .£f3 lbe4 24 .stxe4 dxe4 25
lldl Wf8 26 lld7 .£c6 27 .!!c7 .£d5 28 c4 (28 a3 9

29 ... lle8! 30 h3 (30 l'2::ixe6i' l2xe6! 31 l'ha7
l:!c6 32 lla4 b5 ! ) 30 ... '!J.e7 31 l'2::ixe6i' fxe6 32
~c8t ~7 33 c5 ~6 34 @h2 We5 35 Wg3
·~d5 36 cxb6 axb6 37 Z!b8 (37 kid8i' followed
38 Ed4 ""l 37 ... Wc5 38 .l:!d8 b5 39 Z!d4 b4 40
.'.:~e4 l:.a"7 41 Llxeb ~xa2 42 1J.e7 l'!a6 43 .lJ.c7·(·
,'.'\'.:) ;:]'.I:;'7 '' b3 44 r!c7t ~c6 45 .&!.b7 .l;!.b6 46
:.c:·, ~::15 4~ 1'.t.cl b2 48 .l!bl ~e4!J 43 ... Zi.c6
4s: .':l.b"7 ::!b6 45 1J.c7r .&l.c6? (45 ... ~d6! 46
::c1 b3 47 Wf4 b2 48 Ll.bl @d5 49 e4t ~d4
50 e5 @d3 -+) 46 l:!xg7 b3 47 I!d7 I!d6 'h-'h
10 Rubinstein - CaJ>ablanca
l d4 lbf6 2 l'2::if3 e6 3 e3 c5 4 b3 l'2::ic6 5 .i.b2 b6 6
~bd2 Sib7 ; Sid3 cxd4 8 exd4 l'2::ib4 9 ii.fl!? (9
.1l.e2 l'2::ibd5 "with a possible route of marching
onto 10 ... l'2::if4) 9 ... .llc8 10 c4 l'2::ic6 11 Sid3 d5 12
0-0 Sid6 (Later in similar positions always ... Sie7
rnme.) 13 a3! 0-0 14 llel dxc4 (The exchange is
often unavoidable due to the l;;{c 1 and c4-c5
threat 14 ... lle8; 15 ... .fif8) 15 bxc4 .i.f4!?
(15 ... Z!e8; 16 ... Sif8) 16 l'bfl ("Even if it
sounds like a paradox, the Knight is the most
energetic piece here, while the continuation of
the journey 16 l'2::ie4 would only lead to a
deserted clearance.") 16 ... l2:la5 17 ~e2 %Ve??
(It weakens the King side.)
18 d5! ! (Decades later in similar positions Keres
oft~n employed such break-throughs, e.g. against
TaJmanov at the Soviet championship in 1951.)
18 ... 'Llxc4 (18 ... exd5 19 Sixf6 gxf6 20 cxd5
1xd5 21 ..W..xh7t Wxh7 22 VJlid3t ±) 19 .Jixf6 gxf6
20 dxe6 fxe6 (20 ... :llfe8 21 l'i:'id4 001 21 'lld4!
..W..d5! [Only move. 21 ... e5? 22 l'2::i~6 '>l/Vc6 23
~g4t ..W..g5 (23 ... W 24 'Llxf4 exf4 25 ..W..xc4t!
'@'xc4 26 'i'd7t +-) 24 .Jie4 ~d7 25 zradl ~f7 26
.lixb7 'ii:Vxb7 27 h4 ±] 22 l'2::ixe6 ii..xe6 23 llv'xe6i'
Wh8 24 lle4 l'2::ie5 ! (24 ... l2:la5 25 !!ae 1! or 24 ...
l'2::ib2 25 Sib5! ±) 25 .fia6! [25 llxf4 l'2::ixd3 26
llxf6 %'/g7 ! 2 7 Ll.xf8t llxf8 2 8 lld 1 (28 lla2 l'bf4 !!
29 %'/c6 l'2::ih3·1· 30 Wh 1 l'2::ixf2i' 31 llxf2 llxf2 -+)
28 ... fLlxf2 (28 ... .lhf2? 29 'ii:Vd5! .lhg2t 30 'ii:Vxg2
ll'Vd4t 31 l2:le3!) 29 .l::!.d7 'i¥al 30 ll'Vc4 'LJe4 31 'i¥d4t
'i/Vxd4 t 32 Exd4 'LJc5 "'] 25 ... Ll.ce8 26 %'/f5 Sih6
(26 ... ..tel!?) 27 llael .lld8 28 .l:ih4 VJlig7 29 llh3
L!.d4 ~30 %Vh_5 ~g4 ! 31 l'2::ig3 .fif4 32 lld 1 i{.xg3 33
lixg., l:!.xg3 .,4 hxg3 Wie7 35 %'/f5 •h-'h (Dr .
Tartakover.,
1l! Capablanca - Bogoljubow E6C:
l d4 iDf6 2 c4 g6 3 g3 Sig7 4 .Jig2 0-0 5 e4 15
l'i:'if3; 5 '1Jc3) 5 ... d6 6 l'i:'ie2 l'2::ibd7 7 0-0 e5 8 d5
l'2::ic5?! (8 ... a5!?) 9 l'2::ibc3?! [9 b4! l'2::icd7 (9 ...
A46 lLJcxe4 10 f3!) 10 Jib2 a5 11 a3 ±] 9 ... a5 10 h3 b6
11 .lie3 ll'Ve7 (1 ... .Jid7!?) 12 :i3! l2:lh5 13 b4 :ixb4
[13 ... l'2::ia6 14 bxa5 (14 llb 1) 14 ... bxa5 15 Wia4 (15
.l::!.bl .Jid7) 15 ... 'LJc5 16 flxc5 dxc5 17 £1.abl .Jid7 18
ll'Vc2.l:Ifb8+=] 14axb4llxal 15%'/xall'2::ia616b5!"
("Forced and forcing. The whole of the followincr
battle phase displays aspects of attractive and
high-quality thinking.") 16 ... l'2::ic5 17 ~a7! f5
("Black has to respond." 17 ... l'2::ib3 18 .fixb617 .. .
l2:lb7 18 llal or 18 l'2::ia2 ±) 18 .i.xc5 dxc5 (18 .. .
bxc5? 19 b6 f4 20 'ii:Vxc7! 'i'xc7 21 bxc7 f3 22 ..txf3
Exf3 23 @g2 Ef7 24 'LJb5 .Jif8 25 E:il .Jie7 26 .l::!.a8
Ef8 27 g4 followed 'LJ:i7 +-)
19 d6! ("A very nice Pawn sacrifice, the aim of
which is line levelling, field clearing and diagonal
growth.") 19 ... %'/xd6 20 l'!dl %'/e6 21 exf5?! (21
53
~d5; 21 'Jj/xc7 ±) 21 ... ~xf5 22 ll:ie4 ll:if6 (22 ...
'&f7 23 ll:i2c3 J:Le6 24 ll:id5 J:Lxd5 25 cxd5 ll:if6 26
.:'Z:\g5 'Jj/d7 27 d6! ±) 23 g4! 'i'e6 (23 ... ll:ixg4? 24
hxg4 '*'*·xg4 25 ll:i2c3) 24 'i'xc7! ll:ixe4 25 J:Lxe4
~f6 26 f3 h5? [26 ... it.h6! (26 ... 'i'g5 27 c;,t;,g2 h5
28 'Jj/xb6 hxg4 29 hxg4 J:Lxg4 30 ll:ig3! ±) 27 ~g2
J:Le3 28 !!a 1! (28 .lld6 't!Vh4 29 ll:ig3 J:Lf4 30 ll:ifl
'&el 31 'i'xb6 'i'e2t 32 ~gl it.e3i" ao) 28 ... 'i'h4
29 ll:ig3 J:Lf4 30 ll:ifl ~d8! 31 J:Ld5i" @h8 32 .lla7
"¥ixc7 33 Iixc7 ± 26 ... i.e6; 26 ... @h8!?] 27
!id6?! [27 'Jj/c6! ~g5 (27 ... 'i'xc6? 28 bxc6 or 27
... ~e6!? 28 ~xb6 J:Lxc4 29 ~xf6 .llxf6 30 ll:ic3
±:i 28 'Jj/xg6 °¥ie3i" 29 @fl ±] 27 ... 'i'h4 28 Wg2
hxg4 29 lD::g4 .llLxg4! 30 l!xg6 (30 fxg4 ?? .llf2i· 31
·~gI ~ #) 30 ... .i.h3i·! 31 ~gl ~elt 32 ~h2
l1'.Vxe2T 33 ~h3 ~xf3i":? 34 ..bf3 ~xf3t 35 ilgJ
~hl. T {35 ... '¥fh5t 36 c;t>g2 1i'e2t 37 ~gl ro) 36
~g4 Y&'e41· 37 ~h3 ~li· 1h- 1h
12 Canal - Ca1>abla11ca C50
1 e4 e5 2 ll:if3 ll:ic6 3 ll:ic3 ll:if6 4 J:Lc4 .ic5 5 d3
d6 6 J:Lg5 h6 7 .ixf6 ~xf6 8 ll:id5 ~d8 9 c3 0-0
(On 9 ... ll:ie7 see Capablanca - Eliskases, Moscow
1936) 10 a4 a5 11 0-0 ll:ie7 12 d4 exd4 13 ll:ixd4
c2:lxd5 14 .ixd5 'Jj/f6 15 'Jj/d3 J:Le6! ("Black does
not allow White the position J:Ld5-b3-c2 ... ") 16
ttlb3 .ib6 17 t2:ki2 c6 18 i.xe6 fxe6 19 'i'e2 d5 20
.llad 1 .llf7 (20 ... Iiad8 !) 21 'it>h 1! lld8 (21 ... .ixf2
22 exd5 exd5 23 li:\f3 .ib6 24 ll:ie5!) 22 f4 ti'g6 23
i:3 dxe4 24 'Jj/xe4 ~xe4 i· 25 ll:ixe4 .l:ifd7 26 .llxd7
!ixd7 27 .llel W 28 c;,t;,g2 .l.'!d5 29 h4 g6 30 Iie2
"lJe7 31 .lld2 J:Le3 32 Iie2 J:La7 33 Wf3 Iid3i"! 34
"lJg4 b5! ("A try.") 35 axb5 cxb5 36 h5! gxh5i" 37
"lJxh5 Iie3
("TI1is was the intention! Black wants to grab
\Vhite·s paralyzed Queen's side Pawn by the collar
after the Rook exchange a4.") 38 .llxe3 J:Lxe3 39
~xh6 e5 ("Capablanca's dream melts away. 39 ... a4
40 g4! it.xf4i· 41 g5 i 40 c;,t;,g5 exf4 41 gxf4 a4 42
~5 J:Lcl 43 c4! i.xb2 ("It is all over again. 43 ...
bxc4 44 li:\c3 or 43 ... b4 44 li:\c5 etc.") 44 cxb5 a3
45 lL'ld2 lfi-lh
54
13 Ca1>ablanca - Yates D66
1 d4 ll:if6 2 c4 e6 3 ll:ic3 d5 4 J:Lg5 J:Le7 5 e3 0-0 6
Lt:lf3 ll:ibd7 7 Ziel c6 8 J:Ld3 dxc4 9 J:Lxc4 b5 (9 ...
ll:id5) 10 J:Ld3 a6 11 0-0 (11 a4! +=l 11 ... c5 12
a4! ~4? (12 ... b4) 13 .ibl ~6 ·cu ... b4 J.4
ttle2 ! 'Jj/a5 ( 14 ... ttlb6 15 a5 ll:ibd5 16 e4; 15 ...
Sbd7 16 Da4!) 15 Lxf6 followed Sd2! The Pawn
c4 would have already fallen victim 13 ... l!b8 14
i.f4 !Ib6] 14 e4 h6 ("The beginning of a
conception which ends miserably". 14 ... Iie8) 15
J:Le3 ! ll:ig4? (15 ... l1.d8 16 ll:ic12) 16 J:Lf4! J:Lb7
[16 ... ll:igf6 17 ~c2 ll:ie8 (17 ... g6 18 iLxh6 etc.
17 ... ll:ih5 18 it.e3!) 18 e5 f5 19 exf6 li:\xf6 20
'Jj/g6! 'it>h8 21 J:Lxh6! ! gxh6 22 'W'xh6i· ~g8 23
'Jj/xg6t 'it?h8 24 0.g5 -:-]
17 e5 ! ("Through this an enemy piece will be
blocked in broad daylight. The elegance that is
inherent in such a short and economical movement
cannot be denied and is possibly characteristic of
Capablanca's entire fighting style!") 17 ... f5 [17
... h5 18 h3 ll:ih6 19 i.xh6 gxh6 20 ~c2 f5 21 exf6
Iixf6 (21 ... ll:ixf6 22 'i'g6i" @h8 23 ti'xh6·1· 'it>g8
24 'Jj/g6i" @h8 25 ll:ig5) 22 'Jj/h7t Wf8 23 ~8·i·
followed ll:ie5·1 +-] 18 h3 Iif7 19 d5! (19 hxg4?
fxg4 20 ti'c2 ll:if8) 19 ... b4 (19 ... J:Lc5 20 a5 ll:ixf2
21 .llxf2 J:Lxf2i· 22 WI' 1 or 20 J:Lg3 f4 21 a5 + - ) 20
a5! ~xa5 21 dxe6 .liff8 22 ~xd7 i.xf3 23 gxf3 bxc3
24 Wlxe7 cxb2 25 .lixc4 llae8 (25 ... t.i::ixe5 27 'fJ.c7
c'2::ixf3i' 27 @hl "and Black is knocked out.") 26
i'.Wc5 1-0 (Dr. Tartakover.)
14 Menchik - Ca1>ablanca A47
1 d4 ll:if6 2 li:\f3 b6 3 g3?! .ib7 4 J:Lg2 c5! 5 c4
cxd4 6 0-0 ti'c7 7 ~xd4 ll:ic6 8 'i'f4 e5!? ("Well, it
soon will be very fmmy. Both parties are busy
keeping the battle really lively; Miss Menchik
especially makes every effort to do so, seemingly
wanting revenge as Capablanca had not accepted
the treaty 'Jj/f4") 9 'Jj/d2 e4 10 ll:ig5 ~e5 11 ll:ic3?
("But this Pawn sacrifice is totally unmotivated."
11 b3 ao) 11 ... ll:ixc4 12 'Jj/d4 d5 13 b3 J:Lc5! 14
lbb5 lfVc6 (14 ... .llxd4 15 lbxc7t ~7 16 bxc4
.llxal 17 lbxa8 ao) 15 'ilVc3 'ilVxb5 16 bxc4 'ilVxc4
17 'i'e5t (17 lfVxc4 dxc4 18 .ib2 .ie7 19 .l;l.acl
llc8 20 .llxf6 .llxf6 21 lbxe4 .lle7 22 lbd6t +) 17
... Wf8
18 .llf4 lfVa4! ("The opportunity .... lfVd7 makes all
White's threats seem like nothing.")19 .l!fdl 'i'e8
20 ~2 h6 21 lbh3 lbg4 22 .l;!ac 1 .llc6 23 e3 @g8
24 lfVe2 f5 25 f3 lt'Y6 26 g4 exf3 27 .llxf3 fxg4 28
~xg4 '&g6 29 lbf2 h5 0-1
15 Ca1>ablanca - Becker 037
"It is tragedy to obtain a position which promises
more than it can perfonn. This is what happens to
Black in the following game; his judgment tlu11S
out to be quite fallacious, whereas Capablancas
appraisal of the position is proven correct with
dazzling rapidity." (RJ
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbf3 lbd7 4 lbc3 lbgf6 5 .if4
dxc4 6 e3 lbd5 (6 ... lbb6 7 .llxc4 lb.xc4 8 'ilVa4i"
c6 9 lfVxc4 += Alekhine-Spielma1m, Karlsbad
1923) 7 .ixc4 lb.xf4 8 exf4 .lld6 (8 ... .lle7 and
0-0, c6 followed lbd7-b6-d5 +=) 9 g3 lbf6 10 0-0
0-0 11 ·~e2 b6 12 Iifd 1 .ib7 13 !!acl a6 14 .id3!
~b4? (It threatens .llxc3 and 'ilVd5 etc; 14 .. .
~e7!?) 15 lbe4! 'ilVd5? ("More of the same." 15 .. .
Q::ixe4 16 .llxe4 .i.xe4 17 lfVxe4 +=)
16 lbfg5! ("An unexpectedly strong move because
the ~ights seem to be so insecure. Nevertheless,
the fact remains that White is threatening" 17
lbxf6t gxf6 18 .llxh7i· or 17 .l!xc7 etc; 16 lixc7?
Iiac8! 17 .lixc8 l!txc8 ao) 16 ... lbe8 (16 ... 1'fxd4 17
Iic4; 16 ... '&xa2 17 lb.xf6t gxf6 18 '&h5: 16 ...
@h8 17 .llxc7; 16 ... lfVd8 17 lb.xf6t ~xf6 18
lbxh7 -'--) 17 lbxh7! f5 (17 ... @xh7 18 lbf6i") 18
'Llhg5 ! 1-0 (18 ... 'V&'d7 19 'V&'h5 luf6 20 luxf6i" gxf6
21 \Wg6t@h8 22 luxe6 'i\Vxe6 23 .lhc7 Ste? 24 Stxf5
ViHf7 25 'vifh6t @g8 26 .l:!.el etc (Tartakover and
Reinfeld).
16 Euwe - Capablanca E36
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 .llb4 4 lfVc2 d5 5 a3
.llxc3i· 6 'i'xc3 dxc4? 7 't7Vxc4 0-0 (7 ... cbc6) 8
.llg5 c6 [8 ... 't1fd5 9 't1fxd5 ! lbxd5 (9 ... exd5 10
Stxf6) 10 e4! lub6 11 Ikl c6 12 luf3 lu8d7 13 Std3
.l:!.e8 14 0-0 +=] 9 lbf3 lbbd7 10 e3 'iVa5t 11 b4 'i'd5
12 'ljjc2! h6 13 Stc4 'it'd6 14 Stxf6! [14 .llf4 'if/e7 15
h3 (15 0-0 luh5!) 15 ... a5 16 b5 c5! cc) 14 ... lb.xf6 15
e4! 'ljje? 16 0-0 a5!? ("The counter-thought.") 17
llabl (17 b5 c5) 17 ... axb4 18 axb4 .lld7 19 .lld3
Iifd8 (19 ... Iia3!) 20 'i'c3 lbe8 21 't1fc5 Wf8! 2Z
Iial! 't1fxc5? ("A wrong decision which the Cuban
rarely makes by which Black merely supports the
enemy's plan of the line pressure." 22 ... b6! 23
'iVc3!) 23 bxc5 @e7 24 !ifbl! ("White forces the
following Rook exchange in this fine way and thus
the crossing of the open a-line is in his exclusive
possession.") 24 ... .l:ha 1 25 .l!xa 1 .llc8 (" A painful
defence game is starting.") 26 @fl e5? ("Played
too optimistically .... " 26 ... f6! followed lbc7 +=)
27 'Llxe5 Iixd4 28 @e2 f6 ("Too late") 29 lbc4
Iid8 30 Iia7 ~7 3 l lbb6t @c7
32 .lla6! ! lbd6 (32 ... c;,t;,b8 33 lbxc8! bxa6 34
lbe7!) 33 lb.xc8 @xc8 34 cxd6 bxa6 35 iic?t!
c;,t;,b8 36 !ixc6 @b7 ("Black fights as a lion from
now on and wants to use the counter-chances of
his passed Pawns at the side if possible.") 37 !ic7i·
c;,t;,b6 38 !ixg7 !lxd6 39 llg6 @c5 (39 ... h5 40 e5
!ie6 41 l!txf6) 40 .llxh6 @d4 41 @f3 ("Full of
55
well-understandable conservatism." 41 i.ih5! Wxe4
42 l'!a5) 41 ... a5 42 Wf4? (42 e5! Wxe5 43 l'!h5t
f5 44 g4 L!f6 45 We3!! +-) 42 ... a4 43 llh5? (43
£1.h3! £ta6 44 .!1a3 Wc4 45 h4 @b4 46 £tal a3 47 @f5
a2 48 g4 @b3 49 h5 ±) 43 ... 1:ia6! 44 Ed5t @c3 45
El.di a3 46 @f5 a2 47 f4 al\'I& 48 .lixal .lha:i 49 @xf6
.lia6t 50 @f5 @d4 51 e5 @d5 52 g3! (52 g4? £ta8! 53
h4 .l:ig8t etc. =) 52 ... £ta8 53 @f6 Ea6t! (53 ... .lih8
54 h4 ilg8? 55 e6! .l:ifSt 56 @g7 Ires 57 f5 +-) 54
Wf5 .l:ia8 'h-'h [55 h4 Z!g8! 56 Wf6 £lxg3 57 e6!
(57 h5 l'lh3 58 'i;g6? @e6) 57 ... l!g4 58 f5 llxh4
59 e7 .lle4 60 W @d6 61 f6 (61 e8~ .lhe8 62
Wxe8 @e5) 61 ... 'i;d7 =]
17 Ca1rnblanca -Treybal D30
"An instructive positional battle, which shows
how weaknessess which are lightheartedly created
in the opening can remain to plague a player for
the remainder of the game." (Reinfeld)
"An instructive game which is especially an object
lesson for those ill-intentioned enough to adopt the
Stonewall Defence to the Queens." (Golombek)
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 ctJf3 e6 4 ~g5! ~e7 5 ~xe7 Vfixe7
6 '1Jbd2 f5?! ("A serious strategical error. The
Stonewall fonnation is completely out of place here,
for the black squares are irretrievably weakened and
Blacks Bishops lack of scope becomes catastrophic."
R.) 7 e3 'Lid7 (7 ... Q':if6 8 i.d3 0-0) 8 i.d3 Q::ih6 (8
... f'i:lgf6 9 cxd5! cxd5 ±) 9 0-0 0-0 10 Vfic2 g6 11
.l!abl! f'i:lf6 (11 ... f'i:lf7) 12 ti:ie5 f'i:lf7 13 f4 .i.d7
[13 ... l2:Jxe5 14 fxe5 l2:'ie4 15 1.xe4 fxe4 ( 15 ...
dxe4 16 c5! followed LZ'ic4-d6 ±) 16 .l:!.xf8t '&i'xf8
17 l'!fl ±] 14 LZ'idf3! llfd8 15 b4 ile8 16 i;tfcl a6
17 Vfif2 flt threatens ~4 and g4) 17 .. . l2:Jxe5 18
'Llxe5 Q::id7 19 l2:'if3! ("It being the correct policy
to abstain from exchanges as far as possible when
ones opponent has a constricted position." G. "As
Whites pieces have a more promising future, he
avoids further exchanges." R.) 19 ... .l:!.dc8 20 c5'.
("Whites objective is now to break through with b5.
This require'"s quite a bit of preparation, but it will be
absolutely decisive when it finally comes." R.) 20 ...
ctJf6 21 a4 l2:Jg4 22 Vfiel Q::ih6 23 h3 l2Jf7 ("111e
object of the Kt moves was to prepare for g5. But
'White comes first." R) 24 g4! ("Well timed; owing
to the double attack on his KB Pawn, Black cannot
play P-KK.t4. In addition. White is preparing his K
side attack." G.) 24 ... 1.d7 25 l'1c2 '.th8 26 llg2 llg8
27 g5! Vfid8 ("Being exposed to attack on both
wings now, Black has nothing left to do but wait
for the axe to fall." R.) 28 h4 @g7 29 h5 i.:!.h8 30
Lih2 VJ!ic7 31 Vfic3 Vfid8 32 @f2 VJ!ic7 33 i.:!.bh 1
l!ag8 34 Vfia 1 l:!.b8 35 VJ!ia3 !lbg8 ("11i.is move
penmts White to undertake decisive action on the
Q-side." Ri
56
36 b5! (" After due preparation., White makes a
decisive break-through on the Q side. 111is is done
too at a moment when the Rooks are temporarily
shut in on Blacks K side." G.) 36 ... axb5 37 h6'!' 1
@f8 38 axb5 @e7 39 b6 Vf/b8 ("Whites Pawn
strncture presents a most pleasing, aesthetic picture.
His winning procedure is to concentrate his pieces in
attack on the QKt pawn." G. 39 ... lla8?'.' 40 ',j)t'xa8!)
40 l!a l l!c8 (40 ... 'k'Va8?! 41 Vfib4 'vfih8 42 l!a7) 41
'k'Vb4 l!hd8 42 .lla7! ~ 43 llhl! 1.e8 44 llhal Wg8
45 .i;!.la4 @f8 46 Vfia3! ("Now Blacks Rook cannot
leave the back rank to defend the QKt Pawn by R-Q2
because of R-R8 wimi.ing the Quee11 111e ni.iserable
constriction of Blacks pieces makes a striking contrast
with the open spaces controlled by White." G.) 46 ...
@g8 4 7 Wg3 1.d7 48 '.th4 '.th8 49 Vfia l @g8 50 ~g3
~ 51 Wg2 ! ("Now that the King is in its 1ight place,
Wli.ites Kt can conunence its winning tour.") 5 i ...
Jte8 52 LZ'id2 ! ild7 53 LZ'ib3 lle8 (53 ... 1.e8 54 .:'i:la5
Lld7 55 'D.xb7! l:lxb7 56 1ia8 -.--) 54 lt:ia5 l2:Jd8 (Did
Black really manage to fill the holes?) 55 1.a6! bxa6
56 .lixd7 lle7 (56 ... 'i;g8 57 l.'ixg7t! @h8 58 llb4 and
59 b7 +-) 57 !.hd8t ("Wli.ite can win verv much as
he likes. but he chooses the most elegant.way.") 57
... l'!xd8 58 l2:Jxc6 1-0
A perfect example of the "encirclemem '' of "
cramped position. It is not too much to say thar
Blacks sixth move cost him the game." (R).
(Ta11akover,Golombek and Reinfeld.)
18 Nimzovitch - Capablanca B37
l c4 ctJf6 2 'tJc3 c5 3 l2:lf3 'Lic6 4 d4 cxd4 5 -'Llxd4
g66e41.g7 (6 ... f'i:lxd4) 7 l.!Jc2 (7 sie3 Lt:ig4) ';' ...
0-0 8 .i.e2 d6 9 0-0 'L\d7 ! l O sie3 lbc5 11 ~d4
(11 f3!) 11 ... ~d7 12 ~d2 .llc8 13 l!adl l'!e8 (13
... ·~a5? 14 l2:lxc6 .i.xc6 15 ti:id5 Vfixd2 16 ltlxe7t)
14 Whl ·~a5 15 f3 (15 f4!?) 15 ... LZ'ie6! ("All of
these are played quite excellently by Ca pa blanc a.")
16 c2Jb3 VJ!ib4! 17 Vfic2 (17 l2:Jd5 '&i'xd2! 18 l!xd2
b6 oo) 17 ... l2:Ja5 (It threatened 18 a3) 18 lt:ixa5
1ha5 19 !!d5! ("A risky and striking relief
combination because the Rook comes to ,i
dead-end.'') 19 ... lt:\c5 20 .i.d2 'W/c7 21 .i.el (21
.k.e3 ~·a5l
21 ... .:tle6! (It threatens ibd4 followed ltixe2) 22
b3 .:2:\d4 23 ·~d2 .:2:lxe2 (23 ... e5 24 ltib5 .ia.xb5
25 cxb5 '@'c2 26 JaLc4! or 24 JaLf2 .ac6 25 ~xd4!
exd4 26 ltib5! =) 24 ~xe2 a6 25 a4 b5 ("A last
try ... ") 26 axb5 ..ixc3 27 .ixc3 axb5 28 ~d2
bxc4 29 ~6 f6 (29 ... e5?! 30 b4) 30 .l::!g5! 1/i- 112
30 ... cxb3 31 !lxg6t hxg6 32 ~xg6t @h8 (32
... ~8 33 .i.d2!) 33 ~6i· with perpetual chess.
19 Johner - Capablanca E29
1 d4 ~f6 2 c4 e6 3 ltic3 .ib4 4 e3 0-0 5 .id3 c5
6 .:2:lge2 ltic6 7 a3 .ixc3t 8 bxc3 b6! 9 0-0 .ia6
["The classic method of exploiting the weakness
of Whites Pawn on QB4") Capa 's construction
founded a school. Twenty years later the
Saemisch variation (because we are in it now)
be1,:ame fashionable again, this way of playing
was regarded best for the defence just as it is
today.] 10 e4 ltie8"An interesting preventive move.
Black does not like to have his plans disrupted by a
possible e5, and in some positions it would be useful
to be able to answer f4 with f5 " R.) 11 ~e3 d6 12
·~a4 c'2'ia5
13 l!fd 1 [13 lt:\cl (With the idea ltib3) 13 ... cxd4!
14 cxd4 llc8 +] 13 ... ~c7 14 !tacl 'i'c6!? (14 ...
E.d8!) 15 ~xc6 ltixc6 ("The exchange of Queens
has left the c4 without adequate defense. for
example 16 d5 li:le5 17 dxeb fxe6 18 0'~f4 i?Jc'
19 .i.cl .l:l.ad8 and the Pawn falls. Johner
therefore tries an interesting diversion which.
however, is cleverly refuted.") 16 e5!? cxd4 1'7
cxd4 dxe5 18 d5! exd5 19 cxd5 .i.xd3 20 .llxd3
("Black is apparently in difficulties, for his
forces are divided and the QP looks
formidable.") 20 ... e4! 21 llddl ltie5 22 .l!d4 f5
23 .if4 itid3 24 .l:l.c6 .lld8 25 f3 ttif6 26 fxe4 fxe4
27 .i.g5 ltic5 28 ltic3 .llde8 29 .i.xf6 !!xf6 30 .l:!.xf6
gxf6 31~f532 c'tlb5? (32 @e3!)
32 ... Wg7 ! 33 g3 (33 ltixa7 .lla8 34 c'tlb5 .!!a5 35
.llb4 @£6) or 34 ltic6 .llxa3 35 d6 itid7 36 g4
c;;t>f6 37 gxf5 ~f5 38 ltie7t @e5 39 ltic6t c;t>f4)
33 ... c;;t>f6 34 We3 a6 35 itid6 .l!!d8 36 ltic4 ~b3
("Good. After the immediate ... P-Kt4 Whites Kt
could go to QR5, preventing a subsequent
centralization with K-K4") 37 l!tdl b5 38 ltib6
We5 39 d6 !!xd6 40 itld7i· We6 41 ltif8t We7 42
i:ixd6 Wxd6 43 g4 fxg4 44 Wxe4 itid2t 45 Wd3
itif3 46 c'tlxh 7 ltixh2 4 7 eiJf6 @e5 4 8 ltih5 a5 0-1
(Tartakover and Reinfeld)
20 Ca11ablanca - Mattinson E38
"This game is a convincing indication of the
difference between a master and grandmaster.
Capablancas subtle and incisive play makes his
opponent look like a tyro. Particularly enjoyable
is the beautiful timing of White's moves." (R)
1 d4 eiJf6 2 c4 e6 3 ltic3 .ib4 4 ~c2 c5 5 dxc5
ltic6 6 itif3 .i.xc5 7 .if4 d5 8 e3 ~a5 9 .ie2
.ib4 10 0-0 .i.xc3 ("The logical corollary of the
previous move; but the Bishop will be sorely
missed later.") 11 bxc3 0-0 12 .l:!.ab 1 (" A fine
move, which hampers the development of the
hostile Bishop, and leaves Blacks Queen in
rather a precarious position.") 12 ... ~a3 13
!!fdl b6 14 cxd5 itixd5 (14 ... exd5 15 c4 .ib7
16 cxd5 ltib4 17 'i'c7 .ixd5 18 .id6 .llac8 19
57
'ilVe7 r!.fe8 20 i.xb4) 15 lbg5 f5 16 i.f3! ("Whites
Bishops are complete masters of the situation, as
the following analysis demonstrates.") 16 ... 'ilYc5
(16 ... h6 17 '!J.xd5 hxg5 18 i.d6 'i\Va6 19 i.xf8
exd5 20 i.xd5t @xf8 21 i.xc6 'fJ.b8 22 'ilYd2
16 ... lbxf4? 17 i.xc6; 16 ... .l:td8 17 c4 lbdb4
18 .l:txb4!; 16 ... lbce7 17 c4: 16 ... lbde7 17
~d6 ~-1 17 c4! (''0 divine simplicity! White
threatens to win a piece with 18 .l:tb5") 17 ... lbdb4
(17 ... ~d8 17 ... lbxf4 18 Ilb5 or 17 ... a6 18 'it'a4!)
18 ·~b3 e5 ("Else i.d6 is crushing.")
19 a3! ! lba6 ("What else?") 20 i.xc6! 1-0 (20 ...
Vi!Vxc6 21 c5t @h8 22 l:!.d8 i.b7 23 't)f?t c;,t;,g8 24
lbh6t @h8 25 'i\Vg8t .l:txg8 26 't)f?t. (Tartakover,
Reinfeld, Golombek).
21 G1iinfeld - Capablanca C49
1 e4 e5 2 't)f3 lbc6 3 lbc3 lbf6 4 i.b5 i.b4 5 0-0
0-0 6 d3 d6 7 i.g5 i.xc3 8 bxc3 'ilYe7 9 i.xc6
bxc6 10 lbd2 h6 11 i.xf6 Vi!Vxf6 12 'ilVf3 'ilVxf3 13
~xf3 i.c6 14 c4 'fJ.fb8 15 'fJ.fbl @f8 16 lbd2 c;,t;,e7
17 f3 .l:tb6 18 c;t,t'2 .l:tab8 19 ~2 c5 20 @dl @d7
21 @c 1 .l:txb 1t 22 .l:txb 1 .lib6 23 't)fl f5 24 lbe3 f4
25 lbd5 i.xd5 26 cxd5 c6 27 c4 11i-11i
22 Capablanca - Marshall E15
1 d4 't)f6 2 c4 e6 3 ct'Jf3 b6 4 g3 i.b7 5 i.g2
c5?! 6 d5! exd5 7 lbh4 g6?! (7 ... b5!?) 8 lbc3
i.g7 9 0-0 0-0 10 i.g5 ! (On 10 i.f4 see
Alekhine - Capablanca, New York 1927) 10 ...
h6? (10 ... lbc6;' 10 ... 'ilVc8) 11 lbxd5 [11 i.xf6!
'ilVxf6 (11 ... i.xf6? 12 lbxg6!) 12 lbxd5 ±] 11 ...
i.xd5 12 i.xf6 Vi!Vxf6 (12 ... i.xf6 13 Vi!Vxd5 lbc6
14 lbxg6 +-) 13 'ilVxd5 lbc6 14 'ilYxd7 lbe5 (14 ...
i:iac8) 15 ·fia4! .l:tae8 (15 ... .l:tad8) 16 i.d5!
("Another fine centralising move which serves
many purposes. The B is placed at its position
of maximum efficiencv on d5. whence it
attacks f7 and protects ;4 ... " 16 'fixa7? lbxc4)
16 ... g5 17 lbg2 lbg6 18 e3 l:le7 (18 ... Vil:Vxb2
19 l!Vxa7 Vil:Vxal 20 '!J.xal i.xal 21 'ilYxb6 lbe7
22 'ilVxh6)
58
19 'ilYc2! lld7 (Black threatens 20 ... 'iixb2 21
'ilYxg6 llxd5!) 20 b3 lbe7 (20 ... 'ilYxal? 21 !hal
i.xal 22 'i\Vxg6t) 21 '!J.adl .l:tfd8 22 e4 'i\Vg6
("Marshall persists in trying to bring off one of
his well-known swindles." .... "It is instructive to
observe how C. deals with these traps and at
same time improves his position by clear logical
play.") 23 f4! 'i'h.5 (23 ... lbxd5 24 cxd5 .llxd5
25 '!J.xd5 '!J.xd5 26 f5) 24 fxg5 lbxd5 25 exd5
hxg5 26 'iif5 i.d4t 27 @hl '!J.e7 28 .l:tdel .llxel
(28 ... '!J.de8 29 'fJ.xe7 '!J.xe7 30 d6 +-) 29 lbxel
Itd6 30 g4! 'it'g6 31 lbf3 'i\Vxf5 32 gxf5 ("After
which, as Black has no counter-attack, he is
completely lost and might as well resign. Ithe finish,
however, is quite interesting, C. conjuring up a
mating net.") 32 ... i.e3 (32 ... g4? 33 lbge5) 33
'3.>g2! (33 lbxg5? i.xg5 34 Itgl b5!) 33 ... b5! 34 Itei
i.f4 35 @h3! bxc4 36 bxc4 Ita6 37 Ite2 Ita3 38 @g4
Itc3 39 lbxg5 Itxc4 40 Ite8t@g7 41 lue4! ..txh2 42
@h5! i.f4 43 f6t @h7 44 Ite7 @g8 45 d6 Itd4 46 d7
Itd5t 47 @g4 i.c7 48 lbg5 l::rd4t 49 @h5 1-U
(Tartakover and Golombek).
23 Saemisb - Capablanca E:24
1 d4 'i)f6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 i.b4 4 a3 ("Clever
Saemish!") 4 ... i.xc3t 5 bxc3 d6 (5 ... c5!?, 5
... b6; 5 ... 0-0) 6 f3! e5 7 e4 lbc6 8 i.e3 b6 9 i.d3
i.a6?? (An incredible mistake by Capablanca!" 9
... lba5!) 10 'ilVa4 i.b7 11 d5 'iid7 12 d'<.c6 i.xc6
13 'iic2 0-0-0 14 lbe2 'ilVe6 15 i.g5 h6 16 i.xf6
'iixf6 17 0-0 h5 18 f4 'i'h.6 19 .llael (19 'iicl!?) 19
... .l:the8 20 f5 'iie3t 21 @hl 'iic5 22 'ilVcl f6 23
.llf3 'fJ.h8 24 'ilYh2 a5 (Else 25 'i\Vh4!) 25 !!bl h4
(See diagram on next page)
26 ct'Jd4! i.d7 27 lbb3 'ilVc6 28 lbxa5 'iia8 29 lbb3
h3 30 g3 (30 g4!) 30 ... g6! ("Capablanca only
makes tr<;>uble for the enemy now!") 31 fxg6
(31 g4 gxf5 32 gxf5 .l:th5 33 .l:tbfl '!J.g8 ± oo) 31 ...
f5 32 'ilYc2 llhg8 33 lbd2 f4 34 gxf4 l!xg6 35 f5
Ltg2 36 .l:tgl (36 .l:txh3 .l:tdg8 37 .l:tg3!) 36 ... !!.dg8
37 !!xg2 hxg2t 38 @g 1 'i¥xa3 39 .llg3 l!xg3 40

hxg3 ..ta4! 41 'iYhl ~xc3 42 lbf3 i.b3 43 ~g2
..txc4 44 ..txc4 ~xc4 45 ~ ! (45 g4 ~e2t 46
'.t>g3 ~e3 47 g5 d5!) 45 ... d5 46 exd5 (46 lbd2!
~d4i· 47 @e2) 46 ... e4 47 lbd2 ~xd5 48 <t>e2
~xf5 49 ~xe4 'iYh5t 50 @f3 ~a5 51 lbc4 ~al
(or 51 ... ~c3t 52 lbe3) 52 g4 ~flt 53 @g3
~glt 54 @h4 ~ t 55 @g5 @b8 56 @g6@a7 57
g5 b5 58 lbe5 c5 59 ~d5 ~c2t 60 @£6 b4 61 g6
b3 62 g7 1-0
* ~e8 31 l2'lf4 lt'ixf4 32 ..txf4 ~d7 (" At last it
"... he felt at home in society. too. There were
many occasions for him to move in society as the
majority of tournaments were held at holiday
resorts.
Dancing, bridge, driving, te1mis and many other
pastimes were available. and the elegant and
cultivated Capablanca was much in demand
everywhere.
There were very many women among the fans at
tournaments, and his admirers sought the pleasant
companion in him rather than the chess player.
The cause of one his most sore defeats was also his
attraction towards the fair sex (see the previous
game). Capablanca's pretty woman companion was
sitting among the spectators very close to him \\-hen
(after 9 Ld3) there was a sudden stir up at the
entrance. Capablanca's wife had arrived
unexpectedly. The grandmaster jumped up, hurried to
greet her and tried to isolate her from the other lady.
But first he quickly made a move..... ' (F.)
24 Capablanca - Gilg D30
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbf3 lbf6 4 Stg5 fte7 5 e3
'1Jbd7 6 lbbd2("This move has the double
object of avoiding the Cambridge Springs
Defense and also of answering the natural
freeing move .... dxc4 with Sxc4 with crushing
command of the vital square e5 ") 6 ... h6 7 ..th4
0-0 8 l:tcl c5 ! (The best!) 9 cxd5 lbxd5 10
i.g3! b6 11 i.d3 cxd4 12 exd4 i.b7 (12 ...
lbb4 13 i.c4! b5 14 i.xb5 lbxa2 15 i.c7 ~e8
16 .llc4 ±) 13 0-0 lb7f6 14 Ile 1 ("The
customary procedure in such situations.
Occupation of e5 and attacking possibilities
are to compensate for any possible difficulties
with the QP.") 14 .... l:tc8 15 .lhc8 (15 ~a4)
15 ... ~xc8 16 lbe5 ~d8 17 a3 a6 18 lbb3 (18
lbe4; 18 lbfl; 18 lbdf3) 18 ... i.d6 19 ~e2 a5
20 lbd2 ~e7 21 i.b 1! ("By setting up a
potential mating threat along the diagonal,
White hopes to keep several of his opponents
pieces tied up.") 21 ... llc8 22 ~d3 ftb8 23
f4! ~f8?! ("Not liking to have his Queens on
thee-file with f5 in the offing.23 ... ~d8!?) 24
lbd7! ~e8 25 lbxb8 ("At any rate, Capablanca
has extracted some benefit from the last few
moves in the form of the two Bishops.") 25 ...
I!xb8 26 f5 l!d8 27 l2'lf3 (27 fxe6 fxe6 +=) 27
... i.c8 28 fxe6 i.xe6 29 lbe5 ~f8 30 lt'ig6
("Not a 'brilliancy'; White's object is to
remove the defenses of Blacks KR2") 30 ...
seems as if Black has counterplay on the QP:
but Whites threats come first.") 33 .i..e5 @f8!
34 h3 lbe8 (34 ... lbg8 35 ~h7 f6 36 l!fl +=)
35 'iYh7! f6 36 'iYh8t! @e7 (36 ... 'ilJf7 37 l!fl or
36 ... i.g8? 37 i.a2) 37 i.g3 ~d5? [37 ... @n!
38 °iYh.7 f5 (it threatened 39 i.g6t!) 39 l!xe6!
~xe6 40 i.x.f5 ~e3t 41 i.f2 ~clt 42 @h2 ~f4t
43 i.g3 ~xd4 44 i.g6t @f6 45 i.h5 oo +=] 38
i.g6! 1-0 (White threatens 39 i.xe8 etc ... 38 ...
~g5 39 ~g8 ~xg6 40 ~xe6t @f8 41 ~e7t c;,t;,g8
42 ~xd8 Tartakover and Reinfeld).
25 Colle - Capablanca A47
"After the game was over, Colle remarked
naively, "I didnt make a single mistake. but my
opponent's moves were still better." There are
59
 many ways to win a game of chess, but that is one
of the best." (R).
1 d4 'Llf6 2 lllf3 b6 3 e3 ("Intending to set up the
dreaded Colle System. with which the brilliant
Belgian master scored so many beautiful wins.
It is fascinating to see how effortlessly
Capablanca extracts the venom from this famous
formation.") 3 ... i.b7 4 'Llbd2 e6 5 i.d3 c5 6
0-0 'Llc6 7 c3 i.e7 ("Interestingly enough, Black
makes no attempt to prevent a possible e4,
foreseeing the likelihood that his d4 may be
advantageously occupied by his pieces later
on.") 8 e4 (8 ~e2; 8 a3) 8 ... cxd4 9 'Llxd4 (9
cxd4 'Llb4!) 9 ... 0-0 (9 ... 'Lle5 10 i.c2 i.a6) 10
'&e2 "(As will soon be apparent, White should
have exchanged @nights first.") 10 ... 'Lle5 (10
... a6!?, 11 ... d6!?) 11 i.c2 ~c8 12 f4 i.a6 13
'&dl 'Llc6 14 Iif3 (14 Ziel) 14 ... g6! (By closing
the important attacking diagonal, Black provides
against such possibilities as e5 followed i.xh7i·
and rl.h3t") 15 'Ll2b3 'Llxd4 16 'Llxd4 i.b7
("Returning to his first love. The idea is either to
keep the KP under observation or else to induce
its advance, which will open the diagonal for
Blacks QB.") 17 'ii'e2 i.c5! ("Preventing the
development of Whites QB at this point; the best
reply was .!le 1, but being anxious to attack, Colle
overlooks this precaution and soon finds himself in
a difficult situation.") 18 .llh3 'ii'c6! ("Practically
forcing Whites reply ... ") 19 e5 'Lld5 20 'ii'f2 (20
i.e3!?) 20 ... i.xd4! 21 cxd4 .llac8! 22 i.dl (22
..td3?'? 'ii'xcl t 23 .l;l.xcl .l;l.xcl t 24 i.fl i.a6) 22 ...
f6! 23 ~4 (23 i.d2 'Llxf4! ! 24 i.xf4 fxe5 25 i.f3
e4 26 i.e2 e3 27 .llxe3 .llxf4)
- lt:lxe4 15 i.xe4 i.xg3 16 hxg3 ("What has
2 3 . . . Iif7 24 i.f3 't'fc4 I [" All of Blacks pieces
are now placed to advantage and he must win a Pawn
(25 ~f2?? ~xcl t) Nor does Whites ingenious reply
stave off the evil hour."] 25 i.e3 'Llxe3! 26 i.xb7
'Llf5 27 't'fel r!.c7 28 i.e4 'ii'xd4i· 29 ~hl fxe5 30
..txf5 exf5 31 fxe5 .l:!.e7 32 .l:!.e3 ~xb2 33 e6 dxe6 34
llxe6 @fl 0-1 (Tartakover and Reinfeld).
60
26 011>ablanca - Vidmar D1 7
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 'Llf3 'Llf6 4 lt:lc3 dxc4 5 a4
i.f5 6 lt:le5 'Llbd7 7 'Llxc4 'f!tc7 8 g3 e5 9 dxe5
lbxe5 10 i.f4 'Llfd7 11 i.g2 f6 (An ancient way
of treatment. Already in 1929 this defence was
used against binding. Its disadvantage is that
Black loses time and the Pawn structure will be
loose.) 12 0-0 i.e6 (12 ... lld8) 13 'Llxe5 fxe5 14
i.e3 i.c5 (14 i.e7 15 a4 +=
Capablanca - Brinckmann, Budapest 1929) 15
i.xc5 (15 'ii'cl i.xe3 16 't'fxe3 ·~6 oo +=
Klein - Capablanca, Margate 1935; 15 'Lle4 i.xe3
16 fxe3 0-0-0 17 'Llg5 ti:if6 18 't'fc2 i.g8 oo +=
Capablanca - 'ii'ake, New York 1931) 15 ... 'Llxc5
16 b4 'Llb3! 17 lla3 [17 i.d5!?cxd518 't'Vxb3 'ii'f7
oo) 17 ... .l:!.d8 18 ~c2 'Lld4 (18 ....l:!.d2 19 'ibl l.iJd4
20 e3)
19 'Llb5! (Capablanca finds the only move
which protects him from disadvantage.) 19 ...
'Llxc2 20 lbxc7t ~e7 21 'Llxe6 lbxa3 22 'Llxd8
.l'!xd8 112- 112
27 S1>ielmann - Capablanca D35
1 d4 'Llf6 2 c4 e6 3 'Llc3 d5 4 i.g5 'Llbd7 5 e3
c6 6 cxd5 exd5 7 i.d3 i.d6 (7 ... i.e7) 8 Ci:\ge2
'Llf8 9 'ii'c2 h6?! (9 ... Q)e6) 10 i.h4 ~e7 11
a3 (11 e4?! dxe4 12 'Llxe4 ~b4t!) 11 ... i.d7
12 e4! (±) 12 ... g5 13 i.g3 dxe4 14 .:tlxe4
White achieved? Seemingly not much: his
d-Pawn is weak and Black has also developed.
In fact. Black's position could be nicely
preserved if his King's side had not been
destroyed so thoroughly.") 16 ... iVd6? {"The
fight is for the square d5 16 ... 0-0-0! 17 d5?!
~b8! 18 dxc6 llc8) 17 0-0-0 i.e6 18 Q)c3
'ii'c7 ("To exchange the Queen after 19 d5
cxd5 20 'Llxd5. Other: 18 ... 0-0-0 19 lt:lb5
'ii'b8 20 i.xc6!; 18 ... i.d5 19 i.xd5 cxd5 20
lbb5!; 18 ... r!.c8 19 'ii'a4! ±) 19 'Llb5! 'flid7
(19 ... ~6 20 'Lld6i· ~e7 21 lbxb7!) 20 d5!?
(" After this move, Black also gets to exchange the
Queen but the endgame is much less favourable
than it was earlier.") 20 ... cxb5 (20 ... i.xd5? 21
il.xd5 cxb5 22 .l:thelt) 21 cb::e6 'iVc8 (21 ... 'iVxe6?
22 l:':ihe 1 l!ic8 23 'iVxc8t! ! ~xc8t 24 .ic6#!) 22
exf7t~f7
23 i!d6! (An exceptionally strong continuation!
!:!he majority of Black's pieces are paralyzed
now.") 23 ... 'i!Vxc2i" 24 @xc2 !l.e8 25 .ixb7 (25
@d3!? 'L!e6 26 .id5 lle7 27 !!el .llhe8 28 g4 +-
or 26 ... lid8 27 .lixe6t @e7 28 lixd8 lixd8t 29 @e3
~xe6 30 .l::txh6t -,..-) 25 ... .l:te2t26 ~3! .l:txf2 27
.i!el (It threatens 28 .lid5t @g7 29 lie? #) 27 ... !'tf6
28 Jid5t @g6 29 !'txf6t @xf6 30 lie8 h5 (30 ... lZ'Jg6
31 .l::txh8 llixh8 32 @d4 lZ'Jg6 33 @c5) 31 lia8 h4 32
gxh4 gxh4 33 lixa7 (33 @d4!) 33 ... @e5 34 .lic6 h3!
35 gxh3 lixh3t 36 @c2 b4! (36 ... l2::ie6 37 .lixb5!!
.;bd4t 38 @bl l2::ixb5 39 !'ta5 !'tb3 40 @a2 +-) 37
axb4 lZ'Je6 38 .lia4 luf4 (38 ... l2::id4t 39 @bl lub3 ±)
39 lle7t @d6 40 lid7t @e5 41 .lic6 lih6 42 b5 lid6
43 lie?i" (" After the Rook exchange Kt would still
achieve a draw.") 43 ... l'!e6 44 'fl.c7 'i¥.'d6 (44 ...
ltJd5 45 .ixd5 +-) 45 .l:tc8 .l:te2t 46 @c3 .l:te3t 47
@c4 lie2 48 lid8t @c7 (48 ... @e7!?) 49 lid7t @c8
(49 ... @b6 50 lib7t @a5 51 b4 t @a4 52 lia7t #) 50
@c5! lixb2 51 @b6 lie2 [51... 'L!e6 52 .l:te7 'Lld8 53
.lk7i"@b8 54 .lid?!) 52 lic7t @d8 53 lid7t @c8 54
.lid4! (It threatens 55 .lib?i"!) 54 ... l2::ie6 55 .lib7t
@b8 56 lic4 1-0 (Dr. Euwe.)
28 Ca1>ablanca - Maroczy D64
1 d4 ibf6 2 c4 e6 3 'L!f3 d5 4 .ig5 i.e7 5 e3 0-0 6
.:l:\d liJbd7 7 .l::!.cl c6 8 ~c2 h6 9 .ih4 a6 10 cxd5!
.:l:lxd5?! ("Maroczy was a master of the old school,
and as such never quite assimilated the spirit of
this opening; in consequence his games with it
often contain slight inaccuracies." 10 ... exd5!) 11
il.g3! 'i!Va5? ("Tins is a waste of time, as the sequel
indicates." 11 ... lbxc3; 12 ... c5!?) 12 lbci2! lbxc3
13 bxd c5 ("As Capablanca at once demonstrates
in clever fashion, this should have been preceded
by 13 ... b5: 14 ... .ib7!?") 14 lt:)c4 'iVd8 15
.l:tdl!("Capablanca means to make use of the Q
file, even at the expense of leaving himself with a
weak QBP; he foresees that the exploitation of the
Q file will outweigh the weakness of the QBP.")
15 ... cxd4 [15 ... b5 16 dxc5 bxc4 (16 ... .ixc5 17
it:)e5 and ~e4 ±) 17 c6 ~e8 18 cxd7 .ixd7 19
il.xc4 .llc8 +=] 16.l:txd4! .ic5 (16 ... b5 17it:)d6) 17
lid2 W/e7 18 .lie2 b6 (18 ... b5 19 lZ'Ja5!) 19 {Z'Jd6!
ltif6 20 0-0 lia7! [20 ... .lld8 (20 ... .ib7 2 l it:)xb7
·iVxb7 22 .if3) 21 nfdl (It threatens 21 il)f5!) 21
... .id7 22 .if3 1Ia7 23 it:)b7 .l:tc8 24 .ie5 ! i.e8 25
it:)xc5 bxc5 26 .id6 +-) 2 l .if3 .id722 .llfdl e5 23
Jih4 g5? ("Blacks position had already become too
shaky for such weakening advances... " 23 ... "iVe6
24 .ixf6 'iVxf6 25 it:)e4 ~e7 26 'Llxc5 bxc5 27
.lld6 ±] 24 i.g3 'itig7 25 .ie2! b5 ("In order to
release the QR for more fmitful action; but it never
comes to that.") 26 h4!
26 ... .l::!.c7?! (26 ... ~e6 27 hxg5 hxg5 28 it:)e4
it:)xe4 29 ~xe4 f6 30 .id3! or 26 ... .ixd6 27
.llxd6 .llc8 28 hxg5 hxg5 29 f4! or 26 ... g4 27
it:)f5t etc.) 27 hxg5 hxg5 28 it:)f5t .ixf5 29 ~xf5
1-0 (29 ... 'i¥.'h6 30 .ixe5 .l::!.c6 31 .l:td7! ! lb.xd7 32
~3t 'itig6 33 .ih5t or 29 ... .l:te8 30 'iVxg5t 'i¥.'h8
31 'iVh6t ll)h7 (31 ... 'i¥.'g8 32 .ih4) 32 .id3 f6 33
.ixh7 etc. Tartakover. Reinfeld, Golombek,
Panov) .
*
We do not know how Capablanca received the news
that 111 the meanwlule Aleklune defeated
Bogoljubow in excellent fonn. What is more,
Bogoljubow was in top fonn during those years, and
ifwe simply examine tournament victories he is on a
par with Ins greatest rivals (Lasker, Capablanca,
Aleklnne) in tins field. But wl1ile tl1e three 'great'
players never funshed in a worse position than
second or tlurd, the Russian master produced much
more variable results: often after a glittering victoiy,
he suffered a serious fiasco.
*
61
 Budapest - 1929
1 Capablanca I 0 1/z 2 Rubinstein 9 1/z 3
Tartakover 8 4-5 Thomas, Vajda 7 1/z 6 A.
Steiner 7 7-8 Colle, Havasi 6 1/z 9 Przepiorka 6
10-11 Canal, Monticelli 5 1/z 12 v.d.Bosch 4 1/z
13 Brinckmatm 4 1./ Prokes 2 1h
29 Capablanca - B1inckmann Dl 7
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 lbf3 lbf6 4 'L)c3 dxc4 5 a4 .i.f5 6
'L)e5 't)bd7 (6 ... e6!?) 7 lh'<c4 '>dBc7 8 g3 e5 9 d'<e5
l2:lxe5 10 .i.f4 't)fd7 11 .i.g2 f6 12 0-0 i.e6?! (12
... .l:!.d8) 13 lh'<e5 fxe5 14 .i.e3 (14 .i.g5!?) 14 ...
fi..e7 (On 14 ... .ic5; see C.-Vidmar, Karlsbad
1929; C.-Dake, New York 1931; Klein-C. Margate
1935) 15 a5 a6?! 16 '>dBc2 0-0 17 I!fd 1 .l::tae8?!
("The final error after which the game is
positionally lost. as C. convincingly
demonstrates." 17 ... I!ac8!)
18 ~d5! ("Obtaining the advantage of two
Bishops in an open position. The utilisation of
this to force a Rook on to 7th rank is most
instructive and typical of C.-s consummate
teclmique.") 18 ... ..txd5?! (18 ... ~d8 19 i.b6
't)xb6 20 't)f6t +-; 18 ... ~b8) 19 ..txd5t! 'it>h8
20 fi..e6! 'i)f6 21 .ib6 ~8 22 .id7! 'L)xd7 23
Ihd7 (" Accomplishing the plan commenced on
his 18th move, after which Black loses with
startling rapidity.") 23 ... .l:tf6 24 Ll.adl .l!!e6 25
~b3 fi..f6 26 e4 h6 27 .ic5 ~h7 28 .l:txb7 ~c8
29 lldd7 1-0 (Brinckmann and Golombek).
30 Capablanca - Monticelli D5 l
1 d4 'i)f6 2 c4 e6 3 'L)c3 d5 4 .i.g5 't)bd7 5 e3 c6 6
a3 .ie7 7 lbf3 0-0 8 I!cl a6 9 cxd5 'L)xd5 10
i.xe7 ffixe7 11 ~3 'L)xc3 12 ~xc3 !Ie8 13
L'ldl?! c5! 14 i.e2 b5 15 d'<c5 lb.'<c5 16 0-0 .i.b7
17 !kl .llac8 18 ~ ~f8 19 .llfdl i.d5 20 't)d4
't)b3! 21 i!c3 .l:txc3 22 bxc3 .l:tc8 23 e4 ~xb4 24
axb4 'L)xd4 25 .l:!.xd4 i.b3 26 ~1 ~ 27 .lld3 a5
28 bxa5 b4! 29 c4 i.xc4 30 i!d6 b3 31 i!b6
62
.ixe2t 32 Wxe2 I!.a8 33 a6 b2 34 ~e3 iixa6 35
.llxb2 .l:ta7 36 Ll.b8t ~e7 37 h4 h5 38 'fl.b5 g6 39 f3
.l::!.a2 40 g3 ~6 41 @f4.l::!.al 112- 112
31 Capablanca - Rubinstein D30
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbf3 lbf6 4 .i.g5 'i)bd7 5 e3 ..te7 6
't)bd2 h6 7 ..th4 't)e4! 8 he7 ~xe7 9 .l:tcl c6 10
lh'<e4 d'<e4 11 'L)d2 f5 12 c5 0-0 13 eiJc4 e5! 14 't)d6
exd4 15 ..tc4t 'itti.7 16 ~xd4 eiJe5 17 0-0 llb8 (17
... .l:!.f6!?) 18 .ie2 .id7 19 nfdl ~f6 20 'i)c4 i.tlxc4
21 ..txc4 ..te8 22 ~d6 ~xd6 23 .l1xd6 .i.f7 24 i.xf7
.l!!xf7 25 g3 'fl.c7 26 b3 c;,t;,gs 27 .l:!.c4 i:ie8 28 .llcd4
~ 29 ~g2 .lle5 30 b4 a5 31 a3 axb4 32 axb4 l:ie6
33 h3 @f6 34 .l:td8 h5 35 g4 hxg4 36 hxg4 lli7 37
1!8d7 I!ee7 38 'fl.xe7 .l:txe7 112- 112
32 Van Den Bosch - Capablanca Bl3
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 ..td3 'L)c6 5 c3 lbf6
6 i.g5 .i.g4 7 'L)e2 e6 8 ~3 ~d7 9 eiJg3 't)h5 10
f3 lb.'<g3 11 hxg3 .if5 12 i.xf5 exf5 (=) 13 .;bd2
f6 14 .ie3 eiJa5 15 ~c2 0-0-0 16 0-0-0 .l!e8 1:
lidel ..td6 18 .if4 ..ixf4 19 gxf4 g6 20 .:iJb3
'L)xb3t 21 ~xb3?! h5 22 'i'dl ~8 23 lixe8t
'fl.xe8 24 .l::tel 'fl.xel 25 ~xel "'i'd6 26 ~d2 (25
~c2! ~xf4? 26 ~e6! +=)
26 ... ~a6! 27 b3 ~flt 28 c;,t;,b2 c;,t;,d7 29 ~c2?! (29
a4!) 29 ... b5! 30 a4 a6 31 axb5 axb5 32 ~3 c;t>c6
33 c;,t;,b4? ~el! 0-1 [It threatens 34 .~e7t 35 ~a5
~a3 #! e.g: I. 34 ~a2 ~e7t 35 ~5 ~a7t II. 34
~2 ~e7t 35 <t>a5 ~a7t 36 ~b4 ~b6 37 ~a3
~e7# III. 34 <t>a3 ~alt 35 ~b4 (35 ~a2 '>dBxc3
-+) 35 ... c;,t;,b6!)
33 Canal - Capablanca El6
"The Pernvian master Esteban Canal is famous for
his aggressive play and the critical portion of this
game proves no exception. However, Capablanca
meets the crncial test with his customary coolness
and comes out victorious." (R)
1 d4 'i)f6 2 c4 e6 3 lbf3 b6 4 g3 ..tb7 5 ..ig2 .ib4t
6 .i.d2 ..ixd2t 7 't)bxd2?! 0-0 8 0-0 c5 9 dxc5
["This gives Black the b-file while the pressure on
his QP will prove quite bearable." 9 !!el!? cxd4 10
l{lxd4 ~xg2 11 @xg2 lbc6 12 'Ll2f3 'Ll.xd4 13
'i'xd4 d5 =) 9 ... bxc5 10 'ti'c2 'Llc6 11 llfdl 'ti'b6
12 a3 ("This and his next move indicate that he is
angling for b4 - an ambition impossible to satisfy
if Black plays correctly.") 12 ... l!ab8 13 l!abl
lifc8 ("Indirectly aimed against eventual b4; but
the more direct a5 would have been more to the
point.") 14 e4 e5 ("Both players now strive for the
occupation of the opponents Q5, but Black _gets
there first.") 15 'ti'd3 ("Hoping to prevent ... lDd4
... ; 15 'Llfl!) 15 ... d6! 16 'Llfl 'Lld4 ("Virtually
forcing Whites reply, which prevents his
occupation of Q5. But Canal finds an ingenious
continuation.") 17 'Llxd4 exd4 18 b4! 'ti'c6?! (18 ...
'i'c7) 19 bxc5 dxc5 20 l!xb7! ("Ingenious! The KP
advances after all!") 20 ... 'ti'xb7 21 e5 °iVb3!
Capablancas combination is now apparent. He is
playing to win the QRP, followed by the advance
of his passed QRP. l!he success of this plan is
based on the relative helplessness of Whites minor
pieces. It is this immobility which outweighs their
formal superiority to the Black Rook.") 24 ~d5
.l:l.cb8 25 'it>g2 l!8b3! 26 l!xb3 I!xb3 27 'Lld2 ("27
a4 would be too slow. White must try to msh all
his pieces to the threatened sector as soon as
possible.") 27 ... I!xa3 28 'Lle4 a5 29 'Llxc5 gxf6
30 @fl? (30 ~c6 ! @£8 31 @fl 1i;e7 and the
outcome is doubtful.") 30 ... a4 31 'it>e2 (31 .ic6
l!a 1t) 31 ... .l:ta 1 32 'Lld3 a3 33 c5 a2 ("Witming a
piece; the win is certait1 but somewhat slow. due
to the tmfavorable position of Blacks Kit1g's-side
Pawns.") 34 @f3 l!dl 35 ..txa2 I!xd3t 36 <t;;e4
lld2 37 ..tc4 @£8! 38 f3 I!xh2 39 'it>xd4 We7 40
i.d3 h5 411i;e3 llg2 42 @£4 l!g 1 43 .ie4 I!c 1 44
c6 .lac3 45 c7 (45 @£5 l!c5t 46 1;;[4 c;,t;,e6 47 1i;e3
f5 48 1;;d4 1i;d6 49 i.d3 @xc6 50 .ic4 f4! 51 gxf4
h4 -+) 45 ... .llxc7 46 ~d5 l!c5 4 7 ~a2 .l:l.b5 481i;e3
l:Ia5 49 _tc4 l:lc5 50 ..ta6 (50 ..ta2 f5!) 50 ... @e6 51
@£4 l:lc3 52 ..tfl f5 ("White is steadily forced back
now.") 53 ..ta6 @£6 54 ..tb7 l:lc4 t 55 @e3 @g5 56
@f2 f4 57 @g2 f5 0-1 (fartakover and ReinfeldJ.

34 Capablanca - Colle E22

22 exf6? (22 'ti'xb3! l!xb3 23 exf6 .l:txa3 24 'Lld2
+=) 22 ... 'ti'xd3 23 l!xd3 l!bl! ("The point of
1 d4 'Llf6 2 c4 e6 3 'Llc3 i.b4 4 'ti'b3 .ixc3t? (4 ...
'Llc6; 4 ... c5) 5 'ti'xc3 'Lle4 6 'ti'c2 d5 7 'Llf3 0-0 (7
... c5 8 dxc5 'ti'a5t 9 'Lld2 'Llc6 10 e3 0-0 11 a3
'Llxd2 12 i.xd2 ~xc5 13 b4 'ti'e7 14 .id3 ±) 8 e3
'Llc6?! 9 ~e2 l!e8 10 0-0 e5?? 11 cxd5! 1-0

Havasi Kornel:
I played against Capablanca. When I woke up in the mommg I was still under the influence of the
vicious dream. I was playing chess it1 my dream and my opponent's free pawn was dashit1g to be promoted
and however hard I tried to catch it I did not manage. This vicious dream debilitated me so much that I
almost got tired of it. but luckily it turned out that this time reality was nicer than my dream. Nevertheless.
I was still not able to shake off the effect of the nigl1tmare completely, because a dream like this was an ill
omen on the very day when I played with Capablanca.
I must admit I was quite nervous before the game. but I consoled myself that I was always nervous
before every game. whoever my opponent was. Moreover. I had heard that even the best actors suffer from
nerves before going on stage, but they are able to play, too.
If only my acquait1tances had left me in peace. Each, without an exception asked me who I was
playit1g agait1st that afternoon. And the uncomfortable, compassi1mate smile with which they acknow-
ledged my answer! They still tried to comfort me: 'Why Capablanca is only a human beit1g after all, a bone
might stick it1 his throat durit1g lunch, drivers it1 Budapest are not very considerate and then his wife has
arrived.. .'
I also met stricter people, who recommended moves. plans and variations to me. Of course, I
promised everyone that I would follow their advice.
In the afternoon the bell rang and we had to play. We sat down facing each other. Capablanca put his
spectacles on his smilit1g face, which made him look more serious, and he was very cahn. I was not so

63
cahn. After all one does not play against world champions every day. I started clumsily and took a long
time to think. I would have liked to find out something totally original. Capablanca played quickly at the
begitming, then he went for a little walk after each move, but later he played himself in and he, too was
thinking for long periods. I would have liked to look into his thinking, to penetrate his plans or at least to
steal the moves he thought best for me. (Because our opponent's plan for us is even more important in
chess than ours.)
The distinguished grey-haired Sir Thomas was walking carefree next to me. He was smiling. But it
was all right for him. because after a defeat he was able to return to his nice estate in Scotland. But where
could I return to? During all this, time was passing, much too fast. I had no more than 5 minutes to make 8
moves. According to Capablanca I made a slight mistake then. It was so small that I myself did not notice
it. The problem was that he did. I was not going to torture either him or myself for a long time. The gallery
was not very happy. They were blood-thirsty. Capablanca praised me, he liked one of my Rook-moves
especially. I thanked him for praising me, but I thought how much better it would have been if I could have
praised him!

35 Havasi - Capablanca E34

1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 J..b4 4 ~c2 d5 5 lbf3 (5
a3; 5 cxd5) 5 ... c5 6 cxd5 ~xd5 7 a3 (7 J..d2) 7
... .ixc3t 8 bxc3 'L\c6 9 e3 0-0 10 J..e2 ("Much
too timid a move, after which White justly loses
the initiative." "The text move initiates a plan of
attacking the Queen by playing the Bishop to f3,
but is too cumbrously slow." 10 .id3 !? cxd4 11
exd4J 10 ... cxd4 11 cxd4 (11 exd4!?) 11 ... b6
12 lbd2 ( 12 J..d2 i.b7 13 0-0 i!ac8 14 ~a2) 12
... .1b7 13 .1f3 ~d7 14 0-0?! [14 lbe4 lbxe4 15
1xe4 lhc8! 16 ..ixh7t? (16 'i¥a4!?) 16 ... @h8 17
..id3 li:ib4! 18 \Wdl l2Jxd3t 19 \Wxd3 ..ixg2 20 .l::rgl
'i'd5] 14 ... £Iac8 15 ~1 lba5 16 .ixb7 ~xb7 17
..ib2 ("In the position now reached, Black has an 36 Prokes - Ca11ablanca A46
accumulation of small positional advantages which,
1 d4 lbf6 2 lbf3 e6 3 .ig5 c5 4 e3 'i'b6 5 'i!lc 1
taken one by one, are not particularly alarming,
lbc6 6 c3 d5 7 .id3 .id7 8 lbbd2 !ic8 9 0-0?! (9
however by weaving them together, C. is able to
'i'hl! h6 10 ..th4 .ie7 110-0 0-0 12 a3! +=) 9 ...
obtain a crushing on the Q side. Firstly, Black is
h6 10 i.f4 (10 .ixf6 !?) 10 ... cxd4 11 exd4
rather better developed, since White has been
lbb4! 12 .ie2 .ib5 13 .ixb5t 'i'xb5 14 lbe5
too slow in his opening strategy; next, he
lbc6 (=) 15 lbxc6?! ilxc6 16 'i'c2 .ie7 17 Iife 1
possesses the latent endgame advantage of two
0-0 18 lle3 lbh5 19 .ie5 .ig5 20 lleel llfc8 21
Pawns to one on the Q side; finally, owing to
~hl .ie7 22 £Ie3 .ig5 23 !!eel l'!b6! (There are
White's Pawn formation, he will be able to exert
hidden weaknesses in the seemingly intact
considerable pressure on the white squares.") 17
White Queen's side. Whichever pawn makes a
... 'i'a6! 18 £Iel (18 l:tcl 'i'e2 19 'Df3 lbb3 20
move, newer weaknesses will be created.) 24
!\xc8 l:txc8 21 l!a2 !:Ic2) 18 ... lbd5! ("Black can
?!.ab 1 lbf4 25 .ixf4 (25 h4? lbd3 26 hxg5 lbxe 1
comfortably concentrate all his pieces on the Q
27 £Ixel ~xb2!) 25 ... i.xf4 26 g3 i.g5 27 c'llf3
side since White has no shadow of a counter on
..tf6 28 lbe5? i.xe5 29 !:Ixe5
the K wing.") 19 .lla2 llc6 20 e4 lbc3 21 J..xc3
!:Ixc3 22 lbf3 !:Ifc8 23 h3 lbc4 24 a4 (See diagram on next page)
(See diagram next column)
29 ... 'i'c4! (Overlooking the loss of pawn. 29 clxe5
24 ... lba3! 25 ~2 (25 'i'b4 ?t8c4! or 25 ~dl d4 ! +) 30 'i'cl 'i!/xa2 31 !ie 1 a5 ! 32 WJ:2 a4 33 h4
'i'c4!) 25 ... '*'fxa4! 26 lle2 (26 Iieal ~c2!) 26 ... 'i!/c4 34 I!.al ilb3 35 .I!e3 ~5 36 !!a2 ffc4 37 ~al
b5 27 d5! exd5 28 exd5 b4 29 'i'd2 b3 30 l:tb2 (30 ?!.a8 38 c;,t;,h2 ~5 39 !:Iel .lia6 40 c;,t;,g2 'i'c4 41 Iie3
llxa3 'i'xa3 31 d6 'i'cl i·) 30 ... !:Ic2! 31 'i'e3 .l;!xb2 .llbb6 42 l!a3 'i'c6 43 @gl 'i'b5 44 l!a2 'i'e8 45 'i'el
32 llxb2 lbc4 33 'i'cl 'i'a3 0-1 (Brinckmann and !!b3 46 ~al 'i'a8! 47 'i'dl (While manoeuvring,
Golombek). Black has been threatening to play ... a3! for quite a

64
long time.) 47 ... 'i'a7 48 Wg2 'i'b6 49 't!Vd2 [49't!Va 1 13 ilxc2 r!gS 14 Wfl ltJe5 15 ild 1 ild7 16 ctJf3
a3 50 !:!.xa3 (50 bxa3?? £!.bl) 50 ... .l::!.xb2) 49 ... 'iVb5 .ic6 17 .llgUkS 18 g3 We7 19 LtJd4 .1..d5 20 I:!cl
50 £!.el .l::!.b6 51 .l::!.e2 'iWc4 52 'iWdl .l::!.3b4! (At last!) 53 h6 21 l!xc8 I!.xc8 22 f3 r!c5 23 Wf2 f5 24 ..i1Le2 a6
cxb4 fVxa2 54 'iYcl 'iVc4 55 .l::!.c2 fVxd4 56 llc8t@h7 25 I!.d 1 ilc6 26 rid2 h5 27 LtJb3 .lld5 28 .l!xd5
57 ms ~e4 t 58 @gl llc6 59 ~a 1 iVf5 60 lla8 .l::!.c2 .ixd5 29 ct:ld4 Wd6 30 h3 ilc4 31 b3 .:he2 32
o1 'iWfl Jlx b2 0-1 ct>xe2 Wd5 112_11z
37 Capablanca -Ta1takover Cl3 40 Steiner E - Capablanca C71
1 d4 e6 2 e4 d5 3 'Dc3 ctJf6 4 .i._g5 .i.e7 5 e5 ltJe4 6 1 e4 e5 2 LtJf3 ltJc6 3 ..tb5 a6 4 .ia4 d6 5 d4!" b5
il.xe7 (6 LtJxe4!?) 6 ... Wlixe7 (6 ... l2Jxc3 7 'i'g4 v//ixe7 8 6 .ib3 ct:lxd4 7 ltJxd4 exd4 8 'i'xd4? (8 i..d5; 8
'19xg7 ~ 9 °'iWxhSt ~7 10 .lldl +=or7 .i.xd8 LtJxdl c3!?) 8 ... c5!
8 fi.xc7 LtJxb2 91:l.bl ltJc4 10 .i.xc4 dxc4 11 cbf3 +=) 7
lLlxe4 dxe4 8 c3 (8 't!Vd2) 8 ... 0-0 9 v/Jig4? f5 10 exf6
·~xf6 11 0-0-0 W!ih6t! 12 <tbl e5! 13 'i'g3 exd4 14
il.c4t ile6 15 .1..xe6t W!ixe6 16 cxd4 ltJa6! 17 ltJh3
lt:ib4 18 v//ib3 'i!Vxb3 19 a.xb3 .llad8 20 IDiel ltJd3 21
l!xe4 chill 22 chill !till 23 .llcl ! (White has to
work for the half point.) 23 ... c6 24 .llc2 .ihc2
25 Wxc2 Wf7 26 b4! !ld5 27 Wc3 llf5 28 .l:ie2
h5 29 Wc4 g5 30 h3 h4 31 b3 a6 32 Wd3 Wg6
33 l.:l.e6t Wh5 34 I!.e2 g4 35 hxg4t Wxg4 36 I!.e7
J!b5 37 wc4 Wg3 11z_1h
38 Capablanca - Vajda D30
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 ct:lf3 LtJf6 4 .ig5 LtJbd7 5 e3
il.b4t 6 LtJbd2!? (6 ct:lc3) 6 ... c5 7 a3 ilxd2t 8
~xd2 LtJe4 !" 9 .ixd8 LtJxd2 10 ct:lxd2 Wxd8 11
dxc5 ct:lxc5 12 cxd5 exd5 13 I!.cl ltJa4 14 b3 9 Wlid5 .ie6 10 'i'c6t .id7 11 'i'd5 c4 12 .1..xc4
lt:ib6 15 LtJf3 ile6 16 Wd2 lacs 17 ild3 laxc 1? bxc4 13 'i'xc4 ctJf6 14 ltJc3 .ie7 15 0-0 0-0 16 a4
(Black is too eager to secure a draw.) 18 !txcl ile6 17 Wlid3 v/Jia5 18 .id2 Wlih5 19 h3 .l;!.fcS 20 b3
Wd7 19 ct:ld4 a6 20 h4 h6 (20 ... l:kS 21 llxc8 d5 21 exd5 I!.d8 22 W/ig3 LtJxd5 23 ltJe4 ilh4 24
Cbxc8 22 .ixh7 g6 23 f3 ct:ld6 24 g4 We7 25 h5 - ~ LtJf6 25 ct:ld6 'i'g6 26 ila5 .l;!.d7 27 c4 1£le4 28
+-J21f4! Wd6?(21 ... g622h5! ±) 'i'f4 .ixf2t 29 J'.:lxf2 chxf2 30 Wxf2 I!.xd6 31
'i'xd6 'i'f6t 32 Wg3 'i'xa 1 0-1
( See diagram next column)
41 Thomas - Ca1>ablanca C76
22 ~xa6! .icS 23 .id3 .id7 24 ..tf5 ..tc6 25 a4 g5
1 e4 e5 2 ct:lf3 ltJc6 3 .ib5 a6 4 .ia4 d6 5 0-0 ~d7
26 a5 t2:la8 27 g4 ltJc7 28 h5 gxf4 29 exf4 ct:lb5 30
6 c3 g6 7 d4 .ig7 8 dxe5 chxe5 9 ct:lxe5 .ixe5 10
fi:ixb5i· fi.xb5 31 .l;!.cS ile8 32 b4 .l:ig8 33 b5 1-0
ltJd2 .ixa4 11 Wlixa4 t 'i'd7 12 Wlixd?t Wxd7 13
39 Przepiorka - Capablanca E34 ct:lf3 lle8 14 ltJxe5t I!.xe5 15 f3 ltJe7 16 i..f4 I:!e6
1 d4 ctJf6 2 c4 e6 3 ltJc3 .ib4 4 Wlic2 d5 5 e3?! c5 17 I:!adl Wc6 18 lld4 I!.eS 19 I:!fdl b6 20 I:!4d2 f5
6 dxc5 ltJc6 7 aJ 'i'a5 8 .id2 dxc4 9 .1..xc4 .ixc3 21 exf5 chxf5 22 Wf2 ltJe3 23 ilxe3 I!.xe3 24 h4
10 .1..xc3 W!ixc5 11 ilxf6 gxf6 12 .id3 'i'xc2 l'.:l3e5 25 I:!c2 112- 112

65
 Barcelona - 1929
1 Capablanca 13 1/z 2 Tartakover l Jl/z 3 Colle
11 .f-5 Monticelli, Rey 6 Golmayo 8 7 Yates
71/z H-9 Miss Menchik, Vilardebo 7 10-11
Marin, Soler 5 12 Ribera 4 1/z 13-14 Agvilera,
Font 3 15 Torres 2
Capablanca lost only half a point altogether, but he
hardly had a rival apart from Tartakower at this
tournament.
42 Capablanca - Miss Mencbik B02
1 e4 ctJf6 2 e5 liJd5 3 l2ill d6 4 i.c4 e6 5 0-0 lbb6
6 i.b3 c5 (6 ... dxe5; 6 ... lbc6) 7 c3 lbc6 8 exd6
..\txd6 (8 ... ~xd6 9 d4 cxd4 10 cxd4 i.e7) 9 d4
c4? (Blocking the centre makes developing the
White Queen's side a bit more difficult, but at
the same time it gives White a free hand on the
King's side.) 10 i.c2 ~c7 11 liJbd2 i.d7 12 ~e2
tbe7 13 tbe4 .&!.c8 14 tbxd6t ~xd6 15 tbe5 tbg6
16 f4 0-0 17 l!f3! i.c6 18 .l!h3 tbd7 19 tbxc4 (19
~!? h6 20 tbxg6 fxg6 21 ~xg6 ~d5 22 .&!.xh6
~xg2t 23 ~x_g2 i.xg2 24 .&!.xe6 i.h3 25 .&!.d6
l:ice8 26 @t'2 W6) 19 ... ~d5 20 tbe3 ~d6 21
tbc4 ~d5 22 tbe5 i.b5 23 'ii'el tbdxe5 24 fxe5 f5
25 ~dl i.c6 26 ~e2 .l!fe8 27 i.g5 tbf8 28 .l:.l.g3
b5 29 h4 .llc7 30 h5 b4 31 i.b3 ~a5 32 llcl i.e4
33 ~d2 .llec8 34 i.f6 ~6 35 ~g5 ~7
36 c;,t;,h2! 1-0 (It threatens 37 cxb4!)
43 Capablanca - Colle B36
1 c4 liJf6 2 tbf3 c5 3 tbc3 tbc6 4 d4 cxd4 5
tbxd4 tbxd4 6 'ii'xd4 g6 7 e4 d6 (See Sicilian
defense- Gurgenidze variation.) 8 i.e3 i.g7 9 f3
~a5 ("This turns out to be a waste of time, but
it is already apparent that the nature of the Pawn
formation (White's permanent control of Q5)
gives White a clear advantage in any event.") 10
~d2 a6 11 i..e2 i.e6?! 12 .llcl .llc8 13 b3 tbd7
("Giving his KB more scope, but this does not
improve the situation appreciably. The fact is
66
that Black is dying a lingering death.") 14 0-0
0-0?! 15 tbd5! ~d8 ("Since QxQ would lose a
Pawn, Black must return to Ql with further loss
of time.") 16 ~4! i.xd5 ("Giving White two
Bishops and the control of the c-file." 16 ...
.&!.b8? 17 i.a7) 17 cxd5 .llxcl ("He cannot
dispute control of the c-file" 17 ... b5 18 .l:.l.xc8
~xc8 19 llcl ~7 20 a4! or 18 ~a3 ;!;)18 .l:.l.xcl
~8 19 ~c4! ("In order to maintain control of
the c-file." 19 ... tbc5 !? 20 i.xc5 .llc8 21 b4 h6
22 ~xa6 bxc5 23 ..tb5! ±") 19 ... i.b2?! 20 .l:.l.c:!
i.f6 21 f4 ! ("White now plays for the further
advance of the ~P. which must be decisive.") 21
... l:td8 22 Wi/c7! "A wretched place for the
Queen, but Tartakover shows that the seemingly
preferable 22 ... ct:lc5 would also be
unsatisfactory: 23 Wi/xb8 l!xb8 24 e5 i.g7 25 i.xc5
l!c8 26 b4 b6 27 i.xa6 'f:J.c7 28 i.d3 (28 .lld2 +-) 28
... dxc5 29 bxc5 bxc5 30 .i.b5 +-) 22 ... Wi/a8 23 i.g4!
'Llc5 (23 ... lbf8 24 e5 ±) 24 e5 ! .i.g7 25 VJilx~7 h5
26 e6! hxg4 27 exf7t c;,t;,h7 28 'ifr'h4t i.h6 29 f5 g5
30 i.xg5 ~g7 31 ~xh6t 1-0 (Tartakover and
Reinfeld).
44 Ca11ablanca - Torres A31
1 ~f3 ~f6 2 c4 c5 3 d4 cxd4 4 ~xd4 e5: 5 'iJb5
i.b4t?! (5 ... d5! 6 cxd5 i.c5 oo) 6 i.d2 ..axd2t<;>
[6 ... i.c5 7 J..c3 ~6 (7 ... b6 ·8 liJd6tl 8 e3 a6
("This manoeuvre is too slow." 8 ... lbc6! ?) 9
b4 axb5 10 bxc5 ~xc5 11 cxb5 0-0 +=] 7 ~xd2
0-0 8 0, lc3 tba6 9 g3 f:bc5 10 J..g2 a6 11 ct:ld6
~a5 ("Black has evolved a laborious plan for
counter-attack on the Q side. White takes
advantage of Black's loss of time to complete
his development and institute a strong attack on
the Black King.") 12 0-0 .l!b8 13 l!fd 1 b5 14
cxb5 axb5 ("White has attained an ideal
position; his development is complete and he
has complete mastery of the long open central
lines. It is amazin_g how rapidly Black's position
collapses.") 15 ~g5! tba4? (15 ... b4 16 tbd5
QJxd5 17 i.xd5 tbe6 18 ~xe5 ±) 16 Q)f5 .:i:le8

17 lbh6t! c;,t;,h8 18 ~e7! 1-0 (Golombek).
45 Ca11ablanca - Golmayo D30
1 lbf'3 l2Jf6 2 c4 e6 3 d4 d5 4 i.g5 i.e7 5 e3 ibbd7 6
'1Jbd2 e2le4 7 i.xe7 ~xe7 8 i.d3 f5 (8 ... ibxd2) 9
0-0 0-0 10 Ikl c6 11 a3 a5 12 ~el! @h8 13 f3
~xd2 14 ~xd2 l2Jf6?! 15 i.b 1 I!d8 16 ~3 .ID'S?!
[16 ... dxc4 17 ~e5 (17 .lixc4 e5!) 17 ... c5 19 !hc4
cxd4 20 .l:hd4 +=] 17 ~el .l::te8 18 f4 g6 19 !lc3
rl.g8 20 ~4 .lig7 21 lbe5 c;,t;,g8 (21 ... ~d7?? 22
it:\xg6t!) 22 ~el i.d7 23 cxd5 exd5 24 .l!Ic5 'ti'd8
25 ~4 ~e7 26 h3 i.c8 27 'ti'el ~d8! 28 .l'icl
.\l!.e6 29 c;,t;,h2 ibd7 30 ibd3 ~6 31 .l'if2 .lie7 32
~c3 .llae8 33 b4! axb4 34 axb4 i.f7 35 lbe5 ~xe5
36 dxe5 i.e6 37 !'lb2 iic8 38 'ti'd4 'ti'd8? (38 ...
'i!Vxd4 39 exd4 .lla8 +=) 39 i.d3 .l!ec7 40 Itbc2
'f/Je7 41 'ti'b6 ffl 42 Iic5 c;,t;,g7 43 b5 ! 'ti'd7 44
.ll!.e2 h5 45 ~a5 ~e8 46 'i'c3 c;,t;,h7 47 i.dl! i.f7
48 ..lta4! ~e6 49 'i'a5 @h6 50 'ti'b6 'ti'd7 51 bxc6
bxc6 52 Zhc6 1-0
46 Ca11ablanca - Rey A3 l
1 ~3 ~f6 2 c4 c5 3 d4 b6?! 4 e2lc3 i.b7? 5 d5!
d6 6 e4 'iJbd7 7 i.f4 g6 8 'i'd2 ~g7 9 .ih6 0-0 10
h4! tbg4 11 .ixg7 Wxg7 12 h5 h6 13 i.e2 IDi8 14
'1Jh4! t:Z::igf6 15 f4 i.c8 (15 ... ·~e8 16 .l!h3!) 16 hxg6
fxg6 17 '*'fd3 (It threatens 18 e5) 17 ... lbf&
18 e5 dxe5 19 fxe5 eiJ6h7 20 e6 i.b7 21 'ti'e3! 1-0
47 Ribera - Capablanca El2
1 d4 l2Jf6 2 lbf3 e6 3 c4 b6 4 ltic3 i.b7 5 i.g5 (5
a3!? 5 e3) 5 ... i.e7 6 e3 'iJe4! 7 i.xe7 (7 ltixe4
i.xe4 8 i.f4 0-0 9 i.d3 i.b4t =) 7 ... 'i'xe7 8 lhxe4
i.xe4 9 .id3 i.b7 10 0-0 d6 11 .l'iel ibd7 12 e4 0-0
13 e5?! (13 'ti'c2 =) 13 ... Iiad8 ("A strong move,
with a veiled threat in the Q file, the seriousness of
which White only half comprehends.") 14 'i'e2? (14
exd6 =) 14 ... dxe5 (14 ... ~4 15 'ti'e3) 15 dxe5? (15
chxe5 =) 15 ... lbc5 (''By this and his next few moves
Black obtains control of the Q file and with it the
game.") 16 i.c2?! (16 l!adl lhxd3 17 .lixd3 .lixd3 18
·~xd3 l!td8 19 'ti'e3 'ti'd7 = +) 16 ... .ixf3! 17 'i'xf3
.i!d2 18 'ti'c3 .l::tfd8 19 l!adl (19 b4 ~4! 20 g3 'ti'd4
21 'ti'xd4 l'!.8xd4 22 i.xh7t Wxh7 23 bxc5 .l::txc4 24
cxb6 axb6 25 .l::tacl I!cc2 or 22 .lladl .l!xdl 23 .l::txdl
.lixdlt 24 i.xdl ltid3 +-+) 19 ... ltie4! 20 ~e3 (20
~b3 ~c5 21 ~e3 'i'xc4) 20 ... Il.xc2 21 i\Wxe4 Ihb2
("The rest is a ma teer of teclm.ique - but C. 's
teclmique, being impeccable, is interesting and
instrnctive.") 22 a3 Itdd2 23 .l!xd2 Zlxd2 24 h3 (24
'i'a8t 'ti'd8 25 'ti'xa7 h6 26 h3 ~d4!) 24 ... c5 :Z5
.lle3 .lid4 26 'ti'a8t .lid8 27 ~f3 ·~d"7 ("It is
pleasing to observe how Black preserves control
of the Q file throughout the game. The
exploitation of his control is masterly in the
extreme.") 28 c;,t;,h2 ~d4 29 .&!.e4 'i'd3 30 'i'g4 h6
31 .&!.e3 'ti'd4 32 'ti'e2 'ti'd 1 33 'ti'b2 ·~c12 34 ·~c3
(34 'i'xd2 .!:txd2 35 f4 l!c2 36 .l!e4 .l!c3; 34 l:!.e2
~f4 t) 34 ... 'ti'xf2 0-1 (Golombek).
48 Aguilera - Capablanca E23
1 d4 ibf6 2 c4 e6 3 ltic3 .ib4 4 'ib3 c5 5 dxc5
lbc6 (5 ... ltia6) 6 ({)f3 'ti'a5 (On 6 ... 0-0 see
Winter - Capablanca, Hastings 1929-30) 7 i.d2
'ihc5 8 a3 (8 e3) 8 ... i.xc3 9 i.xc3 e2la5 10 i.xa5
'.Wxa5t 11 'ti'b4 'ti'c7 12 e3 b6 13 g3 l 13 l.e2 i 13
... i.b7 14 i.g2 a5 15 '*1Vc3 llc8 16 .l;!.cl d5 17
cxd5? (17 ltid4! 0-0 18 ltib5 =+) 17 ... '*1Vxc3t 18
.lixc3 .l;!xc3 19 bxc3 i.xd5 20 lbh4?! (20 0-0 ~e721
.l;!.bl ltid7 22 ltid4 i.xg2 23 Wxg2 llc8 24 ibb5 =+)
67
20 ... .ltc4 ! 21 Wd2 [21 .!tfl .!txfl 22 .&!.xfl We7
23 Wd2 !!.d8t 24 Wc2 !'!c8 25 .&!.cl 1Lle4) 21 ... g5!
22 .ltc6t (22 1Llf3 1Lle4 t23 Wc2 1Llxt"2)] 22 ... We7
23 1Llg2 l:!c8 24 .i.b7 'f!.c7 25 .lta8 l!c8 26 .i.b7
!!b8 27 .!tc6 .i1d8i· 28 Wc2 .ik8 29 .i.a4 [29 .i.b7
'!J.c7 30 .i.a8 (or 30 .!tf3) 30 ... .i.d5 31 .i.xd5
~xd5 -+] 29 ... .!td5 30 '!J.gl l"ile4 31 Wb2 l2lxt"2
32 l2:le 11Llg4 33 .!tc2 1Llxe3 0-1
49 Ca11ablanca - Yates A15
"Yates admired Capablancas handling of this game
so much that he included it as his only loss in the
collection of his own best games! An unusual
example of sportsmanship." (R).
1 l2:lf3 l2:lf6 2 c4 g6 3 b3 .ltg7 4 .i.b2 0-0 5 g3 d6 6
1.g2 l2:lc6 (6 ... e5!?) 7 0-0 e58d41Lld7? (8 ... e4!)
9 dxe5! l2:ldxe5 (9 ... dxe5) 10 1Llc3 .lle8 11 l2:lxe5!
~xe5?! (11 ... dxe5 12 ~cl .!td7 12 .lldl 'iVc8) 12
"'I/Vd2 a5 ( 12 ... .l:ib8) 13 .llacl(It threatened 13 ...
a4!) 13 ... '!J.b8 14 h3 .Jtd7 15 l2ld5! ("This is the
key to White's stratef,,y. Sooner or later the black
squared Bishops will have to be exchanged, giving
White opportunities to exploit the weakness of the
black squares. In addition the ultimate removal of
this Knight will give White a very strong center as
well as pressure on the newly-opened c-file. All
very advantageous perspectives for White." 15 ...
b6 (15 ... .i.c6 16 'iVxa5 !!a8 17 'iVxc7 Iixa2 18
~xd8 '!J.xd8 19 .!txe5 .!txe5 20 e3 .i.xd5 21 .!txd5)
16 f4 l2:\c6 17 s.Lxg7 ct>xg7 18 'iVh2t! f6 ("Forced.
Capablanca proceeds at once to the exploitation of
the new weakness.")
19 g4! 1Llb4 ("It is clear that the murderous Kt
must be removed at once." 19 ... W 20 g5 f5 21
~f6 -,..-) 20 g51Llxd5 21 cxd5! (The new weakness
is c7) 21 ... l:lc8 22 e4! ("Black must now realize
that there is no good defense to the threat of 23
gxf6i· followed by 24 e5) 22 ... c6?! (22 ... @f7 23
gxf6 ~xf6 24 e5 or 22 ... -'i.b5 23 .l:it"2 Il.f8 24
'fJ.fc2! 'fJ.f7 25 a4 .i.a6 26 h4 followed .!th3 +-) 23
dxc6 .lhc6 24 gxf6t W (24 ... 'ii'xf6 25 'ii'xf6t
68
~ 6 26 e5t) 25 e5 llxcl 26 Z:'l.xc 1 dxe5 27 fxe5
'iVb8 28 ~d4! .i.f5 (28 ... .!te6 29 Iic6 b5 30 Zhe6 1
ct>xe6 31 .i.d5t Wd7 32 .i.f7t Wc6 33 .i.xe8t 'iVxe8
34 'iVd6i· Wb7 35 'iVe7t) 29 .i.d5t Wf8 (29 ... 1.e6
30 .i.xe6t ct>xe6 31.llc6t@f5 32 f7!) 30 ~f4! .!!xe5
(30 ... .l;!.d8 31 'iVh6 t We8 32 'iV g7 !) 31 'iVl16t We8 32
f7t! 1-0 (Ta11akover, Reinfeld and Golombek).
50 Capablanca - Soler A30
1 l2:lf3 l2:lf6 2 c4 e6 3 l2:lc3 b6 4 g3 ..tb7 5 i.g2 c5
6 0-0 l2:lc6 (6 ... -'i.e7) 7 d4 (7 e4) 7 ... cxd4 (7 ...
1Llxd4 8 1Llxd4 .i.xg2 9 <t>xg2 cxd4 10 ~xd4 '!J.c8
= +=) 8 1Llxd4 .i.c5? (8 ... .lte791Lldb5!) 91Lldb5!
0-0 10 .i.g5 .i.e7 (10 ... a6 11 i.xf6 gxf6 12 l2ld6
10 ... 'iVe7 11 .!txf6 gxf6 12 1Lle4 ! ±) 11 e£\d6 .!txd6
12 'ii'xd6 \'i'bs 13 £tfdl lZla5?! 14 Ji.xf6! .ltxg2 (14 ...
gxf6 15 'ii'xd7 .ltxg2 16 Wxg2 lZlxc4 17 'ii'd4 lZle5 18
l2::ie4 +-)
15 "i¥'xb8! .llaxb8 16 i.e5 .1lc6 ( 16 ... 1:l.bc8':' 1'"
ct>xg2) 17 .i.xb8 llxb8 18 b3 Wf8 19 l'!d4 <1Jb'i' 20
lLlb5 ilxb5 21 cxb5 d5 22 £!cl lZ:id6 23 a4 r!b7 24 f3
f5 25 Wt"2 We7 26 h4 a5 27 i:!d2 Wd7 28 We3 !lbs
29 Wd4 g6 30 We5 £!f8 31 rfdc2 l2:le8 32 f4 1-0
51 Monticelli - Capablanca A47
"This is one of those "simple" games in which the
Cuban trimnphs by means of clear "obvious" and
imperturbable moves. As one plays over the game,
it seems as if White were condenmed from the
very sta11 to lose it!" (R).
1 d4 l2:lf6 2 1Llf3 b6 3 g3 .Jtb7 4 ..tg2 c5 5 dxc5?!
(5 0-0) 5 ... bxc5 6 c4 g6 7 b3 iJ..g7 8 .ltb2 0-0 9
0-0 d6 ("Despite the superficial symmetry of the
position, Black has a slight edge because of his more
compact Pawn position, and the eventual possibility
of weakening his opponent's game witli.. .a5-a4. Of
course this is only a hope at present.") 10 'Llc3 tzle4
11 'iVcl 'Llxc3 12 ilxc3 .1lxc3 13 '>l&'xc3 a5! (''As a
result of the removal of White's Knight.... a4 has
now become a real menace.'') 14 !!fd 1 4Jd'; 15
'@'e3 Wg7 (It threatened 16 'iVh6!) 16 h3 eiJf6 1'7
g4 ?! ("Vainly hoping to obtain some attack on the
King-side to compensate for Blacks threat on the
other wing. It should of course be noted that a4
here or on the next two moves would leave a
terriblv weak QKtP on an open file.") 17 ... h6 18
.:Z:lel ~c7 19 lod3 (19 i.xb7 ~xb7 20 ~f3 =+) 19
... i.xg2 20 'it>xg2 a4! ("Thus Black has achieved
the frrst part of his strategical plans. The next step
is to increase the pressure.") 21 lbf4 .llfb8 ! 22 f3
axb3 23 axb3 .l!xal! 24 llxal e5! ("Surprising at
first sight, for it seems to weaken the QP; but since
the Knight cam1ot retum to Q3, the actual effect is
strengthening of Blacks Pawn formation and an
accompanying weakening of Whites Pawn
position.") 25 lbd5 lbxd5 26 cxd5
26 ... l:':ib4! (Threatening ... ~7 as well as ... I!d4!
etc. 26 ... ~7?! 27 °i'd3 ~xb3 28 ~xb3 l;!.xb3 29
.l:!.a6!) 27 ~d3 ~7! (27 ... !!d4 28 ~a6! I!xd5 29
~a8 lid2 30 l!ta7 ~6 31 .llb7 I!xe2t 32 c;,t;,g3 ila2
33 !!xb6 llxa8 34 !lxd6 =+) 28 ..Wa6 ~xd5 29
~c8 ~7! ("Black must consolidate his position
before capturing more booty." 29 ... l:!.xb3? 30
J:!.a8) 30 ~d8 ~8 31 ~d7 llb7 (31 ... I!xb3? 32
Ll.a7) 32 ~c6 l;!.xb3 33 !ia6 llb2 0-1 (Tartakover
and Reinfeld).
52 Font- Ca11ablanca C50
1 e4 e5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 i.c4 d6 4 lbc3 (4 d4!) 4 ...
.:'lia5!? 5 i.b3 lbxb3 6 a'<b3 c5 7 ~e2 lbe7 8 d3 h6
9 lbd2 lbc6 10 0-0 lbd4 11 ..Wdl i.e7 12 lbe2 0-0
13 ei:lg3 f5 14 exf5 i.xf5 15 f4 ~d7 16 lbxf5 I!xf5
17 fxe5 !!af8 18 c3 lbc6 19 ~e2 !!xe5 20 .l:lxf8t
.hf8 21 ..Wd 1 lle8 22 lbf'3 ~f5 23 .l:ta4 d5 24 ~fl
d4 25 i.d2 i.d6 26 Iial ~f7 27 ~dl ~5 28 g3
g5 29 lbel l1.e2 30 c;,t;,f1 ilxh2 31 ~xh5 .l:txh5 32
Wg2 g4 33 lbc2 .l:lh3 34 i.el h5
(See diagram next column)
35 ..tf2 h4 !36 !!hl i.xg3! 0-1
53 Marin - Capablanca C46
1 e4 e5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 lbc3 g6 4 i.b5 (4 d4) 4 ...
.1g7 5 0-0 lbge7 6 d3 0-0 7 i.c4 (White is not
very consistent.) 7 ... lba5! 8 i.b3 lbxb3 9 axb3
d5! 10 h3 d4 11 lbe2 f5 12 exf5 lbxf5 13 lbg3
~d5 14 lbe4 lbd6 15 ~e2 b6 16 lbh2 lbxe4
17'i'xe4 ~xe4 18 dxe4 a5 19 b4? i.a6 20 .l:tel
axb4 21 f3 c5 22 i.d2 i.b5 23 lbg4 h5 24 tof2
c;,t;,f7 25 lbd3 b3! 0-1
54 Ta11akover - Capablanca C60
1 e4 e5 2 lbf'3 lbc6 3 i.b5 a6 4 .ia4 d6 5 c3 ..td7
6 d3 g6 7 .ig5 f6 8 .ie3 i.g7 9 b4 ~e7 10 ~d2 f5
11 .ig5 .if6 12 i.b3 h6 13 i.xf6 lbxf6 14 'i'e2 g5
15 lba3 f4 16 lbc2 a5 17 a3 i.e6 18 lbd2 i.xb3 19
lbxb3 ..Wf7 20 lbd2 a'<b4 21 axb4 .l:txalt 22 lbxal
~a2 23 lbdb3 ~li" 24 ~dl ~xdlt 25 ~dl
c;,t;,d7 26 f3 .lla8 112-112
55 Vilardebo - Capablanca E 12
1 d4 lbf'6 2 lbf3 e6 3 c4 b6 4 .ig5 i.b7 5 e3 i.e7
6 lbc3 lbe4 7 i.xe7 ..Wxe7 8 i.d3 lbxc3 9 bxc3 d6
10 e4 lbd7 11 0-0 e5 12 lbd2 c5 13 d5 g5 14 a4 a5
15 lbbl h5 16 lba3 0-0-0 17 .l:tbl <t;c7 18 l:'!b2
.ia6 19 lbc2 f5 20 f3 f4 21 lba3 I!dg8 22 lbb5t
'it>b7 23 Whl g4 24 i.e2 lbf'6 25 ~1 'i'd8 26
~c2 .l:th6 27 !!fbl lbd7 28 llb3 l!hg6 29 ~:'.
c;,t;,as 30 ..Wcl .l;!.8g7 31 lba3 i.c8 32 I!lb2 "i'f6 33
~1 @b8 34 .llb5 Wc7 35 .l:t5b3 @d8 36 ~b5
i.b7 37 0:.a7 'it>e8 38 0:.c6 .ic8 39 .l:txb6 loxb6 40
r!xb6 ~4 41 .l'lb8 .l:tc7 42 0:.a7 .l:Ixa7 43 .l::!.xc8t
c;,t;,f7 44 c;,t;,gl ..We7 45 ~8 .l'lb7 46 .llf8t 'i'xf8 47
~xb7t ~e7 48 ~c8 Wg7 49 fxg4 ~4 50 ~d7t
Wh6 51 h3 'i'elt 52 @h2 'i'g3t 53 @hl f3 54
i.xf3 hxg4 55 hxg4 ~f4 56 ..Wc8 Wg5 57 ~gl
~e3t 58 c;,t;,f1 Wf4 59 ~8 ..Wcl t 60 @f2 ..Wd2t 61
@gl ..Welt 62 c;,t;,h2 ~g3t 63 c;,t;,gl We3 64 ~5
l:'!f6 65 ..Wg5t Llf4 66 'iVli.6 Wd3 67 Whl .l:!.f7 68
~cl .l:!.h7t 69 Wgl ~ t 70 Wf2 ~4t 71 g3
~ t 72 @fl .l:!.f7 0-1
Hastings 1929/30
J Capablanca 6 1h 2 Vidmar 5,5 3 Yates 5 ../-7
Maroczy, Sergeant. Takacs. Thomas 4 1h 8
Winter 4 9 Miss Menchik 3 1h JO Price 2 1iz
69
56 Capablanca -Thomas El4
1 'tJf3 lbf'6 2 c4 e6 3 d4 .i.b4 t 4 lbbd2 b6 5 e3 (5
a3) 5 ... ..ib7 6 ..id3 lbe4 ?! 7 a3 (7 0-0 0-0 8 ~c2
± Petrosjan-Tajmanow, SU 1951) 7 ... ..ixd2i· 8
cbxd2 lbxd2 9 .i.xd2 f5? 10 'i'li.5i·! g6 11 ~6
~e7 12 f3 d6 13 e4 lbd7 14 0-0-0 0-0-0 15 exf5
exf5 16 ..ig5 ~f8 17 ~4 Iie8 18 Iidel ~f7 19
c;,t;,c2 a5 20 b3 .i.c6 21 c;,t;,c3!? h5 (21 ... Iixel 22
.l:ixel !!e8 23 £!.xe8t ~xe8 24 d5 .i.b7 25 ~xh7)
22 .llxe8t .l!xe8 23 !'!.el .i.b7 24 ~f2 Wb8 25
Iixe8t ~xe8 26 ~e2! (Capa realises that while the
Queens are on the board. he can hardly enforce a
victory on an open file without a weakness.) 26 ...
~xe2 (26 ... '<illf7 27 ~e7!) 27 .i.xe2 .tc8
28 ..ie7! (The Bishop paralyses the Knight, and at
the same time it prepares the march for the King
onto g5. That is why Black decides on a frantic
advance:) 28 ... b5!? 29 cxb5 lbb6 30 .i.c4! lbxc4
31 bxc4 c;,t;,b7 32 d5 ! (White, blocking the pawns
on thP colour of the opponent's Bishop, makes it
difficult for it to come into play, and blocks the
Queen's side. What is more, the King march onto
g5 threatens again.) 32 ... f4 33 a4 .i.f5 34 i.g5
Wc8 35 ..ixf4 c;,t;,b7 36 h3 .i.bl 37 g4 hxg4 38 hxg4
@a7 39 ..id2 Wb6 40 f4 ..ie4 41 f5! gxf5 42 g5 f4
43 ..ixf4 ..ig6 44 .i.e3t Wb7 45 c5! dxc5 46 Wc:4!
.'.lc2 47 Wxc5 ..ixa4 48 i.d2 ..lit.c2 49 i.xa5 ..tg6
50 d6 cxd6i· 51 Wxd6 1-0
57 Winter - Capablanca E23
1 d4 .Y6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 .i.b4 4 ~3 c5 5 dxc5
-ilc6 6 tllf3 0-0 (6 ... lbe4) 7 i.g5 h6 8 .i.h4 g5! 9
2.g3 lbe4 10 e3 ~a5 11 Iicl f5 12 i.d6 lbxd6 13
cxd6 Ji.xd6 14 .i.e2 tlle5 15 lbd4 (15 0-0 lbxf3t
16 ..ixf3 ~e5 17 g3 f4!?) 15 ... ~ (=) 16
·~xb4 ?! (16 0-0) 16 ... ..ixb4 17 0-0 b6 18 Iifd 1
..tb7 19 lbf3 ..ixf3 20 gxf3f4 21 e4 (21 Wg2 g4!)
(See diagram next colunm)
21 ... g4 22 fxg4 f3 23 ..tn .llf4 24 h3 <;t>n 25 Wh2
We7 26 lba4 (26 Wg3 !Iaf8 27 lbb5 a6 28 lbc7
70
..id6 29 lbxa6 oo) 26 ... .l!xe4 27 c5 ..ixc5 28
lbxc5 bxc5 29 .llxc5 h5 30 gxh5 .llh8 31 ..id3
.l:!.e2! 32 Wg3 .llg8t 33 .i.g6 lbxg6 34 hxg6
.l:!.xg6i· 35 Wxf3 .llxb2 36 Iic7 lha2 'h-'h
58 P1ice - Capablanca E 16
1 d4 lbf6 2 lbf3 e6 3 c4 b6 4 g3 ..ib7 5 ..ig2 ..ib4i·
6 lbbd2 (6 ..id2!) 6 ... c5 7 e3?! (7 a3 ..ixd2·1· 8
..ixd2 0-0 10 a5! =) 7 ... cxd4 8 exd4 ~c7 9 0-0
0-0 10 a3?! ..ixd2 11 .i.xd2? (11 lbxd2 ..ixg2 12
Wxg2 d5 =+) 11 ... ~xc4 12 'Lle5 ~a6 13 l:!c 1
..ixg2 14 Wxg2 ~7t 15 ~f3 ~xf3t 16 Wxf3
lbd5 (The rest is a question of technique.) 17
.l:!.c2 f6 18 lbd3 lbc6 19 ..ie3 .llfc8 20 Iifc 1
lbce7 21 lbf4 .l:!.xc2 22 Iixc2 Wf7 23 lbxd5
CtJxd5 24 i.f4 c;,t;,e7 25 .i.d2 d6 26 g4 'ir.'d7 27 h4
h6 28 c;,t;,g3 f5 ! 29 g5 h5 30 f4 .llc8 31 1:!xc8
@xc8 32 @£3 @d7 33 We2 @c6 34 a4 li:ie7! 35
.i.el Wd5 36 Wd3 lbc6 37 ..if2 e5 38 dxe5 dxe5
0-1
59 Capablanca - Miss Menchik D4 l
1 lbf3 lbf6 2 c4 c5 3 lbc3 d5 4 cxd5 lbxd5 5 g3
lbc6 6 ..ig2 e6 7 0-0 ..ie7 8 d4 0-0 9 lbxd5
~xd5? (111e move 9 ... exd5 resembling the
Tarrasch- defence was later popularised by Keres.)
10 ..ie3! ~5 11 dxc5 e5?! (11 ... ..ixc5 12 g4 !)
12 liid2?! f5 13 f4 e4 14 'ii'b3t @h8 15 1!fel
lbd8!? 16 ·vJUc2 i.e6 17 b4 ltlc6 18 a3 il.f6 19
Iiad 1 ~f7 20 .S.c 1 b5 ! 21 cxb6 'Lld4 21 .l.xd4
..ixd4t 23 e3 itxb6 24 li:ic4! Sit..xc4 25 ~xc4
~xc4 26 l;Lxc4 .liac8 27 .i.fl g6 28 Wf2 fixc4 29
.i.xc4 .l:!.c8 30 !!.cl a5! (After treating the
opening clumsily, Miss Menchik is now wittily
defending her position.) 31 We2 axb4 32 axb4
Wg7 33 h3 Iia8 34 .i.b3 Iia3 35 .l:!.c3 h5 36 g4!
hxg4 37 hxg4 fxg4 38 Wf2 c;,t;,h6 39 Wg3 ..id8
40 c;,t;,xg4 .i.f6 41 £!.c6 Ihb3 42 .llxf6 Wg7 43
Wg5 .l!xe3 44 Ll.xg6t Wf7 45 .l:!.f6t Wg7 46 .l:!.b6
.l::rel 47 Iib7t Wg8 48 Wf6 e3 49 .l:!.b8i· Wh7 50
Iie8 Iib 1 51 .l:!.xe3 .lixb4 52 f5 .l:!.b8 53 Wf7
!lb7t 54 Iie7 Iib6 55 f6 I!a6

(Miss Menchik offered a draw now.) 56 lld7 .l::ta8
57 '!J.e7 !fa6? (57 ... .l!b8! =) 58 'itf8t! @g6 59 f7
!:!a8t 60 !ie8 Tl.a7 61 .l::te6t @h7 62 LI.el! Il.a8t 63
@e7 .l:!a7t 64 'itf6 1-0
60 Capablanca - Sergeant D63
1 c4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 lbf3 lbf6 4 .i.g5 .i.e7 5 e3 0-0 6
~c3 t"tJbd7 .., LI.cl b6?1 8 cxd5 exd5 9 .i.b5 ..tb7
10 0-0 a6 11 Jta4 c5 (On 11 .. . Il.c8 see
CapablancaUTeiclunann, Berlin 1913) 12 dxc5
.:Oxc5 (12 ... bxc5) 13 .i.c2 ct:lce4 14 .i.xe4 dxe4
15 ~xd8 TJ.fxd8 16 ct:ld4 b5 17 a4 b4 18 lbce2
'fJ.ac8 19 ct:lf5 .i.c5 20 ct:led4 @f8 21 .i.xf6 gxf6 22
l:!.fdl ..td5 23 g4! b3? 24 ct:le2! (It threatens 25
.:Oc3 ..tb7 26 ct::lg3) 24 ... .lad7 25 ct:lc3 .i.e6 26
Exd7 .i.xd7 27 ~xe4 .i.b4 28 l:!.xc8t .i.xc8 29
Ciid4 .i..e6
30 luxe6t! fxe6 31 ct:lxf6! ..ta3 32 ct:le4 .i.xb2 33
ct'Jc5 We7 34 ct:lxb3 @d6 35 e4! (35 f4 @d5
followed @c4) 35 ... We5 36 f3 Wf4 37 @t'2 e5 38
<ge2 1-0
61 Ca11ablanca - Maroczy D30
1 iDf3 1£lf6 2 c4 e6 3 d4 d5 4 .i..g5 ct:lbd7 5 e3 Jte7
o lbbd2 0-0 ? !!cl c5 8 cxd5 ct:lxd5 9 iixe7 'iixe7
10 e4 ct:lb4 11 a3 ct:lc6 12 dxc5 lbxc5 13 ~c2 ct:ld7
14 ..tb5 ct:lde5 15 lbxe5 lbxe5 16 ~c7 °ii'g5 17 g3
o{lf3i" 18 ct:lxf3 ~xb5 11z_11z
62 Takacs - Capablanca Al 7
1 c4 lbf6 2 ct:lc3 e6 3 b3 .i.e7 4 ..tb2 0-0 5 g3 d5 6
.i.g2 c5 7 cxd5 ct:lxd5 8 ct:lf3 lbxc3 9 .i.xc3 Q:ic6
10 0-0 ..td7 11 'ii'hl .i..f6 12 °ii'b2 .la.c8 13 .llfdl
i.xc3 14 dxc3 °ii'e7 15 °ii'd2 Il.fd8 16 ·~d6 'iixd6
17 Il.xd6 .i.e8 18 1ladl .lhd6 19 .l::txd6 lld8 20
l:txd8 ct:lxd8 11z_11z
63 Capablanca - Yates D37
1 ct:lf3 Q:if6 2 c4 e6 3 ct:lc3 d5 4 d4 .i.e7 5 .i..f4 0-0
6 e3 c5 7 dxc5 .i.xc5 8 a3 ct:lc6 9 °ii'c2 ..td6 10
.i.xd6 ~xd6 11 Ll.dl i!d8 12 .i.e2 °ii'e7 13 cxd5
exd5 14 0-0 il.e6 15 °ii'a4 Iiac8 16 ct:ld4 ct:lxd4 17
.l!xd4 a6 18 i!fdl l!d7 19 i.f3 °ii'c5 20 h3 h6 21
'ii'b3 .l:!cd8 22 ct:la4 ~c7 23 'ii'b6 °ii'xb6 24 ct:lxb6
!id6 25 lba4 .l:!6d7 26 ct:lb6 Ll.d6 112-112
We can consider the 1929/30 Hastings tournament
as the final stage ofCapablanca's golden age. even
if it was followed by a brief renaissance in 1936.
In 1930 our hero reached the age of 42, (then this
meant more than now), he had achieved the
attainable both in physical and mental conditions.
he had reached the top from where the way was
only downwards. It is interesting that
Capablanca's golden age started in his last year as
a world champion, and continued in the following
3 - 4 years. One reason for this was, of course, that
he had never played so many tournaments before.
He took part in ten between 1926 and the
begimung of 1930; he won 8 of them.. was second
once, and second - third also once. It was during
this period that he scored his best ever result. the
victory in New York in 1927. and another
outstanding success. his 1.5 point victory in Berlin
in 1928. Until Alekhine's series of victories
starting in 1930 the ex-world- champion had been
the most successful player in the world.
EXHIBffiON GAME - 1929
Brooklyn - 1929
64 Capablanca - Bernstein,O A52
1 d4 Q:if6 2 c4 e5 3 dxe5 Q:ig4 4 e4 h5 5 .i..e2 ct::lxe5
6 f4 ct:lg4 7 g3 .i.b4t 8 ct:lc3 °ii'e7 9 ~c2 lt:lc6 10
1£lf3 h4 11 gxh4 .l:!xh4 12 .i.d2 .llh3 13 0-0-0 .i..xc3
14 'i'xc3 ltlt2 15 °ii'xg7 lt:lxh 1 16 Ll.xh 1 °ii'f8 17
°ii'c3 .l:!h8 18 l:tg 1 d6 oc, (Analysis)
BLINDFOLD - 1929
London - 1929
65 Capablanca - Soane C0:-
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 lbd2 lbf6 4 e5 Q:lfd7 5 f4 c5 6 c3
1£lc6 7 ct:lgf3 il.e7 8 .i.d3 f5 9 a3 a5 10 0-0 0-0 11
@hl ~6 12 dxc5 lbxc5 13 ·~c2 ih.xd3 14 ~xd3
71
'i'a6 15 ~xa6 .lha6 16 a4 .l:tb6 17 l!tdl .l:td8 18 b3 ..ig3 itidf8 13 e4 dxe4 14 lbxe4 itif6 15 .llfdl
h6 19 SLa3 SLxa3 20 .llxa3 .lia6 21 ltifl ltia7 22 c4 lbxe4 16 ~xe4 ..if6 17 lbe5 ~e7 18 c5! (Black is
ltic6 23 ltie3 d4 24 ltic2 d3 25 lticel ltib4 26 .liaa 1 not able to occupy the square d5 properly any
b6 27 @gl .lia7 28 ~ !!ad7 29 ~e3 ..ib7 30 more, while White will seize d6 soon.) 18 ... SLd7
.liacl ..ixf3 31 lbxf3 ltia2 32 Ll.a 1 ltib4 33 @d2 (after 18 ... ..ixe5 19 dxe5 sooner or later .lldl-d6
ltic2 34 !:Iacl itld4 35 ltixd4 .lixd4 36 nn
Lle4 37 or ..ih4 would follow.) 19 ltic4 .::Og6? (A blunder,
!!eel .&!.ed4 38 .l!e3 g5 39 g3 g4 40 Itel ~ 41 but it is hard to recommend an improvement.)
.llc3 @e7 42 l!exd3 .&!.xd3t 43 Itxd3 l!xd3t 44
'it>xd3 @d7 45 @c3 @c7 46 b4 @c6 4 7 @b3 @b7
48 b5 'it>c7 49 ~c3 ~c8 50 ~d4 ~b7 51 c5 1-0
66 Capablanca - Wreford, Brown BOl
1 e4 d5 2 exd5 ltif6 3 ..ib5t ..id7 4 ..ic4 b5 5
..ib3 SLg4 6 f3 i.c8 7 ~e2 a6 8 a4 c6 9 axb5
cxb5 10 lbc3 ..ib7 11 ltih3 ltixd5 12 ltig5 h6 13
~e4 hxg5 14 i.xd5 ..ixd5 15 'i'xd5 Wixd5 16
.:bxd5 .lia7 17 d3 e6 18 lbc3 b4 19 lbe4 f6 20
SLe3 .l!a8 21 ..ic5 itld7 22 ..ixf8 @xf8 23 .lla5
'l,;e7 24 'it>d2 .l:!.hc8 25 .&!.ha 1 l!c6 26 .l:!.la4 f5 27
.:hxg5 !!ac8 28 c3 bxc3i· 29 bxc3 .&!.xc3 1-0

LIVING CHESS - 1929/30

Ramsgate - 1929/30
67 Capablanca-Thomas 030
1 d4 Q:lf6 2 itif3 e6 3 c4 d5 4 ..ig5 ltibd7 5 e3
c6?! (A premature decision. It would be better
for Black to wait with moving the c-pawn, so
that he can play ... . c5 ! after ltibd2.) 6 ltibd2
..ie7 7 ..id3 h6 8 ..ih4 0-0 9 0-0 .&!.e8? (Black
has decided not to do anythin_g. 9 ... dxc4! 10
.:hxc4 b5 11 Q:ice5 i.b7) 10 Wie2 a6 11 l!acl
.::Oh7 (Black's position is terribly pressed and
he cannot easily break free from it: 11 ...
dxc4?! 12 lbxc4 b5? 13 lbce5 c5 14 i.xf6!) 12
20 itid6 !:Ieb8 21 .::Oxf7 ~xf7 22 'ii'xg6 ~xg6 23
SLxg6 i:if8 24 ..id6 !:Ifc8 25 ric3 SLe8 26 SLxe8
l!xe8 27 .l!Ib3 Z!a7 28 f4 ..id8 29 .llel ~ 30 a3
..if6 31 !:Ie4 !:Id8 32 .l:!.be3 Z!aa8 33 ~l !:Ie8 34
.&!.b3 .l:!.a7 35 ~e2 lld8 36 ~be3 ~g8 37 ~d3 .llaa8
38 ..llxe6 l!d7 (An animated game of chess must
not be resigned too early so that every participant
can play his part.) 39 .lie8t i:ixe8 40 !!xe8t @f7
41 £!.f8t @g6 42 g4 ..ie7 43 f5t @g5 44 .ll.f7
SLxd6 45 .l:!.xd7 ..ixh2 46 .lixg7t @£6 4 7 .l:!.gtii·
Wf7 48 ~e4 ..ig3 49 .llxh6 Sl.el 50 g5 Jig3 51
~h7t ~8 52 f6 ..iel 53 g6 ..ig3 54 .llh8# 1-0

1931
In 1931 Capablanca was becoming somewhat tmcertain, but he still reaped some successes as well.
The most significant one of these was the perhaps lucky 2 point victory over the rapidly developing Euwe.
but we should not rn1derestimate the l 1/i point advantage before Kashdan in New York either.
Unfortunately, the return match did not materialise during the two years Capablanca spent in Europe;
according to Alekhine Capablanca did not deposit the guarantee, and according to Capablanca Alekhine
evaded negotiations by using legal fonnalism. Alekhine claimed that he would not let anyone dictate the
venue and schedule of the match. Capablanca, on the other hand, protected the rights of the public
institutions raising the money...
the initiative early in the game and thereafter
Hastings 1930/31 dictated its farther progress." (R)
l Euwe 7 2 Capablanca 6 1h 3 Sultan Khan 6
./ Michell 5 5 Yates 4 1/z 6 Thomas 4 7 Winter 1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 Q:ic3 ~b4 4 'il'c2 d5 5 cxd5
~xd5 (5 ... exd5!?) 6 lbf3 0-0 (6 ... c5!?) 7 i.ct:
3 112 8-9 Miss Mencltik, Tylor 3 JO Colle 2 1/z ..ixc3 8 bxc3 (8 i.xc3!?) 8 ... ltibd7 9 e3 c5 10.c4!
'i'd6 ("The issue is clearly joined: White has the
1 Capablanca - Colle E34 freer game, and two Bishops; Black, on the other
It is curious that in his games with the great Belgian hand. has prospects of exploiting the somewhat
master of the attack, Capablanca generally obtained shaky Pawn position of his opponent.") 11 r!.dl!

72
b6 12 .llc3 h6? (12 ... .llb7! "It is not clear, what
Black had in mind in playing the text.") 13 ~e2
.ib7 14 0-0 "J/lic7 (14 ... llfd8! 15 dxc5 WJ/xc5 16
°i1fb3 Z!ac8) 15 dxc5 bxc5 (15 ... Wilxc5 16 'iVh2! 15
... .'.t:lxc5 16 ~e5!) 16 ~2! .liab8 17 'i'al!
("Capablanca maintains his hold on the long
diagonal, even at the seeming cost of putting the
Queen out of play. What he has in mind soon
becomes apparent.") 17 ... lt:\g4?! ("Threatening 18
... .llxf3. As Capablanca naturally does not care for
the position which arises out of 18 g3 e5 19 h3 e4!
etc. Capablanca, he must find some better way of
meeting the mating threat. 17 ... Llbd8!?)
18 llxd7! (18 .llxg7?? .llxf3 19 g3 Jd.xe2 -+ or 18
g3 e5 19 h3 e4! 20 cbd2 .'.t:lge5) 18 ... 'i'xd7 19
.ixg7 WJ/c7 (19 ... llfe8 20 ..'.t:le5! Lbxe5 21 WJ/xe5 f5
22. .5ixh6 "and White has both positional and
material compensation for the sacrificed
exchange.") 20 .5ixf8 llxf8 21 g3 ("This move has
proved unavoidable. but after the foregoing
exchanges. White has little to fear in the way of
attack.") 21 ... f6 (It threatened 22 h3) 22 c2:\h4!
Clie5 ("Still dreaming of exploiting the long
diagonal. Capablanca defends himself deftly." 22
... 'ffc6 23 Sif3) 23 f4! WJ/c6!? 24 Wfl! "J/lie4 25
~bl! "J/lixbl (After this forced exchange of
Queens, Blacks attack vanishes, and all that
remains for White is the technical task of making
use of his extra Pawn.") 26 llxbl .5ie4 27 llb3
Ciid7 28 .lla3 .l:l.a8 29 .lla5! ("TI1e ideal place for the
Rook, as it attacks two weaknesses
simultaneously.") 29 ... W 30.cbf3 ("111e Kt
comes into strong play in short order.") 30 ... We7
31 il\d2 ~c6 32 .llf3! .llxf3 (32 ... Wd6 33 c2:\e4t)
33 Wxf3 Wd6 (33 ... f5 34 e4 wd6 35 .lla6i" c2:\b6
·n
36 a4 Wc6 3 7 L'2\b3 l'ld8 38 L'2\a5 34 L'2\e4 t Wc6
35 !.!a6·1· c2:\b6 36 ctlxf6 Wb7 37 lla5 .llc8 38 lt:\e4
filxc4 39 !ib5i'! 1-0 (Reinfeld and Panov).
2 Capablanca - Tylor D30
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 it'Jf3 'Llf6 4 .5ig5 c6?! (4 ... .5ie7
5 i2lbd2 0-0 6 e3 c5 !) 5 cbbd2 !'l lbbd7 6 e3 .lie 7 7
.lld3 0-0 8 0-0 dxc4 (8 ... c5!?) 9 ctlxc4!? c2:\d5 10
.llxe7 ctlxe7? 11 .llcl lt:\g6 12 ~xg6! ("This is the
type of position in which Kts, having such
excellent future outposts as e5 and c5. are superior
to the Bishops.") 12 ... hxg6 13 e4 c2:\b6 (13 ... b6?
14 cbce5!; 13 ... c2:\f6) 14 cbce5 ~d7 15 'i¥d2
j/_e8 !? ("Black is intent on developing this Bishop
via the diagonal dl-h5 ... " 15 ... vfie7!?) 16 'i'b4! f6
17 lfr!3 g5! 18 cbc5 WJ/e7 19 h3 .5ih5 20.Wilb3 llfe8 21
.l!fel llad8?! (21 ... ~xf3!) 22 g4! .llg6 23 a4! llb8
24 WJ/e3 il\d7 25 cbd3 ("It is hackneyed enough,
but nonetheless trne, to say that exchange only
benefits the more constricted position.") 25 ...
llbd8 26 Wg2! c2:\f8 27 llhl ("Suddenly a fresh
menace arises on the K side; White threatens to
gain an overwhelming K side attack by h4 ... ") 27
... Wild6 28 llcdl (It threatened 28 ... e5!) 28 ... f5?
(28 ... W) 29 cbde5 fxe4 (29 ... f4 30 "J/lie2 WJ/e7
31 h4 gxh4 32 Llxh4 +-) 30 lt:\xg5 c5 (30 ... vfid5
31 WJ/f4!) 31 WJ/f4! cxd4 (31 ... Lte7 32 dxc5 "J/lixdl
33 .llxd 1 !!xd 1 34 ctlxg6 lt:\xg6 35 WJ/xe4 c2:\f8 36
b4 ±) 32 ctlxg6 "J/lixf4 33 c2:\xf4 e5 34 cbe2 1-0
(Golombek).
3 Euwe - Capablanca D52
1 d4 'LJf6 2 c4 e6 3 c2:\c3 d5 4 .5ig5 c2:\bd7 5 e3 c6 6
'L\f3 Wila5 ': cxd5?! (7 il\d2!) 7 ... !i:lxd5 8 ·~3?'. (8
'iVd2) 8 ... h6 9 Jd.h4 ~b4 10 llcl c5 (10 ... e5! 11
dxe5? tZ:lc5!) 11 a3! Jd.xc3i' 12 bxc3 cxd4 13 exd4
0-0 14 cbd2! (Euwe wants to defend with c3-c4
against the Bishop's winning f7-f5, g7-g5.) 14 ...
il\f4! 15 .llg3 e5! 16 ~xf4! exf4 17 .lld3 Z!e8t
(See diagram on next page)
18 c2:\e4! (Everything else is very uncomfortable
for White.) 18 ... c2:\f6 19 f3 lZ:lxe4 20.fxe4 .llf5 21
0-0 Jd.xe4 22 ~b5! .5ic6 23 .5ixc6 bxc6 24 .llxf4
Wilds 25 Wilxd5 'h- 112
4 Capablanca - Yates D66
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 li:\f3 'L\f6 4 Jd.g5 tZ:lbd7 5 e3 Jd.e7
6 'Llc3 0-0 7 ~cl c6 8 .lld3 dxc4 9 Jd.xc4 a6 10 0-U
73

(10 i.d3 b5 11 a4! ±) 10 .... b5 11 .ie2 i.b7 12
~c2 L!.c8 13 nfd 1 c5 14 dxc5 1hc5 15 b4 i!c8 16
~1 l2::id5 17 l2::ixd5 i.xg5 18 Z!xc8 i.xc8 19
l2::ixg5 'iiVxg5 20.l2::ic3 i.b7 21 l2::ie4 ~g6 22 i.f3
i.d5 23 l2::ic3 ~xb 1 24 lbxb 1 l2::if6 25 l2::ic3 .llc8 26
l2::ixd5 l2::ixd5 27 ~xd5 exd5 28 g3 g6 29 .l:ixd5 .llc2
30.a4 bxa4 31 !!a5 .lla2 32 1ha6 Wg7 33 Wg2 a3
34 b5 .llb2 35 l;txa3 .l;!xb5 [Capablanca succeeded
in winning two endgames in which the black King
was not cut off by his Pawns - against Duras (New
York. Rice 1913) and against Yates.] 36 l;ta6 .llb4
3.'7 h3 .llc4 38. ct;f3 llb4 39 !ta5 L!.c4 40 g4 h6 41
~g3 !!.cl 42 Wg2 !tc4 43 I!d5 l;ta4 44 f4 l;ta2·1· 45
~g3_ !!e2 46 l:!e5 l:rel 47 ctJf2 .1zhl 48 Wg2 .llel 49
h4 @f6 50.h5! l;te2t (50 ... gxh5 51 ctJf2 l;thl 52
r!xh5 is the same as the game. 50 ... g5? 51 !!.f5t
52 ctJf2 fxg5 and after 53 fxg5 he loses the Pawn.)
51 ctJf3 !!el 52 .l:Ia5 Wg7 53 hxg6 ctJxg6 54 e4
!!.fli· 55 Wg3 .llglt 56 Wh3 i;{fl! (White has no
choice but to cover the Pawn with the Rook now
because after 57 f5t Wg5 the draw is obvious 56 ...
.llh 1t 57 Wg2)
57 Lif5 (It threatens 58 e5 followed by lli6t) 57 ...
!!el? (57 ... f6! hinders the e4-e5 threat. 57 ... L!.al! is
good, too.) 58 e5! (Now White advances the f-Pawn
to the 5th line as well after overcoming some
difficulties in moving the Rook to a better position.
74
Black cannot avoid the development of this plan.)
58 ... Z!e3t 59 ct;g2 2.a3 60.lli6t ct;g7 mms a
position is reached which has a big practical and
theoritical meaning) 61 !l.b6?! (61 .lld6! .lla4 62 ct;f3
ila3t 63 We4 .lla4t 64 lld4 +-) 61 ... lle3? [61 ...
lla4 62 ctJf3 (62 Wg3 .lla3t 63 Wh4 lla4 64 f5 .lla5
65 e6 fxe6 66 fxe6 ctJf6 =) 62 ... l:!a3t 63 We4
.l!a4t 64 ctJf5 =] 62 !!b4 (62 llbl!?) 62 ... llc3 63
Wf'2? (An accidental mistake by White allows Black
good opportunities for a draw through 63 ... h5!) 63
... .!!a3? (63 ... llc8? after 64 f5 the advance of the
White King onto h5 threatens.) 64 llb7 Wg8 (64 ...
wg6 65 f5i· wg5 66 .llxf7 ctJxg4 67 e6J 65 .llb8t
(As the course of the game shows, it is important that
the Rook stands on the 8th rank Considering this,
Black could have played 63 ... .llc8, but then 64 f5
would have threatened the advance of the Kin<T to
h5) 65 ... Wg7 66 f5! .lla2t (66 ... .llc3 67 f6·1· ih7
68 llf8 .llc7 69 ct;f3 .llb7 70. ct;f4 .lla7 71 ct;f5 nb7
72 llxf7t! .llxf7 73 e6+-) 67 We3 .lla3t 68 We4
lla4 t 69 Wd5 ! .lla5i· (69 ... .llxg4 70 f6t Wh7 71
ms wg6 72 .llg8t ctJf5 73 .llxg4 ctJxg4 74 e6) 70
wd6 .lla6t 71 wc7 wh7 (71 ... .lla 1 72 f6t wh7 73
I!f8 na7t 74 Wd8 'i£?g6 75 l!g8t wh7 76 !!.g7i·
Wh8 77 g5 hxg5 78 We8 Z!a5 79 l'hg5 .!!a7 80 e6
fxe6 81 f7 +-) 72 wd7 !!a7t 73 Wd6 wg7 74 .lld8
£ta5 75 f6t @h7 76 ms .l:Ia7 77 @c6 (There IS
another way of winning, namely, the King has to
be moved to f5 with the following Rook sacrifice
Oil f7) 77 ... Wg6 78 llg8t Wh7 79 .llg7i· Wh8
80.Wb6 .l:id7 81 Wc5! .llc7i· 82 Wd6 .lla7 83 e6
!la6t 84 We7 llxe6t 85 Wxf7 lle5 86 g5 1-0
(From move 57 the analysis is by Levenfish,
Smyslov and Averbakh.)
5 Sultan Khan - Capablanca El'.?.
1 l2::if3 l2::if6 2 d4 b6 3 c4 ~b7 4 l2::ic3 e6 5 a3
(Today's fashionable variation!) 5 ... d5 6 cxd5 (6
~g5!?; 6 ~c2) 6 ... exd5 (6 ... l2::ixd5!?) 7 ..\lg5 ~e7
8 e3 0-0 9 i.d3 l2::ie4 10.i.f4! l2::id7 11 'tVc2 f5? ('It is
one of those transient. mistaken moves that the
Cuban keeps making in the openings.... ' Tii.is is a
deep-lying problem. ... 'Capablanca. who is hardlv
surpassable in the fields of natural talent.
position-sense and combinative abilities. lacks
A..Iekhine's steadfast belief of the great ni.ission of
chess, which urges the latter towards the highest
acli.ievements. Capablanca is almost oool towards
chess; he is active in other fields of human intellect
as well. and that is whv he is not willin<T to studv
theory intensively.... ;nd concentrate 01~v on th~
battle during chess tournaments. TI1is menta'°I attitude
impedes him in absolute concentration... Becker. 11
... 'Llxc3! 12 i.xh7t!? Wh8 13 bxc3 g6 14 ..\lxg6
fxg6 15 ~xg6 i.f6 oo) 12 l2::ib5! i.d6 (12 ... c5/6/??
13 l2::ic7 g5 14 l2::ie6!) 13 l2::ixd6 cxd6 14 h4! .llc8 15
~3 ~e7 16 lbcl2 ct:\df6 17 ct:\xe4 fxe4 [17 ...
'l\xe4'! 18 f3 ct:\g3 (18 ... ct:\f6 19 .ixf5) 19 .ixg3
'l.1Hxe3t 20 @fl ~xd4 (20 ... .ia6? 21 'ii'xd5t) 21
.hd6 !!fd8 22 .ig3 or 20 ... llcl i· 21 .llxc 1
~xclt 22 ii.el .l!e8 23 'it'c3 +-) 18 .ie2 .l;l.c6 19
g4! !!.fc8 20 g5! lile8 (20 ... licl t 21 @d2!) 21 ..tg4!
(21 \\'Uxd5t? would only lengthen the diagonal for
i.b7) 21 ... Ikl t?! 22 @d2! I!.8c2t 23 'lilYxc2 I!.xc2t
24 @xc2 ~c7i" 25 @d2 ~c4 26 ..te2 ~3 27 I!.abl
@f7 28 I!.hcl @e7 29 I!.c3 ~a4 (29 ... 'lilYa2? 30.@c2)
30 b4 ! 'ii'Vd7 31 I!.bcl a6 32 I!.g 1 i'&'h3 33 I!.gc l! \11Vd7
(33 ... ~xh4 34 Ii.en) 34 h5 @d8 35 I!.lc2 \11Vh3 36
@cl \'!Uh4 37 @b2! ~h3 38 Ii.cl i'&'h4 39 I!.3c2 ~h3
40.a4 °*$h4 41 @a3 i'&'h3 42 .llg3 'i\lf5
43 .ih4! g6 (43 ... '6h3? 44 g6t 'ii'xh4 45 gxh7)
44 h6 {.specifies the weakness h7) 44 ... 'ii'd7 45 b5
a5 46 il..g3 ~f5 47 ..tf4 '6h3 48 'it>b2 \11Vg2 49 @bl
~3 {.49 ... ~xf2? 50 il..g4! 'ifh4 51 i.e6 +-) 50
@al Wi'g2 51 @b2 '*'h3 52 I!.gl .llc8 53 I!.c6! \11Vh4 54
!gel ..tg4 55 ..tfl ~h5 (55 ... 'ilixf2t? 56 I!.6c2 ~gl
':J7 l:!g2 or 56 ... 'i!fh4 57 .l:!.h2) 56 .l!el! (Prevents
56 ... .ie2) 56 ... '6hl 57 !!eel 'iVh5 58 <t>c3!
·~M 59 il..g3! 'it'xg5 60 c;,t;,d2 'it'h5 [60 ... 'iVxh6 61
l!xb6 ~g5 (61 ... ~g7? 62 .llb8t!) 62 l'!!.b8i· We7
63 b6 and threatening 64 .ib5 followed by llc7t] 61
l:!.xb6 <JJe7 62 Iib7t c;,t;,e6 63 b6 ct:\f6 64 i.b5 'it'h3
65 Z!b8 1-0 (Capablanca has found his master
in Sultan Khan. By DR Gorschen.)
6 Vidmar - Capablanca 067
I d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 ct:\c3 ~6 4 il..g5 i.e7 5 e3 0-0 6
iuf3 lubd7 7 Iic 1 c6 8 .id3 dxc4 9 .ixc4 ct:\d5 10
$.xe7 'i'ixe7 11 ·~c2 ct:\xc3 12 'i'xc3 b6 13 0-0 (13
·tc2) 13 ... .ib7 14 'i'd3 .l:tfd8 15 'ii'e2 c5 16 dxc5
'ilxc5 17 Iifd 1 l!xd l t 18 .l!xd 1 lid8 19 h3 iixd 1i·
20.~xdl ~d7 21 ~xd7 ct:\xd7 112-Ih
.. Ca1>ablanca - Thomas 069
l d4 ltJf6 :! c4 e6 3 ct:\c3 d5 4 i.g5 i.e7 5 ct:\f3
'ilbd7 6 e3 0-0 7 i!c 1 c6 8 .id3 dxc4 9 il..xc4 ct:\d5
10 i.xe7 Wlixe7 11 0-0 ct:\xd 12 Iixc3 e5 13 dxe5
lbxe5 14 ct:\xe5 \11Vxe5 15 f4 °ii'f6 16 e4 (16 f5) 16
... lld8 (On 16 ... .ie6 see Capablanca - Lasker,
Moscow 193 6) 17 .lld3 .ig4 18 'ii'xg4 .l::txd3 19
e5 W!id8 20 ..ixd3 °ii'xd3 21 ~d 1 °ii'e3t 22 @fl .lle8
23 g3 'it'e4 24 Wgl g6 25 'ii'd7 'it'e3t 26 Wg2
~e2i' 112.. 112
8 Mencbik - Capablanca A47
1 d4 ct:\f6 2 cbf3 b6 3 e3 .ib7 4 .id3 c5 5 0-0 e&6 6
c3 e6 7 ct:\e5 (7 ct:\bd2 leads into the norm1l lines of
the Colle formation to which White's opening moves
had seemed to be tending... " 111e text move is a
signpost as to White's intentions throughout the
game; she is detennined to force off as many pieces
as possible in the hope of obtaining the draw.") 7 .. .
d6 8 ct:\xc6 il..xc6 9 't/Ue2 ..te7 10 i.b5?! (10 e4) 10 .. .
~d7 11 .ixc6 'i'xc6 12 lbcl2 0-0 13 dxc5!? (13 e4?
cxd4 14 cxd4 ~c2!; 13 ~IJ d5) 13 ... dxc5 14 e4 (14
~f3? °ii'xf3 15 ct:\xf3 .llad8) 14 ... .llad8 15 e5? (15
f3! followed by Itel end ct:\fl or ct:\b3 =+) 15 ... ct:\d5
16 cbf3 E!d7! 17 !!dl?! (17 .ig5 i.xg5 18 /:iJxg5
ct:\f4 19 °ii'g4 ct:\d3 =+) 17 ... .llfd8 18 ..td2 (18 il..e3
ct:\xe3 19 lixd7 'i'xd7; 18 ..tg5? ..txg5 19 ct:\xg5 ct:\f4
-+) 18 ... b5! ("A fine positional move which
foreshadows the method of victory; Black's Kt is
to be given an outpost on either c4 or a4 from
which it will threaten the somewhat weakened
white Q side.") 19 @fl?! ct:\b6! 20 ..tf4 h6! ("A
strong move of semi-waiting tendencies which
also fills the purposes of providing an escape
square for the King if necessary and projecting a
possible attack by ... g5") 21 I!.xd7? ("llus and her
next move are positively bad." 21 i.g3) 21 ... .::1xd7
22 .lldl?: l;Lxdlt23 'i'xdl °iie4:
24 il..g3 (24 ..te3/d2 ct:\c4; 24 .tel? 'i'c4t 25 ~e2
'i'xa2 26 ~xb5? 'it'bl! -+) 24 ... ~c4t 25 ~e2
~xe2i· 26 ~e2 ct:\a4 27 'i¥.'d2 ct:\xb2 28 Wc2 ct:\c4
29 ct:\d2 lbxd2 30.~d2 c4 31 il..f4 a6 32 i.e3 @£8
33 .ib6 ~8 34 ~3 @d7 35 'it>d4 <t>c6 36 ..ta7 f5
37 a4 g6 (37 ... bxa4 38 Wxc4 a3 -+ J 38 f4 h5 39
axb5t (Zugzwang.) 39 ... Wxb5! 40.g3 a5 41 'it>e3
.ic5t 42 ..ixc5 @xc5 0-1 (Golombek).
75
9 Michel- Capablanca BIS
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 l.£\c3 dxe4 4 lbxe4 ~f5 5 c2:\g3
~g6 6 c2:\f3 c2:\d7 7 .llc4 lt:\gf6 8 0-0 e6 9 ~e2 .lle7
10.I:!el 0-0 11 .llb3 (11 c3) 11 ... a5 12 cbh4 a4 13
l.£\xg6 hxg6 14 ~c4 l.£\b6 15 c3 l.£\xc4 16 ~xc4
I:!a5 17 'iife2 ~6 18 cbfl ·wtc7 19 ~d2 !Iaa8
20.'flad 1 b5 21 ~f3 ~d7 22 lbe3 £!fd8 23 ~cl
lbd5 24 a3 l.£lb6 25 g3 l.£ld5 26 Wg2 I:!ac8 27 h4 c5
28 dxc5 'flxc5 29 lbxd5 'flxd5 30.£!xd5 'iifxd5 31
·fUxd5 'flxd5 32 ~e3 @£8 33 @£3 ~f6 34 We2
We7 35 'flcl r!d7 36 .l!c2 1k7 37 £!d2 I!.d7 38 !ic2
1h- 1h
10 Winter - Capablanca D5 l
1 d4 ctJf6 2 c4 e6 3 l.£\c3 d5 4 ~g5 lbbd7 5 e3 c6 6
a3 .lle7 7 cbf3 h6 8 ~h4 l.£\e4 9 ~xe7 ~xe7 10
'tl'c2 f5 11 .lld3 0-0 12 0-0 b6 13 cxd'.: cxd5 14
iL\e2 .llb7 15 ~c7 l.£ld6 16 lbe5 I!.fd8 17 lbg6 °iiff6
18 Wb'xd6 l.£lc5 19 °¥!Ue7 l.£\xd3 20 °¥!Uxb7 °iifxg6 21
g3 e5 22 dxe5 ~e8 23 1.£\d4 l.£lc5 24 ~c6 'iifxe5 25
'fUg6 'flf8 26 b4 I:!f6 27 ¥!Uh5 lbe4 28 I!.acl l.£ld6 29
'@'f3 lbe4 30 l:;!.fdl f4 31 lbc6 °iife8 32 b5 fxe3 33
'iifxe3 l.£\xf2 34 ~xd5 ~xe3 0-1
New York- 1931
l Capablanca 10 2 Kashdan 8 1h 3 Kevitz 7 ./-6
Horovitz. Kupchik, H.Steiner 5 1h 7 Santasiere
5 8 Turover 4 1h ?-10 Ed. Lasker, Marshall 4 11
Fox 2 1h (Dake:>:1)
11 Ca1rnblanca - Horowitz Al2
1 l£lf3 cbf6 2 c4 c6 3 b3 d5 4 ~b2 ~f5 5 d3 e6 6
l.£lbd2 (6 g3 and lbc3! ?) 6 ... ~d6 7 g3 0-0 8 .llg2
ctJbd7 9 0-0 'iife7 (9 ... e5) 10 Li.el?! (10 a3!) 10 ...
e5 11 cxd5 cxd5 12 .l:kl (On 12 e4 see
Capablanca - Kewitz) 12 ... .!!fd8 13 !!c2 (See
Capablanca-Lilienthal. Moscow 1936) 13 ... h6
( 13 ... a5!?) 14 1.£\fl .llb4 15 .llc3 r!ac8 16 .llxb4
'fUxb4 17 c2:\e3 .lle6 18 '{!Val! d4 (18 ... °iifd6 19 d4
e4 20 lbe5 .l!xc2 21 l.£\xc2 l.£\g4 22 lbxg4 .llxg4 23
f3 exf3 24 exf3 ~e6 25 l.£\e3 followed by f4 ±) 19
1:!ecl J:l.xc2 20 l'Z:\xc2 ~d6 21 e3 ! dxe3 22 lbxe3
.:'i:ig4 (22 ... 'iifxd3 23 rid 1 '@b5 24 l.£\xe5 r!c8 25
l.£\3c4 ro ±) 23 lbxg4 .llxg4 24 'iifc3! .l:!.e8 25 1.£\el
b6 26 °iif c6! (26 'iif c7 'iifa3 27 .iic4 lbc5) 26 ...
11/>k'xc6 27 .ihc6 !id8 28 'flc7 a5 29 ~d5 @£8 30 f3
Jif5 31 .llc4 @e7 32 .llb5 .lle6 33 ctJg2 r!.b8 34
.:'i:ie3 Wd8 35 r!a7 l:lc8 36 l'Z:\c4 'f!.c7 37 !ia6 ~xc4
38 dxc4@c8
( See diagram next column)
39 'fla8t! (39 .llxd7t? 'flxd7 40.l;!xb6 'fld 1t) 39 ...
@b7 (39 ... lbb8 40 .lla6t 'f!.b7 41 c5! Wc7 42
cxb6·1· r!xb6 43 !ia7t; 44 .llc4 +-) 40 'flg8 g6 41
.l:!.e8 lbc5 42 I:!xe5 iL\e6 43 .lle8! l'Z:\g7 44 .llb5
76
l.£\e6 45 @fl Wc8 46 f4 @d8 47 We3 We7 48 I:!d5
f5 49 a3 l'Z:\c5 50 b4 axb4 51 axb4 l.£le6 52 'fld3
'fla7 53 h4 h5 (53 ... 'fla 1 54 .lld7t @£6 55 Z!d6
l!b 1 56 .lld7 We7 57 'flxe6i· @xd7 58 'flxb6) 54
.llc6! 'flc7 55 .lld5 ctJf8 (55 ... Zla7 56 .llxe6 @xe6
57 'fld5 'fla3t 58 Wd4! 'flxg3 59 Zlb5+-) 56 Wd4
@d6 57 'fla3 lbe6t 58 @d3 (58 .llxe6 @xe6 59
ila6 'flc6 60 c5?? bxc5t) 58 ... cbf8 59 'fla8 1-0
12 Kevitz - Capablanca Al 2
1 l'Z:\f3 d5 2 c4 c6 3 b3 ~f5 4 g3 c2:\f6 5 Jig2 e6 6
0-0 l.£\bd7 7 .llb2 .lld6 (7 ... .lle7; 7 ... .llc5! 9 ) 8 d3
0-0 9 lbbd2 (9 lbc3!? 'iife7 10 a3) 9 ... Wie7 (9 ...
e5!?) 10 'flel?! (10 a3! a5 11 ~c2) 10 ... e5 11
cxd5 cxd5 12 e4! ("White is playing the opening
with considerable skill; Black must exchange
Pawns, since an opening up of the K file will react
to his disadvantage with the Queen vis-a-vis
White's K Rook.")12 ... dxe4 13 dxe4 Jie6 14
~e2 I:!ac8 15 cbfl .lla3!? (A dubious sacrifice of a
Pawn; the resulting play Black obtains on the Q
side should not have been full compensation for
the Pawn lost." 15 ... I:!fd8) 16 lbxe5 (16 Jixe5?
.:bxe5 17 'Lixe5 ~b4 18 'flecl .llc3) 16 ... il.xb2 17
'iifxb2 l.£\.xe5 18 ihe5 't\Va3 (It threatens 19 ... Ec2
"The dust of the exchanges having cleared away.
one now has leisure to observe that White is a
solid Pawn to the good. with a slight weakness on
the Q side. That Black manages to extract
sufficient compensating attack from this
circumstance is indeed remarkable; he is, however,
aided by White's rather feeble and purposeless
play hereabouts.") 19 iL\e3 l'Z:\g4! 20.c2:\xg4 i!..xg4
21 h3 .lle6 22 I:!e2 'flfd8 23 ~2 (23 @h2; 24
f4!?) 23 ... '®'c5 24 £!d2 'flxd2 25 'fUxd2 b6 ("This
i.tmocent little move is the forenumer of a vef\
powerful Q side attack.") 26 .i'!dl gb 27 'iife2?! a5'
("The present phase of the game is very
instrnctive; with deceptively easy elegance. Black
is building an attack out of the straw provided by
Vvl1ite.") 28 @h2 b5 29 f4 a4! 30.bxa4 bxa4 ("This
advanced Pawn is the secret of the violence of
Blacks attack. since when it reaches a3, in unison
with his major pieces, it will provide an attack on
Whites a2 followed by queening threats.") 31 lld2
(31 f5 !?) 31 ... a3 ! 32 g4? ("f5 was still his best
chance of saving the game, thought rather a
remote one now. There now occurs a fascinating
and surprising finish.")

iid4 iif6i· 39 @e2 r!.fe6 40 !ia3 Iie4! 41 Iidl b4

32 ... g5 ! (The point of this move is to threaten to
open the diagonal h2-b8") 33 ~1'2 [33 f5? (or 33
fxg5) 33 ... 'We5i· 34 c;,t;,hl r!.clt 35 r!.dl 'i'h2 36
~el Iic2 37 i.fl i.c4!; 34 c;,t;,gt !klt 35 Iidl
-~d4t] 33 ... 'iVxt"2 34 iixt"2 gxf4 35 !if3 (35 llxf4?
..ba2) 35 ... 1!a8 36 r!.1'2 ("White now fondly
imagines he has stemmed the attack, but Black has
m store a potent move that makes the game
resemble an endgame study.") 36 ... f3! ! 37 .'.tfl
(37 Slxf3 !ib8! followed by rl.b2!) 37 ... l!b8 38
:!xf3 Iib2i· 39 '.t>g3 Iixa2 40.!ic3 iial 0-1
(Golombek).
13 Fox - Ca11ablanca E55
I d4 li:if6 2 c4 e6 3 tt:lc3 Jlb4 4 e3 b6 5 tt:lf3 i.b7
6 .'.td3 0-0 7 ~c2?! (7 0-0 d5 8 i.d2; 8 ~e2; 8
cxd5) 7 ... d5 8 0-0 (8 cxd5!) 8 ... dxc4 9 i.xc4
l2::\bd7 10 a3 i.xc3 11 bxc3 c5 12 'iVe2 ~c7 13
i.a6? (13 a4; 13 i.d3) 13 ... i.xa6 14 ~xa6 e5! 15
!idl e4 16 tt:lel cxd4 17 cxd4 tt:lg4! 18 f4 [18 h3
(18 g3 't!Vd6) 18 ... ~h2i" 19 c;t>r1 'ilVhlt 20 '>t>e2
.:i:lh2 21 '>t>d2 ~gl 22 ~e2 llac8 -·t-,1 23 li:ic2
l'xg2l 18 ... exf3 19 tt:lxf3 iafe8 20 'iVd3 rl.ad8 21
.id2 'Llde5 22 ~e2 (22 lbxe5 tbxe5 23 'i'e2 li:ic4
:'.4 'i\Vt"2 1le6 =+I
( See diagram next colunm)
22 ... ~c4! 23 Ziel ~xe2 24 Llxe2 Cbc4 25 h3 (25
l!ael l'lixa3 26 h3 tt:lf6 27 rl.a 1 li:ib5) 25 ... tt:lxd2!
26 hxg4 (26 tt:lxd2 !ixe3) 26 ... lbxf3t 27 gxf3
l:ixd4 28 a4 !id5 29 iic2 h5! 30 'it>f2 (30 gxh5
!ixe3!) 30 ... hxg4 31 fxg4 iide5 32 i!c3 Ii8e7 (32
... ..t1t7) 33 a5! b5 (33 ... !l.xa5 34 Iixa5 bxa5 35
l!c5 a4 36 Iia5 =+ or 33 ... bxa5 34 l:I.3a3 =+) 34
a6 ~h7 35 !ib3 !i7e6 36 !ia5 i!b6 37 .llb4 c;,t;,g6 38
42 .l::!.a4 !ixe3t 43 'it>f2 !ia3 44 !ixb4 Iiexa6 45
.l.'!b7 !if6t 46 @e2 l!a4 4 7 iid5 !hg4 48 !!.xa':'
rl.e4t49 ~3 liel 50 ~2 r!.ee6 51 Iiad7.l:!.t"2t 52
c;,t;,d3 Ziel 0-1
14 Capablanca - Dake DI 6
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 tt:lf3 tt:lf6 4 tt:lc3 d'<.c4 5 a4 i.f5 6
lbe5 tt:lbd7 (6 ... e6) 7 tt:lxc4 ~c7 8 g3 e5 9 dxe5
tt:lxe5 10 i.f4 tt:lfd7 11 i.g2 [Capablanca often
played this variation, e.g.: Brinckmann (Budapest
1929) Vidmar (Karlsbad 1929), Euwe (Match
1931), Klein (Margate 1935)] 11 ... f6 12 0-0 .ieti
13 ft:ixe5 fxe5 14 Jle3 Jlc5 15 li:ie4?! Jixe3 16
fxe3 0-0-0 17 ~g5 (17 a5!?,l r:' ... Zhf6 18 ~c2
i.g8 19 !iadl l'!xdl 20 l'!xdl h6 21 ~3 !21
"f.Vc5!?) 21 ... e4 (21 ... i.e6) 22 li:id2?! (22 ~d4 oo,
22 ... i.h7 23 tt:lc4 (TI1e e4-pawn is taboo because
of !ie8) 23 ... Iid8! 24 Iid4 c5! 25 .llxd8t Wxd8 26
i.h3 g5! 27 'i'c3 (27 i.e6 c;,t;,e7) 27 ... <#;e7 28
~e5t? (TI1ere would be more chances to save the
game with the Queens on the board.) 28 ... ~xe5
29 li:ixe5 i.g8! 30 a5 (It threatened 30 ... a5) 30 ...
'>t>d6 31 tt:lg4 tt:lxg4 32 i.xg4 ..te6 33 i.h5 c4 34
i.g6 i.d5
35 'it>f2 @c:5 36 @el c;,t;,b4 37 @d2 c3t? (Black has
played excellently so far and brought the ex-world

77
champion into a hopeless situation. From now on it
is as if he were changed: first he makes winning
difficult for himself, then bungles the position to a
draw and finally staggers into a defeat.) 38 bxc3i·
~a5 (38 ... Wb3!) 39 c4! .!tc6 (39 ... .!txc4 40
Wc3 b5) 40 Wc3 '.t>a4? (40 ... Wb6 41 ... a5!) 41
.ltt7! '.t>a3 42 c5! '.t>a4 43 Wc4 b5i" 44 cxb6 axb6
45 .ltg6 Wa3 (45 ... '.t>a5 46 Wd4 b5 is also a draw,
because White cannot take on e4) 46 Wd4 Wb3 (46
... b5? 47 Wc5!) 47 h4 Wc2 48 hxg5 hxg5 49 .!tf5
Wd2 50 g4 ~e2 (50 ... .lta8!) 51 .!txe4 .lte8? (51
... ..'&.xe4 52 .!txe4 ~e4 b5 53 Wd4 Wf3 54 e4
Wxg4 55 e5 Wf5 56 Wd5 b4 57 e6 =) 52 .!tf5 Wf3
53 e4 Wf4 54 e5 b5?! (Wf3 and Wf4 are better,
because now the Black Bishop gets imprisoned) 55
e6 ..liLc6? (55 ... b4 56 Wc4 We5 57 ~b4 Wd6 was
still a draw!) 56 .ltg6! (57 Wc5! threatens) 56 ... b4
57 Wc5 .Jta4 58 ~b4 .ltc6 59 Wc5 .lta4 60 ~h5
~e4 61e71-0
15 CaJJablanca - Santasiere A06
"It is instructive to see how Capablanca opens up
vital lines in a seemingly blocked position, by
means of a temporary sacrifice. The preferable
position of his pieces gives him a superiority in the
sequel which soon proves decisive." (R)
1 ctJf3 Ltlf6 2 b3 d5 3 .Jtb2 .!tf5 4 g3 e6 5 ~g2
.'.'iJbd7 6 0-0 i.d6 7 d3 h6 8 Ltlbd2 v//ie7?! (8 ... c6)
9 !!el! (It threatens 10 e4!) 9 ... e5 10 c4 (10 e4)
10 ... c6 (10 ... d4 11 e3!) 11 cxd5! cxd5 12 e4!
dxe4 ("Virtually compulsory. as he must not
permit the opening of the K file.") 13 dxe4 .!te6 14
:'2:lh4! g6!? (14 ... llc8 15 tbf5 ~xf5 16 exf5 b6 17
f4 ±) 15 lLlfl! 0-0 16 eile3 llfc8? (16 ... ~b4!? 16
... :'bb6 !? ''The superficial text is refuted in drastic
fashion.") 17 Ltlhf5 ! gxf5 18 exf5 e4 ("Closing the
diagonal of Whites KB, but opening the diagonai
of the other Bishop with disastrous effect. 18 ...
l!c7 19 fxe6 ·~xe6 20 Ltld5! l2:lxd5 21 ~xd5 was
the lesser evil.") 19 fxe6 v//ixe6
78
20 .Jth3! ("He parts with this Bishop gladly, as its
usefulness is over.") 20 ... v//ixh3 21 v//ixd6 llc6 22
v//if4 l:.ie8 23 llacl ! (23 tbf5? Ltlg4!) 23 ... lbh5 (23
... ll8e6 24 iVb8t) 24 v//if5 '///ixf5 25 eilxf5 llee6
("The exchange of Queens enables White to
concentrate on his opponents weaknesses in the
most effective manner." 25 ... I:l.8c8? 26 Ltle?t!) 26
llxc6! bxc6 ("A new weakness, but an mrnvoidable
one.") 27 lldl l2:le5 [27 ... tbc5 (27 ... i2:lf8 28
lld8!) 28 Zld8t wh7 29 Zlh8t '.t>g6 30 l2:lh4·1· Wg5
31 .ltcli' Wg4 32 Wg2!] 2812\xh6i· Wg7 29 eilg4
f6 30 ~xe5 fxe5 31 .l;!.el Wg6 32 llxe4 Wf5 33 f3
Ltlg7 34 Ltle3t Wf6 35 lla4 lld6 36 llxa7 lld2 37
Ltlg4 i' 1-0
16 Kupchik - CaJJablanca C73
1 e4 e5 2 Ltlf3 lbc6 3 ~b5 a6 4 ~a4 d6 5 .txc6·1·
bxc6 6 d4 f6 7 0-0 (7 ~e3; 7 c4) 7 ... g6 8 :'bel? (8
c4; 8 b3; 8 Ltlc3) 8 ... i.g7 9 f4 (9 c3) 9 ... exd4 10
v//ixd4 Ltle7 11 b3 c5 12 '5'd3 f5 13 e5 ~b7 (13 ...
dxe5 14 v//ixd8·1· ~d8 15 .ltb2 Ltlc6 16 Ltlf3' i2:ld4
17 .!txd4 exd4 18 l2:lbd2) 14 .!tb2 Ltlc6 15 'fiic4
v//id7 16 Ltlf3 (16 e6 v//ie7 17 ~xg7 v//ixg7 18 Ltlc3
'5'd4i· 19 v//ixd4 Ltlxd4) 16 ... 0-0-0 17 l2:la3 [17 e6
Wie7 18 .!txg7 V/ixg7 19 Ltlc3 l2:lb4 20 llacl (20
Ltle2 .Jtd5) 20 ... ~xf3 21 llxf3 -~d4i' 22 ·~xd4
cxd4 23 l2:le2 c5; t 7 l2:lbd2 dxe5 18 fxe5 li'ixe5 1 19
l'bxe5 V/ixd2 20 llf2 v//id5] 17 ... v//ie7! 18 !!ael (18
exd6?? '5'e3i') 18 ... dxe5 19 fxe5 g5 1 20 Wie2 g4
21 Ltld2
21 ... ~xe5! (It was impossible to bluff against
Capablanca.) 22 .!txe5 (22 llxf5? ~d4i'23 ~xd4
'ffxe2 24 llxe2 Ltlxd4) 22 ... v//ixe5 23 'ffxe5 Ltlxe5
24 llxe5 l:!xd2 25 llf2 l:!d It 26 !!fl !!xflt 27
~1 f4 28 l2:lc4 (Black's position looks nice
after taking the c5-pawn. but neither 28 ...
~d8 29 cZ:lc4 lld 1t 30 Wf2 nor 28 ... f3 29
gxf3 .Jtxf3 gives a satisfying advantage, 2S ...
!id8 29 I:l.f5?! (29 !!xc5 .l:idl'!' 30 We2 1:l.gl 31
:'2:ld6i' Wb8 32 l'bxb7 l'!xg2i'!') 33 @fl 1:i.xh2 34
Q:id8 f3 ro) 29 ... Lldli· 30 We2? (30 Wf2! .!J.al 31
nxf4 llxa2 32 Ltle3 or 30 ... !!h 1 31 l'ba5 ! is not
clear yet) 30 ... Iig 1 31 llxf4 !Ixg2 i· 32 @d3 h5 33
:?:ie5 @b8 34 !!f8t @a7 35 .llg8? (35 .llh8 lhh2 36
i2:'ixg4 .l:l.h3t 37 ll:ie3 h4 38 We2 r!.h2t 39 Wfl
~e4) 35 ... llxh2 36 ll:ixg4 hxg4 37 .l:!xg4 Z!h3t
(The rest is a question of technique.) 38 c;,t;>d2 @b6
39 @cl Iih2 40 @b2 .lle2 41 Z!g6t @b5 42 llg3
.ie4 43 Iic3 i.d5 44 .l:!h3 c4 45 .l:!h5 c6 46 Wc3
lle3t 4 7 c;,t;,d4 .lle4 t 48 c;,t;,c3 c;,t;,c5 49 .llh3 .llf4 50
'it>b2 Il.f3 51 !!h2 .llg3 52 bxc4 WXc4 53 llh4 t
.t>b5 54 .lld4 .lle3 55 a3 lle2 0-1
17 Ca11ablanca - H.Steinel°
1 e4 e5 2 ll:if3 ll:ic6 3 i.b5 a6 4 i.a4 d6 5 c3 f5
(Capa is being attacked with his own weapon.)
6 exf5 i.xf5 7 d4 e4 8 d5 (Capablanca gets an
inkling of the future. This piece-sacrificing
continuation was regarded as incorrect by his
contemporaries, but today it is a dangerous
weapon against the Siesta-gambit.) 8 ... exf3 9
dxc6 b5 10 ~xf3 i.xbl (10 ... "ii'e7t 11 ~1! i.e4
12 ~3 bxa4 13 .l:!.el <Xl) 11 i.b3 i.g6 12 0-0
(Although White has not got an immediate
attack in compensation for the piece, the King
stranded in the middle of the board makes it
really difficult for the defence.) 12 ... ll:if6
13 .ig5?! [A novelty introduced in 1989 meant a
blood transfusion for the attack: 13 i.h6! ! d5 14
itfelt .ie4! (14 ... ll:ie4 15 lladl!) 15 Iiadl i.e7?!
(15 ... ~e7! 16 ~3 gxh6 17 f3 <Xl) 16 .l:!xe4 d'<e4
17 .llxd8i·, ± Karkli.ns-Nance USA] 13 ... i.e7 14
.l:!.fe 1 Wf8 15 .l:l.e3 h6 (15 ... i.h5? 16 ~3) 16
£.xf6! (16 ..th4? .ih5! 17 ~3 g5!) 16 ... .ixf6 17
~d5 h5 18 g3 ·~c8 (It threatens 19 ... °ii'f5!) 19
Z!e6! (They agreed on a draw in this sharp
position, because Black cannot break free, and
White cannot strengthen his attack easily.) 19 ...
'i°d8 20 !le3 'i'c8 21 lle6 '&d8 1h- 1h
18 Ed.Laskel" - Ca11ablanca
1 d4 ll:if6 2 c4 e6 3 ll:ic3 .ib4 4 °ii'c2 d5 5 cxd5 (5
a3!?) 5 ... exd5 6 1.g5 0-0 (6 ... h6!?) 7 e3 h6 8
2.f4 c5 9 ll:if3 cxd4 10 ll:ixd4 ll:ic6 11 ..te2 (11
ll:ixc6 bxc6 12 ..te2) 11 ... lbxd4 12 exd4 '&b6 13
..te5 ( 13 lld 1 lbe4 14 0-0 lbxc3 15 bxc3 ..td6 =
oo) 13 ... lbg4 14 ..txg4 i.xg4 15 0-0 .llac8 16 '&d3
i.xc3 17 bxc3 't1Ve6 18 °ii'g3?! (It aims to seem a
fearful attacking move, but it only prepares the
unfavourable exchange of the Queens.) 18 ... ·~g6 19
.llfel i.f5! 20 .lle3? (Avoidingtheexchangewould
have been better.) 20 ... °ii'xg3! 21 i.xg3
C74
(The position seems drawish due to the Bishops
of the opposite colour. White, however, has two
weaknesses. the a- and c-pawns, which are
sources of constant problems.) 21 ... Iife8 22
.l;l.ael .lie6! 23 llxe6 fxe6! (Now White is losing a
pawn without any counter-chance.) 24 .l:l.e3 l!c6
25 f3 Wf7 26 i..el .lla6 27 ~e2 .td3 28 .l:l.b2 b6 29
1.d2 i..c4 30 i..cl .ixa2 31 <Jit'2 .tc4 32 .l:!.b 1
.l::!.a2t 33 l'!.b2 llal 34 i.f4 b5 35 !lc2 a5 36 g4! b4
[36 ... a4? 37 .llcl .lla2t 38 @g3 @e7 (38 ... a3'? 39
i..d6 !) 39 i.c7 a3 40 i..a5 .l:!b2 41 i.b4 t .llxb4 42
cxb4 a2 43 i!a 1 =] 37 cxb4 axb4 38 Ll.b2 b3 (The
Rook is pi1med down on b2 because of the
i..d3-c2 threat.) 39 Sl.d2 Iihl 40 h4 [40 @g2 Iidl
(It threatens 41 Sl.d3!) 41 Sl.e3 (41 i.c3? .l:!d3) 41
... Iid3 42 i.f2 (42 <Jit'2? Ll.c3!) 42 ... Z!c3 and
threatens .te2, or .td3-c2 and when possible .l:l.c2·1·!
etc.-+] 40 ... h5! (40 ... I!.xh4?? 41 @g2 and 42
i.el) 41 c;,t;,g2 lldl 42 <Jit'2 (42 gxh5? Sl.d3!) 42 ...
@g6! (42 ... i.d3?? 43 llxb3 llxd2t 44 @e3 i.c4
45 !!b7t) 43 i.e3 lld3 44 llbl e5! 45 gxh5t Wf5
46 dxe5 d4 47 i.g5 i.d5 48 .llb2 (48 f4 .lld2·1· 49
@el .l!c2 50 @dl i.f3t 51 @el b2) 48 ... !ixf3t
49 We2 l'lh3 50 @d2 WXe5 51 ~c 1 !!h 1i· 52
@d2 @d6 53 @d3 lld 1t 54 @e2 !l.g 1 55 @d3
lig4 56 h6 gxh6 57 i.xh6 Iixh4
Black has got two pawns more, but the position
needs extremely precise treatment because of the
E35 bishops of the opposite colour. We note that
winning is easier, either if the two pawns are
further from each other, or if they are right next
to each other.
79

58 .1..f8t Wc6 59 llf2 Wb5! 60 ~a3 [60 Zlf5
l!h3i"! 61 Wxd4 (61 Wd2 Wc4) 61 ... b2 62 .llxd5t
(62 Z!fl .1..a2) 62 ... Wa6 63 !!.d6t Wb7 64 l;!d7t
Wc8] 60 .. . .1..c4 t 61 wd2 Wa4 62 ~b2 Wb4 63
llg2 .1..d5 64 lle2 Wc4 65 !!e8 ilh2i· 66 .lle2 r.l.h3
67 Z!e8 ~c6 68 lle2 (68 llc8 .llh2i" 69 Wcl Wd3)
68 ... ~f3! (It takes away the cmcial square e2 from
the Rook.) 69 llf2 .1..g4! (ltthreatenslld3tfollowed
by l!dl#) 70 Wel lle)i"! 71 Wfl ~h3i" 72 Wgl
!le H 73 Wh2 ~fl (Eventually he managed to cut
the king off from the pawns.) 74 @g3 £tbl (It
threatens 75 ... llxb2!) 75 ~a3 .1..d3 76 i:!.f8 Wc3
77 nf2 .ltc2 78 Wf4 lla 1 79 !!f3t d3 80 ~d6 time
0-1 (Those who want to study Rook-endings with
Bishops of the opposite colour have just seen an
excellent example.)
19 Marshall - Capablanca E 16
"This game teaches a valuable lesson about the
importance of developing one's pieces on squares
where they will be able to play a useful part in the
subsequent unfolding of the game. White
disregards the necessity for the effective placement
of his pieces and suffers accordingly. 11 (R.)
l lbf3 lbf6 2 d4 e6 3 c4 b6 4 g3 ~b7 5 .1..g2 .1..b4 t
6 .ltd2 .1..xd2·1· 7 Lt:\bxd2?! 0-0 8 0-0 c5 9 dxc5 (9
!le 1 =) 9 ... bxc5 10 llcl ("Rather pointless.
Whites proper course is to double Rooks on the
cl-file, at the same time posting his QKt more
effectively by means of lbbl-c3. As White plays,
he soon drifts into a bad game." "A routine move
which is quite useless here." G.) 10 ... v//ic7 11
l'i:'ib3? (" And this poor move puts the Kt right out
of play." G. 11 'Wc2) 11 ... d6 12 v//id2 lbc6 13
.nfd 1 1:!.fd8 14 l'i:'ih4 ("Whites handling of his
Knights in this game is distinctly unfortunate....
Marshall hopes to create some sort of K side
attack. but he is never allowed time for this." G.)
11 ... a5! ["While Marshall has not played so well
as Canal (Budapest 1929). C. has improved on his
play in that game. 11 "Black profits by the position
80
of Whites Kt and conducts his Q side attack with
gain of tempo."] 15 a4? ("A natural reaction to
Blacks last move, but it merely exposes the QRP to
later attack." 15 .l:ic3!? or Coal-c2-a3!?) 15 ... £tab8
16 Ec3 ~as 17 h3 ("As will be seen later, this is
part of a plan for K side attack that never is
aHowed to manire." G. 17 r.l.d3 tbe5 18 llc3!?
~xg2 followed by 1lb4 =+J 1'7 ... tl:ib4 18 .ba8
llxa8 19 v//if4 v//ic6! ("This attack on the QRP
admits of no parrying. White hopes to recoup
himself for the loss of the Pawn by witming the
QP, but C. has a combit1ation it1 store to deal with
this." G.) 20 llf3 ("20 !!.al is now virtually
impossible because of 20 ... d5! followed by ... d4
with a witming advantage.") 20 ... lld7! ("Partly in
order to defend the KBP against a possible g5-g4
but also to make the winning of a Pawn possible
two moves later.") 21 g4 !9
21 ... ~xa4! 22 llxd6 l2:lbd5! ("A neat little
combination, winning a Pawn by force." G.) 23
·~e5 .!!xd6 24 ~xd6 lbe4! 25 ·~e5 ·thc4
("Black has an easy win now. C. winds up neatly
and quickly."" Not only is Black a Pawn up, but
his Q side attack still persists; it is a pleasure to
observe with what neat logic Capablanca
terminates the game." G.) 26 rld3 a4 27 f3
(There is nothing better.) 27 ... tbef6 28 i2:ld2
v//icH 29 Wf2 h6 30 f4 c4 31 !:!.d4 c3! 32 bxd
a3 33 g5 a2! 34 lLlb3 'i!¥xc3 35 gxf6 ~xb3 36
lld 1 ~xd 1 0-1 (Remfeld and Golombek.,
20 Capablanca - Turover A03
1 f4 d5 2 lbf3 c5 3 e3 g6 4 ~b5i" ..'ld7 5 .1..xd7·1·
l'i:'ixd7 6 lbc3 e6 7 e4 (It is not clear how successful
White's opening treatment is, but one thing is
certain: he has managed to lure his opponent into
unknown territory.) 7 ... d4 8 Cbe2 lbgf6 9 l2:lg3 (9
d3) 9 ... h5 10 d3 ~h6 11 0-0 h4 12 'Lle2 ( 12
l2:lxh4 e5! oo) 12 ... .1..g7 13 c3 dxd 14 lbxc3 h3 15
g3 a6 16 e5 Cbd5 l 7 ltixd5 (17 ltie4 0-0 18 l2:leg5)
17 ... exd5 18 ~3 lLlb6 19 .1..e3 d4 20 .1..d2 llc8
2 l l2:lg5 '@'d5 22 ~xd5 i2:lxd5 23 e6?! [23 lbe4 0-0
(23 ... c;t>d7 24 'Dd6!) 24 llfcl b6 25 lbg5 ±] 23 ...
f5! 24 .::Uf7 0-0 25 .litacl b6 26 !!fel lic6 27 b4
l'.:!.e8 :s ii::ig5 lbc3 29 bxc5 bxc5 30 Ll.c2 c4 31
dxc4 1:txc4 32 .i.xc3 dxc3 33 lbxh3 lle4 34 .l:!.xe4
fxe4 35 'Dg5 c;t>f8 36 c;t>f1 !lb8 37 lbxe4 llb2 38
!!cl l:':ixh2 39 c;t>gl llxa2 40 lbxc3 .i..xc3 (40 ...
!!a3?? 41 'Dd5) 41 lhc3 !!e2 42 l?.c6 a5 43 !ia6
We7 44 c;t>f 1 !!xe6 45 .l::!.xa5 c;t>f6 (When the pawns
are on the same side, that is there is not a free
pawn, the draw is the most frequent outcome
despite the material advantage.)
46 @t'2 !ie7 47 c;t>f3 !ib7 48 lla6t Wg7 49 g4 !ie7
[49 ... !ib3i·!? 50 c;t>e4 (on 50 c;t,fz ... 00! And the
Rook keeps the third rank.) 50 ... llb4t 51 We5
l:M·I· 52 We6 oo ±] 50 !id6 W 51 Wg3 Wg7 52
l:!c6 .l:!.a7 53 Eie6 00 54 !id6 c;t>g7 55 Wh4 llb7
56 lia6 'fJ.c7 57 c;t>g5 .l:Ic5i· 58 f5 gxf5 59 gxf5
59 ... !!cl?! [Blackswitchestochecksfrombehind
a bit too early; the White king will find a shelter. 59
... 'tic7 60 .llg6t (60 f6t Wf7 =) 60 ... Wf7 61 .l'ih6
wg7 62 f6t c;t>g8 63 Wg6 .l!g7t! 64 c;t,r5 !!gl =
The game is still not hopeless.] 60 !la7t c;t,fs 61
'itg6! c;t>e8? (61 ... i:ifl! 62 c;t>f6 c;t>g8 63 .l'ia8i· Wh7
64 We6 c;t>g7; 64 nrs !!a 1! It is still a draw, because
Black is in an ideal defending position.) 62 lia8t
'ii.>e7 63f6i·'it,;>d7 64 f7 Elgli" 65 c;t>h5 1-0
21 Ca11ablanca - Kasbdan D61
1 lbf3 lbf6 2 c4 c6 3 d4 d5 4 lbc3 e6 5 i.g5 'Dbd7
6 e3 i.e7 7 'W'c2 0-0 8 a3 l!ie8 9 .iid3 dxc4 10
i.xc4 Lt'::ld5 11 .i..xe7 'W'xe7 12 lbe4 i:id8 13 0-0
lbf8 14 fife 1 b6 15 !!acl .i..b7 16 'ti'e2 a5 17 lbe5
f6 18 lbf3 @h8 19 lbc3 lbxc3 20 .l:!.xc3 e5 21 i:id 1
exd4 22 iixd4 !!xd4 23 exd4 'ti'xe2 24 i.xe2 l:ie8
lfi_lfi
MATCH Ca11ablanca - Euwe- 1931
Capablanca played matches for the title against
three world champions. It is trne, however, that
Euwe, who defeated Alekhine, occupied the
throne for a short period and only four years after
this battle.
"l11e person who has only had a minor role in our
book so far now takes the main role. He may be the
only master who has no enemies: he is Dr. Max
Euwe. He was born in one of the suburbs of
today's Amsterdam in 1901. Three facts
distinguish the future world champion from
most of the other masters: 1. He was not a
professional, but a teacher; 2. He never won a
match against a candidate for the title; 3. He
was never first at a really great tournament: and
despite all this he was always a candidate for
the title. and his later victory over Alekhine
was accepted unanimously by the chess public.·
(This statement is strongly open to question.
E.V.) 'He is also different from Capablanca i1;
that he is an inquisitive man; his theoretical
background is on a par with that of Alekhine:
he is extremely industrious and pedantically
exact in his literary activities: and the
educational effect of the example he set is
much stronger and deeper than that of the
Cuban master, and as a consequence his little
native country, Holland, made an incomparably
greater progress in chess than the island of
Cuba.' (CT)
We add to the article written many decades ago
that after the Second World War Euwe was the
widely esteemed president of FIDE for many
years. To be honest, we must state that the likeable
Euwe acquired the title of world champion in 1935
more or less 'by chance', as Alekhine, who was
much stronger than him, completely collapsed due
to the effect of drinks and drngs. Kasparov's
malicious remark alleged that each world
champion was a genius except Euwe.
81
Going back to the Capablanca - Euwe match,
it is obvious that good fortune was part of
Capablanca' s success, if we consider stout
resistance in bad positions good fortune. The
Cuban'!- victory over the future world
champ1on, however. was a significant success.
i! - :1:2!3!4!s!6i1!s!9l10i
11Ca ablanca ! 1121 1/z 1 I 112 112 112 112 I 112 1 I112 6 I'
, ·
1iE~1we ~ - 1121 112 0 112i 1121 1121 112 112 0 1/z 4 !r
1
22 Capablanca - Euwe (1) E35
1 d4 ltif6 2 c4 e6 3 ltic3 .i.b4 4 'i'c2 d5 5 cxd5
exd5 6 .i.g5 'ti'd6 (6 ... h6!?) 7 Ji.xf6 (7 e3) 7
... ''i'xf6 8 a3 Ji.xc3t 9 'ti'xc3 0-0 10 e3 c6 11
itif3 Ji.f5 12 .i.e2 ltid7 13 0-0 c5! 14 b3 !iac8
15 life 1 'ti'b6 16 itid2 cxd4 17 'ti'xd4 (17
~xc8? !ixc8 18 llxc8t itif8 19 I!e8 .i.d7 20
.i!e5 f6 21 £l.xd5 dxe3 22 fxe3 'ti'xe3t 23 @fl
.ilc6 24 :ld8 .i.xg2tl 17 ... "i'xd4 18 exd4 ltif6
R9 f3 JJ..c:. 20 .l:la2 11z_ 112
23 Euwe - Capablanca (2) E44
1 d4 lt)f6 2 c4 e6 3 ltic3 .itb4 4 e3 b6 5 ltige2
.1.b7 (5 ... .i.a6) 6 a3 Ji.xc3t 7 ltixc3 0-0 8 d5!?
'ike7 (8 ... exd5 9 cxd5 Ile8) 9 .i.e2 d6 10 0-0
c6! 11 dxe6 'i'xe6 (11 ... fxe6) 12 b3 itibd7 13
.1.b2 lue5 14 'ti'd4!? c5! 15 'ti'd2 !iad8 16 f4!
{Introducing a subtle pawn sacrifice. With
inefficient play sooner or later d6-d5! comes.;
16 ... ltieg4 17 .i.xg4 'Llxg4 18 e4! (18 l'lael f5!i
18 ... i.xe4! 19 ltixe4 'ikxe4 20 I!ael 'iVh7
21 ..ixg7! (A pretty combination for a draw. 21
h3 ltih6 22 f5 f6 23 l!e6 ltif7 24 l:'!ael d5 25 .lle7
~c8; 'ila8) 21 ... <t;xg7 22 'ti'c3t ~g8 (22 ...
'Llf6? 23 Z!e3! ± 22 ... f6 23 'iWg3 @h8 24 'ti'xg4
D.g8 oo) 23 h3 23 ... f5 (23 ... tllh6 24 'ti'f6!) 24
hxg4 'i/g7 25 'i'xg7t @xg7 26 gxf5 !ixf5 11z_11z
24 Capablanca - Euwe (3) E35
1 d4 ttif6 2 c4 e6 3 ltic3 .i.b4 4 'ti'c2 d5 5 cxd5
exd5 6 Ji.g5 'ti'd6 (6 ... h6) 7 e3 ltie4 8 Ji.f4 'i'g6
82
(White threatened 9 ... ltixc3! -+ 8 ... ~e7!?) 9 a3!
(9 licl? lbxc3 10 bxc3 't'Vxc2 11 lixc2 i.f5 !) 9 ...
.itxc3t (9 ... lbxc3 10 i'/Hxg6 hxg6 11 axb4 lbe4 12
i.xc7 lbc6 13 i.b5! i.d7 14 i.xc6 St.xc6 15 f3 ± +=\
10 bxc3 i.f5 ("This involves the loss of a Pawn~
but Black had very little choice.'' 10 ... c6 11 f3
itif6 12 .i.d3!) 11 'iVh3 0-0 ("Black plays for the
:i attack. He is slightly ahead in development and
now offers a Pawn in order to gain more
·I
time.") 12 f3 [12 'i'xb7 (12 itif3) 12 ... ltic6 or
12 ~xd5!? ltixc3 13 ~3 ltie4 14 ct:\f3 ~6!? 15
'ti'xb6 cxb6 16 Ji.d3 ±] 12 ... itid6 13 g4! i.d3 (13
... Ji.xg4? 14 fxg4 'ti'e4 15 @f-1 "i'xh 1 16 Ji.xd6
cxd6 17 ltif3 +- ± 13 ... Ji.e6!? 14 Ji.xd6 cxd6 15
'i'xb7 itid7 oo) 14 'ti'xd5!? Ji.xfl 15 <t;xfl '&d3t 16
.:be2 ltic4 17 @f-1 lbxe3! ("A very clever
sacrifice. White cannot take the Kt...") 18
"i'xb7 (18 .i.xe3? Ile8 or 18 "i'e4? lbxg4t)
18 ... ltia6 [18 ... .l::te8!? 19 "i'xa8! (19 .l::ta2 ltJd7
20 ~1 'ilxbl 22 !!xbl ltid5!; 19 i!hel ltid7 oo 19
.i.xe3 'ilxe3t 20 ~g3 ltid7! oo) 19 ... ltixg4t 20
@g3 'ti'xe2 (20 ... ct:\f6 21 .l::the 1) 21 fxg4 c6 22
l:':ihel +- 18 ... .:bd7!?] 19 ~1 "i'xbl ("Black had
to exchange Queens to avoid the loss of the Kt. As
a result White comes out a Pawn ahead with a
good game, advantage enough to win with proper
play.") 20 l'la"<b 1 ltic4 21 a4 !iab8 22 .llb5 ! !ib6
23 J;:!.hb 1 l;!.e8 (It threatens 24 ... .llbe6 and 25 ...
lba3!) 24 ltig3 .llf6 25 l!f5 .l!b6 26 .llxb6 a"<b6 27
ltie4 f6 28 h4 c6 29 h5 ffl 30 Ji.c 1?! (30 h6 !
.l!xe4 31 fxe4 g6 32 .llb5 cxb5 33 axb5 +-) 30 ...
.l!e6? [JO ... h6 31 .i.xh6 ! gxh6 (31 ... .l:!.xe4 32
fxe4 gxh6 33 e5) 32 i:ixf6i· ~e7 33 .llxc6 'Lla5 34
!!xb6 ltic7 35 !ixh6 ±; 30 ... 'Llc7! 31 h6 itid5 32
hxg7 'it>x97 i] 31 ltig5t 1-0
25 Euwe- Capablanca (4) E40
1 d4 'Llf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 Ji.b4 4 e3 d5 5 lbge2'?! (5
a3!) 5 ... dxc4!? 6 a3 .i.a5 7 'ti'a4t c6 8 'ilxc4 0-0 9
ltig3 ltibd7 10 f4 (10 Ji.e2 e5!) 10 ... itib6 11 'ild3
c5! 12 d"<c5 'ilxd3 13 Ji.xd3 .i.xc3t 14 bxc3 .:ba4
15 c6 bxc6 16 ltie2 .:bc5 17 Ji.c4 ii.a6 18 ..ixa6
:'.uxa6 19 'it'd2 IUe8 20 ct:\d4 e5 21 fxe5 .llxe5 22
'.ta'c2 (22 it:lxc6? ct:\e4 t 23 @c:2 .llc5) 22 ... ct:\d5 23
!!.el c5 24 ct:\f3 .lle4 25 !ibl l!ae8 26 l!b7 .&!.4e7 27
~xe7 .lixe7 28 e4 ct:\b6 29 ~dl f6 30 e5!
30 ... @f?! [30 ... fxe5? 31 Jld8t (31 ct:\g5 g6 32
li:\e4) 31 ... <Ji;f7 32 ct:\g5t @g6?! 33 g4! l'ld7 (33 ...
li:lc4? 34 '.t>d3) 34 !Ie8 ct:\c7 35 l!xe5 +-] 31 exf6
gxf6 32 l:':iel i:ixel 33 ct:\xel ~e6 34 @d3 112- 112
26 Ca11ablanca - Euwe (5) D34
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 ct:\c3 c5 4 cxd5 exd5 5 lbf3 tilc6
6 g3 lilf6 7 .i.g2 .i.e7 8 0-0 0-0 9 d'<.c5 (9 .i.g5; 9
.ie3) 9 ....bc5 [9 ... d4?! 10 'l\.14 i.f5 (10 ... .i.g4
11 a3 ct:\e4 12 b4 ±) 11 i.f4 b5 12 cxb6 axb6 13 a3
b5 14 l:!el Il.c8 15 r!..'<.c6! !t'<.c6 16 ct:\xd4 ±] 10 i.g5
d4 11 ctJe4? ( 11 i.xf6 'i'xf6 12 ct:\d5 ! 'i'd8 13 ct:\d2
a6 14_ Ziel i.a7 15 ct:\c4 .lib& 16 'l\f4 ± Kasparov-
Gavnkov, SU 1981) 11 ... i.e7 12 'Dxf6·1·
~xf6 13 °i'd2 (13 i.xf6 'i'xf6 14 'i'b3 .lle8 15
l!fel ..if5 16 .l!adl oo) 13 ... i.g4! 14 h3?! (14
.ixf6 ~xf6 15 h3 ..te6 16 rl.fd 1 .lifd8 =) 14 ...
.);(.xg5 ! 15 ~xg5 (15 'W'xg5? 'i'xg5 16 ct:\xg5
.he2 -..-) 15 ... ..1i.xe2! 16 lilxf7?! [16 ·~xe2!
'¥kxg5 17 5t.xc6 bxc6 18 'i'c4 'i'f5 (18 ... c5? 19
Eacl !Iac8 20 b4! oo) 19 'i'xd4 'i'xh3 20 .l:tael =+]
16 ... W/e7 17 !'tfel d3 l8 l2:'ig5 l::rad8 (It threatened 19
.ixc6 bxc6 20 iVxd3) 19 l::racl l2:'id4 [19 ... 'i'b4! 20
llc3 \:.'Ud4)] 20 h4 h6 21 'tJh3 'v1Hf7 22 ct:\f4 i.f3! 23
l!c3 (23 ct:\xd3 i.xg2 24 ~g2 'viHd5++) 23 ...
iZ:le2t24 ltJxe2 dxe2 25 ~e3 .l:tdl 26 .&tel
( See diagram next colunm)
26 ... l:':ixel? [Lasker, who was taking part at a
bridge toumament in Rotterdam, 'saw' the game
without a board in the evening: the moves were
read out to him. He immediately stated that
Euwe let the victory slip out of his hands here;
he could have won with 26 ... i:ie8 27 'W'c3 i.g4.
When the following day Capablanca was told
1his, he said: "If Lasker prepares for six months.
he can beat every leading master, including
Alekhine and myself." (Hamburger Nachrichten).
As the news was not refuted, it is obvious that
Lasker's reputation had considerably grown in
Capablanca's eyes, because after the New York
toumament in 1924 Capablanca expressed his
opinion that Lasker had no chance at the ren1m
match against him. CT] 27 .l:txcl Jle8 28 'i°d2
i.xg2 29 Wxg2 ~xa2 30 llel 'i'e6 31 f3 b6 32
@1'2! ~3 33 .lixe2 'ihli· 34 ~1 i:ixe2 35 'i'xe2
~xg3 36 'v1He4! (White has good chances for the
draw in the Queen's ending. because the Black
King has not got a proper shelter against the
perpetual checks.) 36 ... a5 307 °i'd5i· @h8 38 h5!
'v1Hb8 39 'viHh5 ~c8 40 'v1Hxb6 'i'h3t 41 'it>f2 ~i- 42
@fl 'v1Hxh5 43 'i'd8i· ~h7 44 °i'd3t 'iVg6 45 'i'b5
'viHhl i· 46 'it>g2 'i'c2t 47 'itli.3 a4 48 'it>g3 ~c7i· 49
~g4 ~c8t 50 'it>g3 'i'c2 51 @h3 'i'c8t 52 ~2 'i'a8
53 'i'f5t ~h8 54 'viHh5 ·~a7 55 'i'e8t 'itli.7 56 'i'e4i·
g6 57 ~g3 h5 58 ~g2 ~d7 59 ~g3 lf2_l!z
27 Euwe-CaJ)ablanca (6) E16
1 d4 tilf6 2 c4 e6 3 'l\f3 b6 4 g3 i.b7 5 .lig2 i.b4i·
6 i.d2 i.xd2t 7 'i'xd2 0-0 8 tilc3 ct:\e4 (The two
players really fought a theoretical dual in this
variation in the second half of the match.) 9
ct:\xe4 (Euwe improved the play with 9 'i'c2 in
the 8th and 10th games, but decades later theory
still regarded the immediate exchange better.) 9
... i.xe4 10 d5?! [10 0-0 d5 (10 ... d6) 11 llael
ct:\d7 12 cxd5 i.xd5 13 b4 ±] 10 ... 'i'e7 11 0-0
.l:!e8 12 dxe6 d'<.e6 13 I!fdl ct:\c6 14 ~f4 f5 15
ct:\e5 ct:\xe5 16 ~xe5 ( 16 i.xe4 ?? ct:\g6) 16 ...
i.xg2 17 ~g2 .llad8
(See diagram on next page)
18 e4 fxe4 19 ihe4 c5 20 'iec6 ~f6 21 .l;!xd8 (21
"iVc7 !!xdl 22 .llxdl !If8 23 lld2 °ii'f3t 24 ~gl
"ife4) 21 ... llxd8 22 Itel e5 23 ~e4 lid2 24 Iie2
!ixe2 25 "fgxe2 lh-112
28 CaJ>ablanca - Euwe (7) D47
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 e3 'l\f6 4 ct:\c3 e6 5 lbf3 li:lbd7 6
i.d3 d'<.c4 7 i.xc4 b5 8 i.e2 (It was Capablanca's
83

favourite move once.) 8 ... a6 9 a3 (9 e4! b4 10 e5
bxc3 11 exf6 gives more, but if the grandmaster
had wanted to play according to theory, he
would have undertaken the complications after
8 Jid3) 9 ... c5 10 d'<c5 .\lxc5 11 b4 ~e7 12 Jib2
~b7 13 0-0 0-0 (A nearly synunetrical position has
developed, but there is some difference between
the posting of two Queen's Knights. As it soon
turns out Black's position is better, because it
inunediately finds a weakness in the White
position to attack.) 14 ~d4 'Lib6 15 l:'!fdl 'i!Vxd4
16 it:lxd4 .l:!ac8 (Owing to the weakness on c4,
it is White who has to make the effort to
equalise.) 17 .l!ac 1 'Llc4 18 i.xc4 Ihc4
19 tilbl! l:'!fc8 20 'Lid2 r!.xcl 21 .l::!.xcl llxcli· 22
..hcl .:°t)d7 23 f3 Jif6 24 @f-2 <M8 25 @e2 @e7
(Now, and even earlier, ~xd4 came into
consideration, because Black's position due to
the isolated d4-pawn makes a little better
impression, but it is not really considering the
'Lib3-c5 manoeuvre.) 26 Sl.b2 @d6 27 ~al 112-112
29 Euwe - Ca1>ablanca (8) E 16
1 d4 'Llf6 2 c4 e6 3 Lbt"J b6 4 g3 Sl.b7 5 i.g2 Sl.b4 t 6
Sl.d2 ii.xd2i· 7 ~xd2 0-0 8 'Llc3 'Lle4 9 ~c2 'Llxc3
10 'Llg5!? l2:le4 (10 ... %Vxg5! 11 ~xb7 'Llxe2! 12
~xe2 'Llc6 13 ii.xa8 .llxa8 = Portisch- Andersson,
84
Tilburgl983) 11 Sl.xe4 Sl.xe4 12 %Vxe4 %Vxg5 13
'iYxa8 lt:lc6 14 Wb7 'Llxd4 15 l:'!dl! (on 15 ~e4?
'iVa5t 16 <Ml 'L!b3 17 I:idl 'Lld2t) 15 ... %Ve5? (15 ...
c5 see 10 game) 16 e3 'Llc2i" 17 'ite2 (17 'i&ifl d5 18
cxd5 ~e4 19 .l!!gl 'Llxe3t 20 fxe3 'i!Vf3i· with a
draw by perpetual check.") 17 ... d5 ! (17 ...
~xb2 18 .lld2 ~xa2 19 ~xc7 Qa4 20 !!cl 'Llb4
21 I:ixd7 ;!;) 18 .l!d2! (18 cxd5 'iVh5t 19 f3 -~e5
20 1!d3 %Vxb2) 18 ... 'i!Vxb2 19 cxd5 (19 ~xc7'?
d4! 20 .l::!.hdl e5!) 19 ... ~Si· <. 19 ... ·~xa2·~ :rn
%Vxc7 %Va6t 21 <M3 fic8 22 dxe6!) 20 'i&if3 "l'lb4
21 l:'!cl ! (21 ~xc7 'Llxd5 22 ~e5 ! ;l;) 21 ... ''t'Ua5
(21 ... 'Llxd5 22 e4 'Llf6 23 Tlxc7 ±) 22 d6 ! cxd6
23 l:'!c8! g6 (23 ... d5 24 'iVb8 %Vc5 25 !ixc5
llxb8 26 ilc7 ±) 24 !'lxf8i·? (24 'iVb8! l:'!xc8 25
~xc8t rtig7 26 ~c3t Wh6 27 Jld4) 24 ... ~f8
25 ~c8i· We7 (25 ... rtig7 26 'iYc3t) 26 ~c7·1·
'i&if6 27 ~c3i· We7 28 ~c7i· 'i&if6 29 ~d8i· @g7
30 ~xd6 'Llxa2 ("Black now has two united
passed Pawns for the exchange, but Whites
Rook is very __powerful in this position.") 31
°iYd4t e5 32 'Wd5 ~xd5t 33 .l!xd5 e4i·!? (C.
spent 40 minutes thinking about this move. He
rightly preferred to block the Pawns on the K.
side rather than to launch out on the tempting
venture of advancing his Q side Pawns by 33 ...
'L!c3 34 .lhe5 a5 35 lle7 b5 36 Tlc7!! b4 37 .l!b7,
after which Blacks Q side Pawns and piece are
paralysed.") 34 'i&if4 lt::lb4 35 l:'!b5 ct'ld3·1 36
~e4 'Llxf2t 37 rtid4 f5 38 l:'!b2 lt::lg4 39 h3 lt::lf6
40 iic2 'Lle4 ("The endgame is highly
dramatic; just when it looks as though Blacks
Q side Pawns are about to fall, C. attacks
Whites weakened K side Pawns.") 41 g4 'i&if6
42 gxf5 rtixf5 43 ilc7 lt::lg5 44 ilxa7 h5
45 I:ia3!? [45 h4! 'Llf3t46 rtid5 g5! (46 ... lt::lxh4 47
.l:H7i'@g4 48 e4 l2:'ig2 49 e5 h4 50 @e4! h3 51 e6 h2
52 Im +-l 47 hxg5 ~g5 (47 ... lt::lxg5 48 I:ia4! !) 48
@e4 l.iJd2i' 49 @d3 l.iJf3 50 @e2 l.iJe5 51 Il.b7 ±] 45
... t'.iJf3i' (45 ... 'Dxh3? 46 e4i' @g4 47 I!.xh3! @xh3
48 e5 +-) 46 Wd3? (46 @d5! g5! 47 !ia8! g4 48
hxg4thxg449llf8t@g5 50 We4! +- ±) 46 ... 'Llgl!
(111e ensuing last 11 moves had to be 111ade veiy
quickly, since C. had got into great time trouble.
However, he now plays with his customaiy accuracy
to secure the draw.") 47 Wd2 g5 48 !!b3 h4 49
1.hb6 .'.t:lxh3 50 ~e2 _g4 51 .l'.'l.b5t We4 52 l;tb4 t
-ms 53 ~n ~g5 54 Zfo5t @g6 55 J'.;lb4 @h5 56
1'!.b5·:· l{'jg5 i2-''2 (Euwe. Takacs and Golombeki.
1
30 Capablanca - Euwe (9) Dl7
'This game contains one of those strange 'double
errors' which sometimes attack even the greatest
masters. Somewhat favored by luck, C.
subsequently winds up the game with a number of
trenchant and elegant moves." (R).
1 d4 fciffi 2 4}£3 d5 3 c4 c6 4 'Llc3 dxc4 5 a4 i..f5 6
,:2.ie5 ~bd7 i6 ... e6!?) 7 CZ1xc4 Wic7 8 g3 e5 9 dxe5
~xe5 10 1J..f4 t:.jfd7 11 i.g2 .ie6?! (11 ... f6) 12
ctJxe5 'Llxe5 13 0-0 'i-1Va5?! (13 ... 1J..e7 14 'i'c2 i.:!.d8
15 llfd 1 0-0 16 'Llb5 .l:!xd 1t 17 l;txd 1 'i'a5 18 'Lld4
.1.c8 19 b4! Alekhine-Euwe, Match 1935 13 ...
!td8) 14 'Lle4 !ld8 15 ~c2 1J..e7
16 b4! (Alekhine in the quoted game, at 19 b4,
with a little malice, copied Capablanca.") 16 ...
.1.x b4 17 °tlVb2 f6 18 !lfb 1? ("This is a mistake
leading to all kinds of complications. By simply
playing the other Rook to Kt, White would have
won at last a Pawn with a very safe position." 18
nabl! fJ..e7 19 1J..xe5! 'i'xe5 (19 ... fxe5 20
~xb7 ~d5 21 !!fd 1 ±) 20 'i'xe5 fxe5 21 .llxb7
±) 18 ... 0-0? (18 ... cbc4! 19 'Llxf6t! Wf7 20
~xb4 .l:l.dU· 21 L!xdl 'i'xb4 22 'Lle4 h6! 23
l'.labl 'i'e7 14 'Lld6t 'Llxd6 25 1J..xd6 'i'd7 :i: ... )
19 i.xe5 fxe5 20 'Llg5 i.c3? ("Blacks defence is
extremely difficult. It is touch and go, yet 20 ...
.if7! 21 i.e4 g6 (± oo) would probably save the
game. After the text move White wins by
force.") 21 '@' c2 i.f5 22 i.e4 ! g6 (22 ... i.xa 1
23 i.xf5 g6 24 1J..xg6 +-; 22 ... h6 23 i.xf5
hxg5 24 .l:!.a3! 1J..d4 25 g4! !!f6 26 ilh3 i.:!.h6 27
i;lxh6 gxh6 28 1J..e6t Wh8 29 'i'xg6 +-; 22 ...
1J..xe4 23 'i'xe4 g6 24 'i'c4t Wh8 26 llxb7 +-) 23
'i'a2t Wg7 24 .llxb7t .&!.d7 25 l;;{abl 'i'a6 26 ~3
.llxb7 27 ~xb7t 'viVxb7 28 l;;{xb?t Wg8 29 1J..xc6
Z!d8 30 llxa7 .l:!.d6 31 1J..e4 1J..d7 32 h4 i.d4 33
Jla8·r @g7 34 e3 1J..c3 35 1J..f3 1-0
31 Euwe - Capablanca (10) El 6
1 ct4 Ci:lf6 2 c4 e6 3 tbf3 b6 4 g3 itb7 5 itg2 ..'ii.b4·1·
6 ~d2 itxd2t 7 'i'xd2 0-0 8 cbc3 lile4 9 ~c2
'Llxc3 10 'Llg5 cbe4 11 1J..xe4 i.xe4 12 'ib'xe4
'i'xg5 13 'i'xa8 cbc6 14 'i'b7 'Llxd4 15 !!dl c5!
(Improvement compared to game 8 15 ... 'i'e5.) 16
e3 [16 'i'xd7 (16 Wlxa7 'i'e5 17 e3 'ib'e4!) 16 ...
'viVe5 17 e3 '*l'e4] 16 ... 'Llc2t 17 Wd2 ~f5 18 'i'g2
ibb4 19 e4 W/f6 20 @cl 'Llxa2i" 21 @bl 'Llb4 22
!lxd7
22 ... 'Llc6 23 f4 e5 24 kihdl 'Lld4 25 Exa7 (25
fxe5 ~xe5 26 iixa7 '&e6 oo :i:; 25 ... exf4 26 gxf4
'viVxf4 27 .llel 'Llf3 28 I!e2 'Lld4 29 l;;{el 1h-;h (29
1;!.f2 'i-1Ve3)
Let us take stock of one of Capablanca's longest series
of tomnaments. TI1e facts state that our hero took part at
I 2 tournaments between I 926 and 1931. He was I st
nine times, 2nd twice, 2.nd-3rd once, lost against
Alekhine by a marginal difference, but achieved a
sotmd victoiy over Euwe.
The ELO system must be handled with great care
when we look back into the past. because owing to
the inflation of the points the system is always
favourable for the champions of the given period.
Well. according to the figures of I 978: 1st Fischer,
(but see the remark above) 2nd -3rd Capabianca
and Karpov. We do not know which year or years
were taken into accom1t when the figures were
calculated, but the result was flattering for
Capablanca, because he left behind classic players
such as Morphy, Lasker, Alekhine, Botvinnik,
Smyslov etc.
85
 CONSULTATION GAMES - 1931
NewYork-1931
32 Capablanca - Princeton C15
(Princeton University= Forbes, Stern, Farnham,
Huntington)
l e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 c't:lc3 .i..b4 4 .i..d3 c5 5 exd5
'!dVxd5 6 @fl ii.xc3 7 bxc3 c't:ld7 8 'ti'f3 c't:lgf6 9
~xd5 c2:ixd5 10 c't:le2 0-0 11 .ia3 b6 12 c4 tll5f6
13 d Sib7 14 f3 £!.ac8 15 ~ .l!!.fd8 16 Iihdl g6
17 .Itel ~a6 18 ~g5 cxd4 I9 c't:lxd4 Wg7 20 c't:lb5
22:le5 21 Sie2 !!xd 1 22 !!xd 1 .ixb5 23 cxb5 l!ixc3
24 Sixf6i· Wxf6 25 f4 c't:lc4 26 !ld7 llc2 27 .l!!.xa7
.:2:'id6 28 a4 c't:lf5 29 .l!!.d7 e5 30 fxe5t Wxe5 31 Wfl
~4 32 !ixf7 We3 33 g4 llxe2 34 gxf5 !lf'2i· 35
·.!.gl gxf5 36 J:ixh7 lla2 37 .llh3t c;,t;,e4 38 !lh6 Wf3
39 l!h3·1· iiz_!j~
STMULTAN EOUS with clocks -1931
33 Capablanca - Denker B50
1 e4 c5 2 lt:\f3 e6 3 ct'Jc3 d6 4 .i..e2 c't:lf6 5 0-0 a6 6
e5 dxe5 7 lt:lxe5 c't:lbd7 8 lbxd7 .ixd7 9 .i..f3 'i'c7
10 d3 Sic6 11 fJ..g5 .i..e7 12 llel 0-0 13 fJ..xc6
~xc6 14 lbe4 lbd5 15 fJ..xe7 lbxe7 16 'ti'h5 'ti'd5
17 ~xd5 lt:\xd5 18 a3 .llac8 19 .lladl .llfd8 20 g3
b5 21 ctJc3 Wf8 22 .lle5 lbe7 23 @fl c't:lf5 24 c't:le2
!tid4 25 c3 f6 26 l:':ih5 lt:lxe2 27 ~e2 h6 28 a4 f5
29 .llh4 We7 30 l:':ial l:':ia8 31 b4 @d6 32 bxc5t
~6Di:ib4~~u~u"~u~~h4~
37 .llb4 @c6 38 @d2 .lle8 39 d4 i!ed8 40 c;,t;,d3
.l:!.db8 41 @c2 i:ie8 42 @d3 !leb8 43 .l!!.b2 i!e8 44
axb5i· axb5 45 !lba2 llxa2 46 llxa2 llel 47 lla6i·
Wd5 48 !lxg6 Itfl 49 c;,t;,e2 llcl 50 @d2 .llg 1 51
'~d3 !!fl 52 @d2 b4 53 cxb4 ~4 54 .llc6i" ~d4
55 b5 !!.f2i· 56 @cl J:':if3 57 L'l.h6 r!.xg3 58 llxh5 f4
59 !!g5 We4 60 @d2 .:id3i· 112- 112
34 Capablanca - Fine D53
1 d4 .Y6 2 c4 e6 3 CDc3 d5 4 .i..g5 lbbd7 5 e3 Jl.e7
6 4Jf3 c5 7 cxd5 cxd4 8 ·~xd4 exd5 9 .i..b5 0-0 10
.:2.xd7 .ixd7 11 .ixf6 .ixf6 12 ·~xd5 'ti'c8 13 lbd4
!id8 14 0-0 fJ..c6 15 'i'c5 ii.e8 16 'ti'xc8 Itaxc8 17
.l!fdl g6 18 lbde2 Wf8 19 Ihd8 llxd8 20 !Idl
.llxd 1t 21 ct'Jxd 1 c;,t;,e7 22 ct'Jdc3 .i..g7 23 c't:ld4 c;,t;,d6
24 @fl @c5 25 c't:lde2 c;,t;,c4 26 c;,t;,el c;,t;,d3 27 c;,t;,dl
fJ..xc3 28 lbxc3 fJ..c6 29 c't:le2 fJ..a4t 30 b3 fJ..c6 31
h4 f6 32 lt:lf4 t @c3 33 Wc 1 g5 34 hxg5 fxg5 35
lt:le6 fJ..xg2 36 ct'Jxg5 h5 37 c;,t;,dl h4 38 c;,t;,e2 h3 39
f3 h2 40 lbe4t @b4 41 lt:11'2 hl'ti' 42 lbxhl fJ..xhl
43 @f2 Wc3 44 e4 @d4 45 a3 a5 46 a4 b6 47 c;,t;,g3
@e3 48 e5 ii.xf3 0-1 (Capa 's opponent later
became a candidate for the world championship.)
35 Ca1>ablanca - Burezza D60
1 d4 c't:lf6 2 c4 e6 3 c't:lc3 d5 4 .i..g5 fJ..e7 5 e3
c6 6 c't:lf3 lbbd7 7 .id3 0-0 8 0-0 dxc4 9
1.xc4 :tld5 10 She: 'i'xe7 11 lbe4 a6 12
.:l.cl LtJ5f6 13 lbg3 b5 14 ii.e2 ~b7 15 a4
86
~ 16 "iVc2 c5 17 axb5 axb5 18 dxc5 !lfc8 19 'tWd2
'ti'xd2 20 lbxd2 .lla2 21 fJ..xb5 Iixc5 22 fJ..xd7 lt:lxd7
23 l!xc5 lb.xc5 24 lt:lc4 ii.d5 25 lbb6 .i..b7 26 b4
c't:ld3 27 .lldl .i..a6 28 lbe4 h6 29 h4 lb.xb4 30 l:':id8i·
c;,t;,117 31 lbd7 Wg6 32 g4 f5 33 c't:le5t c;,t;,h7 34 g5 1-0
36 Capablanca - McCormick C66
1 e4 e5 2 lbf3 lt:lc6 3 fJ..b5 ct'Jf6 4 0-0 d6 5 d4 fJ..d7
6 lbc3 fJ..e7 7 .ixc6 .ixc6 8 'ti'd3 exd4 9 'llxd4
"iVd7 10 Sig5 0-0 11 lt:lxc6 "iVxc6 12 llfe 1 .llfe8 13
lbb5 ClJxe4 14 ii.xe7 llxe7 15 c't:ld4 "iVe8 16 lt:\f5
.lle5 17 f4 .llxf5 18 .llxe4 'ti'd7 112- 112
37 Capablanca - Totten D63
1 c't:lf3 d5 2 c4 e6 3 d4 c't:lf6 4 .ig5 Sie7 5 e3 0-0 6
c't:lc3 c't:lbd7 7 llcl b6 8 cxd5 exd5 9 Sib5 Sib7 10
0-0 c6 11 .ia4 .llc8 12 ~e2 .l!e8 13 a3 !tlg4 14
Jlxe7 "iVxe7 15 h3 c't:lgf6 16 c't:ld2 c5 17 dxc5 i:ixc5
18 b4 l!icc8 19 lbf3 i:ied8 20 lbd4 a6 21 Sixd7
'ti'xd7 22 b5 llc5 23 'tWb2 a5 24 lt:lce2 l!idc8 25
c't:lg3 l!ic4 26 lied 1 !Ic3 27 a4 'ti'e7 28 .llcl r!.xcl
29 .llxcl l'!xc 1t 30 'tWxcl g6 31 'i'c3 c't:le8 32 llic6
-~f6 33 lbd4 "vife7 34 lbge2 c't:ld6 35 c't:lc6 'tWe8 36
lt:\f4 c't:le4 37 'tWd4 ii.xc6 38 bxc6 'ifxc6 39 c't:lxd5
~cl i· 40 c;,t;,h2 lb.xt2 41 c't:lf6t Wf8 42 lb.xh7i· @g8
43 c't:lf6t Wf8 44 c't:ld5 @g8 45 lt:le7i· Wf8 46
lt:lxg6t fxg6 47 'i'f6·1· @e8 48 'i'xf'2 'tWc7t 49 g3
'i'e5 50 'tWc2 Wf7 51 e4 '&c5 52 'ifxc5 bxc5 53
c;,t;,g2 We6 54 Wf3 c4 55 @e3 We5 56 g4 c3 57
c;,t;,d3 c2 58 ~c2 ~e4 59 h4 Wf4 60 h5 gxh5 61
gxh5 c;,t;,g5 62 c;,t;,c3 ~h5 63 @c4 @g5 64 @b5
Wf5 65 @xa5 c;,t;,e5 66 @b5 1-0
SIMULTANEOUS GAME
Amsterdam
38 Ca1>ablanca - Felderbof C09
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 lbd2 c5 4 lt:\gf3 lbc6 5 exd5 exd5 6
clxc5 .ixc5 7 c't:lb3 ii.b6 8 c3 'tJf6 9 .ie2 0-0 10 0-0
!!e8 11 .ig5 .ig4 12 c't:lfd4 ii.xe2 13 lb.xe2 h6_ 14
.i..xf6 'tWxf6 15 'ti'd2 llad8 16 i!adl .lle4 17 Whl
c't:le5 18 c't:lbd4 ii.c7 19 c't:lg3 lt:lc4 20 lb.xe4 ~4 21
lt:lf3 lb.xd2 22 lb.xh4 lb.xfl 23 c't:lf6t gxf6 24 .llxfl
.l:Ie8 25 lt:lf5 .lle2 26 b3 c;,t;,h7 27 c't:le3 d4 28 cxd4
.Iixa2 29 g3 l'!d2 30 .l:Idl .Iixdlt 31 lb.xdl fJ..b6 32 d5
'itig6 33 f4 .id4 34 <;t,g2 f5 35 WB Wf6 36 ..t>e2 ..t>e7
37 'itti3 .ig 1 38 h3 h5 39 b4 b5 40 lbc3 a6 41 c't:le2
ii.11 42 Wc3 'itti6 43 c't:ld4 ~d5 44 lb.xf5 We4 45
lbd6t Wf3 46 g4 h4 47 f5 f6 48 c;,t;,d3 Sig3 49 c't:le4
ii.e5 50 g5 fxg5 51 c't:lxg5t Wf4 52 lbe6t ~f5 53
lbc5 Wf4 54 lbxa6 c;,t;,g3 55 c;,t;,e3 Wxh3 56 Wf3
.ic3 57 c't:lc5 Sixb4 58 tlle4 .ie7 59 c't:lf'2t @h2 60
c't:lg4 t @g 1 61 lt:le5 h3 1-0
"Then Capablanca, who was working at the Cuban
embassy in Paris. had a relatively long break. Not
until the middle of the thirties did he remm to
active play. (L. J
 1933
LIVING CHESS - 1933
Los Angeles - 1933
l Capablanca - H.Steiner C49
"This game, played with "living pieces" turns out
to be vastly entertaining and must have delighted
the spectators." (R).
1 e4 e5 2 ltif3 lbc6 3 lbc3 itif6 4 ..ib5 ..ib4 5
0-0 0-0 (5 ... d6? 6 lbd5! ..ic5 7 d4 exd4 8 ..ig5)
6 d3 d6 7 ..ig5 ..ixc3 8 bxc3 lbe7? ("Once very
popular, this variation has rightly faded out of
master chess." 8 ... ~e7! followed by lbc6-d8-e6
oo) 9 lbh4 c6 [9 ... lbg6 10 lbxg6 fxg6 (10 ... hxg6
11 f4 c6 12 ..ic4 ~6t 13 c;,t;,hl lbg4 14 ~el) 11
.i.c4i· @h8 12 f4 h6 13 fxe5 dxe5 14 .ih4 g5 15
.ig3 ~e, 16 d4 ±] 10 ..ic4! [on 10 ..ia4; see 17 .llu6 !! (" A fine m1ting combination with 1m
Marshall - Capablanca (17) 1909] 10 ... ..ie6?! [10 especially neat point on the 19th move.") 17 ... @xto
... d5?! 11 ~b3 'i¥d6 (11 ... dxe4 12 dxe4 'iYxdl 13 18 .fill i· lbf5 (18 ... Wg7 19 lli'?i· 'i,%8 20 ~xh7#) 19
.liaxdl '£lg6 14 l'llxg6 hxg6 15 ~xf6 gxf6 16 f4) 12 lb.u5! exf5 20 .lixf5t <tk7 21 ~f7t ~6 22 fil6t
f4! dxe4 13 dxe4 ~c5t 14 @h l '£ig4 15 f5] 1 l ..ixf6! c;,t;,c5 (22 ... ti'xf6 23 ~xf6i" ~7 24 ~f5t!) 23 ti'xb7!
gxf6 12 il..xe6 fxe6 13 V&'g4t! (''Forcing the King ("Threatening 24 ~#) 23 ... ~ ("Apparently
onto the f-file before opening up the attack on guarding against both threats, but now, with a nice
that line.") 13 ... Wf7 14 f4! l:tg8? (14 ... lbg6? symmetry of sacrifice, the rem,ining White Rook
15 f5! 14 ... exf4!? 15 ~xf4 lbg6 16 'iVh6)15 delivers the coup de grce.") 24 !!.xc6t! ~xc6 25
'i'h5t r;r;g7 16 fxe5 dxe5 'iM# 1-0 (Golombek).
*
The world champion Alekhine reached his z.enith during those years; he won one tournament after
another, often with a walkover victory. This is what a keen-eyed, unbiased contemporary said about it:
'When Alekhine was on his best fom1 he reached the same level as Capablanca and Lasker in their golden
ages. the height and depth that no one else had reached so far. .. he was no better than them.' (V)

EXHIBITION GAME - 1933
Mexiko -1933
2 Capablanca - Soto-Larrea D24
1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 lbf3 c5 4 d5 lbf6 5 lbc3 e6 6
e4 exd5 7 exd5 ..id6 8 ..ixc4 a6 9 0-0 0-0 10 ..ig5
.if5 (10 ... il..g4!) 11 lbh4! ..ig6 12 lb.xg6 fxg6?
13 tzle4 b5 14 il..e2 'iilc7 15 lbxd6 ~xd6 16 a4! b4
17 .ic4 lbbd7 18 Ziel !!.fe8
19 Jle6! ~f8 20 ~e2 lbb6 21 ..ixf6! gxf6 22 Iiel
.!2:lxc4 (22 ... .lieb8 23 d6 eilxc4 24 ~xc4 'iilf7 25
~xc5 ± +-) 23 .llxe8 .lixe8 24 'iilxe8 'iilxe8 25
!lxe8t Wf7 26 !!e4 itid2 27 !!.e2 lbb3 28 d6 lbd4
29 Iie4 1-0
CONSULTATION GAMES (simul)-1933
Panama - 1933
3 Capablanca - Farrugia C28
1 e4 e5 2 lbc3 lbc6 3 il..c4 itif6 4 d3 ..ic5 5 ..ig5
..ie7 6 f4 d6 7 itif3 ..ig4 8 h3 ..ixf3 9 ~xf3 lbd4
10 ~f2 c6 11 0-0 ti'b6 12 ..ib3 lbxb3 13 axb3
~xf2 i· 14 .lixf2 0-0 15 fxe5 dxe5 16 !ia5 b5 17
..ixf6 ..ixf6 18 .l'!a6 ilfc8 19 !!.fl ..ie7 20 Wf2
..ic5i· 21 'it>e2 .llc7 22 lbd 1 !!.d8 23 eile3 .i.xe.3
24 ~e3 f6 25 !!fa 1 .lldd7 26 b4 h6 27 !1 la3
W 28 .l:!.c3 !!.d6 29 .lic5 c;,t;,e7 30 l!a3 @d? 31
c3 c;,t;,c8 32 d4 exd4 t 33 cxd4 @b7 34 d5 a6 35
Iiac3 r;r;b6 36 c;,t;,f4 g6 37 g4 @b7 38 h4 g5t 39
hxg5 fxg5t 40 @e5 rl.g6 41 c;,t;,f5 Iid6 42 !lxc6
Iicxc6 43 Iixc6 l!xc6 44 dxc6t @xc6 45 r;r;g6
Wd6 46 @xh6 @e5 47 'it>xg5 'it>xe4 48 c;,t;,f6 1-0

87
 BLINDFOLD - 1933
Mexiko - 1933
4 Capablanca - Friedmann COS
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 lbd2 lbf6 4 e5 lbfd7 5 f4 c5 6
~gf3 lbc6 7 c3 a5 8 i.d3 'i'b6 9 dxc5 .i..xc5 10
~e2 'v/jc? 11 lbb3 a4 12 lbxc5 lbxc5 13 .i..e3
Ci:lxd3T 14 ~xd3 ~a5 15 0-0 e2:lc4 16 b3 e2:lxe3
17 WVxe3 i:6 18 'Lld4 .ltd7 19 'iifh3 0-0 20 ilael
axb3 21 a~b3 <JJg7 22 ~g3 f5 23 exf6t L!:xf6 24
l;1;e5 !i.af8 25 ~e3 't1Vd6 26 g3 't1Va6 27 llel .l:'te8
.!8 h4 h5 29 .::tg5 Ltc8 30 't1Ve5 'i'b6 31 g4 hxg4
32 h5 .ie8 33 lle3 .llc7 34 ~xe6t ·~xe6 35
~xc7t 1-0
5 Capablanca - Montiel COS
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 lbd2 lbf6 4 e5 lbfd7 5 f4 c5 6 c3
lbc6 7 lbgf3 .fJ.e7 8 .fJ.d3 f5 9 exf6 lbxf6 10 'i1Ve2
cxd4 11 cxd4 0-0 12 0-0 h6 13 lbb3 'i'b6 14 i.e3
lbg4 15 e2:le5 lbxe3 16 '&xe3 'Llxe5 17 fxe5 .fJ.d7
18 ~g3 .fJ.b5 19 ilxf8t .llxf8 20 i.c2 .fJ.e8 21 '&h3
a5 22 a4 'Wa6 23 .fJ.d3 'i'b6 24 i.c2 't1Va6 25 i.d3
~b6 11z_11z
SIMULTANEOUS GAMES-1933
Mexiko - 1933
6 Ca11ablanca - F1iedmann DS3
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 d5 4 i.g5 i.e7 5 e3 lbbd7
6 ~3 c6 7 !'!cl dxc4 8 .fJ.xc4 b5 9 .fJ.d3 .fJ.b7 10
a4 b4 11 .fJ.xf6 lbxf6 12 lbe4 lod7 13 0-0 f5 14
lbg3 h5 15 ~3 ilh6 16 .fJ.xf5 exf5 17 lbxf5 .llg6
18 't\Vg8t i.f8 19 lb3h4 .llf6 20 lbxg7t rtie7 21
~hf5t Ll.xf5 22 't1Ve6t 1-0
7 Ca11ablanca - Glicco D67
1 dLI lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 d5 4 .fJ.g5 lbbd7 5 e3 c6 6
!!cl i.e7 7 lbf3 0-0 8 .fJ.d3 dxc4 9 i.xc4 lbd5 10
fj_xe7 'Wxe7 11 0-0 .lld8 12 lbe4 lb5f6 13 lbg3 h6
14 e4 e5 15 lbf5 '&f8 16 !!el g6 17 i.xf7t rtih7
18 .i..xg6i· ~g6 19 dxe5 lbg8 20 rl.c3 lbdf6 21
~e2 lbe8 22 lb3h4 t @h7 23 'iVl15 .fJ.xf5 24 exf5
~d7 25 f6 lbexf6 26 'i1Vf5t <i;;g7 27 exf6t lbxf6 28
fl.g3t @f'7 29 't1Ve6t 1-0
1934
Hastings 1934/35
1-3 Euwe. Flohr, Thomas 6 1/z ./ Capablanca
5 1/2 5-6 Botvinnik, Lilienthal 5 7 Michell 3 1/z 8
Miss Menchik 3 1/z 9 Milner-Barry, Norman 1112
Capablanca started playing rather clumsily after a
pause of three years, and the unexpected defeat
from Thomas deprived him of one of the first
places. This was Botvi.tmik's first i.t1temational
toumament.
88
8 Capablanca - Soto-Larrea B20
1 e4 c5 2 lbe2 lbc6 3 c4 lbf6 4 lbbc3 e6 5 d4 cxd4
6 lbxd4 i.b4 7 f3 a6 8 .i..e3 '&c7 9 !'!cl b6 10 a3
i.d6 11 lbdb5 axb5 12 lbxb5 .fJ.g3t 13 hxg3
't1Vxg3t 14 i.f2 '&e5 15 'i1Vd6 't1Vxb2 16 !!dl .fJ.b7
17 i.xb6 ilc8 18 i.c5 't1Ve5 19 ~xe5 lbxe5 20
lbd6i" <Ji;d8 21 lb.'<.c8 ~c8 22 .fJ.d4 lt:ig6 23 .ixf6
gxf6 24 ilh6 1-0
L. Asztalos-J. Ban:
"Capablanca's style to take the wind out of his
opponent's sails is characterised by the greatest
ease throughout the game, the instinctive sense for
a favourable simplification and a technical
perfection that had never been seen before. Some
of his contemporaries, being enthusiastic about his
splendid play and success, saw Steinitz and
Morphy together in Capablanca, others considered
him as a man of the most exact clock-like
regularity. Capablanca's detennined manner
exercised a great influence on chess players and -
in contrast to Lasker's - it invited followers. Later
thorough analyses revealed the true nature of the
so-called perfect technique and clock-like
regularity, but apart from this. Capablanca · s merits
are great in the development of chess theory and in
fonning a chess style.
It is unfortunate that this artist of a unique talent
did not love his art enough; because he liked
comfort, had some other engagements or other
interests, he did not exercise all his strength at
chess toumaments after a time, and although he
did give a lot to the chess world, he did not give
all that could have been rightly expected of him.
His achievements can be attributed to his i.tmate
abilities rather than his thorough study and hard
work. .. "
1 Euwe - Ca11ablanca D63
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 d5 4 .fJ.g5 .fJ.e7 5 e3 0-0 6
~f3 lbbd7 7 .llcl c6 8 a3 (8 .fJ.d3) 8 ... a6 (8 ...
lbe4!? 8 .fJ.f4!) 9 'i1Vc2 b5 10 c5! lbh5! (10 ... lbe8
11 .i..f4!) 11 i.f4! f5 12 lbe5 lb.'<.e5 (12 ... lb.'<.f4?
13 lbxc6 lbxg2i· 14 .fJ.xg2 '&e8 15 lbxe7i· W'ixe7
16 lb.'<.d5!) 13 i.xe5 lbf6 14 .fJ.e2 lbd7 15 i.g3
.fJ.h4! 16 b4 a5! 17 .fJ.f4 .fJ.g5 18 0-0 .fJ.xf4 19 exf4
lbf6 20 't'Vd2 't'Vc7 21 f3 .fJ.d7 22 i.d3 axb4 23
axb4

n .. :!a3 ! 24 g3 go 25 .&ta l. .l::i.fa8 26 l!xa3 ~xa3
,2: 'fYb2 Vj/ja: 28 l.c2 c;;J-r'7 29 ~b3 .l;ta6 30 4Je2:
h rhxeatens 'Lle2-cl-d3-e5) 30 ... Sie8 31 'Lid
'.i2g~ ·:;2 i2,d3 _ap 33 'i'fe2 (33 12:el .&ta3 34 Wg2
.;LJd'7 35 g4 ::f/ 33 ... .'.ia3 34 !!bl .llal! 35 ~el
l:!xbl 36 'k\Vxbl Vj!ja3 37 Vj!ja2 Vj!jxa2 38 ~xa2 112- 112
2 Ca1>ablanca - Thomas D5 l
1 d4 4Jf6 2 c4 e6 3 4Jc3 d5 4 Yl.g5 4Jbd7 5 e3 c6 6
a3 5:J..e7 7 Wfic2 0-0 (7 ... dxc4 8 ..txc4 e5!) 8 4Jf3
l!e8 (8 ... a6) 9 I!dl 4Jf8?! (9 ... a6) 10 .id3 dxc4
11 .ixc4 li:ld5 12 fi.xe7 Vj!jxe7 13 0-0 b6 14 'Lle2!
.ib7 15 e4 lbf6 16 'Llg3 l'!e<l8 17 E!fel nac8 [17
... c5'.' 18 <l5 (It threatens 19 <l6!) 18 ... exd5 19
ex<l5 Vfic7 20 4Jf5 ±] 18 Vfib3?! (18 b4 a5 19 ~3
,ixb4 20 axb4 c5 ±) 18 ... Wfic7 19 Vj!ja2 (19 h3) 19
... c5! 20 d5 (20 dxc5) 20 ... b5! 21 fi.xb5 ex<l5 22
e5 (22 exd5 fi.xd5 23 .ltc4 fi.xf3 24 gxf3 oo) 22 ...
:lc4
:3 'Llxe4'1 (23 1i<l3 oo) 23 ... dxe4 24 ctJd2? (24
'Llg5 (24 l'!xd8 Vj!jxd8!) 24 ... c4 oo] 24 ... I!xd2! 25
Z!xd2 'k\Va5 26 b4 ~·xb5 27 bxc5 ~xc5 28 'l.!Vb2
i.a8 29 l'!dd l Wfie7 30 Wfid4 h6 31 Wfid6 ~xd6 32
l!xd6 (32 exd6 f5 33 I!c 1 l'!d8 34 .lJ.ed 1 'Lle6 35 d7
Wf7 36 l'!c8 @e7) 32 ... li:\g6 33 e6 fxe6 34 I:!xe6
Wf7 35 l'!a6 l'!c7 36 l'!b l 'Lle7 37 h4 'L\c8 38 l'!b5
.ib7 39 l'!f5i· @g8 40 .l:!.e6 'L\e7 41 l;tr4 fi.d5 42
l;!d6 l;!c8 43 !l.a6 Zic 1i· 44 Wh2 ltJc6 45 h5 !!c2 46
l'!t5 ..te6! 47 Llf4 .l::!.c4 48 g4 ..tc8 49 l'!xc6 l1xc6
50 l'!xe4 @f7 51 Lla4 l'!a6 52 l;!f4 i' We7 53 l'!e4 i'
@f6 0-1
3 Miss Menchik- Capablanca E16
1 d4 4Jf6 2 c4 e6 3 'Llf3 b6 4 g3 ..tb7 5 .llg2
..tb4 i' 6 ..td2 ..txd2i' 7 Wfixd2 d6 8 'L\c3 'L\e4 9
'L\xe4 (9 ~f4!) 9 ... ..txe4 10 0-0 'Lld7 11 ~e3
'Llf6 12 ctJd2 fi.xg2 13 Wxg2 0-0 14 ~d3 e5 15
l2:le4 'Lld7 16 'Llc3 f5 17 dxe5! 'L\xe5 18 Wfi<l5'!'
@h8 19 e3 Vj!je8 20 'Lle2 c6! 21 Wfid4 (21 'k1Vxd6
l2:lf3!) 21 ... Wfih5 22 'Llgl? (22 f3!?) 22 ... l'!f6
23 l'!ac 1 l'!e8 24 Wild 1 'k1Vf7 25 Wilb3? g5! 26
Wfic3
26 ... f4! 27 exf4 gxf4 28 l'!fel f~t:~ 29 fxg3 J;!f2t
30 @h l 'k\Vh5 31 h3 l;!ef8 32 g4 ~f7 33 lle4 !!fl
34 llxfl ~xfl 35 b3 l;tf3 36 lle3 llf2 37 l'!g3
!lxa2 38 '@'d4 ~f2 39 'NVxf2 llxf2 40 l1g2 l'!fl 41
l:!g3 llf2 42 !!g2 .&l.xg2 43 Wxg2 a5 44 'Lle2 a4 45
bxa4 'L\xc4 46 @f3 d5 4 7 'Lld4 c5 48 'L\e6 @g8 49
ibf4 d4 50 'L\d3 @f7 51 h4 We6 52 @f4 'Lle3 53
h5 'Lld5i' 54 @e4 'Llc3i' 55 @f3 0-1 (Capablanca
often played with Miss Menchik, but the former
women's number one chess player did not
manage to score even half a point against him.)
4 CaJ>ablanca - Milner-Barry E33
l d4 'Llf6 2 c4 e6 3 'Llc3 ..t b4 4 '@' c2 'Llc6 5 Ci:Jf3
d6 6 Yl.d2 e5 7 a3 (7 dxe5 dxe5 8 0-0-0! ?) 7 ...
l.xc3 8 Sixc3 Wfie7 9 e3 0-0 (9 ... a5!) 10 dxe5
iuxe5 (10 ... dxe5 11 b4!) 11 Yl.e2 .ltg4 12 .l:!dl
(Now and in the previous moves it was wort:·
considering a7-a5, to make it difficult for Whi:r
to gain space.) 12 ... l!ad8 13 b4 ! 1!fe8 14 h3
..th5 15 0-0 .ltg6? (15 ... 'L\xf3i·!) 16 ''@"b2 'L\ed7
(It threatened 17 'L\xe5 dxe5 18 litxd8 .l:ixd8 19
..txe5) 17 'L\e 1 (If we do not know what to do, a
@night manoeuvre is always at hand, as the old
saying goes.) 17 ... '@'f8 18 ctJd3 fi.xd3?! (Why
this overacted courtesy?) 19 .ltxd3 'L\e5 20 Yl.e2
'L\e4
89
21 c5! tz'lxc3 22 ·&xc3 d5 (Otherwise the Queen
side opens.) 23 l!d4 c6 24 .l;!.fd 1 '¥iie7 25 Wifc2 a6
26 .!ifl ~g5? (26 ... ~d7!-f6) 27 Whl ¥1Hg6? 28
·&xg6 lbxg6 29 e4 lbf4! 30 exd5 lbxd5 [30 ...
!:!xd5 31 .tc4 ! (31 g3 .lled8 ! 32 L!xd5 r!xd5 ! 33
Ile 1 ~e6 34 .tc4 Li.d4 35 .2.xe6 fxe6 36 r!xe6 a5!
37 .llds·1·wn 38 libs r!d7 followed by We6-d5 aol
31 ... l.!xd4 32 rixd4 lbe6 33 .2.xe6 fxe6 34 .i:!d7 ±]
31 .tc4 lle5 32 f4 llh5 33 Wh2 Wf8 34 g4 l:!.h6 35
.l!(.xd5 cxd5 36 Llxd5 lle8 37 .il ld3 .llhe6 38 f5
!:!e2t 39 Wg3 lne3i· 40 Wf2 .l;!.e2t 41 Wf3 .l!h2 42
Wg3 .l3.he2 43 .lld7 .ll8e7 44 !!dSt !l.e8 45 Wh4!
1!a2 46 .ll8d6 f6 47 c6! bxc6 48 .lJ.xc6 g5i· 49 fxg6
hxg6 50 llxf6t Wg7 51 l:!.xa6 .llg2 1-0
5 Lilienthal - Capablanca E24
1 d4 tiJf6 2 c4 e6 3 'Llc3 ilb4 4 a3 .2.xc3t 5
bxc3 b6 6 f3 d5?! (6 ... lbc6 7 e4 ila6 8 .2.g5
.'.tJa5! 9 e5 h6 oo) 7 ilg5 (7 cxd5!?) 7 ... h6 8
..\ih4 .\la6 9 e4!? .txc4 (9 ... dxe4 10 fxe4 g5 11
~g3 lbxe4 12 .\le5 oo) 10 .lixc4 dxc4 11 'i'a4 t
'i'd'7 12 'tb'xc4 'i'c6 ( 11 ... ~c6 13 lbe2 lba5 14
'-ti'd3 'i'c6 15 0-0 0-0-0 16 e5 g5 17 exf6 gxh4
18 ·&e4 '@'c4! or 16 .lJ.abl g5 17 .\lg3 'Llh5 18 f4
f6 ooJ 13 °i'd3 ("I avoided the exchange of the
Queen because I hoped to be able to show my
mobile Pawn centre off to advantage.") 13 ...
tilbd7 14 4i:le2 ads (14 ... 0-0-0 15 c4 'Lle5 16
··i&c3 'L\xc4 17 llcl b5 18 a4 a6 19 0-0 Wb7 20
axb5 axb5 21 Wifb4 followed by 22 lbc3 oo ±) 15
0-0 a5 (15 ... 'Lle5 16 Wif c2 'L\c4 17 d5 ! exd5 18
~d4!) 16 %¥c2 (16f4?lilc517 Wifc4 'i'xe4! "° etc.
16 .lJ.ac 1! ?) 16 ... Wif c4 ("Now and then the Queen is
also a good blockading piece!") 17 f4 (Prevents
g7-g5 17 e5 g5 18 exf6 gxh4 oo) 17 ... .llc8 18 f5!
e5 ("When I moved f4-f5 on the board. I already
saw that I could sacrifice the Queen. This is why
I awaited the answer excitedly.") 19 dxe5!? [19
;;:!.adl (EuweJ. "But how could a 23 year old chess
player resist the combination opportunities?"] 19 ...
·rvxe4 9 !
90
("To tell the trnth I'm very thankful to Capablanca
for this move." 19 ... Wifc5i· (19 ... 'L\xe5! 9 20 'llf4
Zilfd7 21 .l:iad 1 0-0 22 {Z\d5 ±) 20 J'tf2 ! iixe5 2 l .lid4
\Wxe4 [21 ... Wifd6 22 .l;!.adl or 21 ... WJ/e7 22 e5!
.:ilxe5 23 lbg3 0-0 (23 ... 'L\fd7 24 f6!) 24 .llael
l2Jfd7 25 f6 gxf6 26 lbh5 ! +-] 22 'i'xe4 t Lt::lxe4 23
Ju.xg7 .l!g8 24 f6) 20 exf6! ! ("TI1e basic idea of the
victim is that the black King gets stuck in the
centre.") 20 ... Wif xc2 21 fxg7 l:ig8 22 'Lld4 Wif e4
(22 ... Wifd2 23 llaelt lbe5 24 Llxe5t Wd7 25
lld5t We8 26 l;!elt or 22 ... WJ/xcJ 23 .llaelt Lt::le5
24 .llxe5 Wd7 25 !l.e7t +-) 23 .llael lbc5 241l.xe4·1·
'Dxe4 25 ~e 1 .l:ixg7 26 .l:ixe4 t 1-0
6 Capablanca - Michell D52
1 lbf3 d5 2 c4 c6 3 d4 lbf6 4 lbc3 e6 5 ..<ag5 'Llbd;
6 e3 Wifa5 : lLld2 (By the 1930s the best for
White against the fearful Cambridge-Springs
defence had become clear.) 7 ... dxc4 8 i.xf6
lbxf6 9 'L\xc4 'i'c7 10 g3 ile7 (Passive. 10 ... .id:
11 Ju.g2 c5 !?) 11 .2.g2 0-0 12 0-0 Ild8 13 .l!c l ..<ad7
14 a3! .lle8 15 b4 .l;!.ac8 16 Wife2 4i:ld5 i7 l'La5!
'@b8 (Black is too cautious to do anythini;: ....
18 .'.t'le4 b6 19 CzJb3 !l.c7 20 r!fdl ~cs 21 ·~·c4
'@'d7 22 ilfl Wh8 23 lbed2 (If Black haci done
nothing but wait cautiously so far, he should have
carried on with this policy. Now the impatiem
Black makes two weakening pawn moves within a
few moves.)
(See diagram on next page)
23 ... f5? 24 e4! fxe4 25 lbxe4 .2.g6 26 llel Ju.f5
27 ilg2 a5? (However pressing White's
advantage in space is, this kind of advantage
is the most problematic to enforce. Black
helps now.) 28 bxa5 ..txa3 29 .llal ilb4 30 axb6!
J:l.cc8 31 lbbc5 'i!ll'f7 32 .l:!eb 1 ilxc5 33 dxc5 .2.xe4
34 .txe4 .llb8 35 .lla3 1-0
7 Norman - Capablanca E80
1 d4 Lt::lf6 2 c4 g6 3 lbc3 .tg7 4 e4 d6 5 f3
Q:\bd7 6 .\le3 e5 7 d5 a5 8 J.d3 4Jc5 9 ..\ic2

'1)h5 10 'd'd2 f5 11 .5il.xc5? (The square f4 and
the whole King's side will be weakened by
the exchange.) 11 ... dxc5 12 'i!Vf2?! (12 0-0-0)
12 ... b6 13 ct:\ge2 0-0 14 b3 ct:\f6! 15 'i!Ve3 ct:\e8 16
0-0 ct:\d6 17 a4 (Sooner or later a5-a4 will
threaten. This way there are no more hopes
for a counter-play.) 17 ... .id7 18 l!adl 'i!Vh4 19
~f2 'd'g5 20 ~el Llae8 21 @hl @h8 22 ct:\g3 .ih6
23 ~b5 i.xb5 24 a'<b5
24 ... ~h4! (It threatens 25 ... .if4 with the
;ncrease of the pressure.) 25 .;t)ez 'i!Vxel! 26
J!dxel a4! '2"! ~g3 Jtf4 28 ct:\e2?! (28 bxa4 .ixg3
29 hxg3 .:b.xc4 +) 28 ... axb3 29 .:bxf4 exf4 30
i.xb3 fxe4 31 fxe4 ct:\xe4 32 .ia2 ltid2 33 Zhe8
.'.ixe8 34 .l:.l.d 1 lle2 35 .ib 1 f3 ! 0-1
8 Ca11ablanca - Floh.- D71
l d4 cbf6 2 c4 g6 3 lbc3 d5 4 cxd5 ltixd5 5 g3
ig7 6 .ig2 ei:\b6 (6 ... lbxc3) 7 e3 (7 ct:\f3!?) 7 ...
0-0 8 lbge2 e5 (8 ... a5!?) 9 0-0?! (9 d5) 9 ... exd4
lO cbxd4 ~e7! 11 .id2! (11 b3 c5 12 lbde2 .l!d8
=+) 11 ... c5 ( 11 ... lbc4 12 b3 c5 13 ltide2 lbxd2
14 ~xd2 ao) 12 lbde2 lld8 13 'i!Vcl (13 'i!Vc2 lbc6
14 a3 i.f5 15 e4 .ite6 =+) 13 ... lbc6 (13 ... l2:ic4??
14 ct:\d5) 14 ct:\f4 ct:\b4 15 a3 ltid3 16 lb.'<d3 .l!xd3
17 ~c2 Iid8 18 ltie2 .ie6 19 .ic3 .id5 20 .ixg7
'llxg7 21 l2:if4 ..\i.xg2 22 ~g2 ltid5 23 lb.'<d5 !hd5
24 .l:!adl .l:!.ad8 25 h4 h5 26 .l:!xd5 .l!xd5 27 ·~c3·,
[27 .!:!dl !hdl 28 '@'xdl 'd'e4t 29 'i!Vf3 l\Vxf3i· 30
~ Wf6 31 @e4 @e6 = =+) 27 ... @g8 28 'd'c4
Lld2 29 b4 cxb4 30 a'<b4 ~xe3 31 ~c8t Wg7 32
~xb7 ~d4 112- 112
9 Capablanca - Botvinnik A91
1 d4 e6 2 c4 f5 3 g3 ct:\f6 4 .ig2 .ie7 5 lbc3 (5
ei:\f3; 5 CD'13) 5 ... d5 6 lbh3 c6 7 ~3 (7 b3) 7 ...
0-0 8 0-0 lba6 9 ct:\f4 @h8 10 lbd3 lbc7 11 .if4
lbce8 12 c5!? lbd7 13 e3 .if6 14 Cz::le2 'd'e7 15
~c3 g5! 16 .ie5 ltixe5 17 d'<e5 .ig7 18 f4 ei:\c"'!
19 a4! .id7 20 ltid4
20 ... !ig8! 21 ~!? .ie8 22 ~4 lba6 23 'd'a5
.id7 24 Iifc 1 (24 b4? Iigc8 25 Iifc 1 .if8) 24 ...
.l!gc8 25 ..tfl .if8 26 ~c3 'f!ig7 27 b4 .ie7 28
ltif3 ltic7 29 ltixg5?! .ixg5 30 fxg5 'f!ixg5 31 -~d4
.l:.l.g8 32 .ie2 !iaf8 33 ct:\f4 'i!Vh6 34 h4 .ie8 35 l:!gl
a6 36 .if3 !ig7 37 !ig2 Ll.fg8 38 .l!ag 1 Iif8 39 !!hl
c;,t;,g8 40 h5 llg5 112- 11z
EXHIBITION GAMES - 1934
San Juan - 1934
10 Capablanca - R. Cint.-on B44
1 e4 c5 2 ltie2 ei:\c6 3 d4 cxd4 4 ltixd4 e6 5 l2:ib5
d6 6 c4 a6 7 lb5c3 ei:\f6 8 .ie2 .ie? 9 0-0 'f!ic7 10
.ie3 0-0 11 lbd2 b6 12 Ziel !!d8? 13 4Jd5! i!Vb,
(13 ... exd5 14 cxd5 .id7 15 ~3 b5 16 .if3 -~b'7
17 d'<c6 .ixc6 18 !!xc6! 'flixc6 19 e5!) 14 ei:\xb6
i!b8 15 b3 lbd7 16 lbxd7 .iixd7 17 lbbi i!.e8 18
'f!id2 .if6 19 Iifd 1 lbe7 20 f3 .ic6 21 'f!ia5 e£lc8'~
22 e5! .ih4 23 exd6 lbxd6 24 f2..f4 'f!ia7i· 25 c5
lbb7 26 .ixb8 1-0
11 Ca11ablanca - Gotay Cl4
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 lbc3 ct:\f6 4 .ig5 .ie7 5 e5 .;t)fd7
6 .ixe7 'i!Vxe7 7 'flid2 0-0 8 ltid 1 c5 9 c3 lbc6 10 f4
f5 11 ltif3 c4 12 lbe3 b5 13 !!g 1 <M"/ 14 g4 g6 15
gxf5 gxf5 16 !ig3 c;,t;,e8 17 ~g2 ltib6 18 f2..e2 .ib7
19 Iig7 llf7 20 l!xf7 Vifxf7 21 lbg5 'f!ie7 22 ~3
Wd7 23 0-0-0 b4 24 cxb4 ei:\xb4 25 @bl lba4 26
.:bxh7 Iih8 27 ~g2 'i!Vxh7 28 lb.'<c4 .ia6 29 lba5
.l:!g8 30 'flif2 ~3 31 .ixa6 .llg2 32 .ib5t c;,t;,e7 33
91
~xg2 ~xg2 34 i.xa4 ~e4i· 35 'it>al lbc2t 36 i.d7 10 i.d2 lbc6 11 i.c3 lbf6 12 f3 0-0 13 lbe2
i.xc2 ~xc2 37 !!.fl ~xh2 38 lbb3 ~g2 39 !'!cl Iifd8 14 lbf4 lbe7 15 lbd3 lbg6 16 g3 Iiac8 17
~f3 40 !!.c7t @d8 41 !!.c3 ~fli· 42 !!cl ~xf4 43 i.e2 i.c6 18 lbb4 lbe7 19 ~ i.xe4 20 fxe4
a4 ~e3 44 I!c3 ~e4 45 lbc5 ~ l t 46 @a2 @e7 lbxe4i· 21 @g2 lbxc3 22 bxc3 .l:l.xc3 23 Iiacl
47 l'ib3 ~dl 48 !!.b7t @e8 49 lh'<e6 'ii'xa4t 50 !!.xcl 24 I!xcl .l:l.xd4 25 lbd3 lbc6 26 ~ ~ 27
@bl ~c6 51 lbg7t ~8 52 l:!.xa7 f4 53 e6 f3 54 @e3 i1a4 28 lk2 I!a3 29 ~2 @e7 30 j_f3 !hd3t
e7t @g8 55 e8't/Vt ~xe8 56 lbxe8 f2 57 lbf6t ~8 31 ~d3 lbb4 t 32 @c3 lbxc2 33 Wxc2 b6 34
58 .:b'17i· 1-0 @d3 ~6 35 @c4 a5 36 @b5 @c7 37 a4 f5 38
SIMULTA.."J\TEOUS GAME -1934 i.e2 e5 39 i.c4 e4 40 h4 g6 41 i.e2 h6 42 @c4
Rio Pied1·as - 1934 @c6 43 @d4 @d6 44 .ii.c4 @c6 45 i.f7 g5 46
12 Capablanca - Cancio C07 hxg5 hxg5 47 i.g6 e3 48 ~e3 f4t 49 gxf4 gxf4·j·
l e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 t2::id2 c5 4 dxc5 i.xc5 5 lbb3 d4 50 ~f4 @d7 51 i.d3 @d6 52 @e4 @c5 53 @e5
6 .:hxc5 ~a5"1" 7 c3 Wxc5 8 ~xd4 ~xd4 9 cxd4 @b4 54 i.b5 @c5 55 i.e8 b5 56 i.xb5 1-0
1935
Moscow - 1935
1-2 Botvimtik, Flohr 13 3 Lasker 12 1'2 -I
Capablanca 12 5 Spielmann 11 6--: Kan,
Levenfish 10 1/z H-10 Lilienthal, Ragozin,
Romanovsky IO ii -i-1 Alatortsev, Godlidze.
Rabinovich, R yum.in 9 1h i' 5 Lisitzin 9 16-1 'i
Bogatirchuk. Stahlberg 8 18 Pirc 7 1/z 19
Chekhover 5 112 20 Miss Mencltik 11/z

The tournament in Moscow was titanic again..

regarding the strenb>th of the winners and the
average participant, as well as the number of the
patticipants. Capablanca had not overcome the
consequences of the three-year pause yet. i.xb5 29 Iifdl h6 1-0 (Time. 30 lbe4 lbxe4 31
Botvimtik became one of the candidates with his Iixd8 lbc5 32 j_fl! j_c6 33 'ii'xb6)
1st-2nd place, and Flohr strengthened his position 2 Ca11ablanca - Botvinnik D90
among the best players. 111e achievement of the 1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 g6 3 l2Jc3 d5 4 lbf3 (4 cxd5) 4 ...
67-year-old Lasker can only be admired. i.g7 5 cxd5 (5 ~3) 5 ... lbxd5 6 ~3 lb.xc3 7
bxc3 c5 8 e3 0-0 9 i.e2 lbd7 10 0-0 "¥tc7 11 a4 b6
1 Ryumin - Ca11ablanca E37 12 a5 bxa5 13 °¥ia3 i.b7 14 ~xa5 Iifc8 15 11fr'xc7
1 d4 ihf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 i.b4 4 ~c2 d5 5 a3 rl.xc7 16 r!.a5 e5 17 !l.d 1 cxd4 18 cxd4 Iiac8
i.xdt 6 ~xc3 l2Je4 7 ~c2 c5 (7 ... lbc6) 8 d'<c5
t°iJc6 9 e3 (9 cxd5 exd5 10 lbf3 i.f5) 9 ... ~a5t 10
.icl2 ~xc5?! 10 ... lb.'<d2 11 'ii'xd2 dxc4 ao) 11 b4
~e7 12 i.cl! a5 13 b5 lbe5 14 i.b2 lbg4 15 lbh3
~4!? 16 g3 'ii'h6 17 ~e2! l2Jgf6 [17 ... e5 18 f3!
l2Jxe3 19 fxe4 lb.xfl (19 ... i.xh3 20 i.xh3 ~xh3
21 'fVxe3 'fVg2 22 0-0-0! or 19 ... j_g4 20 ~f2
cbxfl 21 Iixfl!) 20 lbfZ!! lbe3 21 exd5 +-] 18
~f4! (18 i.g2? e5!) 18 ... 0-0 19 i._g2 dxc4 20
\Vil'xc4 lbd6 21 ~d3 !id8 (21 ... 'tJf5 22 h4
Followed by 0-0 and e4 ±) 22 !id 1 lbfe8 (22 ... a4?
23 e4!) 23 0-0? (23 a4!) 23 ... a4! 24 lbe2 .i..d7 25
t°iJc3 r!.a5? (25 ... r!.ac8; 25 ... ~g5 ao)

(See diagram next column)

19 !!.xa7! (19 i.a3 i.xf3 20 i.xf3 exd4 21 exd4
26 ~d4! (It threatens 27 ~6 or 27 ~4) 26 ... ~g5 i.f8! 22 i.b2 lbb6 =) 19 ... i.xf3 ( 19 ... Iixcl 20
27~4 b6? (27 ... r!.aa8!?28 f4!) 28iid2! rl.xb7 Iixdl·I· 21 i.xdl !kl 22 @fl! !ixdl"!· 23

92
.t>e2 ±) 20 .l:!xc7 .llxc7 21 gxf3 (21 .ixf3 exd4 22
exd4 .ixd4 23 .if4 .ie5 24 rixd7 .ixf4! =) 21 ...
exd4 22 exd4 .ixd4 23 .if4 .ie5 24 i:ixd7 .ixf4
11z_11z (24 ... .l!xd7 25 .ixe5 'fie7 26 f4 f6 27 .llc4"1'
rtJg7 28 .id6 .l!d7 29 .ib8 'fib7 30 .id6 =)

3 Alatortsev - Capablanca D53

"Many of C.' s wins remind one of the
"painless" extraction of a tooth. The game
meanders along placidly, the opponent
suspects nothing. and .... suddenly he realizes
~hat this resignation is in order." (R)
i d4 li::if6 2 c4 e6 3 lZ:lc3 d5 4 .llg5 iJ..e7 5 e3 0-0 6
nd5 ~xd5 : .:lxe7 '"1Hxe7 8 lZ:\f3 (8 ~3) 8 ...
tZ'.xd!'.' 1. "An excellent move, showing a true ..t>h5 ihh3'1' 27 Wxg5 !ig2i" 28 Wf4 '1:\Yf5#] 23 ...
understanding of the nature of the position. I:!.e2! 0-1 (Reinfeld and Golombek.)
Black plans to obtain the advantage on the Q 4 Ca1>ablanca - Godlidze D60
side by eventual c7-c5 followed by cxd4; this
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 ltic3 lZ:lf6 4 .ig5 .lle7 5 e3 itibd7
will serve the double purpose of giving him
6 lZ:\f3 0-0 7 a3 dxc4 8 .ixc4 c5 9 0-0 a6 10 dxc5?!
play along the c-file ant the latent advantage
( 10 '*'fe2) 10 ... ltixc5 11 b4 lZ:lce4 12 ltixe4 lt'i.'<e4
of two Pawns to one on the Q side." G.) 9
13 .ixe7 ~xe7 14 '*'fd4 itid6! (14 ... itif6 15 .llfdl
bxc3 b6 (9 ... c5 !?) 10 .lle2 ("This, in
b5 16 .ie2 .llb7 17 ~d6) 15 .ie2 b5 16 .llfd 1 .lld8
combination with his 12th and 14th moves,
17 'fiacl .llb7 (It threatens 18 ... ltic4) 18 ·~b6
achieves the wished for exchanges of two
.lld5 19 'fic7
pieces. but at the cost of both time and
position." G. 10 ..td3!? ~b? 11 0-0 c5 12 '"1He2 oo)
10 ... ..ib7 11 0-0 c5 12 it:le5 ~c6 13 ~xc6?! (13
0c13 cxcl.4 14 cxd4 lZ:ia5! =+; 13 f4 i:iac8 oo) 13 ...
i.xc6 i4 Slf3 1'1ac8 15 a4 ("Hoping to
:;ontinue in due course with a5, but this
possibilitv never materializes.") 15 ... cxd4 16
~xd4 g6 ,('' A quiet positional move which
proves extremely useful later on, when it
gives the Black @ing a flight square and so
permits Blacks major pieces to leave the
back rank.") 17 ..txc6 .l!xc6 18 '*'fd3 ~7 19
l'!fb 1? ("White cannot successfully dis_pute
control of the c-file: 19 'fifcl rl.fc8 and W/c7 ;
19 'fiabl! 'fifc8 20 a5!) 19 ... rifc8 20 h3 a6! 21
·:f::a3?! ("This. and his next move, precipitate 19 ... ~f6 (19 ... 'fid7? 20 rlxd7 ~xd7 21 ~e5
the J1saster for White by removing the followed by f2-f3 ±) 20 ~d4 ~xd4 2 l lt'i.'<d4 !!dc8
Oueen from the scene of action just when 22 Lide 1 'fixc7 23 'fixc7 .l!c8 24 'fixc8-l· lt'i.'<c8 25
3Lac/.', t" preparrng the final onslaught. Jtd3 lt'ld6 26 f3 e5 27 'Llf5 '1.Jxf5 28 ~xf5 Jtb7 :9
)/hitt: ,s. :ho'.'vevei, _pos1tionaHy iost, and ~ h6 30 ~e2 @£8 31 ~3 ~e7 32 .si!.e4 Jt:<e4'!-
:1uit nun,es c,,iH only pm off the inevitable 33 Wxe4 we6 11z_ ·Ii
end." G.J 21 ... .l:!c2 22 ~d6? ("Loses at once.
White is. hovewer. without any really good
5 Lisitzin - Capablanca A 11
continuation ... " 22 .l!b2! 'ficli· 23 .l!xcl .l!xcli· 1 lZ:\f3 d5 2 c4 c6 3 e3 lZ:lf6 4 ~3 .llg4?! 5 cxd5
24 @h2 't1:Vc7'!") lt'i.'<d5 (5 ... cxd5 6 '*'fh3 .llc8 7 .llb5i" ~6 8 'lle5
'*'Vc7 9 d4 e6 10 .id2 .id7) 6 ..te2 e6 7 d4 itld7 8 0-0
(See diagram next colunm) W!ic7 (8 ... .lle7) 9 ~d2 .lld6? 10 ti:\e4! cZ:i7f6 11
lt'i.'<d6·1· '*'fxd6 12 ctJe5 iJ..xe2 (12 ... ~f5) 13 't1:Vxe2 0-0
22 ... .l!xf2 ! ! (" A terrible surprise for White. The 14 !iacl ltib6 15 'l\d3 'fife8 16 .!!fd 1 lZ:lbd7 17 h3
game is as good as over." R.) 23 '*'Vg3 [23 Wxf2 ~d5 (17 ... e5!? 18 che5 lt'i.'<e5 19 ebxe5 l!xe5 20
.i!c2"j' 24 '.;l.>g3 (24 Wel ~xg2) 24 ... ~xg2'1' 25 .llc3 'fid5 21 ~xf6 .l!xdli·22 i:!xdl ~xf6 23 'f9d2 h6
'.f'h4 (25 M4 1'1f2t 26 we5 .l!f5#) 25 ... g5'1' 26 += oo) 18 b3 '*'fb5 19 Jtc3 'Lld5 20 ~d2! lt'i.'<c3 21

93
·~xc3 I:!ad8 22 a4 ~ 23 b4 cbf6 24 '@'c4 l£Je4?
[24 ... a6 25 W'c5 li:\d7 26 ~xb6 lbxb6 27 li:\c5 I:!b8
28 b5 axb5 29 axb5 I:rec8 30 £tbl l'Zld5 31 bxc6 bxc6
:t] 25 a5 'l-lVc726 a6! I:!c8 27 axb7 ~xb728 I:!a 1! I:!c7
29 £1.dcl .:1:l.b8 30 'ii:Vc2! (It threatens 31 f3 32 l'Zlc5 33
c°2Ja6! etc. 30 '&a6?! 'ii:Va8) 30 ... '&cs 31 lia5? [31
fZle5! lZlf6 (31 ... fZld6? 32 CZlxc6 @h8 33 Exa7 .:1:l.xa7
34 ZZlxa7 'ii:Vxc2 35 .:1:l.xc2 I:rxb4 36 .lk6 :t ±) 32 lZlxc6
@h8 33 !l.xa7 .:1:l.xa7 34 lZlxa7 ·11\hc2 35 .:1:l.xc2 .:1:l.xb4
36 .:1:l.c8i" tZlg8 37 lZlc6 £tb7 ±] 31 ... I:!b6 32 'l-lVa4 (32
fZle5 t'Zlf6 33 .:1:l.c5 ZZld7 34 l'Zlxd7 'ii:Vxd7 35 b5 g6 ±
+-) 32 ... W'b8 33 f3 (33 I:!e5 li:\d6 34 I:!ec5 'tfu7) 33
... [Zlf6? (33 ... iZld6 34 .l:iac5 c'2Jd5 (34 ... ~7 35 b5
!l.xb5 36 V&'xb5!) 35 £txc6 ilcxc6 36 .i::!.xc6 !l.xc6 37
V&'xc6 lbxe3
38 li:\c5? (38 'rVd7 1Lld5 39 1Lle5 '@'f8 40 b5 li:\c3 41
@fl±+-) 38 ... lbd5 39 b5? (39 lba6 'rVd8 40 'li*b7
ZZlf4 41 'ii:Vxa7 ZZle2t 42 @£2 c'2:ixd4 43 ~8 '&xb8 44
ZZlxb8 @£8 45 lZla6 @e7 46 @e3 lZlb5) 39 ... ZZlb6! 40
'lld7? @ds 41 'llxb6 axb6! (41 ... '&xd4i" 42 @h2
\l\Vf4t43 @gl \l\Vd4t44 @fl V&'dlt45 @£2 V&'d2t46
@g3 V&'g5t =) 42 ~.l'fc4 h5 43 @h 1 g6 44 @gl @g7 45
@fl \Wd6 46 @gl \\1¥f4! 47 '&c3 @h7 48 @fl \Wf5 49
\'&'c4 @g7 50 @f2 V&'g5 51 'ii:Ve2 @£6 52 ~2 'il:Vd5 53
@e3 e5? (53 ... '&c4! 54 d5t! e5!)
94
54 f4? (54 W'b4 exd4·1· 55 v/ixd4t ~xd4t 56 Wxd4
We6 57 f4 f6 58 Wc4 or 55 ... v/ie5·1· 56 Wd3! From
now on Capa handles the Queen ending with his
old accuracy.) 54 ... exf4t 55 Wxf4 We6 56 h4 f6
57 @e3 '@'c4! 58 g3 g5! (58 ... @d5 59 ~git @d6
60 \Wb2) 59 hxg5 fxg5 60 '&h2 '&b3t 61 @e4 g4! 62
We2 \Wxg3 63 \Wc4t @e7 64 'i/{{cS f4f3t 65 @e5
~'Yf6t 66 @d5 \Wd6i" 0-1
6 Capablanca - Ragozin E:24
"This is one of the famous C. games in which
the opponent is systematically throttled until he
has no moves left. Despite the absence of
sensational details, such games have a quiet
artistry which is deeply impressive" (R)
1 d4 l£lf6 2 c4 e6 3 l£lc3 ~b4 4 a3!? ftxcJ-1· 5
bxc3 d6 (5 ... c5; 5 ... 0-0 5 ... b6) 6 ~c2 (6 f3 1) 6
... 0-0 (6 ... l£lc6! 7 e4 e5) 7 e4 e5 8 ~d3 c5 (8 ...
l£lc6) 9 li:\e2 1Llc6 10 d5 lbe7? ("Much too
defensively played ... " G. 10 ... 1Lla5!?) 11 f3 ctJd7?
(" Another ill-judged move." 11 ... l£le8 !) 12 h4 !
("This initiates a powerful attack on the K side.
Black decides to move his King over to the other
wing and so averts immediate disaster. But as a
result of the time consumed in this King flight
White gains more and more control of the board
and establishes his Kt in commanding position.'' G)
12 ... lt:lb6 13 g4 f6 (13 ... ~d7 followed by l£la4 and
a6, b5) 14 l£lg3 Wf?! 15 g5 lbg8 16 f4! ("Ordmarily
this is out of place because it usually gives ones
opponent an opportunity of posting a Kt on e5. But
here, after 16 ... exf4 17 Lxf4 the weakness of Blacks
QP would become painfully noticeable.") 16 ... We8
17 f5! (TI1e encirclement process is now shaping up.
However, it requires considerable skill, as will be
seen, to batter down Black's Steintzian positioll ") 1'7
... v/ie7 18 'f:llg2 @d8 19 li:\h5 Wc7!? (19 ... g6? 20
l£lxf6 or 19 ... I:!f7? 20 g6 hxg6 21 'rVxg6) 20 gxf6
("In view of the heavy concentration of Whites
forces on the King side, Black has been wise to
remove his King. But his troubles are only
beginning!") 20 ... gxf6 2 l l£lg7 ~d7 22 h5 ! I:!ac8
23 h6 Wb8 ("Black now hopes that his King is
tucked away safely, but White also has an open
file on the Q wing and soon starts an attack on
this side too." G.) 24 I:!gl I:!f7 25 I:!bl ("Black
has in effect castled all over again, but his King is
still insecure, as the text indicates.") 25 ... "fl'f8 26
~e2 Wa8 27 ~h5 I:!e7 (27 ... l£lxc4 28 Qxf7
Wixf7 29 Wie2 lbb6 30 'f:Vh5 v/ie7 3 l lbe6 followed
by 32 I:!g7 +-) 28 ~a2! '@'d8 29 ..td2 lba4 30 'i-'tb3
l'Zlb6 [30 ... 'i'bb6 31 -~xb6 lbxb6 32 Qe2 ~e8 33
llle6 flf7 34 @f2 and It threatens £tg7 and !l.agl; 30
... I:!b8 31 l£le6! Qxe6 32 clxe6 l£Jb6 33 Qf7 +- or
31 ... 'rVb6 32 'rVxb6! axb6 331L\c7t Wa7 34 li:\b5·1·
Jlxb5 35 ilxb5 and 36 Jldl +-] 31 a4! I:!b8 ("The
wretched state of Blacks game is now beginning to
tell against him."; 31 ... Sl.xa4 32 '&a2 '&d7 33
.!!xb6 axb6 34 Sl.d 1, or 32 ... Sl.d7 33 ll:ie6 Sl.xe6
34 dxe6 and 35 Sl.f7 +-) 32 a5 ll:ic8 (32 ... ll:ixa4 33
.:lle6) 33 Wifa2 W{{fg 34 .Jte3 b6
35 a6!! ("Blacks plight is now pitiable because of
the Queen, none of his pieces can move at all, and
he must move this piece up and down the back
rank until White chooses to deliver the coup de
grce.") 35 ... '&d8 (35 ... b5 36 cxb5 Sl.xb5 37
~e6!)36 'it>d2 '&f8 37 !ib2 'ii'd8 38 ~1 b5 (38 ...
~f8 39 'i1ffl '&d8 40 ll:ie6 Sl.xe6 41 fxe6 followed
by 42 Sl.f7 +-) 39 cxb5 ll:ib6 40 ~a2 c4 41 l%3
fJc7 42 'it>c 1 Iif8 43 l'ibg2 ~8 44 'ii'b4 !id8 45
l!g3 Iif8 46 ll:ie6! Sl.xe6 (46 ... .l!c8 47 Sl.xb6 axb6
48- a7!) 47 dxe6 nc7 48 ·~xd6 ll:ie7 (48 ... .lld8 49
1\Yxd8 !l 49 l!d 1 1-0
"A fine example of C.s enveloping art and the
inevitable feeling of increasing paralysis which
this induces in his opponent." (Golombek and
Reinfeld).
7 Pirc - Capablanca AOO
1 e3 t:bf6 2 f4 g6 3 c4 d5 (3 ... d6!?) 4 ll:ic3 Sl.g7 5
e£lf3 0-0 (5 ... c5 6 cxd5 ll:ixd5 7 Sl.b5·1·) 6 d4 c6?
(6 ... c5 !?) 7 Sl.e2 Sl.f5 8 0-0 ll:ibd7 9 ll:ie5 ll:ixe5 (9
.:. dxc4 10 Sl.xc4 c5 11 ~3!) 10 fxe5 ll:ie4 11
cxd5 cxd5 12 ~3! ll:ixc3 13 bxc3 'i1fd7 14 c4 (14
i.f3?! Sl.d3! 15 iidl Sl.c4) 14 ... Sl.e4 15 Sl.f3 (15
.ia3'. .:!ac8 16 ~acl) 15 ... Sl.xf3 16 iixf3 dxc4 17
f~xc4 .:!.ac8 18 '¥Vb3 rl.c6 19 ~a3
1See diagram next column)
19 ... .l!e6! 20 !!afl f6! 21 ~c5 b6 22 ~a3 'it>h8
(22 ... .l!c8 23 i.xe7 fxe5 24 Iif7 exd4 25 J..f8
'&xf7 26 !hf7 'it>xf7 27 Sl.xg7 dxe3 28 ilc3 e2
29 Sl.el+- ± 22 ... fxe5 23 .l!xf8t! ~xf8 24 d5
!!f6 25 iixf6! exf6 26 d6t! 'it>g7 27 l!Vc4! +-) 23
.Jib2 E!.d8 24 e4 [24 exf6 exf6! a::) 24 ... fxe5 25 d5
z:l.f6 26 ilxe5 .lixf3 27 ilxg?i" @xg7 28 ii\¥xf3 '&d6
11z_ 1h
8 Ca1>ablanca - Kan D67
1 d4 ll:if6 2 c4 e6 3 cZ:ic3 d5 4 ll:if3 ll:ibd7 5 itg5
Sl.e7 6 e3 0-0 7 !!cl c6 8 Sl.d3 dxc4 9 Sl.xc4
ll:id5 10 Sl.xe7 '&xe7 11 0-0 ll:i5b6? (11 ... ~5f6
or 11 ... ll:ixc3 12 .llxc3 e5) 12 il.b3 e5 ( 12 ... c5
13 ~e4!) 13 ll:ie4! (A strong move, the theme of
which resembles the semi-waiter in chess
problems. The Kt is brought over to the attack
on the K side and meanwhile Black has to find a
reasona hie noncommittal continuation.") 13 ...
h6 (13 ... 'it>h8 14 ll:ifg5! h6 15 -~h5 'it>g8 16
ll:ixf7 rl.xf7 17 ll:id6 '&xd6 18 ~xf7'1· 'it>h7 19
'&g81" 'it>g6 20 f4!; 13 ... exd4 14 ·iJ!Vxd4 c2:\f6!?
15 cZ:ixf6i· '&xf6 16 '&xf6 gxf6 ±1 14 'Vkd3!
(White sets about the immediate exploitation of
this weakness and commences a most persistent
and formidable K side attack.'') 14 ... ~h8 (14 ...
l!e8 15 dxe5 ll:ixe5 16 lilxe5 ~xe5 17 ll:id6 t:!.f8
18 ll:ixf7!) 15 ll:ig3 exd4 ("Forced because of the
threat of 16 lilf5 '&f6 17 Sl.c2") 16 Sl.c2 ! cZ:lf6 17
e4 ! (" A subtle finesse which forces Black to
weaken his K side by g6 because of the threat of
e5") 17 ... g6 18 '&xd4 Sl.e6 19 h4 r!.ad8 20 '&c3
@h7 21 r!.fel ll:ibd7 22 Sl.bl! (with the idea 23
Q:'if5 !) 22 ... !ife8 23 a3! ("So as to be able to
move the Queen without having to reckon with
Blacks ... '&b4") 23 ... Sl.g4 24 ll:ih2 h5 (24 ...
'&e5 25 ~3 Sl.e6 26 ~xb7 Il.b8 ±) 25 f3 .ll!.e6
26 f4! (Capablanca conducts this part of the
attack in his best style. The threat of f5 forces
the return of the Bishop, after which Blacks K
side is broken up.") 26 ... 1g4 '2.7 '&e3 ("The
Queen is manoeuvred over to the K side in order
to enforce the attack on the wing.'') 27 ... a6 28
'&f2 'it>g7 29 e5 ll:id5 30 ll:ixg4 hxg4 31 h5 Iih8
(31 ... tl:\f8 32 f5 +-) 32 hxg6 fxg6 33 e6 ! ("This
energetic move is the prelude to a brilliantly
decisive sacrifice entirely demolishing Blacks K
side.") 33 Sl.xg6 Wxg6 34 '&c2t 'it>f7 35 e6·1·
@£8 36 exd7 '&xd7) 33 ... ll:if8 (33 ... ti:i7f6 34
Sl.xg6! 'it>xg6 35 '&c2i·)
95

.· ;-,_
~
~g
34 .:ixg6! ~g6 35 'f3'c2t Wf6 36 °t'Jf5t cJ;;g7 37
'ffxg4"!" cJ;;h7 38 Wf2? (38 .lle5! WJ/g7 39 !!hs·1· cJ;;gs
40 ti.gs 3s ... l2ir6 39 WJ/114-1· wg8 40 .llgs·n 38 ...
\§lg?! 39 W1xg7t (39 WJ/h4·1· Wg8 40 W1xd8 WJ/d4"!"!
= 39 llht-1" Wg8 40 .llxhSt Wxh8 41 WJ/h4·1· Wg8
42 '&xd8 tff d4 ·1· 43 Wel WJ/e3"j" 44 t2le2 C2:if4 45
i};::5"!" lZl8g6 00 40 "fixg7t Wxg7 41 liJfs·1· Wf6 42
.2xh8 j;,xf5 43 :!ell 39 ... ~g7 40 e7 !!e8 41
,,xf8\·'¥·;- 3exf8 42 f5 1l.h4 43 :G!.cdl ~f4t 44 ~gl
t!f:;4 45 :::a3 ~i'f7 46 ~ .l:!h8 (46 ... I!fg8 47 lle4
.:':4gs -is .::!h4 :rsg'i 49 J:tb:; wrs so .llh2 .-) 4'7
.2.b3! :47 'cJe4'' lhg2i"!l 47 ... b5 48 lbe4 Iih6 49 g3!
.:!g8 50 ~3 a5 51 Iid3 a4 5:'. L!.d2 1-0 (Capablanca
and Golombek l.
9 Lasker - Ca1>ablanca C 15
l e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 C2lc3 iLb4 4 1Llge2 dxe4 5 a3
!ie7 (5 ... il.xc3"!" 6 C2:ixc3 C2lc6! ?) 6 l2:lxe4 1Llf6 7
'-Ll2c3 (7 liJ3g3) 7 ... t2lbd7? (7 ... C2lc6! 8 iLe3
:2ixe4 9 it.:'ixe4 e5!) 8 iLf4 l2:lxe4?! (8 ... i2:Jd5 9
..'1!.d2:) 9 Cihe4 t2:if6 10 il.d3 0-0 11 l.ilxf6"!" iLxf6
12 c3 '&d5 (12 ... b6? 13 ~h5! g6 14 WJ/f3 .llb8 15
sixc7! 12 ... h6 13 WJ/f3 l!b8 14 WJ/e4!) 13 ~e2!
113 0-0 c5 14 dxc5 lld8 15 iLd6 b6 16 'i1Vc2 ftb7!
,- :t:,h;·,· i:'hS 18 f3 g6 oo 13 't\!lc2 'i\hg2 14
J.xh7·i '."i;;hg l:> .ie4 li¥i;4! 16 Jkxc7 e5'. 17 dxe5?
,''.';eS: 1.8 t3 .:ih4t!) 13 -... c6 113 ... c5'? 14 il.e4
i'JdS 15 dxc5: 13 ... rfxg2 14 2.e4 '&'13 15 2.xc7
tallowed by 16 0-0-0 ±) ·14 0-0 (14 0-0-0?! ~g:i!J
14 ... .!!e8 15 .l!adl iLd7 (15 ... e5? 16 dxe5 iLxe5
17 il.xh7"!") 16 .llfel [16 iLe5!? iLxe5? (16 ... iLe7
17 '@c2 h6 18 b4! followed by c4 ±) 17 iLxh7t!
~h7 18 'fl'h5"!" Wg8 19 dxe5] 16 ... 'fila5 17 '*'ic2
g6 ( 17 ... h6 18 '*'ie2 or 18 iLe5 ±) 18 iLe5 iLg7
( 18 ... 'fid8! Capa, after treating the opening feebly,
got into a bad position, but as usual he is not willing
to make the fin;il mistake.) 19 h4! (An instructive
game: with the centre blocked it is usu;illy the h-p;iwn
that breaks the defence.) 19 ... '@'d8 20 h5 '1!¥g5 21
!ixg7 ~g7 22 !le5 'file7 (22 ... f5 23 lldel 'filxh5
24 ..1Lc4 Wf6 25 ·fib3 ± 22 ... 't1fh6 23 iLe2
followed by "fib3-b4-d6 ±) 23 !idel !!g8 24 'fil'cl!
96
.!!ad8 (24 ... Wf8 25 'i&'h6"!") 25 llle3! iLc8 (25 ...
f6 26 .lla5 a6 27 l1xg6 lng6 28 !lg3 fte8 29 !lh3 1)
26 llh3 Wf8 (26 ... llh8 27 '/!¥f4 f6 28 llel e5 29
llhe3 exf4 30 tlxe7·1· ± 26 ... f6?! 27 hxg6 hxg6 28
-~h6·1· Wf7 29 llg3 g5 30 llf3 +-) 27~h6·1·Zlg728
hxg6 hxg6
29 ftxg6! '@'f6 (29 ... fxg6 30 ~18"1" llg8 31 l:!.f3t)
30 !!g5! iee7 [30 ... l:!.d5! 9 31 l!xd5 1 (31 !!fr
Wfxf3'. 32 gxf3 llxg5t 33 Wfxg5 .Exg6 -~) 3 ~ ...
cxd5 32 \'!'ijh8i" We? 33 Wiixc8 '&xgb 34 "'i/<Jc7t] J l
tlf3 't'Vxf3! (In a critical position Capa keeps on
defending in ;i tough w;iy ;ind m;ikes it really difficult
for White.) 32 gxf3 lldg8! 33 Wfl (33 'i''Yh4!? Wd7
34 WJ/f4 fxg6 35 c4) 33 ... !!xg6 34 llxg6 D.xg6 35
Wfh2 (35 Wff4!? llg8 36 'itVc7·1· Wf6 37 We2) 35 ..
Wd7 36 °tff4 f6 37 c4 a6 38 '&'14 llg5 (38 ... Wd6
39 WJ/h7 l'lg5 40 cs·1· wd5 41 'ifie7) 39 'i!'lb'h7t i?d8
40 ~h8t Wc7 41 °tfxf6 tlf5 42 ''fl g7"!" .lid7 43 i?e2
wc8 44 'itVh8t wc7 45 't'Yh2t cJ;;c8 46 i-'-Yd6 l!h5 47
We3 tlf5 48 We4 Z!h5 49 'ifVf8t Wc7 50 'e'f4t i?c8
51 'itVd6 ms 52 we3 l!h5 53 wd3 ms 54 cJ;;e2
!ih5 55 Wd2 ms 56 we3 l:!.h5 57 'ti\'f8"!" cJ;;c7 58
'itff4t wc8 59 "W'd6 !if5 60 "W'g3 .llh5 61 '*'ig4 ms
62 ·~g8"!" Wc7 63 ~g3·1· Wc8 64 l/,'£°gt:i 1-0 (64 ...
~c7 65 'l!fg3t wc8 6b wd3 l:!h5 67 Wc3 Ef5 68
'~b4 ~h5 69 c5: 1!d5 70 Wa5 Exd4 71 ii?b6)
rnogatirchuk and Becker./
10 Ca1>ablanca - Bogatirchuk 031
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 'Llc3 a6 4 cxd5 (4 e4) 4 ... exd5 5
L2lf3 (5 iLf4) 5 ... lZlf6 6 ftg5 iLe7 7 e3 0-0 8 .lid3
ct:lbd7 9 0-0 tle8 10 'itfc2 C2:if8 11 llfc 1 (11 !lab 1!?)
11 ... c6 12 !labl C2:ih5 (12 ... C2le4 13 iLxe7 the7
14 iLxe4 dxe4 15 ct:ld2 iLf5 16 C2la4 ao) 13 ..Qxe7
llxe7 14 b4 g6 15 a4 iLd7 16 b5 axb5 17 axb5
iLe8 18 l2:la4 [18 bxc6 iLxc6 19 ct:le5] 18 ... CiJg7
19 ct:le5! f6 20 C2lg4 L2lh5 (20 ... '*'id6 21 'i'Vc5
"W'xc5 22 l2:lxc5 Wf7 23 1Llh6#!) 21 Ciic5 Wg7 22
h3 C2:ie6 23 C2:ixe6"j" llxe6 24 bxc6 bxc6 (24 ...
iLxc6 25 iLb5 !) 25 llb7t lle7 26 tlcb l 't'Yd6 27
llxe7i· (27 ct:lh2!) 27 ... "W'xe7 28 '*'ib2 Wf8 29
WJ/b7 lla7! 30 WJ/bs WJ/c7 31 '@'b4·1· 'fil'e7 32 't1Vb6
·&c7 33 ~c5·1· ~e7 34 ~cl .llb7 35 .llxb7 'tb'xb7 counter-play on the Queen's side) 24 .. , cZ:l8h7 25
36 c'bh2 't'ig7 37 .:2:lf3 ~4 38 't'iel 't'ie6 39 iLe2 f3 l:':ih8! 26 Wfl! l:':ibg8 27 l:':ihl h5! 28 .lldel
we7 40 0id3 ~3 41 h4 ..td7 42 g3 @d6 43 @g2
We7 44 ~al ~8 (It threatened 45 '&a8!) 45
~aJ·1· W 46 .idl (46 iLg4 't'if4t!) 46 .. , @e8 47
~h2 W 48 iLa4 'l!Vbl! 49 ~c3 't'if8 50 't'iel (Else
50 ,,, Wfl etc. 50 @g2 ..th3t!; 50 0ib4 ~fl 51
W1c2 c5 52 iLxd7 cxb4 oo) 50 .. , '&f5 51 Wgl ~1
52 iLc2! ~b6 53 0::ld3 0::le6 54 ~a3 We8 55 Wg2
'>@b8 56 h5 W

28 ,,, ·~8 (In a closed position it is the chess player

57 'i1Vb4? (57 Jidl followed by Wh2, ..tg4 ~) 57 ,..
'>@xb4 58 0ixb4 iLe8 59 iLa4 't'id8 60 hxg6i· hxg6
61 f4 We7 62 Wf3 Wd6 63 g4 't'ie6 64 Wg3 ..td7
65 1Lld3 iLe8 66 't'iel ..tf7 67 't'id3 iLe8 68 't'ib4
g5 69 (t)d3 gxf4i" 70 't'ixf4 lt'Jg5 71 iLc2 c5 72
dxc5·1· Wxc5 73 0ih5 ..txh5 74 gxh5 0if7 75 Wf4
Q:ih6 76 ..tb3 @d6 77 ..ta4 @c5 78 ..id7 @d6 79
11 Chekhover - Cax1ablanca EI6
d4 4::ifo : c4 e6 3 cZ:lt3 b6 4 g3 5tb7 5 iLg2 ..lib41· 6
5td2 i.xd2·1· (The Cuban master very often played
this form of the Queen's Indian Defence,) 7 ~xd2
0-0 8 0-0 d6 9 0ic3 lt'Jbd7 10 'l!Vc2 a5 11 Z!fel
l!e8?! 12 i:iadl 'Vfie7 (Perhaps it is better to play
this without !l.e8, in connection with the moves
e6-e5 and possibly c7-c6,) 13 e4 .llab8 ( 13 ... e5?!
14 c't:\d5! ± 13 .. , c6!?) 14 ~a4?! (14 e5? dxe5 15
dxe5 tl:\g4) 14 ... l!ied8 15 ~a3 c5! 16 d5 (The
Russian tournament book condenms this move and
suggests 16 b3. 17 De I instead, But it is hard to
believe that right after the Queen's sally the only
favourable move for White is to withdraw it
immediately.) 16 ,.. e5 17 b3 't'if8 18 ~cl 5tc8 19
h3 h6: '.:O L2ih4 ?! (Occupying f5 is the wrong plan,
because it is better not to exchange the Knight for
the Bishop in a closed position. First both Knights
should have been placed on the King's side, then
the attack could have been organised slowly,) 20
,,, g5! 21 tl:\f5?! (21 't'if3 g4!) 21 .. , ..\ixf5 22 exf5
'*1Vd7! (It enforces the following weakening.) 23 g4
'.t>g7! 24 a4? (With this White gives up all hope for
who has a chance to break through that conducts the
game. First, however. Black has to put his King into
safety. which releases a valuable piece from
defending the d6-square for some time,) 29 'rYc2 We7
30 'l!Vb2 '11Vd8 31 ltJb5 '&b8 32 'I/Va 1 't'id7 33 ''i/ic I
tl:\df6 34 '&al wd7 35 't'ic3?! (White defends
against 35 .. , e4 36 fxe4 hxg4, but after that 3: e5:
may come,) 35 .,, ..t>c8 36 .l:!.e2 't'if8 37 !!eel (t)8d:
38 ~1 Wb7 39 ct'ie4?! (It makes a clear situation,
characterised by the motives of the 'right Knight'
and the 'wrong Bishop' imprisoned behind his
pawns.) 39 ... 't'ixe4t 40 fxe4 (after 40 'fl'xe4 lt'Jf6
e5-e4! threatens) 40 ... 't'if6 41 ..\if3 !!g7! (After a
long period of manoeuvring now the pace of
events quickens) 42 .l:!.egl ~~8 43 ·~c1 ,file'"; 44
·~e3 hx)!4 45 hx_g4 .l:l.gh7 46 ~cl (46 lhh: 't£'xh':'
47 Z!hl'?? 'Llxg4i\, ·
46 .,, .llh4! 4 7 l:':ixh4 (It is necessary sooner or later
because of the ~g8-g7-h6 threat) 47 .. , Z!xh4 48
l:':ig2 W1/g7 49 We2 ~h6 (Black's pieces inevitably
penetrate into White's position. We can see that
the Bishop only plays the role of a pawn.) 50 Wd3
£!.hl 51 ~d2 ~3 52 W1/e2 .l!bl 53 @c3 .llel! 0-1

97
12 Ca1>ablanca - Lillientltal D94
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 'Llf3 'Llf6 4 e3 g6 5 'Llc3 ~g7
6 Jid3 0-0 7 0-0 'Llbd7 8 cxd5 cxd5 9 ~3 lbb8
10 lbe5 lbc6 11 f4 e6 12 ~d2 'Lld7 13 lbf3!?
I U .'.'i:ixc6 bxc6 14 lba4 f6! 15 I!acl .l!b8 16
·~c2 itb'"' followed bv e6-e5) 13 ... lbb6 14 .:Ua4
'~xa4 15 ~xa4 J.d7 16 ~3 ~6! ["I had no
fear of the double Pawn on the b-line because White
cannot rake advantage of his weakness. I have seen
an idea like this from Capablanca (he won with Black
as well) in a game against Janowski."] 17 ~xb6
axb6 18 !ifcl !ifc8 19 J..b5 lbe5 20 ~xd7 lbxd7
21 a4 eiJf6 22 iixc8i· rl.xc8 23 Ll.cl .l.'!xcl i· 24
.ixcl lbe4 25 'Lld2 'Llxd2 (25 ... 'Lld6!?) 26 J..xd2
:ifs Z"" ·~ '.te8 28 ..tb4 c;,t;,d7 1h- 1h
13 Flohr - Ca1>ablanca D6'.2
''.<\!though C. was on the defensive throughout.
this is one of his best games. The skill he displays
in warding off defeat is of a high order, resulting
in one of his most instructive games." (R).
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 'Llc3 'Llf6 4 'Llf3 lbbd7 5
J:Lg5 J..e7 6 e3 0-0 7 'i!fc2 c5 8 cxd5 lbxd5 9
~xe7 ~xe7 10 eiJxd5 exd5 11 Jid3 (11 dxc5
.:bxc5 12 J:i.e2 J..e6 =) 11 ... cxd4 (11 ... g6) 12
~xd4 'i!fb4i" 13 ~d2 lbc5 14 J..b5! 'i!fxd2t 15
'i;>xd2 a6 16 J..d3 J..e6 17 .l.'!acl ilfc8 18 .l!c2
eiJxd3 (18 ... 'Lld7 19 .l!hcl lbb6 20 lbf5 ±) 19
@xd3 Iixc2 20 'i;>xc2 @£8 21 c;,t;,d2 ~c8 22 Zic 1
Iixc 1 23 c;,t;,xc 1 ("Flohr now has a position
dear to his heart. and the defense requires
constant vigilance and foresight. There are not
many players in the world who could hold this
position against Flohr.") 23 ... c;,t;,e7 24 Wd2
@d6 25 @c3 b6 26 f4! ..td7 27 lbf3 f6! 28 @d4
a5 2 9 .:Z:ld2 J..c8 30 lbb 1 J..e6 3 l 'Llc3 Wc6 32 a3
h6 ("As will soon become apparent, Black is in
great danger.") 33 g3 h5! 34 b4! (It threatens 35
b5i· Wd6 36 f5! ..tf7 37 'Lle2 and 'Llf4 +-) 34 ...
axb4 35 axb4 @d6 36 b5! g6 (Again f5 was
threatened.j
98
37 CDa4 c;,t;,c7 38 'Llc3 Wd6 39 f5! ("Initiating a
new and very dangerous phase. The sacrificed
Pawn is soon recovered, with the result that
Black is left with a permanently weakened Pawn
position.;,) 39 ... gxf5 (39 ... J..xf5 40 it.'ixd5 ~d7
41 .:Uxf6 Jixb5 42 ll:id5 @c6 43 Cbe7'!"!) 40 f2::ie2
.i..d7 140 ... il.g8; 41 i2::lf4 ~f7 42 h3 .1Le8J 41
'1)f4 Jie8: 42 ll:ixd5 .lixb5 43 lbxb6! (Again
the proper capture, for if 43 eiJxf6 .lie2 ! is
followed by g5 etc, Capablanca and Black
should have no difficulty in drawing.") 43 ...
J..c6 44 lbc4t We6 45 'Llb2 J..b5! (Else 'Lld3-f4)
46 'Lldl J..e2 47 ebt'2 J..fl 48 'Lld3! (As he
cannot make any further headway with the Kr
against the Bishop, Flohr tries the: King and
Pawn ending. In view of the numerous losing
possibilities which beset Black. the followmg
phase is most promising for White. The basic
motif of the following play is Whites attempt to
land his King on f4; if he ever succeeds in doing
so, he will win automatically. But the ending
abounds in delicious finesses.".) 48 ... J..xd3! 49
Wxd3 We5! ["The natural-looking move 49 ...
c;,t;,d5? loses: 50 Wd2! ! We5 (50 ... h4 51 gxh4 f4
52 exf4 @e4 53 h5 or 50 ... @e4 51 we2 wd5 52
Wf3 @e5 53 h3 @d5 54 Wf4 @e6 55 h4 +-) 51
@el!! @d5 (51 ... @e4 52 @e2) 52 ~ ! @e4 53
@e2 +-] 50 We2 We4! ("This is the only move to
hold the game!") 51 h3 c;,t;,d5! ("Again
Capablanca finds the only move to draw: 51 .. .
@e5? 52 Wf3 wd5 53 Wf4 @e6 54 h4 or 51 .. .
h4? 52 gxh4 f4 53 h5) 52 @£3 @e5 1/z- 1/i (Rabi-
novich and Reinfeld).
*
"It is universally known that Capablanca
treats the endgames excellently. There is an
interesting story about that. His game against
Flohr was broken off in the same tournament.
Flohr's opinion was that the Pawn endgame
was won for him. But Capablanca showed his
opponent as a student how he could get a dra 1,\
easily. He was not afraid at all that Flohr
would find something to counter it later in the
analysis of the game." (A. Lilienthal).
*
14 Ca1>ablanca - Rabinovich D'.20
1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 lbc3 a6 4 a4 ?! (This way
White prevents the threatening b7-b5. Meanwhile
he weakens the square b4 and loses a tempo in the
development.) 4 ... e5! 5 dxe5?! (5 d5! CDf6 6 e4 O'J)
5 ... 'Wxd 1i" 6 Wxd l J..e6 (=+) 7 f4 lbc6 8 e4
0-0-0·I· 9 J..d2 ebd4 10 Ziel lbb3 11 !ic2 ebd4 l:!
!!cl lt:'ib3 13 Iic2 112- 112
15 S11ielmann - Ca11ablanca C 15
1 d4 e6 2 e4 d5 3 lbc:3 ~b4 4 'Llge2 d'<e4 5 a3 Jte7 6
lbxe4 'Llf6 (6 ... 'Llc6!? 7 c3 'Llf6 8 'Ll2g3 e5 =) 7
'Ll2g3 (On 7 'Ll2c3 see Lasker - Capablanca) 7 ... 0-0
8 Jte2 'Llbd7 9 0-0 'Llxe4 (9 ... b6 10 Jtf3 l!b8 11 c4
lbxe4 12 Jtxe4 'Llf6 13 Jtf3 Jtb7 ±) 10 'Ll.'<e4 e5 11
dxe5 (11 Jtc4 exd4 12 ·~xd4 'Llc5) 11 ... lbxe5 12
~xd8 ( 12 .ltf4 lbg6 13 't1Yxd8 Jtxd8 14 Jte3 ro =) 12
... !!xd8 13 Jtf4 f6 14 Jtxe5 fxe5 15 Jtc4t ~8 16
.Efel Jtf5 17 Jtd3 .l:!.d4 18 .l:!.e2 l::fad8 19 llael g6 20
f3 .::txe4 21 ~xe4 .ltf6 22 b3 Wg7 23 a4 a5 24 Wfl
:21-"" 25 ITxd4 t!.xd4 26 !l.e41!.xe4 27 Jtxe4 If2-'h
l6 Stahlberg - Capablanca D61
l d4 d5 2 c4 e6 J tru'3 ctif6 4 'Llc3 ii.e7 5 .ltg5 0-0
6 eJ l.iJbcP,., ·~c2 h6 (7 ... c5) 8 Jth4 c5 9 .l:!.dl (9
cxd5; 9 0-0-0) 9 ... 'tfa5 10 Jtd3 cxd4 (10 ... d'<c4
11 1.xc4 lbb6 12 Jtd3 cxd4 ro) 11 exd4 dxc4 12
.ixc4 lbb6 13 ~b3 1.d7 14 0-0 1.c6?! (14 ...
Eac8) 15 .:Ue5 Jtd5 9 ( 15 ... llac8) 16 lbxd5
'Llbxd5 [16 ... lbfxd5 17 1.xe7 'Llxe7 18 ~c7!
.:'iJed5 ( 18 ... liif5? 19 'Llxf7!) 19 ·~xb7! .l:!.ab8? 20
(i:\c6] 17 ·~e2 .l!ad8 (17 ... 'Llf4? 18 '@'f3 'Ll4d5 19
ii..xf6 1.xf6 20 .:Ud7 .llfd8 21 'Ll.'<f6i" lbxf6 22
·>&xb7) 18 f4 'Lle8 (18 ... ~6 19 Whl followed by
f4-f5! ±) 19 Jtxe7! (19 Jtel 1.b4) 19 ... 'Llxe7 20
f5! .:Uxf5 (20 ... .:Uc7? 21 fxe6 fxe6 22 I:!xf8t l::.!.xf8
23 '2:Jd7!) 21 fiixf7: !hf7 22 ~xe6 'Lled6
23 g4 9 [23 't\Ve5! 't\Vxe5 (23 ... b6 24 '@'xa5 bxa5
25 1.xf?-1- Wxf7 26 g4) 24 dxe5 'Lle3 25 I:!xd6
Z!xd6 26 exd6 'Llxfl 27 d7!] 23 ... Wh8! 24 '&e5
(24 gxf5 .l:!.xf5) 24 ... ~xe5 25 d'<e5 'Lle3! 26 Jtxf7
CiJxdl 27 exd6 .l!xd6 112- 1/z
17 Ca11ablanca - Menchik E86
"This game is a fine illustration of C.s technical
skill in exploiting the advantage of space."
, Golombek).
l d4 .'21f6 2 c4 g6 3 Q:ic3 Jtg7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 0-0 6
..ie3 e5 '7 'Llge2 a6 9 '. 81/Ud2 Jtd7? 9 d5! 'Lle8 (9 ...
b5 10 c5!) 10 g4! h6?! (10 ... f5 11 exf5 gxf5 12
.!:Lg5) 11 h4 Wh7 12 'Llg3 c5 (A good move which
1rn.st be played sooner or later; otherwise 'hnite
will obtain an attack on the Q wing as well as by
c5.") 13 Jtd3 't1Va5 14 'f¥e2 llh8 (14 ... lbc:7; 14 ...
b5! 9 ) 15 a3 ~d8 (15 ... lbc:7 16 Qd2!) 16 b4
("White takes advantage of Blacks constricted
position to attack his Pawn structure on the Q wing:
Black will be forced to pennit the closing up of all
lines on this side, thereby allowing White to carty on
his attack on the K wing without any distractions
caused by possible counterattacks.) 16 ... b6 17 't'Vb2
!With the idea 18 bxc5 and 19 ~7) 17 ... .:lc8 18
@e2! lbd7 19 I:!agl tl.b8 20 b5: a5 21~dl'. .l:?g8 22
~d2 'Llf8 (Wg8-f8-e7?!) 23 ~c2 f6'1 i''Up to th.is
move, Black has defended herself well. lmt now.
overlooking Whites 26th move, she gives C. just the
object of attack he desires.") 24 g5 ! fxg5 25 1L'<g5 h5
("Thus far Black seems to have warded off Whites
attack satisfactorily, but now comes a surp1ise move
which reveals the insecure nature of her positio1L")
26 'Llf5! Wf7 (26 ... gxf5? 27 exf5 +-) 27 lbh4
'ile7 28 'ilh2 'Dc7 29 Il.fl @e8 30 f4! exf4 31 .ltxf4
@d7? (31 ... .lte5 32 .ltxe5 'i/xe5 33 'ilxe5i' dxe5 34
£1.f6 £1.gS 35 .lte2 and 36 CL'lxg6 or 36 .l::!.hfl +-) 32
.ltxd6! 1-0 (Botvinnik and Golombek).
18 Romanovsky - Capablanca C73
l e4 e5 2 'Llf3 'Llc6 3 ~b5 a6 4 ~a4 d6 5 .ixc6i"
bxc6 6 d4 f6 7 ~e3 g6 (7 ... 'Lle7) 8 '*1Vd2! (Else
L'2lg8-h6-f7) 8 ... ~g7 9 L'2lc3 .ltd7 (9 ... 'Lle7 10 0-0-0
0-0) 10 0-0? (10 0-0-0) 10 ... 'Lle7 11 h3 (11 !!adl
.ltg4) 11 ... 0-0 12 lladl '@'b8! 13 b3 '@'b7 14 .lth6
I:!ad8 15 Jtxg7 Wxg7 16 lbhz? (16 .l!fel) 16 ... 'iVb4!
17 ~e3 (17 f4 exd4 18 '@'xd4 ~·xd4"!" 19 l::lxd4 ro) 17
... .l:!.de8! 18 L'2le2 (18 d'<e5 fxe5 19 'Lle2 followed f3
by 'Llg4!?) 18 ... exd4 19 rl.xd4 '@'b6 20 'i:'Vd2 (It
threatened 20 ... 'Llf5) 20 ... c5 21 .&!:d3
(See diagram on next page)
21 ... '@'b4! 22 c4 '@'xd2 23 Iixd2 .£c6 24 cbc3 f5 25
'Lld5! 'Ll.'<d5 (25 ... .£xd5 26 exd5 lbg8 27 i2.'if3 h6 28
I:!e l I:!xe 1t 29 .;2\xe l I:!e8 30 Wfl 'Llf6 ro =+) 26
exd5 J:l.d7 27 f4! .l:!.e4 28 J::1f3 h6 29 'Llfl 112- 112
99

19 Ca1>ablanca - Levenfish D49
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 lilc3 lilf6 4 e3 e6 5 ctJf3 'Libd7
6 i.d3 dxc4 ("Leading to the Meran Defence, by
which Black hopes to obtain an attack on the Q
·.vin:.:: "'. 7 .:Lxc4.b5 8 ..td3 ab (8 ... Jtb7!'!) 9 e4
·:5 li', e5 i FJ d5'?J 10 ... cxd4 11 Cbxb5! (Tlm,
·no,:to, ,·llsI mtroduced in a11 analysis by the
K,1ss1,:11 master. Blumenfeld, gives rise to ve1y
interesting play in which White tries to exploit
the weakness of Blacks QKt Pawn.") 11 ...
~xe5! ("Tournament practice has shown thi~ is
the best continuation.") 12 ctJxe5 axb5 13 'l\Yf3
(Stahlberg) 13 ... .lla5?! (13 ... '&a5'1", 13 ...
j_b4-j-J 14 0-0 b4 15 .ltf4 .lte7 16 .llfcl! 0-0 17
liJlh3! (White threatens 18 lilc6!) 17 ... llc5? (17
... Jtb7) 18 llxc5 .ltxc5 19 .ltg5! h6 ("What to
do'I!" 19 ... g6 (or 19 ... .lle8) 20 Cbc6! followed
by 21 .ltxf6! +-)
20 l'bg4 1 ("Capablanca concludes the game with
:rn eie~ant finai combination.") 20 ... fi.e7 (20 ...
c5 21 t.i:Jxh6·1· gxh6 22 '&xh6) 21 .ltxf6! gxf6 (21
... ..i.xfo 22 Ziixh6i'! gxh6 23 '&xh6 .lle8 24
ih7·1·!J 22 lilxh6'1' Wg7 23 ~g4·1· Wh8 24 'tl'h5
'29g7 25 ~xf7 l!h8 26 '&g6'1' 1-0 (Golombek).
''Caoablanca :s still an unusual chess player. In
this· tournament. he behaved rather peaceably and
100
played freely which resulted in a lot of draws. 1
believe that he will reach his former playing
strength again if he expresses more fighting
eagerness and if he regularly participates in
international tournaments. His intuition and
understanding of chess are amazing.'' {M.
Botvinnik J.
Margate - 1935
J Reshevsky 7 1h 2 Capablanca 7 3 Thomas 5
-1-6 Klein, Reilly Sergeant 4 1h 7 Fairhurst 4
8 Milner-Barry 3 1h Y Miss Menchik 2 1/z JO
Mieses 2.5
20 Capablanca - Thomas E 16
l d4 l'tlf6 2 c4 e6 3 Lt:\f3 .ltb4'1' ("This is the
Bogoljuboff variation of the Q Pawn. a highly
sophisticated form of defence demanding the
ut1;1os, accuracy in its conduct~1g." G ..!. a ..'l::.d.2
'tl'e7 5 g3 b6 6 .ltg2 J£.b7 '7 0-0 x..xd2 8 0.Jbxd2.'.'
d6 9 't¥a41' !? ("An mteresting dev1at10n from 111t
normal line, 9 'li1c2 whereby -White concentrates
on forcing e4 by direct means." G.) 9 ... c6 9 1 [9
. .. .ltc6 (or 9 ... 'W'd7) 10 '&c2;! 9 ... 1£lc6?? 10 d5 !; 9
... l'tlbd7! ?] 10 e4 0-0 11 e5 ! ("White plays this part
of the game with great vigour, and Blacks pieces are
rapidly deprived of their best squares." G.) 11 ... CLJe8
( "Played with illogical patience. 11 ... dxe5 12 dxe5
followed by ctJd6 12 12\xe5!?) 12 !!fel ("A
positional alignment of the Rook opposite Blacks
Queen, the value of which becomes a~parem on
Whites 20th move." G.) 12 ... c5'1 (12 ... cilbd7 1) 13
exd6! 'Llxd6 (13 ... '&xd6 14 d5!) 14 dxc5 (14 d5 9 !
'&f6!) 14 ... bxc5 15 '&a5! 'Lld7 16 b3 l!fd8 ( 16 ...
llfc8! ?) 17 llad l .llac8
18 ti:ifl! ("Beginning a long tour with this
Kt with the object of bringing it to bear on
Blacks weak Q side. Whites position is of
the kind which plays itself. All his pieces
are posted to good advantage, while Biack.
must always worry about his weak Pawns.")
18 ... :16 ("Creating a fresh weakness on b6, of
which White subsequently takes advantage .... "
8./ 19 .:'2:le3 ~b8 ("A pitiful move to have to
play, but Blacks Q side Pawns are too weak to
permit him the slightest aggression.") 20 lt:ld5
~f8 (20 ... 1J..xd5 21 cxd5 and 22 i.h3) 21 ct:\b6 i:ic7
22 £Z:la4 i:idc8 23 ct:\e5 1J..xg2 24 'it'xg2 ct:\f5 25 lt:ld3
'!&'d6?! ("He gives up a Pawn in what proves to
be a vain effort to obtain some counterattack.
Against other moves White would continue to
strengthen his position." 25 ... h5!?) 26 ct:\cb::c5
·;Jc6·l· ;"With this and the next few moves.
~:. l.a( k •'.nec., I'(' .,btam some counterchances.
>;;,•: ,: ·q·t1lses ihe anack with ease.") 27 ~ l
-,"; .:~: ;_·,o:i .o-4 1 ··.Jr1s'I. ,,s h begms w iook as if
3~nck ,mgJn .,ccornplish something, White
IaKes COITll11and.'') 29 ~e5 'tfh7 30 'i1Vb6
("Whites command of the board is now too
great for Black to fashion the faintest vestige
of an attack.") 30 ... hxg3 (30 ... 'JJ!ia8!? 31 .l:!d8"1"!)
31 hxg3 ~a8 32 I!d8i"! lixd8 33 'JJ!ixc7 lli8 34 ct:\b6
1-0 ("An extraordinary finish." Reinfeld and
Golombek.)
21 Klein - Ca11ablanca DI 7
1 d4 Cz)f6 2 c4 c6 3 ct:\c3 d5 4 ct:\f3 dxc4 5 a4 1J..f5 6
CiJeS ct:\bd7 7 e£:ixc4 '1Jic7 8 g3 e5 9 dxe5 lbxe5 10
1..f4 ct:\fd7 11 .Jig2 f6 12 0-0 .i.e6 13 lbxe5 fxe5
14 .ie3 1J.c5 15 "Y&'cl ..txe3 16 'JJ!ixe3 ~6 (16 ...
a5!?) 17 a5!? (17 'W'd2 0-0 18 a5 'JJ!ic7 19 'JJ!ie3 +-)
i7 ... \\l'/xe3 18 fxe3 a6 19 'Lle4 r/fJe7
22 Ca11ablanca - Reilly D62
1 d4 ltif6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 d5 4 i.gS itibd7 5 Q:'\f3
1J..e7 6 e3 0-0 : 'JJ!ic2 c5 8 cxd5 e£:lxd5 9 Ji.xe7
~xe7 10 .:bxd5 exd5 11 i.d3 h6 [Capa with
Black against Aiekhine ( 1927, 10th gameJ 11 ...
g6, against Flohr (Moscow 1935) 11 ... cxd4] 12
dxc5 l'ilxc5 13 0-0 .ltd7 14 'Lld4 .l::rac8 15 .l:bcl a6 16
ste2 lL'le4 17 ~d3 I!.xcl ?! 18 .l::rxcl (White stands a
little better, owing to his better pawn structure.
Black's following stabs are not serious.) 18 ...
~4 19 g3 'W'f6 20 i.f3 lbg5 (20 ... ·~e5!?) 21
.:ig2 l:':ic8 (21 ... lbh3i" 22 .ltxh3 .ltxh3 23 .l!c7 ±·,
22 .l:!.xc8i" .ltxc8 23 h4 'Dh3i· 24 .Jixh3 ll.xh3 :::5
~3 ~g6 26 ~xd5! ~bli" 27 ,;t,1i2 ..lg4
28 °Y&'xb7 'JJ!ifl [28 ... 'JJ!lxa2? 29 °Y&'a8i· c;,t;,h7 30
'JJ!Je4 i" f5 31 itixfS 'JJ!ixb2 32 lbe7·1· @h8 33 'JJ!ia8·1·]
29 'JJ!ig2 ~1 30 'JJ!ia8i" @h7 31 @g2 f5 32 'e'b7'.
-~d3 33 lbe6 'JJ!ie4 i· 34 'JJ!lxe4 fxe4 35 e£:lc5 1-0
23 Ca11ablanca - Milner-Barry C78
1 e4 e5 2 ct:\f3 lbc6 3 i.b5 a6 4 ~a4 ltif6 5 0-0
.ltc5 (One of the few lines where the moves 3 ... a6
4 .lta4 did not help the defence.) 6 c3 (6 e£:lxe5!?) 6
... .lta7 7 d4 ltixe4? (7 ... b5 8 i.b3 'JJ!ie7) 8 lie 1! (8
·~e2) 8 ... f5 9 itibd2! 0-0 (9 ... b5 10 e£:lxe4 fxe4
11 .ltg5 lbe7 12 l!ixe4 +-) 10 lbxe4 fxe4 11 ~g5 !
·~e8 12 .llxe4 d6 13 dxe5 'JJ!ig6

20 l!a4! l'!hf8 21 !!cl i.fS?! (21 ... r!ac8 22

!!.b4 !k7) 22 Q:id2 ! l:':iab8?! 23 l!ib4 i:ifd8 24
1'..e4! g6 25 i.xf5! gxf5 26 itif3 !ig8 27 iih4
l:!g7 (Capa obviously played to win, but now
he has got into a difficult situation.) 28 .llh5
!!f8 29 !.!.c4 e4 30 itid4 l:':igf7 31 !tel? (31 b4!
±) 31 ... c5 ! 32 cbb3 .llc8 33 lbd4 !kf8 34
0!Jb3 !!.c8 112- 112

101
 14 l!f4 1 (The punchline of the play so far.) 14 ...
l!xf4 ( 14 ... dxe5 15 l!xf8t Wxf8 16 ..\:l.xc6 bxc6
17 'il¥d8·1· ± 17 ... ~e8? 18 .ie7t @f7 19 lbg5i") 15
..\:l.xf4 .ig4 16 'tVb3i· ~f7 (16 ... <t>h8 17 ~xb7) 17
lt'lg5! '@'xb3 18 .ixb3i" 1-0
24 Sergeant - Ca1>ablanca COI
l e4 e6 '..: d4 d5 3 'Lid ..\:l.b4 4 exd.5',(4 e5!) 4 ...
c:xd5 5 .:id3 Zlle7 6 lbf3?: (6 lbe2) 6 ... ili..g4! 7 0-0
.£bco 8 .'.ue2 .id6 (Now and in the next move ...
..ixf3' was better.) 9 c3 ~d7 10 lt'lg3 h5 11 l:l.el
i)-U-0 12 h3 h4'. 13 .:bfl .lih5 14 Sle2 lt'lg6 15
:'Zlg5! .5::.xe2 16 l!xe2 l!de8 17 L!xe8·1· Zixe8 18
J:Le3 -'2lf4 19 'il¥g4! ~xg4 20 hxg4 f6?! 21 .ixf4?
(21 lt'lf7 1 .:Z:\ezt 22 <t>h 1 .if8 23 g5 oo) 21 ... Slxf4
22 l'iJf3 l'le2 23 !!bl g5 24 'Llel lt'la5 25 lt'ld3 'Llc4
26 b3 (26 .:Z:\xf4? gxf4 27 b3 'Lld6 28 a4 lt'le4) 26 ...
.;Dd6 27 l'.lb2 .:1:!.xb2 28 [ilxb2 @d7 29 f3 b6 30 Wf2
-=Zlb5 31 CLJdl c5 32 a4 CLJc7 33 @e2 (33 dxc5!) 33 ...
iZleb 34 @d3 @c6 35 lilde3 .llc7 ! 36 [ild2 c"ilf4 1· 37
@c2 'Llxg2 ! 0-1
25 Ca1rnblanca - Mieses D47
1 d4 d5 2 ,A c6 3 ctJf3 'Llf6 4 e3 e6 5 'Llc3 ctJbd7 6
.<i:.d3 cb:c4: .llxc4 a6 8 e4 c5?! 9 e5?! (9 d5!) 9 ...
·Gg4! 10 lt'lg5, ("This is the only satisfactory
continuation.") 10 ... 'Llh6?! [10 ... cxd4 11 lt'lxf7
{ 11 'il¥xg4 'Llxe5 12 ~f4 dxc3 13 --&ixe5 f6 oo) 11 ...
1'fh4! 12 g3 ~5 13 'Llxh8 dxc3 14 .ie2 ..\:l.b4 15
ilf l ~%3'!" oo] 11 .ixe6! cxd4! [11 ... fxe6 12
lt'lxe6 '@'a5 ( 12 ... ~e7?? 13 lt'ld5) 13 0-0 oo ±] 12
.ixd7'!" ~xd7 13 'Llce4 'tVb5 ! ("Black rightly seeks
to solve the problem of defence by counterattack.")
14 a4 1 ("White is in no hurry to capture the Q Pawn,
but prefers to complete his development; he has to
dislodge the Bbck Queen in order to Castle." 14
il1"xd4? 'Llf5!) 14 ... ..\:l.b4i· 15 ..\:l.c\2 ..\:l.xd2i" 16
~'¥xd2 Ylixe5 17 0-0 0-0 18 me 1
18 ... t\¥d5 ( 18 ... .:Z:\f5? 19 'Llxh7! l!e8 20 'Llef6'!")
19 &jf3 Ci:if5 (It threatened 20 '&xh6!) 20 l!adl?
(20 g4!?) 20 ... l!d8? (20 ... .ie6 ±; 20 ... ..\:l.d7 1 ,x;
21 Q:id!? "t}a5 22 lt'lxd4 lt'lxd4 23 '&xd4 Slc6 =)
102
21 ~g5! h6 (21 ... i?f8? 22 lt'lc3 '&d6 23 lt'lxd4! 1
lt'lxd4 24 l!xd4) 22 'Llf6t ct>f8231Llxd5! (23 lt'lh7t
<t>g8 24 lt'lf6t ct>f8) 23 ... hxg5 24 'Lib6 (24 'Llc7?!
l!b8 25 lt'lxd4 ..\:l.d7) 24 ... l'!b8 25 'Llxg5 .id7 (25
... f6) 26 g4! 'Llh4? ("An attractive-looking move,
which relies upon the threat of f6 followed bv
lilf3t. C. is undeterred by this and proceeds to tak·e
the Pawn without any qualms." 26 ... :2lh6!? 2'""'
lt'lxd7t llxd7 28 .l;!e4 1!bd8 29 l:!d3 ±J 27 l!xd4
..\:l.c6 28 l'!f4! f6 29 i'.t:le6·1· Wg8 30 0xd8 fixd8 31
L!cl! !!e8 (31 ... it:if3t 32 ~g2! 'Del"!" 33 Wg3
lt'ld3 34 l!dl!) 32 h3 l!e2 [32 ... eiJf3t 33 Wg2
lt'lel·I· 34 Wg3 lt'ld3 35 l'!xc6! bxc6 (35 ... 'Dxf4 36
l!c7!) 36 lld4! 'Llxb2? 37 l!d2 +-] 33 lt'lc4 lbn-1·
(33 ... ..\:l.xa4 34 'Lla5) 34 <t>f l l!e7 35 .::i.:::ie3 1-0
(CT, Golombek and EV).
26 Miss Menchik - Ca1rnblanca AOO
1 e3 g6 2 d4 ..\:l.g7 3 ..\:l.d3 c5 4 c3 'Llf6 5 0f3 b6
6 0-0 ..\:l.b7 7 '&e2 0-0 8 l!e I? (It would be
tactful not to comment on White's treatment of
the opening. 8 e4!?) 8 ... 'Lle4 9 b3 f5 10 ..\il.b2 e6
11 lt'lfd2 d5 12 f3 'Lid6 13 lt'la3 e5 ! 14 dxe5
..\:l.xe5 15 'Llfl ~f6 16 l'!acl "r'lg7 17 l!c2 l!e8 18
@h l a6 19 c4 itxb2 20 l!xb2 cl4 21 't\¥f2 lt'lc6 22
lld2 dxe3 23 'Llxe3 0d4 24 lt:lac2 f4! 25 lt'ld5?
(White can afford more mistakes than Black. 25
ct:lfl! l!xe 1 26 '&xe 1 l!e8 was still playable.) 25 ...
l'!xelt! 26 ·~xel l!e8 27 ..\:l.e4? [27 "r'ldl ..\:l.xd5 28
cxd5 (28 lbxd4 'W'xd4) 28 ... lbxc2 29 .ixc2 'il-Ve5]
27 ... lbxe4 28 fxe4
28 ... 'Dxc2! 29 llxc2 ..\:l.xd5 30 cxd5 l!xe4 31 '&fl
~e5 32 llcl f3! 33 gxf3 l!e2 34 '@lh3 (34 f4 ·-e·e4"!"
35 wg 1 ~e3t 36 wh 1 l!f2J 34 ... Whd5 35 b4
~d2! 0-1
27 Capablanca - Fairhurst E38
1 d4 'Llf6 2 c4 e6 3 'Llc3 .ib4 4 'W'c2 c5 5 dxc5
ct:la6 6 'Df3 0-0 7 a3 ..\:l.xc3t 8 ~xc3 lt'lxc5 9 lt'ld2
d5 10 cxd5 ~xd5 11 f3 l'!d8 12 e4 lbd3·1· 13 i.xd3
~xd3 14 ~xd3 l!xd3 15 We2 lld8 16 1:!.d 1 h6 17
'Llc4 .ia6 18 l!xd8t l!xd8 19 b3 .l:!.c8 20 i.e3
.itxc4·f· 21 bxc4 l!ixc4 22 a4 Wf8 23 a5 CUd7 24 'Llxe5 .l;l.fe8 19 'L'ld3! ..tg5!? 20 e3 (20 f4) 20 ...
axb6 a:\bo 25 h4 h5 26 .l:Ibl llc2t 27 @fl .l;l.c6 28 ..te7 21 ~e2 ..tf8 22 f3 'L'lg5 !? (22 ... 'L'lf6 23 e4
.i;>f-'2 We? 29 .l:!.b5 e5 30 g4 g6 31 gxh5 gxh5 32 f4 dxe4 24 fxe4 i2:ld7 25 e5! i.xd3 26 'Ufxd3 l2:lxe5?
i!z_i/2 27 ~e4 ±) 23 e4 (23 h4 ..txd3 24 '&xd3 l2:lh7 25
28 Reshevsky- Capablanca 035 ~h2 l2:lf6 <x:>) 23 ... dxe4 24 fxe4 f6
l d4 ctJf6 2 c4 e6 3 l2:lc3 d5 4 i.g5 i2:lbd7 5 cxd5
exd5 6 e3 ii.e7 7 .td3 0-0 8 ~c2 c5?! 9 lZ:lf3 c4?
10 .tf5! i:ie8 11 0-0 g6 12 .th3 lZ:lf8 13 i.xc8
l!xc8 14 i.xf6! (It shows a profound positional
awareness: White wants to let the enemy's B free
at his White square actions.) 14 ... .txf6 15 b3!
'k'Ha5 (15 ... cxb3 16 ~xb3 ±) 16 b4! ~d8 17 ~a4
a6 18 b5! .lle6 (18 ... .lla8 19 llfbl) 19 i:iabl l:':ib8
:o llb2 ..te7 21 hxa6 llxa6 22 ~c2 l2:le6 (22 ...
1.a3 n .:ib51 23 1ifbl 1la7 24 a4 l2:lc7 25 l2:le5
'~:111le :Slack :~ \ookmg fot a square for luii<
((rngbt both Whm: imd Black have an excellem
i:,osiiwn. • 25 ... ~e8 26 f4 f6 27 CZlg4 ·~d7 28 h3
J,g7 29 4Jf2 .l!.a3 30 lla2 i.d6 31 'L'lfdl! (White
has intem1pted the game against d5 for a while to 25 e5! ! .1.xd3 26 't'Hxd3 fxe5 27 '*'*'g6! e4! (27 ...
exchange the covering Sc7 and then to capture exd4? 28 h4 i2:lf7 29 .1.e4) 28 h4 l2:lf3·1· 29 .txf3?
Bd5 with D followed remaining S inevitably!) 31 (29 i:ixf3! exf3 30 .1.xf3 ~f7 31 't!Vxf7t Wxf7 32
... [5 (Else 32 g4!) 32 'L'lb5 .lla5 33 'Llx.c7 i.xc7 34 J.xc6 ±) 29 ... exf3 30 llxf3 ~d7 31 b4 axb4 32
.:zic3 ·~e6! (Capa realises a tactical defence against axb4 ~d5 33 .l!cfl i:ie7 34 .llf4 't!Vb3 <x:> 11z_11z
the strategical relentlessness of White's plan
immediately: It threatens 35 ... ~xe3t or 35 ...
SIMULTANEOUS with Clocks-1935
i.xf4) 35 ~f2 b6 36 ~f3! lld8 (It threatened 37 Barcelona - 1935
b5) 37 .llab2 ~e7 38 l!ib4! (38 ... ~a3!) 38 ... i:id7 31 Ca1>ablanca - A. Ribera B 17
39 @h l Jld8 40 g4! fxg4 41 hxg4 'i'Vd6 (41 ... 1 e4 c6 2 l2:lc3 d5 3 i2:lf3 dxe4 4 ebxe4 i2:ld7 5 d4
~h4·1· 42 @g2 h5 43 g5! ± +-) 42 @gl i.c7 43 'L'lgf6 6 l2:lg3 e6 7 .1.d3 J.e7 8 0-0 0-0 9 't!Ve2 (9
<M: 'IJ.f7 44 g5!? (44 .l::rb5 ~a3!?) 44 ... ~d8 45 @e2! b3; 9 c4) 9 ... c5 10 l:':idl ~c7 11 J.g5 b6? 12 d5!
flxg5? (45 ... h6) 46 .l::rxb6! 'li!Va3 47 @d2 ~e7 48 i2:lxd5 ( 12 ... exd5 13 't!Vxe7 i:ie8 14 1!.xf6 .llxe7 15
Z!.b7 .llxa4 49 VNt'xd5 (49 loxa4? ~d3t) 49 ... .l::ra5 .1.xe7) 13 i.xe7 'Llxe7 14 fJ..xh?t! Wxh7 15
(Else 50 \Wi'e5i"!) 50 \i!Vxc4 .l::rh5 51 @d3 ~a8 (51 ... l2:lg5"!"! @g8
Wd6 52 Z!.lb6) 52 ~e6 ~a3 53 .l::rd7! .l::rhf5 54 .l::rb3
1Jal 55 'IJ.xe7 iYUfl i" 56 @d2 1-0 (DR. Gorschen)

EXHIBITION GAME - 1935

Moscow - 1935
29 Romanovsky - Ca1>ablanca C47
1 e4 e5 2 'L!f3 'L!c6 3 d4 exd4 4 'Llxd4 'L'lf6 5
tuc3 .1.b4 6 'Llxc6 bxc6 7 .1.d3 0-0 8 0-0 d5 9
exd5 cxd5 10 1!.g5 c6 11 Wif3 i.e7 12 llfel l:':ib8
13 .llab 1 h6 14 .1.xh6 gxh6 15 ~e3 .td6 16
111'xh6 .l!b4 17 't!Vg5"!" @h8 18 ~h6t @g8 19
':!Wg5t l!z.lh

CONSULTATION GAME-1935
Hilversum - 1935 16 .llxd7! 'k'Hxd7!? (16 ... J.xd7 17 't!Vh5 .llfe8 18
30 Ca1>ablanca and Kmoch- 't!Vxf7·1· @h8 19 i2:lh5) 17 ~5 .lld8 18 '*'*'xf7"!" Wh8
Euwe and Lilienthal A12 19 h4 (19 l2:lh5?? 'i'Vdlt) 19 ... l2:lf5 20 l2:lh5 ~e8
l ~f3 d5 2 c4 c6 3 b3 .1.f5 4 .1.b2 e6 5 g3 i2:lf6 6 (20 ... J.a6 21 ~g6 @g_8 22 'L'lf6i") 21 i2:lf6! ! 1-0
i.g2 cubd7 7 0-0 h6 8 d3 .tc5 9 'L'lbd2 0-0 10 i:ic l 21 .. . lt:'id6 22 'Llxe8 LtJxf7 23 'L'lxf7"1· Wg8 24
ih7 11 a3 a5 12 d4 .1.e7 13 lZ:lel! b5 14 c5 'L!e4 i2:lxd8 J.d7 25 0..x.g7 .llxd8 26 'Llh5 .1.c6 27 l:!el
15 ibclf3 '¥/c7 16 i2:ld3 !iad8 17 'L!fe5 l2:lxe5 18 Z!d2 28 i:ixe6 J.b5 29 b3 .llxc2 30 a4)

103
 Leningrad - 1935
32 Ca1>ablanca - Ravinsky El6
1 d4 .:2if6 2 c4 e6 3 ~3 b6 4 g3 .5:l.b7 5 .5:l.g2 .5:l.b4·1·
6 .!:i..d2 .5:i.xd2i" : \J/Vxd2 d6 (7 ... 0-0) 8 0-0 (8 l2:lc3)
8 ... .5.2Jbd7 9 li:'ic3 li:'ie4! 10 l2:lxe4 .5:l.xe4 11 ii:'ih4
itxg2 12 .:2.:lxg2 0-0 13 e4 Wife7 14 f4 l;!adS 15
llfel c5 16 !!adl l2:lb8? (16 ... cxd4) 17 d5! e5 18
.12\e3 L!feS 19 f5! .12:id7 20 li:'ig4 Z!bS 21 a4 a6 22
!!al llb7 23 llfl! f6 [23 ... tzlf6 24 l2lxf6i" ~xf6
25 h4 followed Wg2(h3) and g4-g5, or b2-b4] 24
l2:le3 llebS 25 llfb 1 \J/VdS (25 ... b5 26 axb5 axb5
27 .l!a6 or 27 cxb5 llxb5 28 .12\c4 ±) 26 ~e2 'J.fie7
27 .l!a3 h6 28 Wg2 .&!.a7 29 llbal llbaS 30 l2:ldl
Cbf8 .3 J. .;iJc3 ~·d; 32 ·~c2 !lbS 33 .llbl a5 9 34
~gl: 1:Jt' 35 M ~f: 36 ~h3 ~f8 37 g4 ~e7 38
1
'i'i'dl .:::ab- 39 c-2::.b.5 1;.h8 40 llad ~e8 41 ;;i;;g21
:i;.'d7 42 1;12 't'ie7 43 ·;<;;el .t;ocs"44 ~d2 l!d7.45
itcl ::!cid8 46 ·;<;;bl f!.dg8 47 ~a2 Wilds 48 wa3!
0b7
49 Lllg2! (It threatens i2:lb5-c3-e2-gl-f3, Wi/g l and
g4-g5!) 49 ... Wi/e7 50 li:'ic3 Wi/d7 51 i2:le2 g5! 9 52
fxg6 Exg6 53 \J/Vfl 1:.l.hgS 54 °i'.Wf3 v/ig7 55 "°fVf5
:/!;;c'"' 56 .:2ld 'if/f7 57 ~f3 (57 .:2\b5i· wbs 58
.'.tJxd6) 57 ... Wi/g7 58 l2ldl! \J/Vf7 59 l2:le3 ~·es 60
2'jf5 "ri'fs 61 ·*1¥b3! Z!hS 62 '@'b5 'l,!Ves 63 .12:ixd6!
'f:Yxb5 64 it:\xbs·1· wd7 65 l2:lc3 .lJ.hg8 66 .12:id 1 h5
67 ?.2Je3 .12\f8 68 !!g 1 WeS 69 !.:l.3g2 Wf7 (69 ...
lP;g4 70 !!xg4 !hg4 7 1 L!xg4 L!xg4 72 .12\xg4 Wf7
73 c2lh6t ~J.!6 74 1Llf5) 70 gxh5 llxg2 71 llxg2
'Z:::g2 ~: 12Jxg2 wg7 73 l2:le3 Wh6 74 l2:lg4t wxh5
75 LZ:ixfM ·~h4 76 d6 .12\e6 77 .12:id7 .12:idS 78
{i:Jxb6 3',g5 79 iod'.7 .:2lb7 80 0'.Jxe5 li:'ixd6 81 ~b3
1:2Jxe4 82 °i2lc6 ~4 83 t.'i:\xa5 We3 84 @c2 1-0
SlMULTANEOUS GAMES-1935
Manchester - 1935
33 Bancroft: - Ca1>ablanca C73
1 e4 e5 2 1Llf3 Ci'ic6 3 .5:l.b5 a6 4 .ffi..a4 d6 5 .!lt.xc6·1·
bxc6 6 d4 f6 7 .5:l.e3 li:'ie7 8 li:'ic3 g6 9 \J/Vd2 .5:i.g4 10
dxe5 fxe5 11 .sih6 .ffi..xf3 12 gxf3 .sixh6 13 ~xh6
1:1.fS 14 °i'Yxh7 nxf3 15 0-0-0 ~d7 16 'J.YihSi· llf8 17
104
'J.fih6 't'Vg4 18 lld2 0-0-0 19 ·~e3 ~f3 20 'fl/el l!hS
21 'J.Yifl wb7 22 h4 !!dfS 23 Z!h3 'J.Yif4 24 'fl'!11 g5
25 hxg5 llxh3 26 Wilxh3 Wilxg5 27 l2ld 1 tiles 28 c4
l2:lb6 29 \J/Vd3 llf4 30 Wc2 'lif g2 31 lle2 i'.!f3 .32
li:'ie3 'JJlih2 33 b3 ;;lxf2 34 1!xf2 'Ufxf2,· 35 t'Jd2
'>/;!¥f3 36 -~d3 LZ:id7 37 .:2ifl Wiff2-r 0-l
Madrid - 1935
34 Ca1>ablanca - Ribera COO
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 .5:l.d3 dxe4 4 .5:l.xe4 l2lf6 5 ..\tf3 c6
6 .12\e2 .5:l.e7 7 0-0 0-0 8 l2:lbc3 l'Z:lbd7 9 it:\g3 w-Yc7
10 llel Z!eS 11 ..\tg5 b6 12 l2:ib5 ~7 13 ..\tf4 !:!fS
14 l2lf5 exf5 15 l:he7 l2:ld5 16 .!2:'id6 '&a6 17 .5:i.xd5
cxd5 18 a4 l2:lf6 19 b4 b5 20 axb5 w-Yb6 21 f'Vd3
Q:ie4 22 .12:ixcS rl.fxcS 23 !(a6 Wild8 24 l:!axa'"' Exa'7
25 1!xa7 1'!.c3 26 b6 J.-0
Ban:eloraa - Jl935
35 Capablanca - Llusa D3C1
l d4 e6 2 c4 l2:lf6 3 .12\f3 d5 4 .5:l.g5 lbbd7 5 e3 2.e7
6 lbbd2 c6 7 2.d3 0-0 8 0-0 lleS 9 w-Ye2 -'ilh5 10
..\txe7 W1:f xe7 11 Ci'ie5 l'Z:ihf6 12 f4 c5 13 L!acl cxd4
14 exd4 dxc4 15 .!2:'idxc4 l'Z:id5 16 l'Z:ixf7 ms 17
l'Z:ig5 .12\xf4 18 W1:le4 '@'xg5 19 Wilxh7·1· Wf7 20
llxf4t'J.Yixf4 21 !!fl '*1fxflt22 .5:l.xfl 1-0
36 Capablanca - Vilaro D02
l d4 l'Z:if6 2 .ffi..f4 d5 3 .12\f3 e6 4 e3 l2:ibd7 5 h3 c5
6 c3 '&b6 7 'i1¥c2 .5:l.d6 8 l2:le5 'J.fic7 9 Wila4 0-0 10
Q:ixd7 .ffi..xd7 11 .ffi..xd6 ~xd6 12 W1:la3 !!fc8 13
·'.t:ld2 Wi/c7 J.4 l2lf3 c4 15 Ciie5 ..'ic6 16 .sii..e2 a5 1';"
0-0 b6 18 b3 b5 19 ~·cs lbe4 2G ~xc6 Wixc6 2 l
Q:ixc6 l:!xc6 22 bxc4 tz.lxc3 23 Jii..f3 23xc4 24
llfc 1 l:!acS 25 Wf l Ciie4 26 llxc4 Q:id2-!" 2 7 We2
.:2.:lxc4 28 Wd3 f5 29 !!bl Q:ia3 30 !!b2 b4 3]
.id 1 .Ec3t 32 we2 g5 33 2.b3 h5 34 J:!d2 ~f7
35 !:!d 1 l2::ic4 36 g4 hxg4 37 hxg4 wg6 38 gxf5T
wxf5 39 nh 1 Q:ib2 40 nb 1 8c4 41 !!h 1 1bb6 .:i:::
!.:l.h6 Zk6 43 wd l a4 44 2.cU Wg4 45 ·~d:
.12\c4"!" 46 @e2 l2:lb2 47 .5:i.g6 b3 48 axb3 axb3 49
Wfl Wf3 50 !!h3"!" 1-0
37 Llado Lumbera - Ca1>ablanca E91
1 d4 l2:lf6 2 c4 g6 3 .12\c3 .5:l.g7 4 e4 0-0 5 .12\f3 c5 6
..\te2 d6 7 0-0 .5:l.g4 8 2.e3 .12\c6 9 h3 ii..xf3 10 itxf3
l'Z:id7 11 d5 Q:id4 12 .ffi..e2 e5 13 ..\td3 f5 14 f4 fxe4 15
.5:l.xe4 .5:l.h6 16 ~xd4 cxd4 17 l2:lb5 Q:ic5 18 2.c2 exf4
19 ~ l f3 20 !!xf3 1!xf3 21 Wilxf3 'J.Yih4 22 !:!fl Ef8
23 ~e2 l!xflt 24 't'1°xfl d3 2.5 .5:i.xd3 .5:l.f4 0-1
Barcelona - 1935
38 Capablanca - Ribera B 17
l e4 c6 2 .12\c3 d5 3 l'Z:\f3 dxe4 4 lbxe4 l2ld7 5 d4
i2:lgf6 6 .12\g3 e6 7 ..\td3 .5:l.e7 8 0-0 0-0 9 'l!Ve2 c5 10
!!.dl Wilc7 11 .5:l.g5 b6 12 d5 Q:ixd5 13 .5:l.xe7 Cilxe7
14 .s:J.xh7t WXh7 15 Q:ig5t Wg8 16 !!xd7 ·,&xd7 17
Wilh5 lldS 18 ·~xf7t WhS 19 h4 .12:if5 20 Ciih5 'i!Ves
21 Ciif6 1-0
 Manchester - 1935
39 Eva,& Allies - Ca))ablanca D06
1 d4 Ci:lf6 2 c4 d5 3 cxd5 'iJlixd5 4 lbc3 °&'d8 5 g3
e6 6 .£g2 c5 7 '&'a4·1· ..Qd7 8 'iJlic4 '&'c8 9 lbf3 lba6
10 ..Qg5 cxd4 11 '&'xd4 ..Qc5 12 °&'d2 ..Qc6 13 ..Qxf6
i::xf6 14 0-0 Wfc7 15 I:!ac 1 cJi;e7 16 cbh4 .llad8 17
·tJh6 .ixg2 18 lbxg2 '&'e5 19 c2:\f4 '&'g5 20 'tVl-t3
.~hi::8 21 W.Ji::2 !!.d7 22 l:!fdl ..Qd6 23 lbe4 !Wb5 24
tlf3 .li.e5 25 '@la3i" l&'b4 26 r!xd7i' Wxd7 27 °i'Y<l3i"
,&e7 28 ~ell Q:ib8 29 e3 f5 30 lbg5 h6 31 Ci:lf3
i.xf4 J2 exf4 "l!Vxf4 33 ·'l!Va3i" '.M6 34 °i'Yc3-j- 'JiJe7
35 .:'!<l4 (1.1
* chess world will benefit from Euwe or not'.' His
At the end of 193 5 a piece of news appeared in the
press, which did not affect Capablanca directly,
but rather indirectly: Euwe beat Alekhine and
became a world champion. Although Capablanca
1936
The year 1936 was Capablanca's second or third
golden age. It was then that Capablanca achieved
the result which, from a certain point of view,
surpassed even his years as world champion: he
won rwo world tournaments in succession. It is
true, however, that the year staned only with a
partial success.
Margate - 1936
/ Flohr 7 1h 2 Capablanca 7 3 Stahlberg 5 112 ./
Lundin 5 5-6 Milner-Barry, Tylor 4 112 7 Miss
rv1enchik 3 1h 8-9 Sergeant, Thomas 3 10
Reilly 1112
1 Thomas - Ca))ablanca D66
1 d4 .:ilf6 2 c4 e6 3 Q:ic3 d5 4 ..Qg5 ..Qe7 5 e3 0-0 6
Q'\f3 Q'ibd7 7 !!.cl c6 8 ..Qd3 h6 9 ..Qh4 dxc4 10
2.xc4 b5 11 ..Qd3 a6 12 0-0 (12 a4!) 12 ... c5 (12 .. .
ii.b7 13 i.xf6! .:'Z:lxf6 14 ltJe4 ±) 13 a4 c4!? (13 .. .
b4 14 .:'Z:\e4 cxd4 15 ~g3! dxe3 16 .ac7) 14 .£e2?!
(14 .ib 1) 14 ... lbd5 15 ~xe7 'iilixe7 16 'iilicl2 ("The
alternative 16 axb5 lbxc3 17 .l:!.xc3 axb5 18 b3
I:!a3! 19 '&'c2 "l!Vb4! is difficult to appraise.") 16 ...
.itb7 17 axb5 lbxc3 18 ~xc3 axb5 19 !ta 1 (19 b3
I:!a3!) 19 ... I:!fc8 20 I:!fcl c2:\b6 ("Black is systema-
tically strengthening the QBP, a policy which must
naturally give him the advantage.") 21 Lt:\el f5! (It
is important to restrain White from eventually
playing e4") 22 .itf3 .5td5 23 'iJlic2 "l!Vf6 24 '@'d2
fffs 25 '8cZ9! ("Vainly hoping to stop ... b4; but
he seriously weakens his position.") 25 ~xf3
("Naturally.") 26 gxf3 i2:ld5 ("Black is now ready
to play ... b4; hence Whites desperate reply.") 27
e4 91 fxe4 28 fxe4 ~f4! 29 "l!Ve2 (29 'fk'xf4 l2:lxf4 30
must have been happy because of his pique, the
trade press made a sour face:
*
"Euwe is a great player, but the match was not
won by him but lost by Alekhine. Euwe was
simply lucky to be in the right place at the nght
time. Flohr or Botvinnik, or even Capablanca or
Bogoljubow. could have won just iike that or even
more easily instead of him. (Capablanca was at his
nadir. which is why he was ranked so low among the
candidates. EV.) It is another question whether the
predecessors were colossi and each brought
something new. .. Euwe, on the other hand. did nor
give anything else but thorough grounding, that is the
superlative of middle-class merits." (Dr. G. Nabry)
cJ;;f 1 lbd3 31 I:!ax8 I:!xa8 32 I:!b 1 Z!a2 --t-) 2 9 ...
Wg5i"! 30 @hl l'Zlf4 31 Wf3 tZlct3 32 £1.gl (32 £1.cbl
Wcl2!) 32 ... £1.xal! 33 l'Zlxal Wc12 0-1 (Reinfeld).
2 Ca1>ablanca - Sergeant A09
1 it:lf3 d5 2 c4 d4 3 d3 f6 4 g3 e5 5 ..'ig2 c5
(King's Indian Saemish variant. bur with
opposite colours.) 6 0-0 'L\c6 7 e3 Jk<l6 8 liJbd2
(8 ex<l4) 8 ... l2:lge7 (8 ... dxe3) 9 'L\e4 ~f5 10
iLlxd6i" "l!Vxd6 11 exd4 exd4?! 12 l2:lh4! ~e6 13
°&'h5t ~f7 14 "l!Vg4 g6? [14 ... 0-0 9 15 ~h6 .Jtg6
(15 ... lbg6? 16 .!txg7) 16 ~f4 lbe5 17 ~xe5
"l!Vxe5 18 l2:lxg6! hxg6 (18 ... l2:lxg6 19 ..ltxb7 I:!ab8
20 .il.d5t) 19 .il.xb7 I:!ab8 20 .l:!.fe 1 'i'Yc7 21 .l:!.xe7
"l!Vxe7 22 .£d5t I:!f7 23 b3 g5 24 'tVl-t5+- 14 ... g5 1]
15 I:!el C.i:\e5 16 '@'dl 0-0-0 17 .£f4 .:'Z:\7c6 18
.£xc6! ''l!Vxc6 (18 ... bxc6 19 ~xe5 fxe5 20 ~a4
I:!d7 21 i2:lf3 I:!e8 22 l2:lg5 ±) 19 ~xe5 fxe5 20 iLlf3
.£e6 21 'L\xe5 °&'d6 22 "l!Va4 WbS
23 b4! llhf8 24 bxc5 'l:'Vxc5 25 I:!abl Wa8 26 !!b5
"l!Vc7 27 .!:!ebl ~c8 28 I:!a5 a6 29 ~4 !!f6 30 Ec5
105
'fjg'"! 31 cbc6! (with the idea 32 ~6) 31 ... .lldd6
32 t:be7 .l:!.b6? [32 ... 'Vjgxe7 33 .llxc8t Wa7 34
~c5"1"] 33 Ll.xc8i· <:J;a7 34 'Vjgc5 1-0
3 Capablanca - Miss Menchik
1 d4 d5 : ~ clif6 3 c4 c5?! 4 cxd5 cxd4 5 clixd4
~xd5 6 e4 'Lib4 : ~e3 a6 (7 ... cli8c6) 8 'Nt'a4i"
Q::i4c6 9 ~c3 e6 \9 ... ~a5? 10 ~xa5 lbxa5 11
CZldSi 10 'Lldb5! (10 Ltd 1 ~a5 11 ~xa5 lbxa5 12
'Da4 lbd7 "") 10 ... lbd7 11 .l:!.dl .l'!b8 12 l2:ld4
lbxd4? (12 ... ~a5 13 cbxc6 'Nt'xa4 14 l2:lxa4 bxc6
15 ~e2 .ib4t 16 ~d2 ~xd2t 17 l'1xd2 l!b4 18
lbc3 We7 t; 13 'iWxa5!?) 13 'Nt'xd4 ~f6 (13 ... b5
14 ~e2 ~b7 15 0-0 ±) 14 ~c4 ~e7 15 f4! ~d8
(15 ... 0-0 16 e5 ~g6 17 ~c7 ~d8 18 't'Hd6 ±) 16
e5 ~h4·1· 17 g3 'fie7 18 clie4! ~a5i· 19 Wf2 0-0 2()
•:.i:;d6 ..ib6'' 120 ... f6!?,l 21 ~xb6 lbxb6 22 ~d4
?'.'.i:15 '.2 ':\ .i.g2 il..d'7
24 ~xd5! exd5 25 ri.hel ~c6 26 lbf5 ~e6 27 g4
!ibc8 28 h3 .llc7 29 ~6 .llcc8 30 Wg3 d4!? (31
l2:ld4 32 f5 is c:efinitely not what one would wish
for, but it does not promise a quick fall either.) 31
!!xd4 .l:!.ce8 {31 ... 'iWxa2?? 32 l2:le7i· c;,t;,h8 33 lbxc8
.l:hc8 34 !id8t) 32 b3 h5 33 .l:td6 ~c8 34 ~d4
!ie6 35 .l:l.xe6 ~xe6 36 ~d6 hxg4 37 l2:le7t Wh7
38 W'xe6 fxe6 39 hxg4 .lld8 40 c;,t;,h4 i.f3 41 Wg5
!!d7 42 clig6 lld2 43 .llcl i.c6 44 clif8t c;,t;,g8 45
lbxe6 .13.xa2 46 clid4 i.b5 47 .!lc8t c;,t;,h7 48 l2:le6
1-0
4 Ca11ablanca - Milne1·-Barry A26
1 c4 e5 2 lbc3 lbc6 3 g3 g6 4 i.g2 i.g7 5 d3
lbge7 6 h4 ("Unusual move." On 6 cbd5 0-0 7 h4
see Capablanca -Alexander Nottingham 1936) 6
... h6 7 .id2 d6 8 !ibl ("With this and the next
move, he shifts his attention to the Q side. A
bewildering policy for Black, who cannot foresee
where the lightning will ultimately strike.") 8 ...
0-0 9 b4 cbd4 ("This. and the succeeding moves,
are an attempt to muffie the strength of Whites
attack on the long diagonal... "G. 9 ... f5!?) 10 e3
.:.iJe6 11 lbge2 c6 12 ~3 i.d7 ("A subtle move
106
played to deter Black from an irnmediaie f5 and
also with the idea of exerting_ pressure on the Q
side i'See move l6i 13 0-0 V/i/c7 14 .l:!fcl ~fc8':'
D06 ("The Rook remains here for almost the balance of
the game, accomplishing nothing whatever.'· 14 ...
f5!?) 15 a4 ~ab8 16 ~a3 i.f8?! 17 lbe4! /''BY
means of this move, White gains the l;te~t
positional advantage of two Bishops, an advantage,
which he exploits to perfection later on by opening
up the game as much as possible." G.) 17 ... f5 (17
... Wg7 18 ~c3 f5? 19 l2:lxd6! W'xd6 20 f4) 18
cbf6·1· Wf7 19 lbxd7 ~xd7 20 i.c3 ("Having two
Bishops now, Whites course is clearly indicated;
he must work consistently to open up the position,
after which the Bishops will have a field day.'') 20
... ~g7 21 ~2! 'JJVc7 22 d4 cbf8 (22 ... e4?'! 23
d5!; 22 ... exd4) 23 dxe5 ~xe5 (23 ... dxe5 24 f4)
24 ~d4 lbd7 25 e4! ("Forcing Black to give up h.is
Bishop, the key ,o his defence, by the threat to
isolate Blacks KBP") 25 ... ~xd4 26 .i.xd4 ~e5
27 'JJVd2! fxe4 (27 ... cbg8 28 exf5 gxf5 29 ~f4) 28
~xe4 cbf5 ("It has already become painfully
apparent that Blacks game will soon fall apart.")
29 i.al!? ("He could have won a Pawn with 29
i.xe5 dxe5 30 i.xf5 gxf5 31 ~xh6. But the text
method cuts short Blacks resistance by a
considerable margin." It threatens 30 h5!) 29 ...
.l:!.g8 30 h5 .l:!.bf8
31 c5 ! (Especially to be admired is the tactical
skill with which the position of both Kts is
undennined." G.) 31 .. d5 (31 .. dxc5 32 l!xc5) 32
~xd5i·! cxd5 33 ~xd5"!" wf6 34 f4 ~c6 35 ~xe5·1·
We7 36 ~d6·1 l-O (Reinfeld and Golombek).
5 Ca11ablanca - Lundin 047
1 c4 c6 2 l2:lf3 d5 3 e3 clif6 4 cbc3 e6 5 d4 lbbd7 6
~d3 dxc4 7 ~xc4 b5 8 ~d3 b4?! (8 ... a6; 8 ...
i.b7) 9 lba4 (9 lbe4! c5?! 10 ~a4!) 9 ... c5! 10
0-0 (10 lbxc5!? lbxc5 11 dxc5 ~xc5 12 0-0 0-0
13 e4 ±) 10 ... cxd4 11 exd4 (11 lbxd4 ~b7 12
~d2 i.d6 13 ~e2 a6 =) 11 ... i.d6 12 ~e3 .tb7
13 lbc5 i.d5 (=) 14 lbxd7 clixd7! (14 ... 'JJVxd7 15
.;,2e5! .ixe5 16 dxe5 'Llg8 17 ~g4!) 15 'Llg5 t2:.\f6
[15 ... h6 16 t2:.l.e4 (16 ~5 0-0!) 16 ... il..e7 17
'fl'g4 ~8 18 ~g3 oo +=] 16 ~a4i" We7 17 f3 ~8!
18 g3!'? (18 f4 h6 19 tbf3! oo)
18 ... f:Yb7 [18 ... il..xg3!? 19 hxg3 ~xg3i· 20 ~1
h6 (20 ... a5? 21 °'&c2 h6 22 t2:.l.e4) 21 'Wxb4i" @d8!
22 .:'t:'ixf7-1· (22 '&aSi·? @e8!) 22 ... @e8 23 t2:.l.d6i" (23
22:ixh8 =) 23 ... @d8 24 ctJf7i· =] 19 .l'lael il..c6 (19 ...
h6 20 c"£\e4 'Llxe4 '?! 21 fxe4 il..xe4 ?? 22 il..xe4 ~xe4
23 ..igS"!") 10 'fVa6 ~xa6 21 il..xa6 h6 22 t2:.l.e4 lbxe4
.Z3 fxe4 ..'&.xe4 24 Jixh6 Ll.xh6 25 .Etxe4 !!ah8 26 !!e2
1'!.fo 27 .:h.f6 ~f6 28 L'td2 ~d8 1/z-liz
6 Flohr - Ca11ablanca D36
1 d4 d5 2 LZ:\f3 lbf6 3 c4 c6 4 lbc3 e6 5 il..gS lbbd7
6 cxd5 exd5 7 e3 Jte7 8 il..d3 0-0 9 ~c2 Z!e8 10
0-0 t.urn 11 .:.Ue5 lb6d7 12 il..xe7 'JJ.xe7 13 'Llxd7
_,;;.xd7 14 t.ue2 g6 15 'Lif4 lbe6 16 lbxe6 .llxe6 17
a3 !i.e8 18 i!fcl a5 19 b4 axb4 20 a'<.b4 ~e7 21
'l&c5 V.hc5 22 bxc5 l!xa 1 23 l!xa 1 Wf8 24 Wfl
Ve7 25 @e2 @d8 26 Iia8i" il..c8 27 @f3 cJi;c7 28
t;;g3 h6 29 h4 Iie7 30 il..e2 f5 11z_11z
7 Reilly- Ca11ablanca A47
l d4 .:'t:'if6 2 ctJf3 b6 3 e3 il..b7 4 il..d3 c5 5 0-0 e6 6
Z2:lbd2 (6 c4) 6 ... lbc6 7 c3 '&c7 8 ~e2 d5 9 a3
Jid6 10 dxc5 bxc5 11 e4 0-0 12 Ziel (12 h3) 12 ...
lL\g4! 13 exd5 exd5 (13 ... il..xh2"1" 14 @hl exd5 15
Ji~fi7"1· ~h8 16 il..fS) 14 'Lifl! h6 15 h3 lbf6 16
1'..e3 flfe8 17 !Uc2 lbe5 18 lbxe5 il..xe5 19 'Lid2
(19 .!!e2) 19 ... il..h2i" 20 cJi;hl (20 @fl) 20 ... il..f4
21 il..xf4 '&xf4 22 @gl Iiad8 23 Iiadl? (23 il..fl!)
23 ... l!xeli·! 24 !!.xel d4 25 lbfl [25 c4? (25
cxd4? ~xd4) 25 ... ~g5! 26 lbe4 (26 g3?! h5 or
26 -ifl? d3!) 26 ... .:'t:'ixe4 27 il..xe4 d3! 28 ~dl d2
29 !!.e2 .lixe4 30 .llxe4 ~f6 31 b4 ~c3-+] 25 ...
~g5 26 ~g3 °'&d5 27 lbe4 lbxe4! 28 il..xe4
(See diagram next column)
28 ... d3! 29 °&d2 (29 il..xd5?? dxc2 30 il..xb7 !id 1)
29 ... "<0Yd7 0-1 [Time? 30 il..xb7 'iVxb7 31 c4! Iid4!
i31 ... 'rfb3 32 Ziel! Iid4 33 l:!c3 °'&a2 34 @h2!) 32
fie l (32 l:!e3 "i!Vh3!) 32 ... 'l1.Ve4 +]
8 Stahlberg - Ca11ablanca D66
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 '-iJc3 d5 4 'Lif3 ctJbd7 5 il..gS
il..e7 6 e3 0-0 7 Zic 1 c6 8 il..d3 h6 9 il..h4 d'<c4 10
il..xc4 b5 11 il..d3 a6 12 a4 bxa4 13 lbxa4 °'&aS·!· 14
lbd2 il..b4 15 lbc3 c5 16 lbb3 ~6 17 d'<.c5 il..xc5
18 lbxc5 '&xc5 19 il..g3 il..b7 20 0-0 i!fd8 21 lbbS
'rfb4 22 lbd6 il..dS 23 e4 e5 24 exd5 '&xd6 25 rl.c6
°'&xd5 1i2- 1h
9 Tylor· - Cal>ablanca D13
1 d4 d5 2 lbf3 lbf6 3 c4 c6 4 cxd5 cxd5 5 -1Jc3
.:bc6 6 ~3 lt:'ia5 7 '&c2 il..d7 8 'Lle5 rl.c8 9 e3 e6
10 il..d2 il..d6 11 ctJxd7 ~xd7 12 il..d3 0-0 13 0-0
'iJc4 14 !!.acl b5 15 b3 'Llxd2 16 ~xd2 ~a3 l':'
Llc2 a6 18 lbb 1 .l:ixc2 19 'ifxc2 !:Ic8 20 ·~d2 -~d6
21 .:'t:'ixa3 ~xa3 22 f3 'Lid7 23 Lib 1 g6 24 rl.b2 ~g-:-
25 Iic2 Iixc2 26 ~xc2 ~4 27 @f2 ~d6 28 g3 h5
29 a4 bxa4 30 bxa4 11z_11z
Moscow - 1936
1 Capablanca 13 2 Botvinnik 12 3 Flohr 9 1h ./
Lilienthal 9 5 Ragozin 81/2 6 Lasker 8 ";-JO
Eliskases, Kan, Levenfish, Ryumin 7 1/i
The great double-robin Moscow toumament was a
real world tournament. Any one of the first three
players could have been a strong candidate for the
world championship title, though Flohr was 3 1h
points behind the wim1er. In the middle of the
tournament Lasker still shared the second place.
but in the end he had to bow to old age.
Capablanca achieved one of the best results of his
life: he remained undefeated. left behind
Botvi.nnik by 1 point and the others by several.
though there were great names in the field.
Capablanca and Botvin.nik fought a separate battle:
it was decided by their game, the outcome of
which was favourable for Capablanca. He now
107
 played several high quality games of abiding
value, so the inner value of his victory is also high.
He finally regained his old strength.
The analyses are mainly taken from the
tournament book.
10 Capablanca - Kan E43
l d4 Clif6 2 c4 e6 3 '1Jc3 ..1b4 4 e3 b6 5 ..1d3 .Jtb-
6 f3 (6 l'bf3! J 6 ... c5 7 ctJge2 'L\c6 (7 ... cxd4 8
exd4 co) 8 0-0 cxd4 9 exd4 d5?! 10 cxd5 'L\xd5 11
c2:Jxd5 [11 '*'fa4! a6 12 ctJxd5 exd5 (12 ... '@'xd5?
13 f.i..e4 '*'fd6 14 .ilf4) 13 ..1f4 ± ±] 11 ... Wlixd5 12
±f4 f.i..e7 (12 ... 0-0 13 ..1e4 '@'d7 14 ~a4 ..1e7 15
l!acl ±) 13 I:!cl '±Wd7 14 ..1e4?! [14 Whl 0-0 15
d5 exd5 (15 ... %Vxd5? 16 .ile4! '@'xdl 17 I:!fxdl)
16 t~cl4 Clixd4 17 l.:!c7 ± ±) 14 ... l!c8 15 ~a4 fS:
.:6 .t.d3 0-0 ( 16 ... e5?? 17 dxe5 'L\xe5 18 I:!xc8i·
:hc8 19 .:ih5 or 16 ... a6? 17 !:t..xa6 l!a8 18 .ilxb7
3xa4 19 ~xe6) 17 i.l.c4 [17 I:!fdl a6! 18 .ilxa6
(18 licl2 b5 19 'fi'dl ..Qf6 =+) 18 ... I:!a8 19 .ilxb7
Exa4 20 5£.xe6 Wfa7 21 f.i..xa4 ~xa4 =+] 17 ...
'8h8 18 Z!fd 1 J:l.f6 ( 18 ... a6 ! 19 d5 exd5 20 nxd5
t:l'e8 21 :lxa6 2.xa6 22 'ill'xa6 .ile5·1· 23 @fl 'L\b4)
19 d5 exd5 20 .lixd5 ~e8 (20 ... W/ie7? 21 'L\g3!)
2 1 .:'be 3 .:'ba5
22 ~lxe8 [22 .:ixh7 ~\ha4 23 'L\xa4 'L\xb7 24
I:hc8 I:!xe8 25 l'ld7 'L\d8! (co) 26 I:!xa7?? b5!] 22 .. .
Efxe8 23 i.l.xb7 'L\xb7 24 I:!d7?! (24 I:!d5!?) 24 .. .
f2'le5 25 Ed5 l!cd8 26 fled 1 I:!xd5 27 Ll.xd5 g6 28
~ ~g8 29 .'..te3 ltJe6 30 g3 (30 I:!d7 Ll.e7! 31
.:'iid5?? .±h4"!'! or 30 ... f4? 31 .1i.d2 .ild4"!" 32 @fl
±) 30 ... l!c8 (30 ... I:!d8) 31 I:!d6 ! ..1xc3 32 bxc3
.:ile5 33 !:i..d4 D.c7 34 We3 00 35 D.d8?! (35
\9f4 ! the6·1· 36 We5 .:'bxd4 37 cxd4 ±) 35 ... .:'be6
36 Ea8 (36 l!h8 .'2:lf8 37 @£4 Ll.c4 38 Wg5 Ea4
39 Wh6 1!xa2 40 h4 l!g2 41 .ilg7 'Lle6 42 1!xh7
n ± or 37 ... 'Lle6·f· 38 We5 'Llf8 39 Wd5 'f!.e7 40
a4 1 ±) 36 ... .:'t:lxd4 37 Wxd4 We6 38 a4 Wd6 39
!!e8 wd7 112- 112
108
11 Flohr - Ca1rnblanca D58
1 d4 ctJf6 2 c4 e6 3 'L\e3 d5 4 .ilg5 .ile7 5 e3 0-0 6
'Llf3 h6 7 .ilh4 b6 8 cxd5 exd5 (8 ... .:'bxd5!) 9 ..Qd3
.ile6?! (9 ... .1i.b7 10 0-0 'L\bd7 11 fie 1 c5 12 2f5
±) 10 0-0 e5 11 ctJe5 (11 I:!cl .:'bbd7 12 .llbl Ec8
13 ctJe5 ± ± "Black has not got a good play
owing to his inaccurate treatment of rhe
opening. The following moves are almost
forced.") 11 ... 'Llfd7 12 ..1xe7 ~xe7 13 f4 cxd4
( 13 ... :'bxe5? 14 dxe5 lt.lc6 15 ..1b5!J 14 exd4
'L\xe5 15 dxe5 lt.lc6 ("White stands better. The
Q-pawn is weak, the Bishop is badly posted
on e6 and is threatened by f4-f5-f6.") 16 !!cl
(16 f5? .1i.d7 17 'L\xd5?? '@'c5i") 16 ... I:!ac8 17
.ilbl! [17 f5?! ..1d7 18 'L\xd5 '>ffxe5 19 f6 .ile6 (19
... g6 ro)] 17 ... d4 18 .'2:le4 l'lfd8 19 .:ild6 I:!xd6
("Otherwise Black will he slowlv stranded.") 2U
exd6 '@'xd6 ("White can rightly e~pect to. win with
his advantage of the exchange, but the strong
cl-pawn still causes technical problems.") 21 f5?.!
("I think it is too early. 21 .ile4 !") 21 ... ftd7 (21 ...
Si..d5? 22 f6 g6 23 .ilxg6 fxg6 24 ~g4) 22 f6 g6 23
:le4! l!e8? (23 ... Wh7! by ... .!'!d8) 24 .ilxg6! '1Je5
25 .ilh5 @h7 26 '*'fd2 d3 27 't'ff4 Wfd5 28 .!!f2 .lic6
29h3 ~b7
30 .ilg4? (30 .!'!c7 !) 30 ... 'Llxg4 31 hxg4 Wg6 32
.lldl? (32 I:!e7! .!'!eli· 33 Wh2 .lle2 34 .!!xb7 d2 35
I:!xe2 d 1'>ff 36 .lle5 Wf5d3 37 I:!h5 '>l&d6 38 I:!xh6#
"The rest of the game needs no explanation. Bia ck
defends his advanced pawn, posts his Rook as
aggressively as possible, and avoids the
exchanges.") 32 ... ..1a6 33 '@'f5i" Whf5 34 !!xf5
.lle2 35 I:!f2 .lle4 36 llf3 Zhg4 37 Wf2 .lle4 38 !!e3
.llf4 i· 39 I:!f3 I:!e4 40 .lld2 Wg5 41 b3 h5 42 l!e3
.llf4 t 43 I:!f3 l!e4 44 wg3 h4 t 45 Wf2 ..\tb5 112-112
12 Capablanca Ryumin A53
I d4 ctJf6 2 c4 d6 3 1Llc3 lt:lbd7 4 e4 e5 5 d5 (5
'Llf3!?; 5 'Llge2!?) 5 ... 'Llc5 6 f3 Jie7'1! -, 2e3
0-0?! 8 b4! 'Llcd7 9 ..\td3 ILleS 10 cbge2 g6 11 0-G
a5 12 a3 c2:Jg7 13 ..\th6 f6 (13 ... f5 14 exf5 gxf5 15
~g3 f4 16 lbge4) 14 '@'b3! Wh8! (14 ... J::!.t7 15 c5
dxc5 16 d6) 15 .l':!acl? (15 .&l.abl; 15 Z!adl) 15 ...
axb4 16 axb4 c5! 17 lba4 (17 dxc6 'llb'b6i· 18 Whl
lbc5 19 cxb7 '>@'xb7 20 '>@'c2 lbxd3 21 ~xd3
'i1'.¥xb4 -x, 17 b5? lbb6) 17 ... cxb4 18 'i'xb4 f5 19
exf5 gxf5 2 0 lbg3 (20 Jie3 Jig5) 2 0 ... .i.g5 ! 2 1
2.xg5 ! (21 Jixg7t Wxg7 22 !!.eel 'i'a5 23 '>@'xd6
'fl'xa4 24 Jixf5 ro 22 ibxf5t? .i:lxf5 23 .i.xf5 Jixcl
24 nxcl 'W'g5!; 22 f4 exf4 23 lbxf5t whs 24
~xd6 Z!xa4 ! 25 ~xa4 lbc5 etc.) 21 ... ~xg5 22
.i!ce 1 'iifr'h4 ·
23 1:lf2 [23 f4! exf4 24 lbe2 f3 (24 ... lbh5 25 lbd4!)
25 g3 'l/{{g4 26 lLJf4 oo] 23 ... '@'d4 24 ..ifl (24 ..ic2
.l':!a6 25 l'!d 1 'i'e3 26 lbfl 'i'a7) 24 ... .l:!.f6? (24 ...
.l':!a6! 25 lbe2 '>@'e3!) 25 lbc3 (25 lbe2 '1'.'Ue3! 26
lbcl? .l':!xa4!) 25 ... .l':!h6 26 lbge2 lbc5?? 1-0 [26
... ·&e3! 27 lbb5? (27 lbdl 'i'c5 28 'i'xc5 lbxc5 29
:tied ~d7 30 .l'lb2 l:!a 1 31 h3 .&!.f6? ro) 27 ... l:!a2
28 ~xd6 r!.xh2 29 1L:ixc8 .l:he2! 30 .i.xe2 'i'h6 31
l!ffl '~4!]
13 Ca1>ablanca - Ragozin E22
1 d4 liJf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 .i.b4 4 '@'b3 lbc6 5 e3 (5
.:'uf3) 5 ... d5 (5 ... a5; 5 ... lbe4) 6 lbf3 0-0 7 a3 (7
2.d2 dxc4 8 Jkxc4 ..id6!) 7 ... dxc4 8 .lixc4 Jid6 9
:ib5 e5! 10 .5hc6 (10 d5 lbe7 11 e4 a6 12 ..ie2
lbg6 ro) 10 ... exd4 ll cbxd4 (11 exd4 bxc6 12 0-0
:ig4 13 lbe5 c5 ro) 11 ... bxc6 12 lbxc6 (12 0-0 c5
13 cbf3 ..ig4) 12 ... 'tYd7 13 lbd4 ~g4! (13 ... .lia6
14 '®'a4 ~·cs 15 b4!; 13 ... c5 14 lbde2 ..ib7 15 f3
1!ab8 16 llVc2 ro) 14 0-0 Jia6? [14 ... c5! 15 cbf3
(15 h3! '&h5 16 lbdb5 ..ixh3! 17 lbxd6 ..ixg2 18
·J.>xg2 il'':Vg4t =J 15 ... 'i1fh5 (It threatens 16 ... ..ig4)
16 'i:'fdl (16 !!dl nd8) 16 ... rld8 17 'i'e2 g5! 18 h3
.ixh3 19 gxh3 '@'xh3 +] 15 h3! (15 l;!dl? ilxh2t
16 'i.t>xh2 'i1fh4-i- 17 @gl lbg4 1s lbf3 'J//ixf2t 19
Whl ..ifl 20 lbel Jixg2t 21 lbxg2 'i'g3 22 Wgl
Wfh2t-+) 15 ... 'i1fh4 16 cbf3 ~5 17 ile 1! .l':!ab8 (17
... J:Lc8!? 18 \j1£1dl J;:1.d8 oo) 18 '\/{{a4 ..\tb7 19 e4 h6 20
.lte3 l'.lfe8 (20 ... ..ia8 21 .ltd4) 21.ltd4! lt'lh7 [21 ...
it:lxe4 22 i!..xa7 .l':!a8 23 lbxe4) 22 ..ixa7! Z!a8 23
\:.%5 'ii:Yxb5 24 lbxb5 I:!xe4 25 .l:!.xe4 ..ixe4 26 cbd2
Jid3 27 lbxd6 l:lxa7 (27 ... cxd6 28 ..id4 ±) 28
lb6e4 lbf8 2 9 lbc5 ..if5 30 lbf3 lbe6 3 1 .l':!cl Wf8
32 lbxe6t Jixe6 33 lbd4
33 ... .l':!b7 34 b4 Jid7 35 f4! We7 36 Wf2 Zla7 37
r!c3 Wd6 38 r!d3 We7 39 We3 .l':!a4 40 .l':!c3 Wd6
41 .l':!d3 We7 42 l'!b3 Wd6 43 lbe2! g6 44 .l':!d3t
We6 45 Wd4! r!a6 46 r!e3t Wd6 47 lbc3 f5 48 b5:
lla8 (48 ... .l':!xa3 49 lbe4t fxe4 50 l!xa3 ..ixb5 51
.l':!g3 ..ie8 52 Wxe4) 49 Wc4 ..ie6i· 50 wb4 c5·1 51
bxc6 ilg8 52 lbb5i· ~c6 53 .l':!d3! g5 54 .l':!d6t
Wb7 55 fxg5 hxg5 56 llg6 llf8 57 .l:!.xg5 f4 58
lbd4 (58 a4 f3! ?) 58 ... l:!c8 59 .l:ig7t Wb6 60
I:!g6t @b7 61 lbb5 .l:!.f8 62 lbd6·1· '.tbs 63 h4 1-0
14 Levenfish - Ca1rnblanca D53
1 lbf3 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 d4 d5 4 lbc3 Jie7 5 Jig5 h6
6 ..if4 (6 Jih4) 6 ... 0-0 7 e3 b6?! (7 ... c5) 8 cxd5
lbxd5 9 .lig3? [9 lbxd5 '>@'xd5 (9 ... exd5 10 ..id3 ±)
10 .ltxc7 ..tb7 (10 ... ~a5t 1 l lt'ld2 '1Ja6 i2 .ltf4 .ltb7
13 a3 Ilfc8 14 f3) 11 .lte2 .Jib4t 12 Wfl t'Zld7 13 a3
..ie7 14 .Jig3 .l:Ifc8 15 t2lel! t ±] 9 ... c5! 10 ..id3
cxd4 11 exd4 ..ta6! 12 0-0 .ltxd3 13 'i't'xd3 Z2lc6 14
J;:1.acl .:1:l.c8 15 '\/{{a6! l'2ldb4! (15 ... ~d7 16 Z2lxd5!
'\/{{xd5 17 tbe5!) 16 'i't'a4 a6 17 a3 b5 18 \"Jct l [18
Z2lxb5? axb5 19 ~xb5 \:/Vd5! 20 '\/{{b7 l2lxd4! 21 'IJ!ixe7
(21 '\/{{xd5lt'le2t)21 ... lt'le2t] 18 ... lbd519a4lbcb4
( 19 ... i'2lxc3 20 .l:Ixc3 ..tf6 21 axb5 axb5 22 .lte5
l'2lxe5 23 dxe5 Exc3 24 bxc3 .lte7 25 ~b3 =) 20
axb5 lt'lxc3 21 Exc3 (21 bxc3 t2ia2 ! 22 bxa6 l'2lxcl
23 '\/{{xcl ~b6 24 'i't'a l .l:ia8) 21 ... axb5 22 'tJ'e2
I:!xc3 (22 ... 'J//id5 23 Z!fcl .&!.xc3 24 bxc3 lbc6 25
!:!bl) 23 bxc3 lbd5 24 ~xb5 lbxc3 25 ~d3 lbd5
26 l'!cl 'J//ia8 27 ~c4 lbb6 28 ~3 Llc8 29 .Exc8t
Wfxc8 30 ilf4 lbd5 31 ~8 'i'xb8 32 Jixb8 Wh7
33 Wfl 112- 1/:
15 Ca1>ablanca - Lasker D69
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 lbf6 4 .i.g5 .i.e7 5 e3 lbbd7
6 lbf3 0-0 7 !!cl c6 8 ..id3 dxc4 9 ..ixc4 lbd5 10
..ixe7 ~xe7 11 0-0 lbxc3 12 I:!xc3 e5 13 dxe5
.:£Jxe5 14 lbxe5 W:fxe5 15 f4 'J/lif6 (15 ... 'liUe7; 15 ...
'i:'¥e4) 16 e4 (16 f5) 16 ... ..ie6 17 e5 'J//ie7 18 Jid3 f5!
109

19 'tWa4! a6 [19 ... i:ifd8 20 !.l.d 1 rid721.1l.e2! i:ixd 1i"
(21 ... 1!.1d8? 22 lixd7 Wxd7 23 l::rd3) 22 ~xdl E.d8
23 ...tb3! : '.: -=] 20 ..ic4 (20 !id 1 .l!ad8 21 ..\te2 =) 20
... .:!ad8 21 ~xet>i" 'fhe6 22 ',j'b3 ·-&rxb3 23 Ll.xb3
16 Botvinnik - CaJ>ablanca A30
1 ~f3 lt:lf6 2 c4 eti 3 g3 b6 4 ..\tg2 ..\tb7 5 0-0 c5 6
b3 it:lc6 (6 ... .Qe7) 7 .1l.b2 ..\te7 8 it:ic3 0-0 (8 ... d5
9 cxd5 exd5 10 d4) 9 d4 li:ixd4 10 lbxd4 .1l.xg2 11
'~g2 (11 li:ixe6? fxe6) 11 ... cxd4 12 'tWxd4 'tWc7
(12 ... ..\tc5? 13 '¥Jd3 d5 14 exd5 li:ixd5 15 li:ixd5
~xd5 16 'tWxd5 exd5 ;!; ± 12 ... d6) 13 e4 !iad8?!
I 13 ... l!fd8) 14 i:iadl 'i%7 15 f3 lbe8 (15 ... d6!)
16 f!.d2 f5?! 17 Llfdl Sig5 (17 ... ..\tf6 18 'tWe3 fxe4
19 ·Wxe4 ift'xe4 20 Q:ixe4 J 18 l:!d3 .1i..f6 19 e5 ( 19
'*'e3 fxe4 20 ~xe4 ·~xe4 21 fxe4) 19 ... ..ie7 20
·~c !!.f7 21 ~'Vd2 ..\tb4 22 a3 ..\tf8 23 lbe2 li:ic7 24
.:Uf4 g6 25 h4 b5 9 [(25 ... ..th6 26 c£he6! ctJxe6
t26 ... ixd2 27 ii:ixd8) 27 '&xh6 f4 28 .lld6 .l:!e8 29
;:4!; 25 ... 'i&°c8 26 a4 .ih6 27 !!d6] 26 cxb5 ~xb5
t2t> ... l2:ixb5'1 27 .:bxet>) 27 !!.cl 't1Vb7
28 !!.xc7? [28 ~a5 d5 29 exd5 ..\txd6 (29 ... i:ixd6
30 ~e5) 30 ..\te5 ±] 28 ... 'tWxc7 29 lbxe6 clxe6 30
.llxd8 f4 31 g4 (31 gxf4 .llxf4) 31 ... W¥e7 32 Wh3
~b7 33 ~d3 Wg7 34 b4 a5! 35 b5 a4 36 g5 .1l.c5!
("If Capablanca had thought of something like this
110
when he sacrificed the weak d7-pawn after 25 b5.
then he gave another proof of his strong sense of
position. Although White has a pawn more and
controls the cl-file. his King stands unstable. Black
threatens not only with il.e3. but the Queen wants
to penetrate through the squares a7. a5 and el to
force perpetual checks." CT.) 37 Lld6?! (3-:- ilig4i
37 ... .1Lxd6 38 exd6i· Wf8 39 ..\tf6? (39 ~c3 We8
40 '&c6i" l:td7 41 .ie5 or 39 ... e5 40 ·-&rc6 e4 4 i
fxe4 f3 42 ..\td4!) 39 ... '$'e8 40 fJ..e7 (40 @g2 ~d':'
41 ·~c4) 40 ... i:if5! 41 'ifc3 Wd7 42 b6 '8!ic6 (42 ...
l:':ib5? 43 'i1Vc7i· 'ifxc7 44 bxc7 .llb3 45 <,t,g2 l:!xaJ
46 c8'fl·1· Wxc8 47 d7t Wxd7 48 ..\txa3) 43 'W/g7
'ti'xf3i· 44 @h2 'i1Vg3t 45 @hl 'i1fxh4i" 46 Wgl
'i1felt 47 wh2 <t>c6 48 'i1Vb2 (48 ..\tf6 '*1Hd2t 49
Wh3 ~xd6) 48 ... !.l.d5 49 'i1fc2i· Wb5 0-1
17 CaJ>ablanca - Lilienthal .\ ~ 2
"This is a lesson in the fine a11 ot makmg
something out of nothing. At first the game gives
little promise of developing into anything
noteworthy; but C. works up a powerful pressure
which soon leads to some extremely 111teresting
play." (R)
1 ltJf3 d5 2 c4 c6 3 b3 ..\tf5 4 ..\tb2 e6 5 g3 li:if6 6
.1l.g2 lt:\bd7 7 0-0 h6 8 d3 .1l.e7 (8 ... .1Ld6) 9 lbbd2
(9 lbc3) 9 ... 0-0 10 l:':icl a5 ("Laskers method for
obtaining a counter-attack on the Q side by the
threat of a5-a4") 11 a3 !!e8 ( 11 ... a4 12 b4, t::
rlc2 ..\th7 (12 ... e5?! 13 e4 clxe4 14 li:ih4! .ih"." 15
dxe4) 13 'ifal ..\tf8 (13 ... ..\td6) 14 !!el 'iVb6 d4 ...
'&b8!?) 15 ..\th3 ..\tc5 16 i:ifl ..if8 17 .!iccl .!lad8
18 Ll.fel ..\tc5 19 !!fl (19 d4 =) 19 ... ..if8 ::'.IJ ~g2
..\td6 ("At last he has the idea of playin~ ... e5.
Capablanca prevents the move with the followini:
continuation, which requires accurate ~ppra1~al oi
its consequences.") 21 ti:le5 ..\txe5 22 ~xe5 lllxe5
23 ~xe5 lbd7 (23 ... d4? 24 c5 ~5 25 llic4 .Ee:
26 Cbd6 'i1Vxb3 27 !ibl 'i1fxa3 28 cbxb7 .l:k8 29 .l:!.a 1
'i1Vb4 30 lbxa5 23 ... lbg4 24 'i1Vb2 d4 25 h4
followed by c5 and lbc4-d6 ;!;) 24 ~2 lbf6 9
(better is 24 ... c5 and lbb8-c6) 25 b4 axb4 26
'i1Vxb4 ! ("The proffered exchange of Queens is not
woodshifting".) 26 ... ~xb4 (26 ... ~c7 2~ .l:!.bi
'!J.e7 28 .llb3; 26 ... ~a7!?) 27 axb4 !la8 ~8 l'!al
("In this seemingly innocuous position. Black is at
a definite disadvantage on the Q side. where White
has an attacking Pawn fonnation with the
possibility of two fine outposts for his Kt on c5 or
a5" G.) 28 ... li:id7 29 li:ib3 Wf8 30 l:ta5! dxc4'' (30
... We7 311:tfal ?txa5 32 .lixa5 c;,t;,d6 33 .lla7 ~c:
34 lba5 l:':ib8 35 c5 !) 31 dxc4 lbb6 32 .llxa8 ! .l:ha8
33 lba5 i:ia7 34 l:':idl (It threatens 35 ..\txc6! bxc6
36 .lld8i· We7 37 lbxc6i') 34 ... @e8 (34 ... We7'!
35 ..\txc6!; 34 ... f6? 35 !id8·1· Wf7 36 l:':ib8)
35 'L\xb7! ("A far-sighted positional sacrifice. The
resulting passed Pa\,\,11S leave Black helpless, and
the poor position of his Bishop does not help
matters.") 35 ... .llxb7 36 .i.xc6i" .lld7 37 c5 @e7
("This is the best move if f1.111her resistance is
contemplated, since it enables Black to obtain two
minor pieces for the Rook, with chances for
stopping the advance of Whites Q side Pawns." G.
37 ... l'tld5 38 b5 @e7 39 .i.xd7 @xd7 40 llal 37
... .i.e4 38 lld7 .i.c6 39 lld6 +-) 38 iJ..xd7 'L\xd7
39 c6 'L\b6 40 c7 .i.f5 41 !!d8! (41 e4 JJ..g4 42 f3
.i.xf3 43 I:!d8 .i.xe4 44 c8~ 'L\xc8 45 I:!xc8) 41 ...
e5 42 I:!b8 l'tlc8 43 b5 @d6 44 b6 'L\e7 (44 ... @c6
45 b7 @xc7 46 bxc8~"1' .i.xc8 47 .l;!a8) 45 Z:!f8
.i.c8 46 I:!xf7 l2:ld5 4 7 Z:!xg7 l2:lxb6 48 Z:!h7 ltid5 49
Exh6'!" @xc7 50 e4 l'tle7 51 f3 @d7 52 h4 @e8 53
l:l.f6 l'tlg8 54 I:!c6 1-0 (Capablanca, Lilienthal, Bot-
vinnik, Reinfeld and Golombek.).
18 Eliskases - Capablanca D64
l d4 'L\f6 2 c4 e6 3 l'tlc3 d5 4 i.l..g5 .i.e7 5 e3 0-0 6
Cl:lf3 l2:\bd7 7 I:!cl c6 8 ~c2 dxc4 (8 ... 'L\e4!?; 8 ...
a6; 8 ... h6) 9 i.l..xc4 ltid5 10 .i.xe7 'Wixe7 11 0-0
( 11 'L\e4 !?) 11 ... ltixc3 12 'Wixc3 b6 13 'i'd3 (On
13 e4 see Marshall - Capablanca, New York 19
18) 13 ... I:!d8 (On 13 ... c5 14 i.l..a6 see Alekhine-
Capablanca, London 1922) 14 ~e2 a5! 15 e4 i.l..b7
16 I:!fdl I:!ab8! 17 ~e3 (17 i.l..a6?! JJ..a8!) 17 ... c5
18 i.l..b5 [18 d5 exd5 19 exd5 (19 i.l..xd5 'L\f6!) 19
... ~xe3 (19 ... ~d6!?) 20 fxe3 lbf6 21 d6 b5! ao]
(See diagram next colunm)
18 ... cxd4? (18 ... ltif6! 19 dxc5 .llxdli" 20 I:!xdl
'&xc5 21 ~xc5 bxc5 22 e5 ltig4 23 .!!el? .i.xf3 24
gxf3 I:!xb5 25 fxg4 I:!xb2 +) 19 l'tlxd4 ltic5 20 f3
Ebc8 21 l'tle2 rhd 1·1· 22 I:!xd 1I:!d823 .l:l.d2 i.l..a6 24
'Llc3 i.l..xb5 25 ltixb5 h6 26 l'tlc3 lld7 27 @fl ~d8 28
lhd7 fil'xd7 29 We2 @£8 30 ~d2 @e7 31 ~xd7'!"
wxd7 112- 112
19 Kan - Cat>ablanca C25
"The early exchange of Queens leads White to
believe that a draw is his for the asking. That this
is not necessarily trne is amply demonstrated in
the further course of the game. If one of the
players is in a fighting mood, the early exchange
of Queens need be no hindrance to interesting
play." (R)
1 e4 e5 2 l'tlc3 i.l..c5 (2 .. . l'bf6) 3 l'tlf3 d6 (3 .. .
lbc6? 4 l'tlxe5!) 4 l'tla4 [4 d4!? exd4 5 l'tlxd4) 4 .. .
i.l..b6 5 'L\xb6 axb6 6 d4 exd4 7 ~xd4 ·~f6 (7 .. .
ltif6? 8 i.l..g5) 8 .i.g5 ~xd4 9 ltixd4 i.l..d7 ("White
has some lead in development, and his Bishop
may become powerful. TI1e way in which C.
demonstrates that these advantages are only
temporary, is quite interesting.") 10 i.l..c4 'L\e 7 11
0-0 'L\g6 12 a3?! (12 f4 h6) 12 ... 0-0 13 Ll.adl 'L\c6
14 l'tlxc6?! ("Superficial, as the exchange deprives
White of control of the square d5" 14 l'tlb5 'L\ce5 !
15 i.l..e2 i.l..xb5 16 .i.xb5 £Xa5 17 i.l..e2 ltif3t 18
i.l..xf3 I:!xg5 19 g3 = ao) 14 ... bxc6 15 i.l..d2 ( 15
i.l..c 1!?) 15 ... I:!a4! 16 .i.d3 l2:le5 17 .i.c3 f6 18 f3
(18 f4) 18 ... I:!e8 19 I:!f2 i.l..c8! 20 .i.fl i.l..a6!
("Forcing the exchange of the Bishops. This will
be in Blacks favor, because he may be able to gain
ground on the White squares.") 21 i.l..xa6 I:!xa6 22
i.l..xe5 fxe5
("I could praise Black's play with the term
'wise', quite rare in chess. He took with the
111
 f-pawn towards the centre, he gained an ideal
predominance over the Queen's side; he does not
have a weak square, whereas in his opponent's
position the squares a4 and f4 are an eyesore as
well as the a-file and the fourth rank, the
dominance of which is not in doubt." CT.) 23 l;!d3
b5 24 !!.fd2 c5 25 Wf-'2 lla4 26 We3 Wf-'7 27 !!.dl
We6 28 Wd2 l:!b8! ("The threat b5-b4 is not
carried out but it pins down White's forces. In
this way Black can start a minority attack on the
King's side.") 29 llc3 g5! 30 h3 h5 31 Ehl
!!.d4t 32 We2 Z!g8! 33 .i1d3 Ll.a4 34 .l;!hdl? g4!
35 hxg4 hxg4 36 We3 .l;!.h8! 37 .llb3 (Relative
best. Capablanca hoping 37 fxg4 !l.g8 38 Wf-'3
!!.fSi· 39 We3 llf4 or 37 f4 exf4 t 38 Wxf4 .&l.f8 t
... @h8 cs ..\fl.f4!) 9 lbe5?! (9 ..lfl.f4!) 9 ... l2lbd; 10
39 We3 .l:!.h8) 37 ... £ih2 38 .!!d2 ild4!("A
lbxd7 (10 lLld3 dxc4! 11 '1Jlixc4 lLlb6 12 'tVh3
splendid post for the Rook which can hardly be
'&xd4!?) 10 ... lbxd7 11 Z'!.dl lbb6! 12 cxd5 (12 c5
removed") 39 .l:!.e2 c6 40 l'!c3 (40 fxg4 I!h4 41
lbd7 13 °@'c2 b6 14 b4 a5!) 12 ... exc\5 13 'Lla4
Wf-'3 Wf-'6) 40 ... g3! 41 !!.d3? [41 f4! l!h4 42 f5t?!
l2lc4 14 l2lc5 b6? ( 14 ... lbd6 15 .llf4 .llf7 or 14 ...
Wf-'6 43 Wf-'3 !!.f4i· 44 Wxg3 .lJ.fxe4 45 l'!xe4 !!.xe4
'tVh6 =) 15 lLld3 ..\:l.f6 16 '1Jlic2! ..\:l.d7 (16 ... .llxd4?
46 llf3 llc4! 47 llf2 (47 c3!? b4!) 47 ... d5 48 Wh3
17 lLlb4 '@'f6 18 lbxc6 .llxb2 19 ..\:l.xb2 'Llxb2 20
e4 49 g4 e3 50 .l:!.fl e2 51 llel llxc2 52 Wg3 d4. 53
.l:!.xd5 .llb7 21 .lJ.c l llac8 22 .lJ.d2) 17 e3 lbd6 18 a4
Wf-'3 d3 54 We3 d2 etc. 42 fxe5! lld."<e4t 43 ~3 a5 19 b3 .lj,e8 20 .lla3 'Lle4? (20 ... 'Llf7) 21 f3 lbg5
.!!hf4t 44 Wxg3 llg4t 45 Wf-'3 llxe2 46 Wxe2
22 l2le5! l'!c8 23 i!acl Wg8 24 Wfr'd3 (It threatens
l!xg2t 47 Wf-'3 .l:!.h2 48 Wg3 =] 41 ... llhl.! ("Now '&a6-b7) 24 ... 'Llf7 25 f4 .lle7 26 .llxe7 '1Jlixe7 27
Black has a clear win, and Capablanca wmds up
!!.c3?! [27 '@'a6 'Llxe5 28 d."<e5 'liVb4 29 'tVh7 .lle6
in instructive fashion.") 42 f4 .l:!.fl ! 43 f5·1 Wf6
30 .l:!.xc6! 'iYxb3 31 .llf3! 'fHxe3·/· 32 Wg2 l;!b8 33
44 c3 !'!xd3i· 45 Wxd3 d5 46 b3 c41· 4 7 bxc4
°@'a7 !'!a8 (else 34 !k7!) 34 °@'xb6 'fHxb6 35 !'!xb6
bxc4t 48 We3 (48 Wd2 .l!al or 48 Wc2 d4!) 48
... !!.al (48 ... !kl? 49 llal!) 49 Wf3 .llxa3 50
± ±) 27 ... lbxe5 28 dxe5 'liVh4 29 .l:!.dcl (29 '&d4
llb8 30 '&xb4 axb4 31 l'!c2 b5 32 axb5 .l:!.xb5 33
Wxg3 (50 l'!e3 .l:!.b3 51 Wxg3 d4!) 50 ... .l:!.xc3i·
l'!a l .l!b7 34 .l:!.c5 by Wfl-e2-d3-d4 ±) 29 ... l!b8
51 WM !'!cl! (!Not 51 ... d4 because of 52 g4
30 '@'d4 b5 31 .lla 1 r!a8 32 axb5 'fHxb5
and 53 g5f') 52 g4 llh 1i. 53 Wg3 d4 54 Zia2 d3
55 Wg2 .l:!.el 56 Wf2 .lJ.xe4 0-1 (Capablanca,
Reinfeld and CT.)
20 Ca1>ablanca - Flohr D45
1 lbi'3 c\5 2 e3 lbf6 3 b3 e6 4 ..\:l.b2 lbbc\7 5 c4 c6 6
lbc3 ..\:l.d6 7 d4 0-0 8 'tVc2 'Wie7 9 .lle2 (See 1 d4 d5
2 c4 c6 3 lbf3 Lt:\f6 4 lbc3 e6 5 e3 lbbd7 6 'Wic2
.lld6 7 b3 0-0 8 .lle2 'Wie7 9 .llb2) 9 ... b6 (9 ...
dxc4) 10 0-0 .llb7 11 .l:!.adl .l:!.ac8 12 e4! dxe4 13
lbxe4 lbxe4 14 'tVxe4 .l:!.fd8 15 .lld3 lbi'S (On 15 ...
lLlf6 16 'ffil4 and 17 d5!) 16 l'!fel 'Wif6!
(See diagram next column)
17 'tVg4 [17 .llcl! h6 18 l2le5 .llxe5?! 19 d."<e5
'1Jlie7 20 '1Jlig4 Wh8 21.l:!.e3 f5 22 exf6 'iifr'xf6 23 llf3
.lld4 24 'iifr'h3 '1Jlih4 25 '1Jlixh4 .ilxh4 26 Z'!.f7 ± 18 ... 33 llc5! '1Jlixb3 [33 ... 'il¥b4 (33 ... ~6? 34 l'!xd5!)
'iifr'e7! 19 '1Jlig4 (19 lbg4! oo) 19 ... f5 20 '&'f4 '1Jlif6 21 34 .llxd5! cxd5 35 '@'xb4 axb4 36 llxa8 .l:!.xa8 37
..\:l.b2 ±] 17 ... c5! 18 ..\:l.e4 ..\:l.xe4 19 '&'xe4 'tVg6 20 .llxd51· .lle6 38 .llxa8 ..\:l.xb3 39 Wf2 ..\:l.c4 40 Wel
'iliixg6 l"Zlxg6 21 d5 exd5 22 .lhd5 .fJ..c7 23 .lhd8i" ±] 34 .l:!.xd5! .lle6 35 .ild6 c5 36 ffxc5!? (36 '&d2 1
l;;1xd8 24 g3 f6! 1/z- 1/z and it threatens 37 .llxa8 and 37 .l:!.xe6 +-) 36 ...
£tec8 37 'i¥b6? [37 'i'd4 .&!c4 38 't'fd 1 'tl'xe3t 39
21 Capablanca - Botvinnik A95 Whl I!ac8 (39 ... !!e8 40 £!xe6!) 40 .l:!.xe6! !!cl 41
1 lbf3 f5 2 g3 lbi'6 3 ..\:l.g2 e6 4 c4 ..\:l.e7 5 0-0 0-0 6 I!es·1· Wf7 42 l'!xc8 .ilxdl·/· 43 llxdl +-] 37 ...
c\4 d5 7 lbc3 (7 b3) 7 ... c6 8 'tVh3 (8 'Wic2; 8 b3) 8 .llab8 38 'tl'xb3 .llxb3 39 .i.c6 (39 llxa5? .l:!.cl t 40

112
Wf2 .l:k2t 41 Wfl? Qc4i"! -t- 39 e4!) 39 ... a4! 40
g4 (40 Qxa4 ?? Qxa4 41 rl.xa4 .llc 1i· 42 Wg2 nb2 i"
43 @h3 nhl 44 @h4 nbxh2i· 45 @g5 !!h5#) 40
.. fxg4 41 Wf2 Wf8 42 @g3 112- 112 (42 ... Z!b6 43
Qe4 Z!xd6 44 exd6 nd8 45 Qxh7 Zixd6 46 @xg4
nh6 47 Qd3 nxh2 48 Qb5 .l;!a2 49 llxa2 Qxa2 50
.il.xa4 t =)
22 Ryumin - CaJJablanca Al I
1 'Llf3 d5 2 c4 c6 3 e3 'Llf6 4 'Llc3 'Llbd7?! 5 cxd5!
cxd5 6 d4 e6 7 Qd3 Qd6 8 0-0 0-0 9 e4? dxe4 10
ct'lxe4 lbxe4 11 Qxe4 'Llf6 12 Qc2 h6 13 'like2 b6
14 lbe5 Qb7 15 nd 1 (15 f4; 15 'Llg4) 15 ... rl.c8 16
.ffi.f4 Qb8 17 Qb3 'like7 18 Z!acl 'Lld5 19 Z!xc8
Z!xc8 20 .il.g3 '*1Vg5 21 '*1Vd2? (21 h4!) 21 ... 'likxd2
(21 ... ~f5 22 ct'lc4 ct'lf4) 22 nxd2 nclt 23 ndl
Exd 1-j" 24 Qxd 1 f6 25 'Lld3 .il.xg3 26 hxg3 Wf7
(26 ... Qa6 27 lbf4; 26 ... lbe7 27 .ii.b3 Qd5 28
.ii.xd5 lbxd5 29 'Llf4) 27 ct'lcl 'Lle7 28 .ii.b3? h5
(2 8 ... .ii.d5) 2 9 ct'le2 lbf5 30 .ii.c2 'Lld6 !? 31 ct'lf4 ?!
(31 .ii.d3! ?)
31 ... g5! 32 ct'lxh5? (32 'Lle2 .il.a6 33 lbc3) 32 ...
ct'lb5 (32 ... f5 33 g4 f4 34 f3 lbb5 35 Wf2 'Llxd4
36 .ii.d3 e5) 33 g4 ct'lxd4 34 .ii.cl 1 i.d5 ! 35 a3 (35
b3 ct'lb5 36 .lic2 ct'lc3 37 a4 'Lle2i" 38 Wfl ct'ld4
-+) 35 ... i.b3 36 .ii.xb3 (36 Qf3 tb.xf3·1· 37 gxf3
~dl 38 @g2 f5 39 i'ilg3 @£6 +) 36 ... i'ilxb3 37 i'ilg3
CLJd2! 38 b4 b5 (38 ... i'ilbl 39 a4 i'ilc3 40 a5 i'ild5!
-+) 39 ct'le2 'Lib 1 40 'Lld4 'Llxa3 4 l 'Llc6 We8 42 g3
(42 filxa7 @d7!) 42 ... @d7 43 i'ilb8 1·@d6 44 f4 i'ilc2
0-1 (45 Zila6 t'ile3)
23 Ragozin - Capablanca D47
1 ct'lf3 d5 2 c4 c6 3 e3 'Llf6 4 'Llc3 lbbd7 5 d4 e6 6
.ffi.d3 dxc4 7 .£xc4 b5 8 i.d3 b4 ?! 9 ct'le2?! (9
ct'le4!) 9 ... c5 10 0-0 Qb7 11 'Lle5 .ii.d6 12 f4 0-0
13 ct'lg3 cxd4 14 exd4 a5 15 ~e2 i.b8! (Capa
keeps tabs on the Pawn d4) 16 .ii.e3 'Lld5 17 !!ad 1
ct'lxe3 ?! (The exchange of the Knight standing in a
dominating position against the passive Bishop is
not lucky. 17 ... f5!?; 17 ... f6!?) 18 ~xe3 .£a7 19
.ffi.e4! (Forces the former world champion to an
unfavourable exchange.) 19 ... .ii.xe4 20 'Llxe4
(White can look at the future in an optimistic way
with two powerful Knights in the centre.) 20 ...
Z!c8 21 Whl Wi/e7 (21 ... 'Llf6?! 22 'Llxf6t gxf6 23
'Llg4) 22 !!cl Z!xcl 23 Llxcl lbxe5 24 fxe5 nd8 25
lbd6 .£b8 26 ct'lb5 ! '*1Vb7 27 ilc5 h6 28 h3 nd5 29
'*'fc 1 Wh7 (Despite the reduction of material the
big pressure is on Black; he has to wait passively.)
30 wren i;,6 31 'Lid6! Wlid7? (31 ... '@'e7!) 32 ct'le4!
Z!xc5 33 li:lf6i" Wg7 34 'likxc5 Wild8 35 b3 h5 (A
rare moment; the great Cuban is almost
stalemated! 35 ... .£c7?? 36 Wi/xc7!) 36 Wg 1 h4!
(He blocks the position hoping for a later perpetual
check.) 37 Wf2
37 ... .il.xe5 ! (Capablanca realises that waiting
is hopeless in the long term.) 38 dxe5 '*1¥d2t 39
@gl Wlieli" 40 wh2 '@'g3t 41 @hl ~e1·1· 42 Wi'gl
'likxe5 (White had to sacrifice a Pawn so as to
avoid a draw. Black's situation is still dubious
as a result of the black King's position.) 43
'Llg4 Wiih2 44 'like3 Wg8! (44 ... 'likxa2?? 45 't\Vh6-j"
Wg8 46 'Llf6#) 45 Wiie5? (45 ~6! '>l!Vc3 46 W!ixh4
Wiiali" 47 Wh2 '>l!Vxa2 48 '&l'd8i" Wh7 48 '*'ff6 Wg8
50 lbe5 +-) 45 ... '>I/Vc12 46 @h2 Wi/d3 47 lbf6i" Wf8
48 t'ile4 @g8 49 t'ilg5 '@d2 50 '@f6 ~4d6"j" 51 @h l
'&di i" 52 @h2 '&d6i" 53 @gl \i'Vc5t 54 @fl '&cl i" 55
@e2 '&c2i" 56@e3 '®'cl i" 57@d3 Wdl i" 11z_i1z
24 Ca1>ablanca - Levenfish D43
1 d4 e6 2 'Llf3 ct'lf6 3 c4 d5 4 .il.g5 h6 5 .£xf6
W!ixf6 6 ct'lc3 c6 7 e3 (7 e4; 7 '&Vb3) 7 ... 'Lld7 8 !:!cl
(8 a3; 8 Qd3) 8 ... i.d6 9 i.d3 0-0 (9 ... dxc4 10
Axc4 e5) 10 0-0 W!ie7 11 Wlic2 (11 e4!?; 11 lbd2)
11 ... dxc4 12 Qxc4 e5 13 lbe4 exd4 ( 13 ... .£c7
14 d5 cxd5 15 Axd5 Qb6 16 nfd 1 ct'lf6 17 lbxf6t
'likxf6 18 ·~e4 t ±) 14 'Llxd6 '¥Yxd6 15 nfdl ltJe5
16 lbxe5 W!ixe5 17 nxd4 (17 exd4?! '&'g5!) 17 ...
i.f5 18 '¥Yc3 ( 18 Wiib3 W!ie7 19 e4 Ag6 20 ilcd 1 ±
±) 18 ... ilae8 19 Wi/a3 a6 20 Z!cdl Qc8 21 b4 'f!fc7
22 '®'c3 Z!e5! 23 a3 ilfe8 24 .i!f4 i.f5 25 h3 (25 g4
Ae6 26 Qxe6 n5xe6 27 '®'d4 ±)
113

25 ... a5! 26 g4 axb4 27 a'<b4 SLe6 28 l?.fd4 SLc8
(28 ... SLxc4 29 ~xc4 J:ixe3? 30 J:id7 .l::!.g3t 31
..t>f'l ! +-) 29 !if4 SLe6 30 SLxe6 I!5xe6 31 °i'd4 .lle5
11z_11z
* °i'f8t SLg8 -+) 37 ... 'iVd8 38 ~c3? ( "A blunder
"The Cuban came a little late for the begi.tuiing of
the game. When he eventually appeared, his
opponent made his first move with the Ki.t1g's
Pawn and then shrouded hi.tu in a cloud of smoke
from his favourite cigar ...
Capablanca apologized to the doctor for being late
and after adjusti.t1g all liis pieces as a musician
who checks the keyboard before a concert, he
made the first decisive move with Black's Queen's
Bishop's PawiL 'Sicilian' - wliispered the crowd i.t1
the room." (L.)
25 Lasker - Capablanca B58
"In playi.t1g over this game, i.t11agi.t1e the thousands
of faces i.t1tently studyi.t1g the duplicate board
above the heads of the two great rivals, and the
question i.t1 everyone's mi.t1d - would the old
wizard once again lower liis conqueror's colors, as
he had twelve months before, in the same place? It
was not be." (Purdy).
1 e4 c5 ("A defense which Capablanca took up late
m life and played rarely. By adoptmg it, he
announces at once that he means to play for a
win.") 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 lbxd4 lbf6 5 lbc3
d6 6 ..te2 ["It would have been mterestmg to see C.
reacting to Richters Attack (6 .ltg5). But Lasker,
with his well-k.t1owi1 contempt for fashionable
variations, lets the opportunity slip.") 6 ... SLd7 7
.lte3 e6 8 ~d2 (8 l'.iJdb5 ii\Yb8 9 .ltf4 lbe5) 8 ... a6 9 f4
(9 a4) 9 ... ~c7 10 l'.iJb3 (10 a4) 10 .. b5 11 .ltf3 l::rb8!
12 lbe2?! (12 a3) 12 ... SLe7 13 0-0 0-0 14 lbg3? (14
g4!?) 14 ... a5! ("Begimrn1g an interesti.t1g and novel
ki.t1d of cotmterplay, all the more so i.t1 order since
White has omitted, by his last move, the nonnal
114
procedure wliich consists in liis advanci.t1g the
Ki.t1g side Pawiis.") 15 lbd4 a4 16 Iiael (16 .l:!adl
lba5 17 ~e2 lbc4 18 SLcl) 16 ... llic8 17 .l!f2 lbe8
18 lbxc6? (18 c3) 18 ... SLxc6 19 f5?! ("As the faulty
effects of this move soon become painfully apparent,
White would have done better to contmue
swimming.'') 19 ... e5! ("What about the backward
PaW11?" shrieks the pious student, brought up on
sotmd positional pri.t1ciples. TI1e miswer is that there
ai.t1't goi.t1 to be no backward PawiL" Purdy.) 20 ~5
~7! 21 SLg5 f6 22 SLe3 lbc7 (22 ... SLxe4? 23
SLxe4 dxe4 24 SLa7) 23 ~dl! i!d8 24 iid2 ~h8!
(" An important preliminary to ... d5, as will be seen.")
25 a3 J:ibc8 26 SLf2 d5! 27 exd5 lbxd5 28 SLxd5
.Iixd5 29 ~g4! SLc5! (29 ... g6? 30 fxg6 i:!xd2?? 31
g7t ~g8 32 ~e6#) 30 iiedl SLxf2i· 31 @xf2 !icd8
32 Iixd5 (32 ~ h6!) 32 ... !!.xd5 33 .llxd5 SLxd5 34
~ ~a7t 35 ~2 SLc4t 36 'itf3 ~a8i· 37 ~ (37
c;.t,g3 °i'd8 followed by g6 -+ 37 ~ ~xg2 38
which allows C. to penetrate mto Whites game with
fatal effect." 38 b3? °i'd4t 39 ~g3 ~e3·1· -+; 38
~1! h6 39 b3 axb3 40 cxb3 SLt7 41 ~g4 °i'f8 42
b4 SLd5 =+) 38 ... ~dl! 39 lbg3 h6! ("Suddenly
Wliite finds himself in Zugzwang".) 40 b3! axb3 41
cxb3 SLxb3 42 lbfl (42 lbe2 SLc4!) 42 ... ~1! 43
g4 (43 lbe3 'i'a2i·) 43 ... SLc4 44 lbe3 ~1 45
lbxc4 (45 ~g3 SLe2!) 45 ... ~xh2t 46 ~el ~gli·
4 7 ~d2 ~f2 t 48 ~c 1 °i'fl t 49 ~d2 bxc4 50 a4
50 ... ~f4t 51 ~2 (51 ~el ~e4i· 52 ~2 ~xg4
53 a5 'iYg2t 54 ~e3 'iVa2!) 51 ... 'i'xg4 52 a5
'iYxf5t 53 ~ 1 ~f2 ["Played after half an hours
reflection. C. saw that he could win with 53 ... e4 54
a6 'ii't'c5! 55 'ii'i'h2 c3 56 'ii't'b8t (56 ~7 'ii'i'f2!) 56 ...
@h7 57 a7 \i\l'e3t 58 @bl ~d3i" 59 @a2 c2 60 a8\i\l'
\i\l'c4t. However, fearing that there might be some
miscalculation, he determined to play the ending in
the very simplest way.") 54 ~a3 (54 ~d2 ~c5 54
Dxc4! ~e 1t 55 ~c2 ~xa5 56 ~c8t ~h7 57 ~f5·1·
@g8 58 ~e6i" @£8 59 \i\l'd6i" @e8 60 \i\l'e6t @d8 61
\i\l'g8i" @e7 62 \i\l'xg7i" @e6 63 \i\l'g8t @d6 64 \i\l'f8t
 c;t>d5 65 ~xf6 ~a4i") 54 ... ~h7! 0-1 [55 a6 c3! 56
~xc3 '&'flt 57 @c2 'i'xa6 (Capablanca and
Reinfeld)]
26 Lilienthal - Capablanca C49
l e4 e5 2 ll:if3 ll:ic6 3 ll:ic3 ll:if6 4 i.b5 i.b4 5 0-0
0-0 6 d3 d6 7 .l%.g5 .1%.xc3 8 bxc3 Vdlle7 9 i.xc6
bxc6 10 h3 h6 11 .l%.e3 i.e6 12 c4 c5 13 Ilbl .llab8
14 ll:id2 g5 15 ~e2 ~h7 16 .l:txb8 l:!.xb8 17 !ibl
.l:!xbli· 18 ll:ixbl c6 19 ll:ic3 Vdlih7 20 Vdlidl ll:id7 21
~bl 112-112
27 Ca11ablanca - Eliskases C50
Before the last round Capa 's advantage shrank to
half a point, so he had to win to secure outright
first place. (E)
l e4 e5 2 ll:if3 ll:ic6 3 .1%.c4 i.c5 4 ll:ic3 ll:if6 5 d3
d6 6 .l%.g5 ("The Canal variation, so named after
the Peruvian master, who introduced it into master
chess in the late 1920s. White gives up his Q B for
Kt in order to obtain control of the centre.") 6 ...
h6 7 ..txf6 ~xf6 8 ll:id5 Vdlid8 (8 ... Vdlig6!?) 9 c3
clJe7 (9 ... .1%.e6? 10 d4 exd4 11 cxd4 i.b4i· 12
l2::lxb4 .1%.xc4 13 ll:ixc6 bxc6 14 Vdlic2 9 ... ll:ia5! 10
b4 ll:ixc4 11 bxc5 9 ... 0-0 10 a4 a5 see Canal-C.
Karlsbad 1929 9 ... a6!? 10 d4 .1%.a7 11 dxe5 dxe5
12 ~e2 .1%.c5 13 Lidl .1%.d6 oc, =) 10 ll:ie3 !?
("Stronger than the old 10 d4") 10 ... .1%.e6?! ("TI1is
move, usually a sound and workmanlike method
of blunting the edge of Whites attack in the Giuco,
is here a positive e1rnr, since it gives White fresh
objects of attack." 10 ... 0-0) 11 .1%.xe6! fxe6 12
~b3 ~c8 13 d4 ("With this move White gains
space in the centre." 13 ll:ixe5? .1%.xe3!) 13 ... exd4
14 l2::lxd4! ..txd4 (14 ... e5 15 ll:ie6!) 15 cxd4 0-0
16 0-0 't'fd7 17 !!acl (17 ~xb7 Il.fb8) 17 ... .l'!ab8
18 .l:k3 (18 f4!?) 18 ... d5 19 ~c2 (19 ll:ig4 !!f4!
20 ll:ie5 ~d6 oc,) 19 ... c6? ("Black hereby deprives
his Kt of attacking square QB3 and allows White
to call the tune" .19 ... ll:ic6 20 exd5 exd5 21 !k5
ciJxd4 oc,) 20 e5 .llf4 (20 ... .l;l.f7) 21 ~dl! ("White
protects the Q Pawn in this way in order to have
the square on QB2 free for the Kt if further
protection of the Pawn should become necessary."
21 .lldl c5! 22 !ixc5 ll:ic6 oc,) 21 ... l:!.bf8 22 f3 (22
g3! !if3 23 c;,t;,g2) 22 ... ~d8 (22 ... .!.!4f7! 25 g3
ciJf5 24 ll:ixf5 .llxf5 25 f4 g5 25 h4!) 23 g3 I!.4f7
<X)
24 f4 ll:if5 25 ll:ixf5 .llxf5 26 h4! (It threatened 26
... g5) 26 ... g6? (26 ... g5! 27 hxg5 hxg5 28 ~5!
°t1Ve8 29 ~xe8 .llxe8 30 fxg5 llef8! 31 llxf5 .l'!xf5
32 ~g2 .llxg5 33 !if3 c5!) 27 ~g2 ~e7 28 a3! ("A
necessary precaution; White eliminates Blacks
possible counter by ~4 and prepares an eventual
b4 ") 28 ... ~g7 (28 ... g5!? 29 'iVg4! Vdllg7 30 llcf3
gxf4 31 .llxf4 Lixf4 32 ~xg7i· ~g7 33 gxf4 ~g6
34 @f3 oc, ±) 29 .llcf3! ~e7 (29 ... g5 30 fxg5 hxg5
31 !ixf5 !ixf5 32 !ixf5 exf5 33 ~5 ! gxh4 34
Vdlixh4) 30 ~c2! ~g7 31 g4 .l::t5f7 32 ~h3 (32
@g3) 32 ... ~d7 33 b4 llg8 34 llg 1 (34 f5? gxf5
35 gxf5 exf5 36 i.ixf5 Iigf8 37 ~g4 Vdlie6 38 h5
~h8!) 34 ... ~h8 35 Vdlid2 .l::th7 36 ~f2 h5?!
("Black endeavours to obtain counter-play on
Whites h-Pawn.") 37 gxh5 !lxh5 (37 ... gxh5 38
!ig5) 38 l!tg5 ~7 39 °ii'g3 ~6 40 ~g4 .l::tg7 41
!ig3 ~h7 ("A remarkable position in which all the
available pieces are concentrated on the two
right-hand files. Black has defended himself well
and it is difficult for White to break through.") 42
!ig2 ~h8 43 ~g3 c;,t;,h7 44 Llh2 l!te7 45 !ih3 ~g7
(45 ... l!te8 46 c;.i;if3 .l'!e7 47 .llg3! .llxh4 48 .l:!.xg6
!ixg4 49 l!txh6i" ~h6 50 llxg4 .llg7 51 .llh4i"
~g6 52 .l::th8)
46 !ixh5! Vdlixh5 47 Vdlixh5 gxh5 48 f5! exf5 (48 ...
ffl 49 c;.i;if4 .lle8 50 llg3) 49 c;.i;if4 .lle6 50 ~f5
iig6 (50 .. ffl 51 .Iig3 followed by 52 .l:ig5) 51 e6!
!ig4 52 <t>e5 .l!!e4i" 53 c;,t;,d6 llxd4 (53 ... @f8 54
c;,t;,d7) 54 l!e3! 1-0 (Capablanca, Euwe and
Golombek).
Capablanca was admired by both his opponents
and the masses. Seeing his play, many stood
gaping and could have been knocked down with a
feather, sometimes even literally, but figuratively
al.most always. (V)
Nottingham - 1936
1-2 Capablanca, Botvimtik IO 3-5 Euwe, Fine,
Reshevsky 9 1/z 6 Alekhine 9 7-8 Flohr, Lasker
8 1/z 9 Vidmar 6 10-11 Bogoljubow, Tartakover
5 1/z 12 Ty !or 4 1/z 13 Alexander 31/2 / ./ Thomas 3
15 Winter 2 1/z
"And we arrived at a tournament, about which we
could not even have dreamt at the beginning of our
chess career, as the personalities and
circumstances for a tournament of four world
champions were lacking. TI1e Nottingham
tournament might not have been the strongest
115
ever, but it must have been the most interesting
one." TC. (We cannot agree entirely with this
contempora1y comment. The players at the bottom
of the tournament were disproportionately weaker
than the top players, so the order of the winners
was greatly influenced by a half-point dropped
against them.) With his shared first place
Capablanca once again became the most
successful chess player in the world. Euwe, the
new world champion was in the lead for a long
time, but, after his defeat against Lasker,
Botvinnik took over the first place, who was later
caught up by Capablanca. In the end they shared
the prize. On the contrary to the Moscow
tournament, Botvinnik now remained undefeated.
Capablanca lost against Flohr, but to his great
satisfaction he beat Alekhine and Reshevsky.
Nottingham is the last world success 111
Capablanca' s career. Nottingham was Lasker' s
last perfonnance, too. He died five years later.
After Capablanca's last success we can say that he
won six really great tournaments during his life
(San Sebastian 1911, London 1922, New York
1927, Berlin I 928, Moscow 1936, Nottingham
1936), which means that he hardly has a rival even
amongst 'the classical players'. (We should not
count Karpov and Kasparov, because m
Capablanca's time there was not such a huge
dumping of tournaments as there is today.)
28 Capablanca - Alexander A26
1 c4 e5 2 l£lc3 lbc6 3 g3 g6 4 .llg2 .llg7 5 d3
lLlge7 6 l£ld5 (6 l:!bl) 6 ... 0-0 7 h4 ("A method of
play greatly favoured by C. in the English and Reti
Openings. It is an illustration of the theories of
Steinitz by which the centre is kept blocked as far
as possible whilst an attack is developed on the
wing. With conect play on Black's part, it should
not succeed, but Capablanca's virtuosity in seizing
upon slight defects in his opponent's play made
the variation ve1y profitable for him.") 7 ... l£ld4 (7
... d6) 8 .llg5 f6 9 .lld2 c6 10 l£lxe7·1· ~xe7 11 e3
l2:le6 12 l£le2 f5?! ("It is easily understandable that
Black wishes to round off his Pawn strncture and
increase the scope of his K Bishop, but this move
has two defects; the position of giving White an
object of attack on the K side and the negative
fault of doing nothing towards solving the problem
of the central advance by P-Q4 " 12 ... b6; 12 ...
d6) 13 ~Wc2 b6 (13 ... a6 14 0-0-0 b5) 14 f4! ("This
move has great thematic value in the English
Opening; Black is forced to exchange a centre
PaVv11 for a flank PaVv11 and lines of attack are
opened up for the major pieces.") 14 ... .2.b7 15
116
fxe5 .llxe5 16 0-0-0 d5 ("The text move only
temporarily embarrasses Whites King, after which
the isolated Q PaVv11 remains a lasting weakness, it is,
however, instructive to observe how C. manoeuvres
to take advantage of this.") 17 d4 .llg7 18 cxd5 cxd5
19 Wbl l:!ac8 20 l2:lc3 'i!fd7 21 l:!cl l£lc7 (21 ...
h5 !? 22 'i!Vb3 l:!fd8 = Alekhine.) 22 'i!Vb3 Wh8 (It
threatened 23 e4) 23 h5 ("Now that the King has
been induced to go to the comer on account of the
pin on the Q PaVvI1, this move in tum forces a
weakening of the K side Pawn strncture.") 23 ... g5
24 h6 .llf6 25 l:!hfl .lle7 26 '@'d 1 '@'e8? (26
.lla6! 27 ... b5)
27 g4! ("TI1e process of exchanging flank for
centre PaVvI1s is admirably carried out to its logical
conclusion; as a result, the weakness of Blacks
PaVv11 position becomes more and more apparent.")
27 ... '@'g6 28 gxf5 l:!xf5 29 l:!xf5 W:k'xf5'!' 30 Wal
l:!f8 (30 ... l:!e8) 31 ~ 1! 'tVd3 32 lbb l .lld6 33
.llf3 '@'f5 34 !!fl '&g6 35 l:!gl .lle7 36 l2:lc3 'i!Vg8?
(36 ... '@'e6 37 e4! dxe4 38 .llxe4 .llxe4 39 'iifxe4
'®'xe4 40 l2:lxe4 g4 41 Wb 1 l'!g8 42 .llf4 ;!; 36 ...
'iiff7) 37 e4! ~f7 38 .llg2 '®'f2 (38 ... dxe4 39
.Jlxe4 .llxe4 40 ~xe4 ±) 39 .llxg5! .llxg5 40 !!fl
'*lVxfl i· 41 .llxfl dxe4 42 .Yd.g2 l£le6 43 ..\lxe4 .lla6
44 .llbl 1-0 (Alekhine and Golombek).
29 Ca1>ablanca - Botvinnik A47
1 lLlf3 l£lf6 2 d4 b6 3 g3 .llb7 4 .llg2 (4 c4) 4 ...
c5 ! 5 0-0 cxd4 6 l£lxd4 .llxg2 7 Wxg2 g6 8 c4
.Yd.g7 9 l£lc3 '®'c8! (9 ... 0-0 10 e4! or 9 ... d5? 10
'®'a4t!) 10 b3 'k\Vb7i· 11 f3 d5 12 cxd5 l£lxd5 13
l£lxd5 '®'xd5 14 .llb2 0-0 15 '*lVd3 lld8 16 l:!fd 1
l£ld7 17 l'!acl (It threatens 18 l2:lc6! 'tVxd3 19
l:!xd3 .llxb2 20 !led 1) 17 ... l£lc5 18 '&b 1 W:k'b7
19 l2:lc2! (else 19 ... l:!d7; 20 ... l:!ad8 etc. 19
l2:lb5 ~a6!) 19 ... ~a6 (19 ... .llh6 20 l:!xd8'!'
llxd8 21 l:!d 1 lld7) 20 Wfl .llh6 21 l2:lb4 'id¥b7
22 llxd8'!' llxd8 23 lld 1 I.id7 24 l£ld3 l£lxd3 25
llxd3 .llg7 26 .llxg7

26 ... Z!xd3 (26 ... cJilx.g7 27 'f:Vdl Z!xd3 28 'f:Vxd3
'f:Vc7 =) 27 'f:Vxd3 cJ;;xg7 28 'f:Vd8! b5 29 b4 a6
lf2_lf2
30 Thomas - Ca1rnblanca
1 e4 e5 2 LDf3 l2::ic6 3 .ltb5 a6 4 .lta4 d6 5 .!txc6t
bxc6 6 d4 f6 7 .!te3 l2::ie7 8 l2::ic3 l2::ig6 9 'f:Vd2 .!te6
(9 ... .!te7) 10 b3? (" A stodgy reply which allows
Black to carry out the transparent object of his last
move." 10 0-0-0!? 'f:Vb8 11 h4 ! h5 12 dxe5 l2::ixe5
13 l2::ixe5 fxe5 14 f4) 10 ... d5!("Taking the
initiative!) 11 0-0?! (11 exd5 cxd5 12 l2::ia4 e4 13
lbgl ao) 11 ... dxe4! 12 l2::ixe4 .Jtd5 13 l2::ig3 (13
~d3? f5!) 13 ... .!txf3 14 gxf3 l2::ih4! 15 '&'d3 (15
~e2 'f:Vd5 16 l2::ie4 ~e6 ! 17 cJi;h 1 't'Uh3 18 .llg 1
Wfxf3t 19 'tYxf3 l2::ixf3 20 llg3 l2::ixd4) 15 ...
l2::ixf3'1" 16 cJi;hl l2::ixd4 17 ~e4 '&'d5! ("Black
decides to return one of the Pawns, as he
realizes that trying to retain both Pawns would
only create teclmical difficulties.") 18 Wfxd5
cxd5 19 .!txd4 exd4 20 lladl .!tc5 (20 ... c5 21
c3!) 21 ibf5 (21 c3 cJ;;f7! 22 cxd4 .ltb6) 21
W 22 l2::ixd4 llhe8 23 c3
23 ... .lle5 24 lld3 .llae8 25 a4? (25 cJi;g2) 25 ...
.!txd4 ! 26 llxd4 [26 cxd4 lle 1 27 cJi;g2 I!.xfl 28
Wxfl cJi;e7 29 llc3 Wd6 30 .llc5 llb8 31 l'l.a5 llb6)
26 ... c5 27 !!.d2 nb8 28 !!.bl a5 29 wg2 cJi;e6 30
Z!c2 wd6 31 f3 g5 32 Wg3 h5 33 h4!? gxh4 i- 1 34
cJilx.h4 l:!.e3 35 Wg3 (35 Wxh5 .llg8!) 35 ... c4! 36
b4 axb4 37 cxb4 .llb3! 0-1 (AlekhineandReinfeld).
31 Vidmar- Capablanca D43
1 d4 l2::if6 2 c4 e6 3 l2::if3 d5 4 .ltg5 h6 5 .!txf6
~xf6 6 l2::ic3 c6 7 ~3 (7 e3; 7 g3; 7 ~c2) 7 ...
l2::id7 8 e3 .!td6 9 .!te2 (9 .!td3) 9 ... 't'He7 10 l2::id2
0-0 11 0-0-0?! (11 f4) 11 ... l2::if6 12 .!tf3 b5! 13 c5
(13 cxb5?! .lJ.b8!) 13 ... .!tc7 14 e4 (It threatened
14 ... e5!) 14 ... dxe4 15 l2::idxe4 l2::id5 16 l:!.hel
.!td7 17 Wb 1 (17 l2::ixd5 exd5 18 l2::ig3 ~f6 =+) 17
... a5 18 '&'c2 a4 19 l2::ig3 ~d8 20 l2::ice4? (The
Knights should have been exchanged now or even
earlier, because the position of the e4 forepost
becomes unstable.)
C73
20 ... a3 21 b3 .!ta5! (It practically wins an
exchange) 22 cJ;;a 1 ~4? (Is Capa not satisfied
with the exchange, or does he simply miscalculate
something?) 23 l2::ih5? [23 I!.hl f5 24 l2::id6 .!tc3t
25 Wbl .!txd4 26 .i.xd5! exd5 (26 ... cxd5 27 c6!)
27 l2::idxf5 .i.xf5 28 l2::ixf5 .llxf5 29 '&'xf5 ao] 23 ...
.i.xel 24 .l;!xel ~d8 25 g4 (25 ~d2) 25 ... g6 26
'i'd2 Wh7 (26 ... gxh5? 27 '»Vxh6) 27 l2::if4 f5! 28
l2::id6 (28 gxf5 gxf5) 28 ... l2::ixf4 29 ~xf4 fxg4 30
~xg4 (30 l2::if7 Wg8!) 30 ... '»Vas 0-1
32 Ca1>ablanca - Euwe DI 8
l d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 l2::if3 l2::if6 4 l2::ic3 dxc4 5 a4 .!tf5 6
e3 e6 7 .!txc4 .ltb4 8 0-0 0-0 (8 ... l2::ibd7) 9 l2::ie5?!
(9 '&'e2; 9 l2::ih4!?) 9 ... c5! 10 l2::ia2 (10 g4!? .ltg6
11 l2::ia2 .!ta5 12 l2::ixg6 hxg6 13 dxc5 l2::ic6 14 .llbl
l2::ib4 =) 10 ... .lta5 11 dxc5 '&'xdl 12 .llxdl .ltc2!
13 lld4 (13 .l!fl .!tc7 14 l2::if3 .!txa4) 13 ... .Jtc7 14
l2::if3 ( 14 f4 .!txe5 15 fxe5 l2::ifd7 16 l2::ib4 .Jtg6) 14
... l2::ic6 15 Z!d2 (15 llh4 llad8 16 .!td2? g5!) 15 ...
.ltg6 16 b4
(See diagram on next page)
16 ... a5! 17 b5 l2::ie5 18 l2::ixe5 .!txe5 19 .i.b2 l2::ie4
20 .lle2 .Jtxb2 21 Z!xb2 l2::ixc5 22 lbcl 112-112
117

33 Winter - Capablanca A47
1 d4 lt:if6 2 Ltlf3 b6 3 g3 ~b7 4 ~g2 c5 (We could
have learnt from several games that delaying c2-c4
gives no advantage, because after Black's
cotmter-move White is not able to continue with 5
d5.) 5 0-0 cxd4 6 4Jxd4 ~xg2 7 Wxg2 g6 8 b3?!
(On 8 c4 ~g7 9 4Jc3 ~c8! see
Capablanca - Botvinnik) 8 ... ~g7 9 ~b2 0-0 (9 ...
d5 !?) 10 c4 d5 11 cxd5 4Jxd5 (Capablanca is
obviously playing for a win even with Black, so he
avoids such quick simplifications as 11 ... ~xd5'!'
12 l2'lf3) 12 e4 4Jb4 13 ~d2 4J8a6 (13 ... 4Jc2? 14
~xc2 ~xd4 15 l'!dl e5 16 ~xd4 exd4 17 4Jc3!)
14 l'!dl l'!c8 15 4Ja3 (else 15 ... 4Jc2!) 15 ... l'!c7!
16 l2'lab5 l'!d7 17 'tYe2 4Jc5! 18 a3 4Jbd3 19 l2'lc6
~as 20 ~xg7 '@'xc6! (20 .. '.t>xg7 21 4Jbxa7) 21
l2'ld4! (21 ~xf8? 't1Yxb5 22 ~h6 lt'lf4i"!) 21 ... '®'b7
(21 ... ~a8 22 ~xf8 l!xd4 23 ~xe7 .lixe4 24 '@'f3
lbe5 25 l:!d8i" 'tYxdS 26 ~xd8 4Jxf3 27 Wxf3 r!eS 28
~f6 l:!eri 29 ~c3 4Jxb3 30 lldl 30 ... Wf8 3 l lld7 a5
=+) 22 ~xf8 r!.xd4 23 ~h6 r!xe4 24 't\Vf3 f6! 25
Wgl! (It threatened 25 ... 4Je5) 25 ... lbe5 (25 ...
n.e1·1· 26 Wg2 .ile4) 26 ~g2 g5!? (26 ... W 27
l:l.d8 l:!e2 oo) 27 lld8i" W 28 f4! l2'le6
29 l'!b8! ~d5? [29 ... Ltlf3i"! 30 ~xf3 !!.el i" 31
ct>f2 ~xf3i· 32 Wxf3 l'!xa 1 33 f5 4Jg7 34 ~xg7
118
Wxg7 35 llb7 (Alekhine) 35 ... llxa3 36 l'!xe7"1"
Wh6 (36 ... ct>fS)] 30 .&!.fl! ~d4i" 31 Whl l2'lg4 32
~3! (32 fxg5? 't1Yd3!) 32 ... 4Jxh6 33 '@'xh6 lle2
34 ~xh7t Ltlg7 35 ~gSi" Wg6 36 f5i" wh5 37
'@'117i"? [37 '@'c4! 't1Yxc4 38 bxc4 Wg4 39 .llg8 Wh3
(39 ... Ltlxf5? 40 r!f4 i· Wh3 41 .&l.hS#) 40 l:!hSi"
Wg4 41 Wg l 4Jxf5 42 .llf2 !le 1i" 43 llfl .ile2 =] 37
... wg4 0-1 (38 h3i" '.t>xg3 39 l!gli" '&xgl"I" 40
Wxg 1 Lie 1#)
34 Fine - Capablanca DI 9
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 lt:if3 lt:if6 4 4Jc3 dxc4 5 a4 ~f5 6
e3 e6 7 ~xc4 ..tb4 8 0-0 0-0 9 ~e2 t2'le4 ?! 10
4Jxe4?! (10 ..td3!) 10 ... ..txe4 11 lldl 4Jd7 12
~d2 (On 12 ~d3 see Lasker - Capablanca) 12 ...
~xf3! 13 'tt'xf3 '&a5 14 'tt'e2 ~xd2 15 'tt'xd2
'tt'xd2 16 llxd2 a5 17 g3 4Jb6 18 ~b3 l:!fd8 19
llc2 4Jd5 20 ~xd5 llxd5 112- 112
35 Capablanca - Bogoljubow A26
1 c4 e5 2 l2'lc3 4Jc6 3 g3 g6 4 ~g2 ~g7 5 d3 d6 6
~d2 ?! f5 7 llb 1 4Jf6 (7 ... a5) 8 b4 0-0 9 b5 Ci'Je7
(9 ... l2'ld4!? 10 e3 4Je6) 10 '&c2 h6 (10 ... d5? 11
cxd5 l2'lfxd5 12 Ltlf3 ±) 11 e3 a6 12 a4 c5 13 bxa6
l:!xa6?! 14 l2'lge2 4Jc6 15 l2'ld5 4Jxd5 16 ~xd5t
Wh7 17 h4!? 'fl'e8 18 ct>fl (18 4Jc3 f4!?) 18 ...
4Je7! 19 a5 l2'lxd5 20 cxd5 ~f7 21 'tYc4 f4! 22
gxf4 ~g4 23 fig 1 ~f3 24 e4 exf4 25 l2'lxf4 ?!
(Opening the f-file is risky. 25 ~5!) 25 ... ~e5 26
4Je6 (26 4Jxg6? llg8 27 h5 ~h2) 26 ... .ilaa8 27
LtlxfS i" llxf8
28 '&b5? (28 ~e3! ~h2 29 r!g2 ~xg2·1· 30 Wxg2
~e5 31 ct>fl ~d7 32 ~5! ±) 28 ... ~xe4! 29
~xb7 ~xd3i" 30 Wg2 ~e4i" 31 f3! (31 Wh3?
~f5i" 32 Wg2 ..td7!) 31 ... ..txf3i" 32 Wh3 ~xd5
33 'tYxf7i" llxf7 34 r!gfl ! ~e6·1· 35 Wg2 ~f5 36 a6
~e4i" 37 Wh3 l:!g7 38 l:!b6 ~f5i" 39 Wg2 ~e4·1· 40
Wh3 '1!e7 (40 ... g5 41 hxg5 hxg5 42 Wg4!) 41
~f4! (Secures the draw) 41 ... .llf7 42 ~xe5 llxfl
43 ~xd6 llf3i" 44 Wh2 g5 (44 ... c4! 45 l:!b7i" Wg8
46 l'!b8i" W 47 a7 llf6! Black stands better, but
cannot win.) 45 hxg5 hxg5 46 ~xc5 1h- 1h
36 CaJJablanca - Reshevsky E03
"One of the most crncial games in this great
tournament. The inexacitude of some of the early
play bears wih1ess to the strain under which both
players labored. But the inexorable precision of
C.-s endgame play outweighs these drawbacks.
Reshevsky puts up his usual fierce resistance, but
this time it is of no avail." (R)
l d4 d5 2 l2:lf3 l2:\f6 3 c4 dxc4 4 '@'a4 t lbbd7 (4 ...
c6; 4 ... 'Llc6) 5 'tt'xc4 e6 6 g3 ("This is the move
that gives the game its Catalan character.") 6 ... a6
7 i.l..g2 b5 8 'tt'c6?! (8 'iVc2) 8 ... .lla7?! (8 ... r!b8! 9
.£f4 'Lld5) 9 i.l..f4 (9 .£e3 'Llg4 10 ilg5 ile7) 9 ...
.£b7! 10 'iVcl c5 11 dxc5 .£xc5 12 0-0 0-0 ("As a
result of Whites time-wasting moves with the
Queen and the lack of a good square for this piece,
Black has a fine game. (?! EV) He has only one
difficulty, which can be solved without much trouble:
developing the QR.") 13 lbbd2 'tt'e7 14 lbb3 i.l..b6 15
.£e3 .l:k8 ("The phase which now follows is ve1y
hying for White and requires all ofC.s patience.") 16
W'd2 'Lle4 17 'iVd3 lbec5 18 'Llxc5 'Llxc5 19 'tt'd l
.£a8? ( 19 ... i.l..d5 20 b3 Zld7 21 'tt'e 1 Zlcd8) 20
Ziel .l:iac7 (20 ... lid7) 21 b3 cbd7 (21 ... f6!? and
22 ... e5!?) 22 .ihc7 Zlxc7 23 i.l..xb6 lbxb6 24 'tt'd4
("It is now apparent that Reshevsky has not made the
most of his chances, and Whites position is now quite
satisfactory.") 24 ... 'Lld5 25 .l:!.dl (It threatens 26 e4!)
25 ... f6?! 26 'Llel! (26 e4? 'Llc3 27 'tt'd8t Wf?) 26 ...
.£b7 27 i.l..xd5 exd5? ("An astounding positional
blunder whereby Black voluntarily creates a
serious positional weakness and relegates his
Bishop to a purely defensive role." 27 ... .£xd5 =)
28 e3 'tt'e4 29 h4 a5 30 f3 'iVxd4? (30 ... 'iVe5 31
Wf2 b4) 31 .l:!.xd4 .l:!.cl 32 Wf2 i:!a 1 33 L!.d2 a4 34
ltJd3 .l:!.b 1?! (34 ... axb3 35 axb3 fl.b 1 36 'Llc5 i.l..c6
37 .l:!.a2. The text allows C. to force the exchange
of Rooks, leading to an ending in which the
Bishop. hemmed in by its own Pawns, is
decidedly inferior to the Knight.") 35 llb2! .lixb2i·
36 Z2:lxb2 .£c6 37 'Lld3
(See diagram next colunm)
37 ... g5 ("Reshevsky realizes that passive play is
hopeless once White gets his King to d5. He
therefore tries a sorte on the King-side which
forces C. to play with the uhnost accuracy." 37 ...
Wf7 38 lbb4 i.l..b7 39 'Llc2 ilc6 40 'Lld4 ild7 41
We2 We7 42 Wd3 axb3 43 axb3 Wd6 44 Wc3 Wc5
45 b4·1· Wd6 46 'Lle2 We5 47 'Llcl i.l..c6 48 'Lld3·1·
Wd6 49 Wd4 i.l..e8 50 'Llf4 ii..f7 51 'Lle2 ! ile8 52
ltJc3 .£c6 53 g4! g5 54 h5 h6 55 f4 gxf4 56 exf4
.£d7 57 'Llxd5 i.l..xg4 58 'Llxf6 .£f5 59 'Llg8 .£g4
60 'Llxh6 .£xh5 61 tzlf5t Wd7 62 Wc5 +-R. Fine)
38 hxg5 fxg5 39 c'Zlb4 ::ixb3 40 axb3 i.l..b7 41 g4! (It
threatened 41 ... h5! ro) 41 ... Wg7 42 We2 Wg6 43
Wd3 h5 (43 ... d4 44 e4!) 44 gxh5t Wxh5 45 Wd4
Wh4 ("The probabilities have been fulfilled by
the loss of the QP; but Reshevsky has the
consolation of a close finish.") 46 'Llxd5 Wg3 4 7
f4 g4 (47 ... ilxd5 48 Wxd5 g4 49 f5 wh2 50 f6
g3 51 f7 g2 52 f8'iV g 1'tt' 53 'iVh8t!) 48 f5 .£c8
49 We5 i.l..d7 50 e4 iJ..e8 51 Wd4 (51 f6 Wf3 52
b4 g3 53 'Llf4 followed by Wf5 and e5 +-) 51 ...
c,M3 52 e5 g3 53 .:'Zle3 c.M4 (53 ... .£d7 54 e6 .£c8 55
e7 .£d7 56 f6 .£e8 57 .:'Zlf5 g2 58 lZlh4 t c.M4 59
'llxg2t c.M5 60 .:'Zle3t @xf6 61 .:'Zld5t W 62 'llc7!)
54 e6 g2 55 'llxg2t@xf5 56@d5 @g4 57 'lle3i· c.M4
58 @d4 1-0 One of Capablancas classic endings.
(Alekhine and Fine).
37 Flohr - CaJJablanca D59
1 d4 l2:lf6 2 c4 e6 3 'Llc3 d5 4 .£g5 .£e7 5 e3 0-0 6
'Llf3 h6 7 .£h4 b6 8 cxd5 'Llxd5 9 .£xe7 'Llxe7?!
10 .£e2 i.l..b7?! (10 ... 'Lld7 11 0-0 c5 12 dxc5
'Llxc5 13 b4 i) 11 0-0 'Lld7 12 ~a4 a6?! (12 ... c5
13 .l:!.fdl 'Lld5) 13 .l;!.fdl 'Lld5 14 .l:!.acl .l:!.c8 15
lbxd5 exd5 (15 ... i.l..xd5 16 b4!) 16 .£d3!? c5! 17
dxc5 [17 .£f5 b5 18 ~a3 c4! 19 'Lle5 'Llxe5! 20
i.l..xc8 (20 dxe5 .l:!.c7) 20 ... l2:lf3i·! 21 gxf3 i.l..xc8 ro]
17 ... 'Llxc5 (17 ... bxc5? 18 .£f5!) 18 'tt'd4 .l:!.e8 19
ii..f5 .l:!.c7 20 '@'f4 (It threatens 21 b4! 'Lle6 22
.£xe6 followed by 2 3 e4 !) 20 ... 'JJ.ce 7 21 'Lld4 [21
b4! 'Lle4 (21 ... 'Lle6 22 i.l..xe6!) 22 .£xe4 .l:!.xe4 23
'tt'c7 r!4e7 24 'tt'xd8 !.:l.xd8 25 'Lld4 ±] 21 ... a5 ! 22
i.l..d3 (22 b3! followed by a3 and b4)
(See diagram on next page)
22 ... .l:!.e5 ! 23 i.l..b5 .l:!.8e7 24 'tt'f3 [24 'Llc6 i.l..xc6
25 i.l..xc6 .l:!.7e6 26 .ib5 ro] 24 ... .l:!.g5 25 'iVe2?! (25
.£d3) 25 ... !lg6 26 iJ..d3 .l:!.f6 27 JJ..b l .ia6 28 'tt'h5
i.l..b7 29 a3?! a4! 30 'tt'g4 !le5 31 'Llf3 'fJe7 32 'Lld4
ile5 33 l2:lf3 JJ.e7 34 '@'g3 i.l..a6 35 'Lld4 .l:!.d7 36
i.l..f5 .l:!.c7 37 .£b 1 'tt'c8? (37 ... .l:!.d7 38 'Llf5 .l:!.g6)
38 l2:lf5! .l:!.g6 39 'Lld6! .l:!.xg3 40 'Llxc8 .l:!.xg2t (40
... l:!g4 41 'Llxb6) 41 Wxg2 .llxc8 42 .£a2 .l:!.c6 43
i.l..xd5 .l:!.g6t 44 Wh l 'Lld3 45 .l:!.c2 .l:!.d6 46 i.l..f3 (46
119

e4!) 46 ... !tf6 47 J..e4 !id6 48 J..xd3 J..xd3 49 f3
J..xc2 50 L!.xd6 b5 51 <t>g2 .1i..b3 52 nb6 J..c4 53
<t>g3 <t>f8 54 <t>f4 <t>e7 55 <t>e5 J..e2 56 f4 J..c4 57
nb7t <t>f8 58 f5 (or <t>d6-c5) 58 ... f6t 59 <t>f4 h5
60 e4 J..e2 61 e5 fxe5t 62 Wxe5 ..ic4 63 <t>f4! h4
64 <t>g5 1-0 (Alekhine)
38 Capablanca -Taylor E62
1 lbf3 ll:if6 2 c4 g6 3 ll:ic3 .1i..g7 4 g3 0-0 5 J..g2 d6
6 d4 ll:ic6 7 0-0 J..g4?! (7 ... e5; 7 ... a6!?) 8 d5!
J..xf3 9 exf3 ll:ie5 10 ~3 ( 10 °ii'e2 !?) 10 ... ll:ifd7
11 J..e3 b6 (11 ... ll:ib6 12 c5 dxc5 13 ..ixc5 ll:id3
14 J..a3 ± 11 ... °ii'c8) 12 ll:ib5! (It threatens f2-f4
and ll:id4-c6) 12 ... c5!? 13 dxc6 lbxc6 14 f4 °ii'c8
15 '&a4! lbc5 (15 ... ..ixb2 16 lbxd6! exd6 17
J..xc6 ll:ic5 18 J..xc5 J..xa 1 19 ..ixd6!) 16 ..ixc5
dxc5 17 lbc3 ll:id4! 18 .l:tael! (Some sources,
mistakenly, give 18 L!.fel, but 18 ... °ii'e8! would
save the situation after that. The text move forces
the winning of an exchange or a pawn. 18 .1i..xa8?
"ii'xa8 oo) 18 ... e6 19 .lle3! .lib8 (19 .. a6 20 .ixa8
~xa8 21 'i'dl) 20 'i'xa7 L!.d8 21 l'!cl .l:td7 22 'i'a4
·i!Vd8 23 Iidl .lid6 24 i.e4 f5? (This move only
weakens the position as it ca1mot fulfil the hopes
pitmed on it. By playit1g a waitit1g game, a3-b4
would it1tensify White's advantage.) 25 J..g2 g5 26
fxg5 '&xg5 27 f4 ~6 28 lldel .llbd8 29 <t>hl <t>h8
120
30 a3 ..if8 31 b4 °ii'h5 32 bxc5 bxc5 33 lbb5!
ll:ixb5 (33 ... !i6d7 34 ll:ixd4 cxd4 35 l!d3! '&g6 36
'i'a6 L!.d6 37 ~5 followed by c4-c5-c6 +-) 34
cxb5 iid2 35 '&c4 (else 35 ... !:Ixg2!) 1-0 [35 ...
iif2 36 'i'xe6 .lidd2 37 °ii'e5i· (37 '&f6i· <t>g8 38
Iie8? '&xh2i·!) 37 ... <t>g8 38 J..d5i· !ixd5 39
't!Vxd5t <t>h8 40 h4 't!Vg4 41 @gl Iic2 42 't!Vd3]
39 Capablanca - Alekhine A92
1 d4 e6 2 lbf3 f5 3 g3 lbf6 4 J..g2 J..e7 5 0-0 0-0 6
c4 lbe4 7 "ii'b3?! (7 °ii'c2; 7 lbel; 7 ll:ibd2) 7 ...
..if6 8 L!d 1 'tlVe8 9 lbc3 lbc6 ! 10 ll:ib5 ( 10 d5 ll:ia5
11 "ii'b4 .1i..xc3 12 bxc3 b6 13 ll:id4 "" =+) 10 ...
J..d8 11 '&c2 (11 d5!? lba5 12 °ii'c2 c6 13 dxc6
bxc6 14 lbd6) 11 ... d6 12 d5 (12 .ie3; 12 a3!?) 12
... lbb4 13 ~3 lba6 14 dxe6 ll:iac5 15 '&c2 lbxe6
16 lbfd4 ( 16 J..e3) 16 ... lbxd4 17 lbxd4 ..tf6 18
ll:ib5?! (18 J..e3) 18 ... 't!Ve7 19 J..e3 a6 20 lbd4
..id7 21 iiacl !Iae8 22 b4 b6 23 ll:if3 (23 ~3 =)
23 ... ll:ic3 24 Iid3
24 ... f4?! (24 ... J..a4 25 'i'd2 ll:ie4 26 ~el g5! oo)
25 gxf4 .1i..f5 26 '&d2 ..ixd3 27 exd3! c5?! (27 ...
ll:ia4 28 lbg5! oo) 28 .lixc3 J..xc3 29 '&xc3 °ii'f6 30
°ii'xf6! gxf6 31 lbd2! f5 32 b5 a5 33 lbfl! 'it>f7 34
ll:ig3 <t>g6 35 ..if3 'Ji.e7 36 <t>f 1 <t>f6 37 J..d2 <t>g6
38 a4 1-0
40 Lasker - Capablanca D 19
1 d4 ll:if6 2 c4 c6 3 lbf3 d5 4 lbc3 dxc4 5 a4 J..f5 6
e3 e6 7 J..xc4 J..b4 8 0-0 0-0 (8 ... lbbd7) 9 '&e2 (9
lbh4) 9 ... lbe4?! 10 ll:ixe4?! (On 10 ll:ia2 J..e7 see
Flohr - Capablanca, A VRO 1938 10 J..d3!) 10 ...
..ixe4 11 .l:td 1 ( 11 lbe5 lbd7 12 J..d3 J..xd3 13
lbxd3 ..td6 14 J..d2 e5 =) 11 ... lbd7 12 J..d3 lbf6
13 ll:ie5 °ii'c7 14 J..xe4 ll:ixe4 15 't!Vc2 ltJf6 16 e4 h6
17 lbd3 ..ie7 18 f3 L!.fd8 19 J..e3 a5 112-112
41 Ta11akover - Capablanca 003
1 d4 d5 2 ll:if3 ll:if6 3 J..g5 e6 4 e3 c5 5 c3 J..e7 6
lbbd2 ll:ibd7 7 .id3 0-0 8 0-0 ~c7 9 '&e2 b6 10 e4
dxe4 11 ll:ixe4 J..b7 12 dxc5 ll:ixc5 13 lbxc5 't!Vxc5
14 J..xf6 ..ixf6 15 ..ie4 J..xe4 16 '&xe4 ~5 17
'&c2 iifd8 18 Iifdl g6 19 h3 112-112
"Capablanca stated that he had finally found his
fonner self again but he was playing much more
energetically than 15 years ago." (Fine)
"Capablanca has quite good chances to take back
the title of world champion. His style has changed
noticeably and he has became richer in aggressive
ideas. Capablanca possesses many valuable
characteristics of a totmiament player and he plays
freely." (Botvinnik).
"The result has proved the general opinion which
developed after his last victory in Moscow. After
he had overcome a certain lethargy, the Cuban
found his old fonn again. After a very varied start,
he played the second half of the tournament in an
outstandingly lively way ... "(Alekhine)
CONSULTATION GAME -1936
Leningrad - 1936
42 I.Genevski and R. Rabinovich-
Capablanca A47
l d4 l2:lf6 2 l2lf3 b6 3 g3 .ltb7 4 il.g2?! c5 5
0-0 cxc\4 6 tzlxd4 .!txg2 7 Wxg2 d5 8 c4 ~c\7!
9 cxd5 lbxd5 10 e4 lbc7 ("This is the best
square for the Kt, since Blacks weakest point
is b5.") 11 l2:lc3 e5 12 l2lf5 'i'xdl 13 .llx<ll
l2:lba6 14 il.e3 llc\8 15 l'1xd8t Wxc\8 16 a4
("The White players have evolved a plan for
forcing Kt-Kt4, followed by the gain of the
QRP. But this allows Black just sufficient
time to remedy his defective development.")
16 ... Wc\7! 17 1Llb5 ("There was still time to
change the plan and obtain a satisfactory enough
game by 17 a5. It is true that the text move
gains a Pawn, but only at the cost of destroying
Whites own Pawn structure, with fatal
consequences in the endgame." 17 a5 g6 18
l2:lh4 il.c5) 17 ... g6 18 l2lh4? ("Whites Kt
manoeuvres are not very happy; the piece is
badly out of play on the R file." 18ll<lltWe6 19
tz\fd6 tz\xb5 20 l2:lxb5 .ltc5 21 .!txc5 l2:lxc5 =) 18 ...
.!tc5 19 l2:lxa7 .!txe3 ("Forcing the first pair of
isolate<l Pawns.") 20 fxe3 l2:lc5! ("With this
Black compels White to isolate his secon<l pair
of Pawns, since, apart from the mild threat of 21
... l2:lxe4, he has the much more violent 21 ...
Z!a8") 2 l l2lb5 l2:lxb5 22 axb5 We6 (" An instructive
position has been reache<l. In material, White is
a Pawn up, but his pawn position is shocking
an<l his pieces (unlike Blacks) are decentralise<l.
C's con<luct of the rest of the game is an object
lesson in precision.") 23 @£3 (23 lld l lla8 24 @£3
lla4!) 23 ... i:!d8 24 b4 (24 .&!.cl 1Llb3 25 llc6t Z!c\6
26 We2 .llxc6 27 bxc6 Wd6 28 lbf3 f6) 24 ... 1Llb3!
25 .lla7!? (25 .l:!.a6? l2:lc12i· 26 We2 l!d6 27 1Llf3
l2:lxe4) 25 ... 1Ll<l2i· 26 Wg2 l2:lxe4 27 lbf3 l'1<l5 28
lla8 l:!xb5 29 l'1e8t Wf6 30 g4 1Llg5 3 l 1Llxg5 Wxg5
32 @g3 Wf6! 33 fil8 @g7 34 Z!e8 h6 35 h4 Wf6! 36
llc8 (36 llh8 .l:!.xb4 37 l!xh6 Wg7 38 g5 lle4 39 @£3
llc4 40 Wg3 b5 41 h5 b4 42 hxg6 fxg6 43 L!h2 b3 44
Z!b2 llb4 -+) 36 ... l:!xb4 37 l'1c6t Wg7 38 g5 h5 39
lic8lig4t40@h3 b5 0-1 (Golombek).
SIMULTANEOUS GAMES -1936
New York- 1936
43 Capablanca - Rather B24
l e4 c5 2 1Lle2 lbc6 3 1Llbc3 d6 4 g3 g6 5 .ltg2
.ltg7 6 d3 1Llf6 7 .!te3 0-0 8 h3 .Jtc\7 9 '!ib'd2 a6 10
.!th6 1Lld4 11 .!txg7 Wxg7 12 0-0 .!txh3 13 1Llxd4
.!txg2 14 lZlf5t gxf5 15 Wxg2 fxe4 16 llhl d5 17
~g5t Wh8 181Llxd5 'i'xd5 19 .iixh7t 1-0
Havana - 1936
44 Capablanca - Palacio D53
l d4 1Llf6 2 c4 e6 3 l2:lc3 d5 4 .Jtg5 l2:lbd7 5 e3 .!te7
6 l2lf3 h6 7 .!tf4 c6 8 h3 .ltb4 9 ~3 ~a5 10 l2ld2
0-0 11 a3 .!te7 12 il.d3 l:!e8 13 0-0 il.fS 14 1Llf3
dxc4 15.Jtxc41Lld5 16 .!th2 l2:lxc3 17 bxc3 ~f5 18
!.:l.fel b5 19 .Jtfl .ltb7 20 e4 'i'f6 21 e5 ~d8 22 c4
a6 23 c5 .lte7 24 l!adl lbf8 25 ~2 f5 26 exf6
il.xf6 27 .Jtd6 l2:lg6 28 'i'a2 .!tc8 29 il.d3 4Je7 30
.Jtb l g6 31 h4 l2lf5 32 .Jtxf5 gxf5 33 'i'd2 Wh7 34
g3 l'1g8 35 .!tf4 ~f8 36 'i'a5 .Jtd8 37 .Jtc7 .!tf6 38
.Jtd6 ~e8 39 .i'ie3 .l;ta7 40 lldel !!ag7 41 Wh2
~5 42 ~d2 l!g4 43 ~e2 f4 44 ~c2t Wh8 45
.!txf4 llxf4 46 gxf4 e5 47 l'lg l il.g4 48 ~e4 exd4
49 lld3 .Jtf5 50 ~xc6 L!f8 51 ~d6 ~f7 52 l2:le5
.!txe5 53 ~xe5t Wh7 54 llxd4 lle8 55 ~d6 lle6
56 ~d5 'i'f6 57 'i'd8 1-0
45 Capablanca - Gelabe11 AI3
l c4 e6 2 l2lf3 1Llf6 3 b3 b6 4 il.b2 .Jtb7 5 l2:lc3 c5
6 d4 cxd4 7 1Llxd4 .Jte7 8 ~c2 l2:lc6 9 lld l l2lxd4
10 llxd4 l:.k8 11 e4 .Jtc5 12 nc12 0-0 13 .Jtd3 l2:lg4
14 0-0 l2:le5 15 l2:lb5 1Llxd3 16 ~xd3 a6 17 l2:ld6
.!txd6 18 ~xd6 ~g5 19 .iid3 'i'c5 20 'i'g3 g6 21
~4 e5 22 !.:l.xd7 !!c7 23 Zifd l Z!xd7 24 .llxd7 'i'a5
25 f3 ~c5t 26 Wfl .Jtc6 27 ~f6 1-0
121
 1937
Semmering-Baden - 1937
1 Keres 9 2 Fine 8 3-./ Capablanca, Reshevsky
7 1/i 5 Flohr 7 6-7 Eliskases, Ragozin 6 8
Petrow 5
Senunering-Baden was one of the great elite
tournaments of the era before the war (few
participants, double-robi.1t) With his first place the
Estonian Keres became one of the candidates for
the title according to public opinion. Capablanca
could not repeat his !,>Tand achievements of 1936
again, but achmlly he did not play any worse in
Senunering Baden than in Nottingham. At least he
was the old Capablanca during the first half of the
games. However, he often bhmdered m 39 ... ~g7 40 lbc4 !ia2 41 lbe3 .ie4 42 l:':ie6 ~
time-trouble. We can say without any 43 .lle5 @f6 44 !ib5 .lla6 45 ~h2 lla 1 46 ~g3 L!.a4
exaggeration that even if we do not take into 47 ~h2 iid4 48 f3 .id3 49 !ia5 ~e6 50 g3 .ie2
consideration his lucky games (Keres), he could 51 f4 .id3 52 !ie5i· ~6 53 lbd5t ffl 54 g4 fxg4
have easily achieved 1-1 point more. So the points 55 hxg4 .ic4 56 .llf5t ~g7 57 lbe3 .lle4 58 .llg5t
he had gained by luck at the begi..tming of his @f6 59 iif5t ~g7 60 lbg2 l!id4 61 lbel Z!d5 62
career, he gave back at the end of it. The Cuban iixd5 .ixd5 63 ~g3 @f6 64 t'bf3 .ie4 65 lbe5
.ic2 66 ~h4 h6 67 lbd7·1· (67 ~h5 ~g7 68 f5 .ia4
first met the young Keres here, who was the most
and .ie8·1·!) 67 ... @g7 68 f5 .ia4 69 tilc5 .id 1 70
successful tournament-player between 1937-40.
~g3 @fl 71 ~4 .ie2 72 lbe4 .idl 73 lbc3 .ib3
74 ~e5 i.c4 l!z- 1/z
The analyses of the Senuneri..t1g games, mainly the
annotated parts, are taken from Dr. J. Ha1mak with 2 Petrov - Ca1>ablanca Dl 7
some additions. 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 ctJf3 lbf6 4 lbc3 dxc4 5 a4 .if5 6
lbe5 lbbd7 7 lbxc4 ~c7 8 ~3?! (8 g3! e5 9 dxe5
1 Ca1>ablanca - Fine DI 9 lbxe5 10 .if4) 8 ... e5! 9 dxe5 (9 lbxe5 lbxe5 10
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 lbf.3 t'bf6 4 lbc3 dxc4 5 a4 .if5 6 dxe5 .ie6!) 9 ... lbc5! ("Black attains the superior
e3 e6 7 .ixc4 .ib4 8 0-0 0-0 9 ~e2 .ig4 (9 ... position with this and the next move.") 10 ~a2 (10
.ig6; 9 ... lbbd7!?) 10 l:':idl ~e7 11 h3 i.h5 12 e4 ~dl !id8!) 10 ... lba6! 11 e4!? [11 exf6 lbb4 12
ltlbd7 13 e5?! (13 g4! .ig6 14 lbh4) 13 ... lbd5 14 ~3 lbc2t (12 ... .ic2?! 13 ~a3 lbd3t 14 exd3)
lbe4 f6!? (14 ... h6!) 15 exf6 gxf6 16 lbg3 .if7 17 13 ~dl lbxal 14 ~a2 i.c2i· 15 ~el lbb3 ro +] 11
.ih6 i:ife8 18 lbel! ~h8 19 lbd3 i.d6 20 ~f3 ... lbxe4 (11 ... lbb4 12 ~1!) 12 lbxe4 .ixe4 13
.llg8 21 lbf4 lbxf4 22 .ixf4 .ixf4 23 ~xf4 (The lbd6i·!? .ixd6 14 exd6 ~xd6 15 .ixa6
disappearance of White's pieces made Black's
situation somewhat easier.") 23 ... lbb6 24 .ib3
i:iad8 25 l:':iel lbd5 26 ~4 .ig6 27 lbe4 f5 28
~xe7 lbxe7 29 lbc5 i:ixd4 30 i:ixe6 ("The white
Pawn's weakness on d4 has disappeared and
now White's positional advantage is also shown
in a material way; the Pawn and the rest of his
available Pawns will be completely shattered.
Capablanca should) 30 ... lbd5 31 lbxb7 .ih5 32
.ixd5 i:ixd5 33 lbd6 (33 i:ixc6? .if3 34 g3 i:id7)
33 ... l:':ib8 34 l:':icl i:id 1t! [34 ... .llxb2? 35 l!ixc6
l:':ib8 (35 ... J!id1·1· 36 ~h2 i:ixt'2? 37 lle7!) 36 l:':ia6!]
35 .llxdl .ixdl 36 l:':ie7?! [36 a5!? f4 (36 ... .llxb2?
37 lbxf5 l:':ib8 38 l!ixc6) 37 'fle7 a6 38 !k7 ± i] 36
... .ixa4! 37 iixa7 .ic2 38 'fl.c7 i:ixb2 39 i:ixc6
("Black succeeded in getting rid of half of his 15 ... bxa6? [15 ... .ixg2!! 16 l:':igl (16 .ixb7 Z!d8
shattered four Pawns i..t1 a good way; thus, his 17 itgS ~e5t 18 fte3 itxhl) 16 ... itdS 17 b3 (17
chances for a draw have i..t1creased considerably.") ftc4? '1!¥e6t) 17 ... bxa6 18 ~e2 t fte6 19 'flxg7

122
Wib4t (or 19 ... Wixh2) +] 16 0-0 0-0 17 'i!Va3 'i/Vg6
18 f3 ii.d5 ("After the textmove, the game flattens
out into a draw.") 19 ilf4 .llfe8 20 £!.fel h6 21 a5
Z!ad8 22 Wic3 Wh7 23 .1..g3 .l:helt 24 .l'lxel !!d7
25 b4 112- 112
3 Capablanca - Eliskases D63
1 d4 'Llf6 2 c4 e6 3 'Lle3 d5 4 .ig5 ile7 5 e3 h6 6
Ji.h4 0-0 7 'Llf3 'Libd7 (7 ... b6! ?) 8 Ile 1 e6 9 a3 (9
fl.d3) 9 ... 'Lle4 10 .1..xe7 Wixe7 11 ild3 'Llxe3 12
Z!xc3 dxe4 13 .1..xe4 e5 14 0-0 e4 (14 ... exd4) 15
lLld2 'L\£6 16 Wie2 ilg4 17 h3 .id7 18 l:lel llae8
19 b4 l'!fe8 20 .1..b3 (20 .1..fl followed g2-g3!?) 20
... 'Lid5! 21 .1..xd5 exd5 22 'i!Vb3 'i1Vd6
23 Z!xc8 llxe8 24 llxe8i· ilxe8 ("The backward
black Pawn remains on d5 to White's complete
advantage after the bloody exchange.") 25 ~a4 a6
26 ~e8t Wif8 27 ~e5 (27 '/;\Vxf8i· ~ 8 oo) 27 ...
fl.e6 28 l'bb3 ~e8 29 lbe5 b6 30 l2:lxe6 'i!Vxe6 31
'&bs·1· @h7 32 a4 (32 '@'b7 b5! += =) 32 ... 'i!Vc6 33
'/}ja7 (33 a5 bxa5 34 bxa5 '{!Vel t 35 Wh2 'i1Vd2 =)
33 ... W.Vxa4 34 Wix b6 W.V a2 ! 35 '{lV e5 f6 36 g3 ~3
37 wg2 wg6 38 g4 '/;\Ve4 39 '/;\Vd6 wh7 40 'i1Vd7
'&b5 41 Wie8 a5! (41 ... Wixb4 42 'i/Vf5t Wh8 43
'tllxd5 a5 44 Wia8"j" Wh7 45 ~xe4t Wg8 46 '/;\Ve6"j"
+=) 42 bxa5 W.Vxa5 43 Wg3 Wih5 44 'i/Vf5t Wg8 45
h4 Wic6 46 f3 exf3 47 Wxf3 Wfe4! 48 Wf2 W.Va2t 49
Wg3 W'c4 112- 112
4 Reshevsky- Ca1>ablanca D12
1 d4 d5 2 'L\£3 'L\£6 3 e4 e6 4 e3 .1..f5 5 exd5 cxd5
6 W'b3 W/c7 7 'Lla3 (7 l'be3 e6 8 .1..d2 'Lle6 9 llcl
fl.e7 =) 7 ... l'bc6 8 fl.d2 e6 9 Zkl 'Lle4! 10 ii.b5
lLlxd2 11 l2:lxd2 l'!e8 12 0-0 a6 13 .1..xe6t bxe6 14
l!c3 Ji.d6 15 l'!fcl 0-0! 16 '&'a4 [16 llxe6? Wixe6
17 Z!xc6 l'!xc6 18 'il'dl (18 g3 .1..h3!) 18 ... llfc8
19 lLlb3 .1..xa3 20 bxa3 .1..c2 -+] 16 ... .1..xh2·1· 17
Whl .1..d6 18 llxc6 W.Ve7 19 'L\£3 llxe6 20 !!xc6
112- 1/z
5 Capablanca - Ragozin D64
1 d4 d5 2 e4 e6 3 'Lle3 'Llf6 4 .1..g5 ile7 5 e3 0-0
6 lLlf3 l2:lbd7 7 !kl e6 8 W.Ve2 a6 (8 ... l2:le4!?) 9
a3 b5?! 10 c5 lbh5 11 h4 f5 (11 ... f6 12 .1..d3!) 12
.id3 'Llhf6 13 l2:le2 '{!Ve8 14 .1..f4 l2:le4? (14 ...
'Llg4!) 15 'Lle5! l2:lxe5 16 .1..xe5 ~g6 17 l2:lf4 '@n6
18 .ixe4! (18 f3?! ilxh4t) 18 ... fxe4 19 We2 g6
20 g4! .1..xh4 ("Start of despair") 21 g5! W.Vxg5 22
!kgl llxf4 (22 ... W.Ve7? 23 f3!) 23 exf4 Wid8 24
f3! .1..f6 (The Pawn e4 cannot be stopped) 25
fxe4 lla7 26 We3 !!g7 27 ~2 ilxe5 28 fxe5
'liie7 (28 ... .1..d7? 29 llxg6!) 29 Wih6 .1..d7 30
llfl dxe4 31 llf6 .1..e8 32 l'!hfl .1..f7 33 W/f4 '&d7
34 Wixe4 h5? ("Weakens the square g6")
35 l'!xf7! (Gives back the quality and wins the
Pawns g6 and h5) 35 ... llxf7 36 'liixg6t llg7
37 ~xh5 l'!g3t 38 Wf2? (Time pressure. 38
We2! followed llhl!) 38 ... '!1g7 39 Wel 'ffd8?
(Likewise time pressure 39 ... ~d5!) 40 Z!f6?
(40 llhl!) 40 ... 'ffxd4! 41 'liie8"j" Wh7 42
~h5"j" 112- 112
6 Ca1>ablanca - Flohr D9 3
1 d4 'L\£6 2 c4 g6 3 'Llc3 d5 4 'Llf3 Ji.g7 5 Wib3 c6
6 .1..f4 0-0 (6 ... dxc4!) 7 e3 dxe4 8 .1..xc4 l2:lbd7 9
0-0 lbb6 10 .1..e2 .ie6 11 ·~c2 'Libd5 12 .1..e5 .1..f5
13 Wih3 'liib6 14 l'bd2 '&'xb3 15 'Llxb3 llad8 16
Ji.f3 .1..e8 17 l2:la5 ! e6 18 a3
18 ... 'Lld7? (18 ... l2:le8) 19 'Llxd5! exd5 (19 ...
'Llxe5? 20 l2:le7t) 20 ile7 .if6 21 ilxd8 ii.xd8 22
123
cbb3 lbb6 23 lbd2 .1l.e6 24 II.fol lbc8 25 lbb3
ltJd6 26 lbc5 .1l.c8 27 b4 .1l.e7 28 .i..e2 l:I.e8 29 a4
b6 30 lbd3 lbc4 31 b5 .i..d7 32 bxc6 .i..xc6 33 lbf4
1-0
7 Keres - Ca1>ablanca B54
1 e4 c5 2 lbe2 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 lbxd4 lbf6 5 f3 lbc6
(5 ... e5!? 6 .1l.b5·1· lbbd7 7 lbf5 d5!) 6 c4 g6 7 lbc3
.1l.g7 8 .1l.e3 (The Maroczy variant. 8 lbc2!?) 8 ...
0-0 9 ~d2 ~a5 10 lbb3 'i'b4 11 ~c2 lbd7 12
.1l.d2 lbc5 13 lbxc5 ~xc5 14 lbd5 a5 15 0-0-0 (It
is as brave as it is dangerous) 15 ... lbb4!? (A
Pawn sacrifice in the interest of the attack) 16
lbxe7t @h8 17 ~3 .1l.e6?! (17 ... b5!) 18 a3
lbc6?! (18 ... ~c7!) 19 .1l.e3 ~e5 20 lbd5 a4 21
~c2 .1l.xd5 22 .llxd5 ~e6 23 ~d2 .llfc8 24 @bl
lbe5 25 i:ixd6 lbxc4 26 .1l.xc4 ~xc4 27 Lie l!
("Forces the exchange of Queens and Rooks after
which White gets into a winning position.") 27 ...
~xclt (27 ... ~3?? 28 .llxc8t !ixc8 29 .lld8t) 28
~xcl !ixcl i"29 i.xcl .1l.e5 30 i:id7 .1l.xh2 31 l:':ixf7
b5 32 f4? (32 .1l.d2! ±) 32 ... i:ie8! 33 e5 g5! 34
fxg5 .1l.xe5 35 .1l.d2 .lld8 36 .i..a5 (36 .1l.c3 .1l.xc3
37 bxc3 i:id5) 36 ... .lldl i· 37 c;,t;,c2 llgl 38 !if2
@g8?! (Capablanca was under time pressure again.
38 ... @g7! 39 .1l.c3 .1l.xc3 40 @xc3 Ziel! 41 .l'!f5
.lle3·1· 42 @b4 .l!tb3t 43 @a5 i.ixb2 44 .llxb5 !ixg2
45 @xa4 +-) 39 .1l.c3! .1l.xc3 40 @xc3 l:':iel 41.l.'!f5
Jle3t 42 Wc2? (42 @b4 .l:fo3t 43 @a5 lixb2 44 lixb5
Jlxg2 45 @xa4 @g6! ±) 42 ... lie2i" 43 @bl
43 ... b4! ! (Capablanca saves the game like this) 44
axb4 !ixg2 45 @a2 l:'!g3! 46 !!a5 @f7 47 .lla7t
@g6 48 .l:!.a8 @f7 49 .llxa4 !.l.xg5 50 !ia5 h6! 51
@b3 @e7 52 <t>c4 @d6 53 l:'!c5 .llg8 54 b3 !!f8 55
L!.d5·!· Wc7 56 @c5 l:':ig8 1/z-Ilz (57 b5 l:'!g5!)
8 Fine - Ca1>ablanca DI 7
1 d4 cbf6 2 c4 c6 3 C'.tJf3 d5 4 lbc3 dxc4 5 a4 .1l.f5 6
lbe5 lbbd7 7 lbxc4 ~c7 8 g3 e5 9 dxe5 lbxe5 10
.1l.f4 lbfd7 11 .1l.g2 f6 12 0-0 .l'!d8 13 ~cl .1l.e6 14
lbxe5 (14 lbe4! .1l.b4 15 a5 ± Euwe-Alekhine,
Match 1937) 14 ... lbxe5 15 a5 a6 16 lbe4 .1l.b4!
124
17 .1l.d2 (17 lbc5) 17 ... .1l.xd2 18 lbxd2 0-0 19
~c3 ~d7 20 lbe4 ~d4 21 lbc5 .1l.c8 22 ~3i·
~c4 i1z_11z
9 Capablanca - Petrow E34
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 .1l.b4 4 ~c2 d5 5 cxd5
~xd5 6 lbf3 c5 7 .1l.d2 .1l.xc3 8 .1l.xc3 lbc6 (8 ...
cxd4 9 !id 1 lbc6 10 lbxd4 0-0 11 f3 e5 i) 9 dxc5
(9 i:idl!) 9 ... ~xc5 10 .l:!.cl 0-0 11 e3 .lld8! 12
.1l.xf6 (12 .i..d3 lbb4!) 12 ... ~xc2 13 !txc2 gxf6 14
r!.d2 .i..d7 15 .1l.b5 .i..e8 16 L!.xd8 lixd8 17 @e2
.lld5 18 .1l.xc6 .1l.xc6 19 lbd4 .1l.d7 20 l:':icl e5 21
lbb3 .llb5! (It threatens 22 ... .1l.e6!) 22 !ic5 b6! 23
iixb5 (23 'JJ.c7? .1l.e6 24 II.xa7 .1l.xb3 25 axb3 .llxb3
26 .l.'!a2 e4) 23 ... .1l.xb5t 24 @el c;,t;,f8 25 lbd2 We7
26 f3 .1l.d3 27 ~ f5 28 g4 fxg4 29 fxg4 f6 30 h4
@f7 31 c;,t;,f3 @g6 32 lbe4 .1l.c4 33 hs·1· @g7 34
lbc3! .1l.e6 35 c;,t;,g3 h6 11z_11z +
10 Eliskases - Ca1>ablanca DI 7
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 lbf3 lbf6 4 lbc3 d'<.c4 5 a4 .1l.f5 6
lbe5 lbbd7 7 lbxc4 ~c7 8 g3 e5 9 dxe5 lbxe5 10
.1l.f4 lbfd7 11 .1l.g2 f6 12 0-0 i:id8 13 ~cl .1l.e6 14
lbxe5 (14 lbe4!) 14 ... lbxe5 15 a5 a6 16 cbe4
.1l.b4 17 ~d2 (17 lbc5) 17 ... ~e7?! (At 17 ...
.1l.xd2! see Fine - Capablanca) 18 ~xb4 ~xb4 19
~c5! ~xc5 20 lbxc5 ~c8 21 .llfdl c;,t;,e7 22 b3
lbf7 (22 ... lbd7 23 lbe4! etc. 22 ... .lld6!?) 23 e4!
!id6 (23 ... lbd6 24 i.fl!) 24 !lxd6 @xd6 25 b4
c;,t;,c7 26 .l'!dl rl.d8 27 Ll.xd8 lbxd8 28 f4 b6?! (28 ...
lbe6 29 ~ lbd4!) 29 axb6t@xb6 30 i.fl
(Prevents a5 because of the following lba4·1· and
succeeds in putting the enemy's Knight on ice) 30
... lbe6! (Seems to be a blunder but is a very smart
defence) 31 lba4·1· c;,t;,c7 32 @£2 J,~5 (32 ... c5 !?) 33
c;,t;,e3 gxf4 t 34 gxf4 lbg7 35 tZ:lc5 ! lbe6 (Black
wants to make his situation easy by a Pawn
sacrifice. 35 ... 'ir.'b6? 36 .1l.c4 followed soon f5 and
.i..e6) 36 lbxe6t! .1l.xe6 37 @d4! (37 .1l.xa6 c;,t;,b6
by c5! ±) 37 ... c;,t;,b6 38 .1l.c4 i.g4 39 e5 fxe5i· 40
fxe5 h6 41 h4 ~h5 42 e6 .i..e8 43 i.d3? (43 e7!
followed by @d4-e5-f6 and i.f7 +-) 43 ... @c7 44
'it>c5 (44 ~5!) 44 ... .ih5 45 .ih7? (45 ..ba6!) 45 ...
.ig4! (45 ... .ie8? 46 .ig8! and i.t7 or 45 ... .ifJ
46 .ig6!) 46 e7 (46 .ig8 .if3 47 j_t7 j_d5!) 46 ...
@d7 4 7 .ie4 Wxe7 48 j_xc6 j_e2 49 .ib7 <t>d7 50
ct>b6 Wd6 51 .ixa6 .if3 52 <tia5! (52 b5? .ie2
followed by .ixb5!) 52 ... .ic6 53 .ib5 .if3 54
j_d3 .ic6 55 j_c2 <tic? 56 j_a4! i.f3 (Black may
not change the Knights because of 56 ... j_xa4 57
<t>xa4 h5 58 ~5 or 57 ... @b6 58 h5!) 57 b5 Wb7
58 b6 .ie2 59 .ic2! (Threatens .ie4 t!) 59 ... .if3
60 .id3 .ig2 61 .ia6t Wc6? (61 ... @b8! 62 ct>b5
.ifl i· 63 @a5 .ig2 64 rtib4 j_b7 65 .ic4 .if3 66
Wc5 @b7! = 65 .ixb7 <t>xb7 66 @b5 h5! 65 rtib5
h5! 66 @a5 .ixa6 67 Wxa6 rtia8 =) 62 .ic8 .ifl
63 .ig4 .id3 64 .if3i· @d6 65 .ib7 j_e2 66 .ia6
.if3 67 .ifl .ib7 68 .ih3 ~7 69 @b5 rtJd6 70
~g4 ~7 71 <tics ~g2 72 j_c8 @d8 (72 ... ~f3)
73 ~a6 (73 .ie6!) 73 ... .if3 74 Wd6 i.g2 75 ~c4
Wc8 76 ~d5 ~fl (76 ... .ixd5 77 Wxd5 @b7 78
'it>e6 ct>xb6 79 'it>f6 @c7 80 @g6 @d7 81 Wxh6
We7 82 rtig7) 77 rtie6 .ie2 78 <t>f6 Wd7 79 rtig6
h5 80 rtig5 rtJd6 81 i.t7 Wc6 82 j_xh5 1-0 (82 ...
~c4 83 ~e8i· @xb6 84 h5 <tic? 85 h6 .ig8 86
@g6 @d8 87 ~t7)
11 Capablanca - Reshevsky A28
1 c4 e5 2 lbc3 lbc6 3 ttif3 ttif6 4 d3 j_b4 5 .id2
d5?! (5 ... 0-0 6 g3 !!e8) 6 cxd5 ltixd5 7 g3 0-0 8
.ig2 lbb6 9 0-0 h6 10 !!el?! ~e7 11 a3 .id6 12
lbb5 ~e6 13 b4 a6 14 lbxd6 cxd6 15 e4 d5 16
exd5 itixd5 17 Ziel (17 ltixe5 lbxe5 18 .&!.xe5 .l:!fd8
oo ±) 17 ... 'ffd6 18 ~c2 Iife8 19 ~c5 ~xc5 20
lhc5 (White has the Bishop pair but also the
weakness on d3 which, however, can be removed
hmnediately) 20 .. f6 21 d4 j_t7 (21 ... exd4 22
Iixe6 !ixe6 23 ltixd4 ltixd4 24 j_xd5 itif3t 25
Wg2 ltixd2 26 ~xe6t ±) 22 dxe5 fxe5 (Now Black
has a really weak Pawn but an even worse surprise
isto come)
23 cZ:lg5! hxg5 (23 ... itide7 24 lbxt7 <t>xt7 25
~c3) 24 ~xd5 g4 25 j_xf7t @xf7 26 Iie4 !!ac8
(26 ... lbd4 27 ~e3) 27 j_e3 b6 28 !!c3 lbd4 29
lhc8 .l::txc8 30 rtig2 (30 llxg4! ttif3t 31 Wg2
ltiel i· 32 Wfl itif3 33 We2 lbxh2? 34 l:'!h4) 30 ...
b5 31 !!xe5? (31 .ixd4! exd4 32 !!xd4 .l::tc3 33
Iixg4 llxa3 34 lle4 ±) 31 ... ltic2 32 ~c5 (32 .&l.e4)
32 ... !!c6 33 a4 bxa4 34 lie2 ltial 35 l:'!a2 ltib3 36
iixa4 a5! 37 j_a7 (37 j_e3; 37 h3) 37 ... .l::tc4 38
.l::txa5 lbxa5 39 bxa5 l;La4 40 .ib6 rtie6 41 h3 Wf5
42 hxg4t Wxg4 43 f3t @h5 44 @h3 @g6 45 g4
Wt7 46 Wh4 g6 47 rtig5 !!b4 48 .ic7 !!c4 49 j_d8
iid4 50 ~b6 .lib4 51 f4 l!b5t lf2 .. lf2
12 Ragozin - Capablanca DI 8
"It is interesth1g to see how Capablanca refutes his
opponent's speculative Pawn sacrifice and then
proceeds to take the h1itiative." (R) .
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 itif3 itif6 4 lbc3 dxc4 5 a4
~f5 6 e3 e6 7 j_xc4 .ib4 8 0-0 0-0 9 ~b3 (9
~e2!? 9 lbh4) 9 ... ~e7 10 lbe5?!(10 a5!?) 10
.. . c5 ! ("This had to be calculated very
exactly, as will be seen.") 11 lba2 j_a5 12
~b5 ("White last two moves appear to be
quite powerful, and it is difficult to see how
C. is to avoid loss of a Pawn. However, he
handles to following play so cleverly that
White soon has to retreat his Queen with loss
of time and his QKt remains out of play for
the rest of the game".) 12 ... b6 13 f3 cxd4! 14
e4!? (14 exd4 ~d6 15 j_e3 a6 16 ~3 lbc6 14
b4? a6 15 lbc6 lbxc6 16 ~xc6 Iiac8) 14 ... j_g6
15 ~g5 a6 16 ~3 ~c5 (It threatened 17 lbxg6
hxg6 18 e5) 17 .ixf6 gxf6 18 itid3 1'Vd6 19
~d 1! (" An ignominious confession that his Q
excursion has failed." G.) 19 ... !!c8! (Gaining
time to stop b4") 20 b3 lbd7 21 ~e2 lbc5 22
lbxc5?! (Black threatened 22 ... lbxa4! 22
lbacl!?; 22 !!acl!?) 22 ... "ii'xc5 23 j_d3
23 ... f5 ! ("Opening new lines.") 24 llab 1 [24
exf5 exf5! (24 ... j_xf5 25 .ixf5) 25 f4 (25
.ixa6?? d3t) 25 ... lle8 26 °ii'f2 !!e3 +] 24 ... fxe4
25 fxe4 ~c3 ("It is mterestrng to observe how rn the
125
next phase of the game Black dominates the black
squares and conducts a 11 his maneuvers on them" G.)
26 b4 'ti'eS! 27 lbcl (27 Ji.xa6 'ti'xe4 28 'ti'xe4 Ji.xe4
29 Ji.xc8 J..xbl 30 lbxc3 dxc3 31 .lixbl !hc8 ±) 27
... a5 28 bxa5 (28 b5 Ji.b4) 28 ... Ji.xa5 29 .l'lb5 l:k5
30 ~f3 !txbS 31 axb5 Ji.d2 ("This Bishop are
getting dangerous." It threatened lticl-e2-f4
followed by lbxg6) 32 ltie2 Ji.e3 t 33 ~h 1 .lia3
34 .lidl h5! (34 ... .lhd3?? 35 lhd3 .i.xe4 36
~g4i·) 35 h3?! ("Which White either overlooks
or despairs of meeting adequately. He is
however, so tied up there is no good move at his
disposal." G. 35 lbg3 h4 36 ltie2 .i.h5! 37 ~fl
h3!) 35 ... .lixd3! ("Winding up neatly".) 36 .!!xd3
Ji.xe4 37 !he3 dxe3 38 ~fl ~xb5 39 'ti'f4 Ji.xg2t
40 ~g2 ~xe2i· 0-1 (Hannak, Reinfeld and
Golombek).
13 Flohr - Ca11ablanca D28
1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 ttif3 itif6 4 e3 e6 5 Ji.xc4 c5 6
0-0 a6 7 ~e2 lbc6 (7 ... b5!) 8 .l:!.dl (The
fashionable move of the 20s-30s. 8 lbc3!) 8 .. .
'ifc7 9 lbc3 Ji.e7 10 a3 (10 Ji.d3!?) 10 ... b5 (10 .. .
0-0 11 ii.a2 Ji.d7) 11 ii.a2 b4 12 lba4 cxd4 13
exd4 Ji.d7 14 axb4 lbxb4 15 lbc3 Ji.b5! 16 ~e5
(16 lbxb5? axb5 17 'ifxb5t ~d7 18 ~xd7i· lbxd7
-+) 16 ... ~717 Ji.b3
17 ... itid3! 18 'ifg3 lbxcl 19 iiaxcl (19 itixb5??
lbe2·!·!) 19 ... Ji.d7 20 .i.c4 !tc8 21 b3 0-0 22
lbe5 Ji.b5 23 'ifd3 Ji.xc4 24 bxc4! Lifd8 25
1'*'e2 ~a7 26 c5 lbd5 27 ltixd5 iixd5 28 Iia 1
a5 29 ~b5 .i.xc5 30 dxcS .lixe5 31 .l:!.xa5 ~e7
112- 112
14 Ca11ablanca - Keres DI 8
1 c4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 cZ:if3 ltif6 4 lbc3 dxc4 5 a4
Ji.f5 6 e3 e6 7 Ji.xc4 itibd7 8 'iVe2 Ji.b4 9 0-0
lbe4 (9 .. Ji.g6!) 10 lbxe4 (10 .i.d3!?) 10 ...
Ji.xe4 11 Ji.d3 lbc5 !? 12 .i.xe4 lbxe4 13 'ifc2
'ifd5 14 lbe5 0-0 15 f3 lbcS 16 lbc4 b5 17
126
axb5 cxb5 18 Ji.d2 .i.xd2 19 itixd2 ltia4 20 Iifel
h6 21 b3 lbb6 112- 112
J. R. Capablanca: CONCLUSION
(My Chess Caree,~
"At the begi1ming of this book it was stated that,
space pennitting, I would give some points useful
for begiimers, but which also might be found of
value to more experienced players. With that
object I now give the substance of a part of a
lecture, delivered by me at the Hampstead Chess
Club on Saturday, November 15th, 1919.
A player some time ago asked me to give him
some advice for average players, and I asked him
of what sort, and what did he find was the general
weakness. He said that some players are very
agi,,,ressive and others are not aggressive at all.
Both are wrong, but if you have to be one of the
two, it is much better to be very aggressive.
The game might be divided into three parts, i.e.: -
l The opening.
2 The middle-game.
3 The end-game.
There is one thing you must strive for, to be
equally efficient in the three parts. Whether you
are a strong or a weak player, you should try to be
of equal strength in the three parts. You might say,
with regard to the openings, that the main
principle is rapid and efficient development. You
must not lose sight of the fact that when you bring
out your pieces you must put them in the right
places. In the middle-game, the main thing is the
co-ordination of pieces, and this is where most
players are weak. Many try to attack with one
piece here and another there without any concerted
action, and later they wonder what is wrong with
the game. You must co-ordinate the action of your
pieces, and this is a main principle which runs
throughout. In the end-game, what you need is
accurate and time-saving play; any move that
gains time or saves time in the end-game is a
move which must be considered immediately.
Broadly speaking, these are the principles.
It is quite an advantage to have the initiative, and
once you have it you must keep it. If your
opponent has it, and relinquishes it through some
accident or other, you must take it. It may be a
good quality for a strong player to be passive and
let the other player attack him, thinking he will at
some time or other make a bad move, but it is fatal
to the begiimer or medium player - such players
must be aggressive. He must attack, because only
in that way can he develop his iinagiimtion, which
is a very iinportant thing.
Another very iiuportant point is the economy of
forces in the defence. You will find people very
often frightened when a Pawn or a piece is
attacked, or especially the Kii1g; they try to bring
all their pieces to defend hi.in. This is wrong. You
must always tty and defend your King with as few
pieces as you can, and it is only when attacking
your opponent's Kii1g that you must bring forward
all the pieces you can. When attacking other
pieces use just sufficient force to attaii1 your
object.
Startii1g with the ope11ii1g you probably find you Holland: the A.lekhii1e - Euwe return nmtch, where
are confronted with a move which you have not Alekhii1e regaii1ed the world championship.
seen before. You say to yourself, "What can I do?"
The answer is. "Play what you might call th~ 9 3 8
Pads - 1938
/ Capablanca 8 2 Rossolimo 711z 3 ~c7 40 ~b7 l'!.b8 41 i.f3 @g6 42 ~cl ~e5 43
· rl.el .llb5 44 @h2 ~g4 45 lbgl ~6 46 l!!e2 !ibl
Cukiermann 5 1/2 ./-5 Snosko-Borows ky , Ronu
4 6 Anglares 1
(A double-robin tournament. 111e text of both of
Capablanca's wiiming games agaii1st Anglares
have been lost.) This was the Cuban's last
tournament victory, if we do not count the golden
medal on the fast board in the Chess Olympiad.
He had no real rival.
1 Romi - Capablanca A.47
1 d4 lbf6 2 lbf3 e6 3 ~f4 b6 4 e3 ~b7 5 lbbd2
illh5 6 ~g3 d6 7 ~d3 lbd7 8 ~e2 i.e7 9 c3 c5 10
it:le4 lbxg3 11 hxg3 h6 12 !!dl ~c7 13 lbed2 d5
14 ~a6 ~xa6 15 ~xa6 0-0 16 ~d3 b5 17 g4 c4
18 ~c2 ~d8 19 e4 dxe4 20 lbxe4 lbf6 21 lbxf6t
i.xf6 22 0-0 .llb8 23 a3 a5 24 rl.fel 'ti'd5 25 lbe5
Z!fc8 26 f4 b4 27 axb4 axb4 28 ~d2 bxc3 29 bxc3
Z!b3 'h-'h
2 Cukiennan - Ca1>ablanca A.46
l d4 lbf6 2 lbf3 e6 3 e3 c5 4 i.d3 lbc6 5 0-0 'ti'c7
6 c4 cxd4 7 exd4 d5 8 b3 ~d7 9 lbc3 lbb4 10 ~e2
dxc4 11 bxc4 ~e7 12 a3 lbbd5 13 cxd5 't\Vxc3 14
i.d2 ~c7 15 dxe6 ~xe6 16 ~b5i· ~8 17 .&!.el
it:ld5 18 .llcl 't1Vd8 19 a4 .l:tc8 20 't1Ve2 Itxcl 21
Z!xcl h6 22 lbe5 ~d6 23 ~5 lbf6 24 'ti'e2 g5 25
h4 lbd5 26 a5 a6 27 ~d3 c;,t;,g7 28 ~e4 ~f6 29
'1Jc4 lbr4 30 ~f3 ~xd4 31 ~xf4 gxf4 32 lbb6
.ixh4 33 ~xb7 h5 34 lbd5 i.g5 35 Iidl 't1Ve5 36
common-sense move." Brii1g your pieces out
quickly, and put them in a safe place. You may not
make the best move by doii1g this, but it will be a
lesson for the next game. The maii1 thii1g is to
move out your pieces as quickly as possible. I
would add that most people do not like to lose
games, and take defeat badly. This is not right.
People who want to iiuprove should take their
defeats as lessons, and endeavour to learn wlmt to
avoid in the future. You must also have the
courage of your convictions. If you thii1k your
move is good, make it. Experience is the best
teacher. Most people durii1g a game have an idea
that a certaii1 manoeuvre is good, but they are
afraid to make it. Tlmt is wrong; you must go on
and play what you thii1k is good without
hesitation."
*
In October another significant match started ii1
'ti'c3 't1Vxc3 37 lbxc3 i.d8 38 i.xa6 ~xa5 39 lbe2
47 Iid2 ~b 8 48 l!!a2 Iifl 49 !Ia6 i. ~5 50 .lla2
~e5 51 lbh3 l!!cl 52 lbg 1 l!!b 1 53 .lie2 @f6 54
.llc2 .llb3 55 !ic6t rt;e7 56 .l:!.c2 f6 57 .lld2 .lla3 58
.lk2 !Id3 59 Jla2 @d7 60 ~c2 ~8 61 .lla2 @c7
62 .llc2t @b6 63 @hl @b5 64 .&!.a2 @b4 65 .llc2
@b3 66 .lle2 l!!c3 67 ~d5t @b4 68 i.f3 l!a3 69
.l:te4t ~5 70 l!!e2 ~4 71.lld2t ~3 72 .lle2 .llal
73 @h2 ~f5 74 ~xh5 i.d3 75 ~f3 ~xe2 76
lbxe2i· @d2 77 lbgl @el 78 lbh3 'it>fl 79 c;,t;,hl
~d6 80 c;,t;,h2 .lla4 81 ~c6 .llb4 82 ~d5 f3t 83
Whl fxg2t 84 i.xg2t @e2 85 ~c6 i.c5 86 f3
We3 87 Wg2 i.d6 88 @fl .l:!.blt 89 @g2 Iib2t 90
~1.l:th2 9 1 lbgl ~b4 0-1
3 Capablanca - Rossolimo D66
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 d5 4 i.g5 i.e7 5 e3 0-0
6 lbf3 lbbd7 7 .l:!.cl c6 8 i.d3 h6 9 i.h4 dxc4 10
i.xc4 b5 (10 ... lbd5 11 i.g3!) 11 ~d3 a6 12
a4!? b4?! ("This leaves the c- file extremely
weak." Pawn12 ... bxa4 13 lbxa4 't1Va5t ao) 13
lbe4 ( 13 ~xf6 gxf6 ! 14 lbe4 f5 15 lbg3 c5 ao) 13
... lbxe4 14 ~xe7 lbxf2! (14 ... 't1Vxe7? 15
~xe4) 15 ~xd8! (15 Wxf2? ~xe7 16 l'!.xc6 e5
+) 15 ... lbxdl 16 Wxdl .l:!.xd8 17 .l:!.xc6 ~b7?
(Black misses the opportunity of freeing his
game by 17 ... e5!: 18 l!!d6! += 18 ... ~b7?! 19
~f5!) 18 .llc7 ~xf3t (18 ... .llab8 19 @e2 and
20 .llhcl ± 18 ... i.d5 19 c;,t;,e2 ~b3 20 a5
127
followed by l:!.hc 1 ±) 19 gxf3 'Llb6 (20 ... e5!? 21
a5 exd4 21 exd4 'Llf6 22 i.c4 ! .lhd4 t 23 c;,t;,c2 l:!.d7
24 .llc6! +=) 20 .&!.c6 'Llxa4 21 c;,t;,c2 .&!.db8 (21 ... a5
22 .l::!.al!; 22 i.b5 .l::!.ac8!) 22 .&!.al b3t (22 ... 'Llb6
23 .&!.xa6 .l:txa6 24 Ji.xa6 ± i) 23 c;,t;,cl llb4 24
.1i..xa6 'Llb6 25 c;,t;,d2 e5 ("A combination which has
a flaw, as Capablanca ably demonstrates." 25 ...
l:!.a4 26 .l:txa4 lbxa4 27 c;,t;,c1 +-) 26 dxe5! (A nice
combination of 5 or 6 moves exploiting the
weakness of the first rank.) 26 ... 'Llc4 t 27 ~c3
'Llxe5 28 .!lc5 llb6

the more artistic procedure." "C. pursues the

29 Ji.d3! 1-0 (Golombek.)
4 Capablanca - Snosko Borowski D34
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 'Llc3 c5 4 cxd5 exd5 5 'Llf3
'Llc6 6 g3 'Llf6 7 .Xi..g2 .Xi..e7 8 0-0 0-0 9 dxc5
Ji.xc5 (9 ... d4 10 'Lla4 .Xi..f5 11 Ff4 i) 10 'Lla4
("Reti's move, and very strong, since hereby
White gains control of the important central
squares d4 and c5" G. 10 .Xi..g5!?) 10 ... .Xi..e7 11
.Xi..e3 lZ.ie4 12 'Lld4 (12 .&tel!?) 12 ... 'Lle5? ("A
weak move from which Black is not to recover."
G. 12 ... 'Llxd4!? 13 '§'xd4 .i.e6 i) 13 Ziel! '§'a5
("This aggressive-looking move soon leads to
inextricable difficulties: 13 ... 'Llc4? 14 .lixc4!)
14 .1i..f4! ("Forcing the Kt onto its weakest
position on g6, where it remains out of play for
the rest of the game." G.) 14 ... 'Llg6 [14 ... .Xi..d6?
(14 ... f6?! 15 'i1Yb3!) 15 .1i..xe5 .txe5 16 .1i..xe4 dxe4?
17 .llc5] 15 .Xi..c7 ~a6 [15 ... '§'d2 (15 ... b6?? 16
t°L'lc6) 16 'vifxd2 lbxd2 17 .llfdl lbe4 18 loc3 ±] 16 a3
.1i..d7 17 lbc3 lbxc3 18 .llxc3 .Xi..e6 ("With the
weakness of his QP uncovered, Blacks position has
taken a distinct turn for the worse." 18 ... .Xi..c6 19
'Llxc6 bxc6 20 ~c2) 19 b4! (with the idea 20 b5) 19
... b6
(See diagram next colunm)
20 e4! ("White could have won the QP here
with f4, but he deliberately decides to
renounce the win of the Pawn in favor of
opening up new lines for his pieces - certainly
logical course of breaking open the position in
order to expose the many weaknesses m
Black's game." G. 20 .Xi..f4!?) 20 ... dxe4 21
Ji.xe4 .llae8 [(21 ... Ji.hJ 22 l:Iel Z!ac8 23 ~f3 (or
23 Ji.xg6) 21 ... Z!ac8 22 'Llxe6 fxe6 23 ~d7 +-]
22 'Llxe6 fxe6 23 .Xi..c6 Ji.f6 (23 ... Z!c8 24 Ji.d7) 24
b5! ~c8 [24 ... 'iVa5 25 .l::td3 Z!c8 26 Ji.d6 SJ..e7
(26 ... .l;l.fd8 27 .Xi..b4) 27 '§'b3] 25 .lic2! Z!e7 26
.Xi..d6 .lld8 27 f4! ~h8 28 .l::tff2! Z!f7 29 .l:!.fd2 ("A
remarkable position, with Whites Rooks and Bishops
sweeping the board in impressive style." G.) 29 ...
.l!g8 (White threatened 30 i.e8) 30 ~5! ~d8 31
.i.e4 1-0 "Amodelgame."(Golombek).
5 Capablanca - Romi D9 5
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 'Llf3 'Llf6 4 e3 g6 5 'Llc3 Ji.g7
("By means of a familiar transposition, we have
reached a well-known line in the Griinfeld
Variation.") 6 '§'b3 (6 Ji.d3; 6 .1i..e2) 6 ... 0-0 7 l{le5
(7 Ji.d2) 7 ... e6? ("Too passive. 7 ... 'Llbd7!? 8 f4
'Llxe5 9 fxe5 'Lle4") 8 f4 'Llbd7 9 Ae2 'Llxe5 10
fxe5 'Llg4? (10 ... lt:le4? 11 'Llxe4 dxe4 12 '§'c2 10
... 'Lld7! ?) 11 0-0 ~4
12 .i.xg4 ("This has been criticized as an
example of C. 's over-developed desire for
simplicity, but it happens to be stronger than the

128
colorless 12 h3. The point of the unexpected
exchange is to take advantage of the Black
Queens poor position.") 12 ... 'ti'xg4 13 .llf4!
'¥ig5 14 e4! dxc4 15 ~xc4 'ti'e7 16 llg4! ("It is
clear that C. will have a field day on the black
squares.") 16 ... f6 17 exf6 'ti'xf6 18 i.e3 i.d7
19 h3 ~h8 ("Hoping for e5, which is of course
at once prevented.") 20 e5 'ti'd8 21 ltie4 b6 22
i.g5 '¥ic7 23 ii.e7 .llfe8 24 i.d6 'ti'd8 ("In view
of his opponents overwhelming position, Black
cannot hope to hold out very long.") 25 llfl c5
26 ltig5! iYc8 27 l'!h4 h6 28 'ti'd3 1-0 (Reinfeld).
6 Snosko-Borowsky - Capablanca C79
1 e4 e5 2 ltif3 ltic6 3 i.b5 a6 4 ii.a4 ltif6 5 0-0 d6 6
l!el i.e7 7 c3 i.d7 8 d4 0-0 9 ltibd2 .l:te8 10 ..txc6
i.xc6 11 dxe5 dxe5 12 lb.xe5 i.xe4 13 lb.xe4 'ti'xdl
14 lb.xf6t i.xf6 15 llxdl ii.xe5 112- 112
7 Rossolimo,Nicolas - Capablanca C50
1 e4 e5 2 ltif3 ltic6 3 ii.c4 ii.c5 4 d3 d6 5 ltic3
ctJf6 6 i.g5 h6 7 i.h4 g5 8 ii.g3 'ti'e7 9 'ti'd2 ii.d7
10 0-0-0 0-0-0 11 a3 ltid4 12 lb.xd4 ii.xd4 13 f3
Wb8 14 i.f2 i.xf2 15 'ti'xf2 ii.e6 16 ..txe6 fxe6
112- 112
8 Ca1>ablanca - Cukiennan,J D94
l d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 ltif3 ltif6 4 e3 g6 5 ltic3 il.g7 6
ctJe5 0-0 7 f4 i.e6 8 ~3 'ti'c7 9 cxd5 cxd5 10
i.d2 ltie4 11 lb.xe4 dxe4 12 d5 ii.c8 13 llcl 'ti'd8
14 i.c3 ltid7 15 lb.xd7 ii.xc3t 16 .l:txc3 'ti'xd7 17
i.b5 '¥id6 18 0-0 .lld8 19 .l:tdl ..td7 20 ii.e2 112- 112
AVR0-1938
1-2 Keres, Fine 8112 3 Botvimtik 7 112 ./-6
Alekhine, Euwe, Reshevsky 7 7 Capablanca 6
8 Flohr4 112
"Ever since chess tournaments have been organised,
from the 1851 London tmmiament tmtil now, tliat is
for close on a hrn1dred years, it !ms only been
possible once to bring together the eight best chess
players in tl1e world for a double-robin touniament.
All the candidates were brought together, and
exclusively only such players were there." (There
have been altogether two or three occasions like this
since then. EV) 'AVRO, the Dutch radio company,
mmiaged to carry out this excellent organisatio11al
niasterpiece.' (TC) Of course, the three world
champions were the great favourites at the
tournament, but there were hidden possibilities for
the representatives of the younger generation.
Among the players Flohr liad already been declared a
candidate for the title in 1937 by FIDE, but even so
perhaps the young Keres was the favourite, although
after Moscow and Nottingham Botvinnik also had
good chances.
"Between November 6th and 27th they played each
rotmd in a different town starting off from
Amsterdam and returning there each night. World
travellers may well be accustomed to longer
distances, and the grandmasters were granted all the
amenities, but the older generation still complained
about the tiring effects of the 'travelling
chess-circus'. Amazingly, the tournament still
produced several brilliant games, and exceeded
greatly the Semmering-Baden totU11ament of the
previous year. AVRO perfom1ed a significant service
by clarifying the situation of tlie rivals, and in the
person of tlie yorn1gest participant, Paul Keres
brought forward a worthy candidate against whom
Alekhine would definitely liave liad to have played,
if the war liad not intruded; and if the Estonian
cliampion liad not wanted to complete his
n1atl1en1atical studies first; and if he liad not lost
game after game against Alekhine at later
touniaments.' TC
Age played a serious role in deciding the
finishing order of the players: with the
exception of Flohr the younger always
surpassed the older. Capablanca recorded the
weakest result of his life, althougl1 he played
several games of good value even at this
tournament. The nadir for him was on his
fiftieth birthday when Alekhine, the permanent
rival, practically drove a coach and four through
his defending lines.
9 Flohr - Capablanca DI 9
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 ltif3 ltif6 4 ltic3 dxc4 5 a4 ii.f5 6
e3 e6 7 ii.xc4 ii.b4 8 0-0 0-0 9 'ti'e2 ltie4 10 ltia2
(10 ii.d3!) 10 .. ..te7 11 ii.d3 ltig5! 12 ltiel i.xd3
13 lb.xd3 ltia6?! (12 ... ltie4 13 ltic3 ltif6 14 b4
ltid5 =) 14 ltic3 h6 15 lldl ltih7 16 ltie5 'ti'c7 ;!; 17
e4 llad8 18 ii.e3 ltib4 19 .l:tacl ltif6 20 h3 'ti'a5 21
~c4 ltid7 22 ltif3 ltib6 23 ~3 'ti'a6 24 ltie5 ltid7
25 ltic4 ltib6 26 lb.xb6 axb6 27 d5! (Pretty nice
but Capa does not let to overpower) 27 ... exd5 28
exd5
(See diagram on next page)
28 ... ltid3! 29 .l:tc2 ltic5 30 ii.xc5 ii.xc5 31 ltie4
Ltxd5 32 1!xd5 cxd5 33 ltixc5 bxc5 34 llxc5 d4
35 .l:td5 'ti'e6! 36 'i¥f3 ~6 37 .l:tb5 'ti'a6 (Despite
the time pressure, the former world champion
does not play any Pawns) 38 ~3 'ti'd6 39 !id5
'ti'e6 40 'ti'f3 'ti'c6 41 I!xd4 112- 112
10 Capablanca - Alekhine E 18
1 d4 ltif6 2 c4 e6 3 ltif3 b6 4 g3 ii.b7 5 ii.g2 ii.e7
6 0-0 0-0 7 'ti'c2 ii.e4 (7 ... ltie4? 8 ltifd2 ltid6 9 e4
129

±) 8 ~3 lbc6 9 .ie3 d5 10 ltibd2 dxc4 11
'Wxc4 .id5 12 'Wc3 h6 ( 12 ... .l:l.c8=) 13 Iifd 1
!k8 14 .if4 'We8 15 a3 ltia5 16 b4 ?! ( 16 ~d3 ±)
16 ... lbb7 17 ltiel .ixg2 18 lbxg2 c5= 19 bxc5
bxc5 20 'Wb2 lba5 21 dxc5 .l:l.xc5 22 !labl 'Wc6
23 ltiel itid5 24 .ie5 lbc3 25 ..txc3 .l:!.xc3 26
Iidcl Iic8 27 !ixc3 ~xc3 28 a4 ~xb2 29 .llxb2
.l:k 1 30 Iib 1 Iic3 31 Iib8t @h7 32 .l:l.b5 lbc4 33
lbxc4 Ll.xc4 34 l!b7 .if6 35 itid3 Iixa4 36 !lxf7
a5 37 lbc5 It.a 1i· 38 c;,t;,g2 a4 39 .l:ta7 a3 40 lbxe6
.ib2 41 ltif4 .id4 42 .l:!.a4 .ib2 43 e4 g5 44
Iia7i· @g8 45 lbd5
/
45 ... .id4 46 Iia8t @fl 47 lbb4 It.bl 48 ltic2
.ixf2 112.112
11 Fine - Ca1>ablanca Cl 7
"This is one of the finest examples in all chess
literature of a remarkable recovery from a lost
positio!L TI1e way in which the older player manages
to snatch the half-point from his gifted opponent is
nothing short of miraculous!" (R).
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 ltic3 i.b4 4 e5 cS 5 i.d2 cxd4 ?!
(5 ... lbe7 6 a3 ~xc3 7 ~xc3 b6) 6 lbb5 i.xd2i· 7
~xd2 lbc6 8 itif3 (8 f4 lbh6 9 itid6·1· +=) 8 ... f6!
(8 ... lbge7?! 9 itid6·1 c;.i;if8 10 ~f4 itif5 11 ltixf5
exf5 12 ltixd4) 9 'ikf4! lbh6 10 itid6t (10 exf6?
0-0!) 10 ... c;.i;if8 11 .ib5! (Very strong; it is clear
130
that the disappearance of Blacks vital QKt will
enhance his difficulties.") 11 ... lbr?!? 12 lbxf7
Wxf7 13 i.xc6 bxc6 14 exf6?! gxf6 15 lbe5t @g7
16 ~g3t @f8 17 ltixc6 ~d7! (17 ... ~6? 18 'Wd6t
Wf7 19 0-0-0 !!e8 20 Iixd4) 18 ltixd4 e5 19 ltib3
'ikf5 ("Black has a lost game, but C. fights back with
desperate ingenuity.") 20 ~d3 [20 0-0-0 !ig8 21
i'IHf3 'lifxf3 (21 ... ~g5t!?) 22 gxf3 d4 oo] 20 ... d4 21
0-0 lig8 22 f4? ("Seemingly crnshing ... and it
should have been, with proper play.")
22 ... ~b7! (At last he gets counterplay. Naturally
the Queen cannot be captured.) 23 Iif2! ~e4 24
~d2 Wf?! 25 Iie 1! (25 fxe5 .l.'!xg2i·! ! 26 .llxg2
i.xg2 27 'Wxg2! .llg8 28 exf6 Iixg2i· 29 Wxg2
~xc2t 30 c;,t;,h3 'Wxb2 31 Iidl 'Wc3·132 c;,t;,g2 d3 33
.l:!.fl a5) 25 ... .llg4! 26 lbc5?! ("An understandable
mistake in this crncial position. Fine had six
minutes left for thirteen moves, C. only one minute
left!" 26 fxe5 ~xe5 27 hJ! or 27 'W'xd4! 'Wxd4 t 28
lbxd4 .ixg2 29 .l:!xg2 !!xd4 30 Iige2 ±) 26 ...
.ixg2 !! 27 .llxg2 .llag8 28 !:Iee2 exf4 (111is is the
key to C. 's counterplay. A magnificent move in such
time pressure.") 29 ltib7! ~d5 30 .lixg4 .llxg4i· 31
iig2 .llxg2t 32 'i'xg2 f3 33 ~3 'i'g5·1·! ("Forcing
Whites reply".) 34 ~g3 [34 <J;if1?? ~cl t 35 Wf2
~e3i· 36 <J;if1 'ike2t 37 c;,t;,gl f2t] 34 ... 'W'cl·i· 35
@f2 'W'e3t 36 c;.i;ifl ~e2t 37 @gl ~dl·I· 38 Wf2
'i'xc2t 39 Wxf3 'ii'c6t 40 @e2 'W'xb7 ("111e time
pressure is over, but both players have been moving
so rapidly that they dont realiz.e it.") 41 b3 Wfr'e4·1· 42
c;,t;,d2 ~e5?! (42 ... f5!) 43 'W'h3 ~g5t 44 @d3 -
(" At this point a draw was agreed on, as White must
regain the extra Pawn. An imperfect game, but a
magnificent strnggle." Reinfeld and Diemer).
12 Capablanca - Botvinnik D93
1 d4 itif6 2 c4 g6 3 lbc3 d5 4 itif3 (4 cxd5!?) 4
... .ig7 5 i.f4 (5 'ii'b3) 5 ... 0-0 6 e3 (5 .llcl) 6 ...
c5! 7 ~3!? (7 dxc5?! 'W'a5!) 7 ... cxd4 8 itixd4
dxc4 9 ~xc4 itibd7 10 i.g3 lbh5 11 Iidl lbxg3
12 hxg3 'i'a5 (= Capablanca brought "light
luggage" with him in a theoretical respect") 13
0-0 tt:lb6 14 ..td5!? .l!b8 15 a3 e6 16 ..tf3 a6 17
l't:lde2 tt:ld7 ! 18 tt:le4 tt:le5 19 r!.cl ..td7 20 tt:ld4
.ia4 21 ~c3 ~xc3 22 lbxc3 tt:lxf3t 23 gxf.3 ..td7
24 .llfdl Iifd8 25 f4 ..te8 26 lbe4 112- 1/i
13 Reshevsky - Capablanca E37
1 d4 tt:lf6 2 c4 e6 3 tt:lc3 ..tb4 4 'ii'c2 d5 5 a3 (4
cxd5!?) 5 ... ..txc3i· 6 ~xc3 tt:le4 7 'iVc2 c5 (8 ...
l't:lc6!?) 8 dxc5 tt:lc6 9 tt:lf3 'iVa5t 10 tt:ld2 tt:lxd2
(10 ... tt:ld4! oo In general Capablanca does not play
the openings vecy convincingly and especially in this
tournament, he lacks accuracy above all") 11 ..txd2
'i&'xc5 12 e3 dxc4 13 'iVxc4 ~xc4 14 ..txc4 ..td7 15
..tc3 (+=) 15 ... f6 16 f4! .l.'!c8 17 ..tb3 <t;e7 18 Wf2
..te8! 19 e4 ..tf7 20 .lladl .llhd8 21 e5 fxe5 22 fxe5
..th5 23 Iid6! Iixd6 (23 ... tt:lxe5 24 .l.'!.'<d8 tt:lg4i· 25
@g3 .l:!xd8 26 Ziel! .lld3t 27 'ith.4 +-) 24 exd6t
~d6 25 Stxg7 e5 26 Ikl Stg4! 27 Sth6 Ste6 28 Stc2
llg8 29 h3 'lld4 30 Std3 Stf5 31 Stxf5 'llxf5 32 Std2 h5
33 ..tb4·1· <t;d5 34 Iic5i· [34 !:Ic7 e4 (34 ... Iig7 35
!!xg7 tt:lxg7 36 g4) 35 Iixb7 e3i· 36 @fl tt:lg3t <Xl)
34 ... @e4 35 ..tc3 Iie8 36 g4 hxg4 37 hxg4 tt:ld6
(37 ... tt:ld4 38 <t;g3) 38 '!J.c7 @f4 39 ..tb4 tt:le4 i· 40
@e2 tt:lg3i" 41 @el b5 42 .l.'!xa7 Wxg4 43 !:Ib7 e4
44 Iixb5 WO 45 ..td6 Iih8 46 i.xg3 .l!h 1t 4 7 @d2
e3t 48 @c2 Wxg3 49 @d3 @£4 50 '!J.b8 i!dlt 51
@e2 .lld2i· 52 <t;el @£3 53 r!.f8t @e4 54 b4 !:Ia2
55 Iie8t @f3 56 llf8i· c;,t;,e4 112- 112
14 Keres - Ca1>ablanca C09
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 tt:ld2 c5 4 exd5 exd5 5 tt:lgf3
l't:lc6 6 ..tb5 '&e7i"?! 7 ..te2! cxd4 8 0-0 ~c7 9
lt:lb3 ..td6 10 tt:lbxd4 a6 11 b3 (11 c4! Tal-Saizev,
SU 1969) 11 ... tt:lge7 12 ..tb2 0-0 13 tt:lxc6 bxc6
(After the Black weakness d5 is covered well
enough, c6 will be the new target...) 14 c4! ..te6 15
'&c2 dxc4 (It threatens 16 c5 i.f4 17 g3 ..th6 18
..te5 followed by 19 tt:ld4 ±) 16 ..txc4 ..txc4 17
'&xc4 Iifb8!? (An attempt to make a counterplay
on the Queen's side; logically a6-a5 should follow
in the next move; instead of that Capa makes a
Rook move, which finally passes the initiative over
to White) 18 h3 !ib5?! 19 r!.acl !ic8 20 .llfdl tt:lg6
(It threatened 21 'i'g4 tt:lg6 22 .llxd6! 21 '&c3 or
21 'i'd4 etc. 20 ... ..tf4 21 !!c2 tt:lg6 22 tt:ld4 Iid5
23 Ziel) 21 tt:ld4 l!b6 [21 ... .lld5? 22 tt:lxc6!!
.llxd1·1· 23 Iixdl ~xc6 24 Iixd6! ~xc4 25 bxc4 ±]
22 t'Z:le6! (Like a bolt from the blue.) 22 ... ~8!
(22 ... ..th2t? 23 c;,t;,hl fxe6 24 ~xe6t c;,t;,h8 25
Ll.d7) 23 tt:lg_5! [23 lbxg7 i.e5! 24 Ll.d7 (24 ..txe5
lbxe5! 25 'Wc3 <t;xg7 26 f4 Iib5!) 24 ... .llf8 25
tt:lf5 ..txb2 26 l2:lli6t c;,t;,g7 27 tt:lxf7 Iib7!] 23 ...
.llb7 24 '&g4 i.f4 25 .llc4 Ll.b5? (25 ... ..txg5!)
26 tt:lxf7!? [26 r!.xf4! Iixg5 (26 ... tt:lxf4 27
tt:lxf7!) 27 '&xg5 '&xf4 (27 ... h6 28 ~f5 tt:lxf4 29
..te5) 28 iid8i· Iixd8 29 ~xd8t tt:lf8 30 ..ta3 c5 31
~c8 ±] 26 ... Iie8! (26 ... Wxf7? 27 !id7i·) 27 g3
(27 tt:ld8! Iixd8 28 !:Ixd8t ~xd8 29 .llxf4) 27 ...
~c8? [27 ... ..txg3! 28 'i'xg3 (28 fxg3 'i'a7i· 29
Iicd4 ~xf7 30 !:Id7) 28 ... 'i'xg3t 29 fxi;3 @xf7
30 !:Ixc6 ±] 28 .llxf4! 'ii'xg4 29 !:Ixg4 @xf7 30
Iid7i· Iie7 31 .l.'!xe7t Wxe7 32 ..txg7 Iia5 33 a4
Iic5 34 .lib4 <t;e6 35 <t;g2 h5 36 .llc4 .llxc4 37
bxc4 <t;d6 38 f4 1-0 (38 ... <t>c5 39 f5 tt:le7 40
..tf8)
15 Ca1>ablanca - Euwe E34
1 d4 tt:lf6 2 c4 e6 3 tt:lc3 ..tb4 4 ~c2 d5 5 cxd5
'i'xd5 6 tt:lf3 c5 7 i.d2 ..txc3 8 i.xc3 (8 bxc3!?) 8
... cxd4 (8 ... tt:lc6 9 I!d 1 0-0 10 a3!
Capablanca - N ajdorf, Margate 1939) 9 tt:lxd4 e5 !
10 tt:lf5 (10 tt:lf3) 10 ... i.xf5 11 ~xf5 tt:lc6 12 e3
0-0 13 i.e2 ~e4 (13 ... 'i'xg2? 14 i.f3 '&g6 15
'&xg6 hxg6 16 i.xc6 bxc6 17 i.xe5 ± ±) 14 ~f3
'i'c2? ("In his anxiety to keep the dreaded Bishops
at bay, Black miscalculates." 14 ... 'i'xtJ 15 gxf.3!
tt:ld5 16 i.d2 tt:lcb4 17 c;,t;,d 1 followed by 18 a3 14
... iife8! 15 0-0 'iVxf3 16 i.xf3 e4 17 i.e2 tt:ld5 =)
15 0-0! .llad8 ( 15 ... e4 16 'iVg3!)
(See diagram on next page)
16 i.b5! !:Id5 (16 ... e4? 17 'it'g3 "The KP had to
be protected; however, White has a strategically
won game, as he now demonstrates.") 17 !:Iacl
131
 ~e4 18 'W'e2 I!.d6 (18 ... .lifd8 19 f3 'ti'g6 20 ..txc6
bxc6 21 e4 or 18 ... .lic8 19 f4) 19 f3 'ti'f5 (19 .. .
'ti'd5 20 .lifd 1 'ti'e6 21 ..txc6 .llxc6 22 'ti'b5 or 21 .. .
.llxdl t22 .lixd 1 bxc6 23 e4! ±) 20 i.xc6 .llxc6 (20
... bxc6?? 21 i.b4 "C. is exploiting in admirable
style.") 21 'ti'b5 .lifc8 22 'ti'xb7 ..Wd3 23 e4! (23
'ti'xa7 .lia6 24 i.d2?? 'ti'xflt! 24 .tel .lle8 25 ~c5
.lixa2 26 i.c3 'Lld7 ao) 23 ... 'Llh5 ("Hoping to take
advantage of the Whites Queens absence for a
desperate attack.") 24 g3! ("Simple and strong.''
24 Whl? 'Llg3t! 25 hxg3 .llh6t 26 Wgl ~e3·1·;
24 ~xa7 'Llf4 ao) 24 ,.. ~e3t 25 Wg2 ~g5 26
@f2 f5 ("Giving up a piece to continue the
attack. This is inadequate, but he has no good
line.") 27 exf5 'ti'xf5 28 g4 'ti'f4 29 gxh5 ~xh2t
30 We3 'ti'f4t 31 We2 'ti'c4t 32 Wel 'ti'd3 (32 .. ,
'ti'h4 t 33 .lief'ti'h 1t 34 Wd2) 33 'ti'h3t Wh8 34
.lic2 l!f6 35 .lid2 'ti'f5 36 ~c2! ~f4 (36 ... ~xh5
37 .lih2) 37 ~e4 ~g3t 38 l!ft'2 ~glt 39 We2
!l.ff8 4') h6! 1-0 (Euwe, Diemer and Reinfeld),
16 Capablanca - Flohr 083
1 d4 'Llf6 2 c4 g6 3 'Llc3 d5 4 ..tf4 .YJ..g7 5 e3
0-0 6 ~3 ["Acceptance of the Gambit Pawn
(6 cxd5 'Llxd5 7 'Llxd5 ~xd5 8 i.xc7) is not
good for White.. "] 6 ... c5!? (6 .. , c6) 7 dxc5?! ("A
risky capture which, however, makes for an
extremely interesting game." 7 cxd5 cxd4 8 exd4
+=) 7 ... 'Lle4! (7 .. , 'Lla6?! 8 'ti'a3!) 8 cxd5
("White's position is now very difficult." 8 'Llxd5
'ti'a5t 9 ~ ~xb4t 10 'Llxb4 ..txb2 ao 8 'Llxe4
dxe4 9 'ti'a3 ao) 8 ... ~a5 9 'Llge2 'Llxc5 10 ~c4
'Llba6 ("Not the strongest way of continuing the
attack.'' 10 ... e5!?; 10 ,.. b6!?) 11 'Lld4 ..td7 (11 ...
'Llb4? 12 a3 ..txd4 13 'ti'xb4) 12 .llbl! I!.fc8?!
("TI1is is the really crncial point. ..'' 12 ... b5! 13
'Lldxb5? ..txb5 14 ~xb5 ..txc3t 15 bxc3 ~xc3t
16 Wdl 'Lle4 + 13 b4 bxc4 14 bxa5 e5 15 dxe6
'Llxe6 =) 13 b4 ~d8 (13 ... ~a3 14 'Llcb5 i.xb5 15
'Llxb5 ~a4 16 bxc5 'ti'xa5t 17 Wdl) 14 bxc5 llxc5
15 'ti'b3 ~a5
132
16 i.xa6! ("Better than an attempt to retain the
piece.'' 16 Wd2? .llac8 17 .licl .lixc3 18 .llxc3 'Llc5
19 ~c2 i.xd4 20 exd4 'Lle4t! 21 ~xe4 ·~xc3·122
Wdl i.a4t 23 We2 .YJ..b5t 24 @ell ~alt 25 Wd2
~cl #) 16 ... .lixc3 17 ~ ~xb4 ( 17 ... .llcl t 18
Wd2 'ti'xb4 19 .llxb4 .lixhl 20 i.xb7 lle8 21 i.c6
.YJ..xc6 22 dxc6! ±) 18 lhb4 bxa6 19 ~2 .llc5? ("A
final mistake, after which the game is not to be saved,
since the White Rooks get going on the 7th rank. "19
... ..txd4 20 l!xd4 .YJ..b5t = 19 ... a5 20 llb7 i.c8!
21 !lxe7 ..ta6i· 22 Wd 1 ..txd4 =) 20 .l::!.hb 1 h6 21
e4 !lac8 22 .YJ..e3 lla5? (22 ... ..txd4!) 23 .llb7!
.llxa2t 24 ~ ..ta4 25 llxe7 .l::!.a3 26 'Llc6
("Simplest and decisive; now both Whites Rooks
will operate on the 7th rank.") 26 .... i.xc6 27 dxc6
.lic3 (27 ... l!xc6 28 l!b8t Wh7 29 .lixf7) 28 l!bb7
.li8xc6 29 .lixf7 !tf6i· 30 .llxf6 i.xf6 31 .llxa 7 .lla3
32 We2 ..tg7 33 f4 h5 34 e5 ..tf8 35 lla8 .lla2t 36
@f3 Wg7 37 .YJ..d4 1-0 (Diemer and Golombek).
17 Alekhine - Ca11ablanca C06
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 'Lld2 'Llf6 4 e5 'Llfd7 5 i.d3 c5 6
c3 'Llc6 7 'Lle2 ~6 8 'Llf3 cxd4 9 cxd4 i.b4 i· (9
.. f6!?) 10 @fl i.e7 (10 ... 0-0? 11 i.xh7#!) 11 a3
'Llf8?! (11 ... f5!) 12 b4 i.d7 13 .YJ..e3 'Lld8?
("Under the naive asswnption that the opponent lets
a simplification of the position happen by the
exchange of the White squared Knight." 13 ... .!!c8
14 .llcl a5 15 b5 'Lla7 16 a4 i.b4 ;l;) 14 'Llc3 a5
[14 ... 'Llg6 15 h4 0-0 16 h5 'Llh8 17 ~c2 +- 14 ...
a6 15 'Lla4 i.xa4 16 'ti'xa4 i· 'Lld7 (16 ... 'Llc6? 17
b5) 17 .llcl ± 14 ... .l:!.c8 15 'Lla4 ~c7 16 We2 f6
17 'ti'b3 ±] 15 'Lla4 ~a7 [15 ... ..txa4 16 't!Vxa4t
'Llc6 17 We2 'Llg6 (17 ... 'Lld7 18 .lihbl) 18 h4 0-0
19 b5 'Lld8 20 ~c2 +-] 16 b5 b6 17 g3 ("Alekhine
begins operations on the King's side after he cleared
the table of the opponent's pieces and he took their
mobility ahnost completely away.") 17 ... f5 (17 ...
'Llg6?! 18 h4! or 17 ... .llc8 18 Wg2 17 ... f6 18 Wg2
±) 18 Wg2 lbf7 19 'ti'd2! (19 ... g5!) 19 ... h6 20 h4
'Llh7 (20 ... g6!?) 21 h5! 'Llfg5 [21 ... 0-0! 22 'Llc3
(22 'tJh.4 i.xh4! 23 .l::!.xh4 lbfg5) followed by
'L\c3-e2-f4-g6±] 22 'tJh.4 lbe4 23 'i'h2 Wf7 24 f3
l'L'leg5 25 g4! fxg4 26 ..tg6t! @g8 [26 ... @f-'8 27
lihfl!! gxf3t (27 ... g3 28 f4 ll:le4 29 f5! ..txh4 30
fxe6t) 28 ll:lxf3 @g8 29 lbxg5 lbxg5 30 ..txg5 ..txg5
31 l'.bxb6!! ~xb6 32 'i¥f2] 27f4! lbD? ["A blm1der
which is refuted by Alekhine elegantly. TI1e Knight
took all the possibilities of a retreat himself and has
to stand and watch his liquidation." 27 ... M!? (27
... lbe4? 28 .i..xe4! +-) 28 .i..d3 i.xh429?Ixh4±+-]
28 i.xh7t! ("Win a tempo to remove the Knight
h4.") 28 ... .l::txh7 (28 ... @xh7 29 'i'hlt ~g8 30
lt:\g6) 29 lbg6 i.d8 30 llacl .i..e8 31 ~g3! 'ti'f7 32
Wxg4 'tJh.4 (32 ... lbg5 33 fxg5 'ti'f5t 34 ~g3
i.xg5 35 Zkfl) 33 lbxh4 'ti'xh5t 34 c;,t;,g3 'ti'f7 35
'L\f3 h5 1-0
Capablanca had to suffer his defeat from his
troublesome rival just on his fiftieth birthday,
while he was celebrated enthusiastically in his
native country.
18 Capablanca - Fine E34
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 .i..b4 4 'ti'c2 d5 5 cxd5
'Wxd5 6 lbf3 c5 7 ..td2 .i..xc3 8 i.xc3 lbc6 9 Zidl
0-0 10 e3 (On 10 a3! see Capablanca-Najdorf,
Marget 1939) 10 ... b6 11 a3 i.b7 12 dxc5! 'ti'xc5
13 b4 'ti'h5 (13 ... 'ti'e7? 14 b5 lba5 15 i.b4) 14
..bf6 gxf6 15 .lld7 .llac8! 16 'i¥b2! [16 !lxb7? (16
g4? lbe5!) 16 ... lbxb4 17 'i'b3 lbc2t 18 c;,t;,e2 lbal
19 ~1 .l:!.c2t 20 c;,t;,el 'ti'a5t 21 'i'b4 llclt 22
'>t>d2 lbb3t] 16 ... .l:!.fd8?!
(See diagram next column)
17 i:ixb7! [17 g4?! (17 llxd8t .llxd8 18 i.e2 =) 17
... ~g6!; (17 ... lbe5? 18 .llxd8t .l:!.xd8 19 gxh5
lt:\xf3i· 20 c;,t;,e2 .l:!.d2t 21 'ti'xd2 lbxd2 22 ?Iglt) 18
l:l.xb7 lbxb4 19 axb4 !k2 20 'i'hl .l:!.e2t 21 ~e2
'&xbl)] 17 ... lbe5!! (A magnificent problem
move) 18 ..te2 lbxf3t 19 i.xf3 'ti'e5! (One surprise
afteranotherQ 20 ~xe5 .l!clt21.i..dl (Otherwise
"perpetual check".) 21 ... .l;!cxdlt 22 c;,t;,e2 l:':ild2t
23 'M3 fxe5 24 .llxa7 e4 t 25 c;,t;,g3 (25 ~e4 i:ixf2
26 g3 .lldd2 27 h4 +-) 25 ... .l:!.a2 26 l!a6 lidd2 27
.llfl .lldb2 28 .llxb6 .llxa3 29 b5 @g7 30 h4 .llab3 31
@£4 .llxb5 32 .llxb5 .llxb5 33 g4 .llb4 34 .llcl .llb2 35
@g3 @£6 36 .llc4 @e5 37 .llc8 @£6 38 .llg8 h6 39 g5t
hxg5 40 .llxg5 .llb8 41 @h3 e5 42 .llgl 11z.. 11z
19 Botvinnik - Capablanca E49
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 i.b4 4 e3 d5?! ("A
grandmaster 'shrewder in openings' would have
first played 4 ... c5 4 ... b6, or 4 ... 0-0") 5 a3
.i..xc3t (5 ... i.e7) 6 bxc3 c5 7 cxd5 exd5 (7 ...
lbxd5) 8 i.d3 0-0 9 lbe2 b6! ('Black exchanges
his white-squared Bishop to ease the pressure'.)
10 0-0 .i..a6 11 i.xa6 lbxa6 12 i.b2 (12 c4 dxc4
13 'ti'a4 'ti'c8) 12 ... 'ti'd7! (12 ... lbc7) 13 a4 (13
'ti'd3?! ~a4!) 13 ... life8?! (13 ... cxd4! 14 cxd4
!!fc8 ao) 14 'ti'd3 c4? 14 ... ~7 15 c4 lbb4
(Capablanca now overestimates his chances on
the Queen's side, and at the same time
underestimates Botvinnik's on the King's side.
The weakness of the move is that it fixes the
pawn structure in the centre so White's advance
with f3-f4 is too obvious. Opening the a3-f8
diagonal is not very fortunate either.) 15 'ti'c2
lbb8 16 .l!ael ('White is in an aggressive mood.
Otherwise 16 .i..a3 lbc6 17 i.b4 could have easily
defended the Rook-pawn' 16 lbg3!?) 16 ... lbc6
(16 ... 'tJh.5 17 h3 f5 18 i.cl lbc6 19 f3 lba5 20 g4
fxg4 21 hxg4 lbf6 22 lbg3 ±) 17 lbg3 lba5 (17 ...
lbe4 18 'tJh 1! f5 19 f3 lbf6 20 lbg3 lbe72 l i.a3 oo
±) 18 f3 lbb3 19 e4 (It turned out, however, that
White's 16th move was a pawn sacrifice of a higher
level. Material greediness is, however, extremely
dangerous, because it wastes time, and White is
already on the attack on the other wing. Of course,
there was nothing better.) 19 .. 'ti'xa4 20 e5 lbd7 (20
... lbc5? 21 .lle2!) 21 'viff2! (21 f4? 'llbc5!) 21 ... g6
22 f4 f5 (f4-f5 cannot be allowed. Although the
attack develops even so, but at least Black can
cushion the effect with exchanges.) 23 exf6 lbxf6 24
133
 f5 !ixel 25 !ixel !ie8 [25 ... l!f8 26 'tWf4! 'tWa2
(26 ... '&d7 27 !ie6 lbe4 28 'it'e5 lbxg3 29 .l!e7 +-
27 ... lba5 28 ..ta3 r!.f7 29 'i'g5!) 27 fxg6 'tWxb2 28
g7 @xg7 29 lbfSt '.th8 30 'tWd6 .llf7 (30 ... wg8 31
'&g3t) 31 '&xf6t] 26 .l!e6! Z1'<e6 [26 ... Wf7 (26 ...
lbe4 27 lbxe4 d'<e4 28 fxg6) 27 .llxf6t @xf6 28
fxg6t @xg6 (28 ... <tJe7 29 'ii'f7i· wd8 30 g7) 29
~f5t wg7 30 liJhSi· 'ith6 31 h4 .l!g8 32 g4 'tWc6 33
..ta3!] 27 fxe6 Wg7 28 '&f4 ~e8 (28 ... 'tWa2? 29
lbfSt gxf5 30 ~gSt) 29 't!Ve5! 'it'e7 ("And what else
could Black do once he is in a Zugzwang?" 29 ... lba5
30 .id!! 't!Ve7 31 ..tg5 lbc6 32 ..txf6t 't1Vxf6 33
'&xd5 +-or 31 ..ta3!! +-)
30 ..ta3! ! (A wonderful sacrifice, which draws
away the Queen from defending her King. This was
the most brilliant combination that Botvinnik, a
positional player, niacle in his life. TI1e Russian
grandmaster boasts in a later analyses of his that
during the 1954 Amsterdam Olympiad there was a
cake in a shop-window at a patisserie which
showed this position. 'l11e start of a 12-move
combination. I must admit that I was not able to
think it through, and I started it twice. First I
figured out six moves, and made sure that there
was a draw with perpetual checks. Then after six
moves I worked it out.') 30 ... ~xa3 (30 ... ~e8 31
~c7t Wg8 32 ..te7! lt::lg4 33 'i'd7! 't1Va8 34 .id6
followed by 35 e7 ...--) 31 lbhSi·! gxh5 (31 ... Wh6
32 'L'lxf6 \i\\'cl i" 33 @f2 ~d2i" 34 @g3 ~xc3i" 35
@h4 ~xd4 i" 36 'Dg4i") 32 \i\\'g5i" @f8 33 ~xf6i" @g8
34 e7 ("I must have been rather nervous before I
decided to make this move because I had happened to
catch sight of Capablanca, who talking to Euwe
signalled with a meaningful gesture that he thought
the position was still not clear." 34 ... \i\\'cl i" 35 @f2
~c2i" 36 @g3 ~d3i" 37 @h4 ~e4i" 38 @xh5 ~e2i"
39@h4 ~e4i" 40 g4 ~el i" 41 @h5 1-0 (Botvinnik).
20 Ca11ablanca - Reshevsky D83
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 g6 3 lbc3 d5 4 .if4 (4 cxd5) 4 ...
..tg7 5 e3 0-0 6 !!cl c5 (6 ... ..te6) 7 dxc5 ~a5 (7
... .ie6!) 8 cxd5 !id8 9 ~a4! ("My system is to
134
sacrifice two Pawns and then maintain one Pawn"
C) 9 ... ~xa4 10 lbxa4 lbxd5 11 J..b5! lbxf4 12
exf4 .ie6 13 b3 ..tdS 14 lbf3 (Capa's whole
treatment of the opening makes the impression of a
genius improvisation; almost none of the moves
can be expected but even though Capa 's decisions
are always the best thanks to his chess feeling, also
this treble Pawn belongs to that.) 14 ... ..txf3 15
gxf3 lbc6 16 ..txc6 bxc6 17 We2 ..th6 18 Iic4 e5
19 fxe5 Iid2i" 20 @fl Iixa2 21 Wg2 .ie3 22 Iifl
l!b8 23 Wg3 ..td2 24 lbc3 ..txc3 25 .l::!.xc3 Iib2 26
l!dl !i2xb3 27 Iixb3 Iixb3 28 .l::!.d6 Iic3 29 r!.xc6
a5 30 Wf4 Wf8 31 Jlc7 (31 e6!?) 31 .. a4 32 c6?!
[32 e6!? (32 We4!?) fxe6 33 We5 a3 34 Wd6] 32 ...
a3 33 Wg3 a2 34 !ia7 rl.xc6 35 Iixa2 Wg7 36 r!.a7
rl.e6 37 f4 rl.b6 38 h3 Iic6 39 f5 gxf5 40 wf4 Wg6
41 r!.d7 !ic4 i· 42 Wg3 h5 112- 112
21 Capablanca - Keres E42
1 d4 e6 2 c4 J..b4 t 3 lbc3 c5 4 e3 lbf6 5 lbge2
cxd4 6 exd4 0-0 7 a3 ..te7 8 lbf4 (8 dS) 8 ... d5
(Otherwise White himself plays d5 - but now a
permanent target is created at d5, which paralyses
Black's effort for a long time) 9 cxd5 lbxd5 10
lbfxd5 exd5 11 ~3 lbc6 12 ..te3 ..tf6 13 Iidl
.ig4! 14 .ie2 ..txe2 15 @xe2 Iie8 16 wfl (Till
now everything was quite all right but the troubles
of square d5 begin soon again) 16 ... lbe 7 17 g3 !
'i'd7 18 Wg2 .l::!.ad8 19 ~5 lbfs 20 °iVxd7 Iixd7
21 Iid3 h6 22 h4 Iic8 23 h5 b5! 24 g4! lbxe3·1· 25
fxe3 a5?! 26 b4! axb4 27 axb4 ..te7 28 Iibl Iic4
29 lbxbS Iixb4 30 Iixb4 ..txb4 31 wf3 g6 32 l'ib3
(Very painful! But Black does not think of
resignation; as nothing else is expected of him, he
finds ways to cause his opponents some difficulty
again) 32 ... ..taS 33 Iia3 ..td2! 34 We2 Iib7 35
lbd6 !ib2!? (He bums several bridges behind
himself.) 36 .lla8t Wh7
37 lbxf7?! (37 lbe8! ;!;) 37 ... gxh5 38 lbe5? [38
gxh5! Wg7?! (38 ... .icli·!?) 39 lbe5 .icli· 40
@f3 iih2 41 Iia7i· @f8 42 lbg6·1· We8 43 lbf4 ±
+-] 38 ... flc1·1·! 39 Wd3 l'!d2t 40 Wc3 l'!g2 41
gxh5 .llxe3 42 l'!a7t 112- 112
22 Euwe - Ca1>ablanca E 18
1 d4 'Llf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbf3 b6 4 g3 .llb7 5 .llg2
fi.e7 6 0-0 0-0 7 'Llc3 d5 8 lbe5 'Lle4 ?! (8 ...
1'ua6!) 9 cxd5 exd5 [9 ... lbxc3 10 bxc3 exd5 (10
... .llxd5 11 e4 .llb7 12 ~3 'Llc6 13 'Llc4 ±) 11
c4!] 10 'Llxe4 dxe4 11 '&c2 f5 (11 ... '&xd4 12
V.Pixc7 11 ... f6 12 .llxe4 +-) 12 .lle3 'Lla6 13 l'!ac 1
i:'.Yd5 (13 ... c5 14 dxc5 'Llxc5 15 l'!fdl 'iiVe8 16
i:'f'c4t Wh8 17 b4 ±) 14 'Llc6! .llxc6 15 'e'xc6
i:'f'xc6 (15 ... '®lxa2 16 d5! ±) 16 l'!xc6 l'!f6 17 l'!fcl
D.xc6 18 l'!xc6 .lld6 19 a3 .l:l.e8 20 fi.f4! .llxf4 (20
... Z!d8!? 21 .llxd6 llxd6) 21 gxf4 Wf7 22 e3 lle6
23 llc4! (It threatens lla4!) 23 ... b5 (23 ... c5 24
Z!a4 b5 25 Z!a5 cxd4 26 exd4 llc6 27 .llfl!) 24
Z!c3 c6 25 f3! g6 (25 ... exf3 26 .llxf3 'Llb8 27 d5!)
26 fxe4 fxe4
F
IIKeres
6 - 1
i

1
•--

i!Kostich* 14 7 2

24 6 2
r1 Lasker dr. _j
4 1 1 I
: Lilienthal j
'~-~_!
I ' I
~ ~ - I
11 .
II,, Mar6czy
[;Mar-shitl-1- - : 50 21 --2 T-

27 a4! bxa4 (27 ... b4 28 Z!b3 and .llfl +-; 27 ...

tJc7 28 axb5 'Ll.xb5 29 llc5 followed d4-d5! +-)
28 l'.lc4 @f6 (28 ... ii:Jc7 29 lixa4 'Db5 30 .!tfl lie7
31 d5 +-) 29 llxa4 c5 30 .llfl! cxd4 31 llxa6! dxe3
32 l'.lxe6i" @xe6 33 .!th3i' @d5 34 ~l @c4 35 @e2
@b3 36 .!te6i' @xb2 37 .!tg8 1-0

Cuba declared the fiftieth birthday of the ex-world

champion a public holiday, Capablanca - day, the
head-of-state had bronze plaquettes made to
commemorate the anniversary and the post had a
memorial stamp printed. The whole society of the
island stirred in an impressive way. The
ceremonies could be heard over the radio in [Compiled by Dr. Leo Szilard and Sn Walter Khloyber
Holland, where Capablanca was playing. (Arpad Fbldeak)]

* According to some sources Capablanca defeated Kostic 10-2 in Buenos Aires in 1915. As
none of the games from the tournament are known about, the information is likely to be false.
(They might have been lightning-chess games.) We have not altered the above statistics, as we
are not absolutely certain.
** The above statistics contain the two high-quality demonstration games played in 1913.

135
 19 3 9
Margate - 1939
J Keres 7 112 2-3 Capablanca, Flohr 6 112 ./
Thomas 5 5 Milner-Barry 4 112 6 Najdorf 4 7
Golombek 3 112 8 Sergeant 3 9 Mrs. Stevenson
2 1/2 JO Wheatcroft 2
Capablanca produced a respectable perfonnance at
his last ever tournament. Only Keres left him
behind, who was the strongest player of the
period. He still held his grounds against Flohr,
who was the official FIDE candidate for the title.
The young Najdorf became one of the strongest
players in the world after the war.
1 Capablanca - Wheatcroft B20
1 e4 c5 2 'Lle2 d6 (2 ... 'Llf6)3 g3 'Llc6 (3 ... 'Llf6) 4
.i.g2 g6 5 c3 .i.g7 6 d4 e5?! 7 dxc5 dxc5 8 0-0
.i.e6 9 ..ie3 ~xd 1?! 10 llxd 1 b6 11 'Lla3 .l!d8 ( 11
... 'Lige? 12 'Llb5 0-0 13 'Llc7!) 12 'Llb5! ..ic4? 13
'Llc7t @e7 14 'Lld5t <t;e6? (14 ... ..ixd5 15 exd5
'Llb8 16 a4 ±) 15 lld2 'Lige? 16 'Llc7t! @£6 17
.lladl! l!txd2 (17 ... ..ixe2 18 l!d6t! l!xd6 19
.l!xd6#) 18 l!txd2 lld8 19 !:Ixd8 'Llxd8 20 'Lle8i· 1-0
2 Keres - Ca11ablanca C90
1 e4 e5 2 'Llf3 'Llc6 3 ..ib5 a6 4 ..ia4 'Llf6 5 0-0
..ie7 6 !:Iel b5 7 ..ib3 d6 8 c3 'Lla5?! 9 ..ic2 c5 10
d4 Wic7 11 a4! b4 12 cxb4 cxb4 13 'Llbd2 (13 h3)
13 ... ..ib7 14 'Llfl 0-0 15 i.g5? (15 'Llg3; 15 d5)
15 ... h6! 16 ..ih4 l!fc8) 17 i.d3 [17 l!cl ?! b3! 18
.i.d3 Wixcl 19 ~xcl !lxcl 20 .llxcl exd4 21 'Ll.'<d4
g5 22 'Llf5 (22 ..ig3? 'Ll.'<e4!) 22 ... ..if8 23 ..ig3
'Llxe4 24 .ixe4 .ixe4 25 'Llxd6 ..ic6 =+]
17 ... 'Llh5! 18 .i.xe7 ~xe7 19 g3 'Llf6 20 'Lle3 g6
21 'Lld5 (21 d5 !?) 21 ... 'Ll.'<d5 (21 ... ..ixd5 22
exd5 e4!?) 22 exd5 ..ixd5 23 dxe5 ..ixf3 24 ~xf3
dxe5 25 ~e3 rtig7 1/z- 112
3 Capablanca - Najdorf E34
1 d4 'Llf6 2 c4 e6 3 'Llc3 ..ib4 4 ~c2 d5 5 cxd5
~xd5 6 'Llf3 c5 7 .id2 ..ixc3 8 ..txc3 'Llc6 (8 ...
136
cxd4 9 !Id 1 'Llc6 10 'Llxd4 0-0 11 f3 e5 12 e4 ~c5
13 'Llxc6 bxc6 14 ~d2! ±) 9 l!dl 0-0 10 a3! (On
10 e3 see Capablanca - Fine, A VRO 1938) 10 ...
cxd4 11 'Ll.'<d4 'Ll.'<d4 12 r!.xd4 ~c6 13 e4 e5?! 14
.lk4 ~e6 15 .Iic5! 'Lld7 16 .I!d5 ~g6 17 f3 'Llb6
(17 ... f6?! 18 .ib4! ±) 18 .llxe5 .ie6 19 f4! ~6
(19 ... f5 20 ..id3!) 20 g3 'Lld7 21 .lib5 b6 22 ..ie2
'Llc5 23 b4! a6!
24 .llxb6? (24 llxc5 bxc5 25 bxc5 .llfb8! 26 .i.e5 ro
±) 24 ... ..ib3! 25 ~xh6 (25 'iVl>2 ~xb6 26 bxc5
~c6 27 ~xb3 ~xe4 28 !!fl .llfe8 29 ~dl! I:!.ad8
30 ..id2 Ll.e7! 25 ~xbJ ~xb6 26 ..id4 'Llxb3 27
i.xb6 a5 <Xl) 25 ... ..ixc2 26 .llhS 'Llxe4 27 ..ial fS!
28 0-0 'Lld2 29 111'2 l!fc8 30 ..id4 g6 31 Ll.h4 'Lle4
32 g4 ! [32 l;Lf3 hS 33 h3 .ia4 34 g4 .llc 1t 35 @g2
(35 %:!.fl? 'Llg3!) 35 ... ..ic6 ( or 35 ... Iic2)] 32 ...
'Llxl'2 33 <t;xJ'2 aS! 34 ..ic5 axb4 35 axb4 ..ib3 (35
... ..ie4!) 36 gxfS !la2 37 fxg6! hxg6 38 l!h3 _tc4
39 .l:!.e3 <t;f7 40 @f3 .ixe2 t 41 .l!xe2 .llxe2 42
<t;xe2 @e6 43 <t;f3 <t;rs 44 rtie3 ~h8 45 @d4
l!xh2 46 @dS! 112- 112
4 Sergeant - Capablanca C90
1 e4 eS 2 'Llf3 'Llc6 3 .tbs a6 4 ..ta4 'Llf6 5 d3 d6 6
c3 ..ie7 7 'Llbd2 0-0 8 0-0 bS 9 ..ib3 'LlaS 10 ..ic2
cS 11 !lel 'Llc6 12 'Llfl l!e8 13 'Lle3 ..if8 14 h3 g6
15 ..ib3 i.e6 16 i.xe6 fxe6 17 'Llg4 'Ll.'<g4 18
hxg4 dS 19 .ig5 ~d6 20 ..if6 ..ig7 21 ..ixg7
<t;xg7 22 gS .llad8 23 ~d2 d4 24 l!adl Iih8 25 g3
h5 26 gxh6t l!xh6 27 @g2 dxc3 28 bxc3 b4 29
cxb4 cxb4 30 !:Icl 1/z- 1/z
5 Capablanca - Miss Mencbik D34
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 'Llc3 c5 4 cxdS exd5 5 'Llf3 'Llc6
6 g3 'Llf6 7 ..ig2 ..ie7 8 0-0 0-0 9 d'<c5 ..ixcS 10
'Lla4 ..ie7 11 ..ie3 'Lle4 12 llcl (On 12 'Lld4 see
Capablanca - Snosko-Borowski, Paris 1938) 12 ...
..ie6 13 a3 ~d7 14 'LlcS 'Llxc5 15 .i.xcS l!tfc8 16
~d2 .ixc5 17 .l:!xc5 'Lle7! 18 .llxc8·1· Zixc8 19 'Lld4
..ih3 20 lld 1 ..txg2 21 <t;xg2 h6 (21 ... g6 21 ...
~d6!?) 22 ~f4! a6 (22 ... ~c7!?) 23 lld3! Iic4 (23
 ... ~c7) 24 b3 .l:!.c8 25 .l!e3 'itf8 26 h4! @g8 27 h5
(Capablanca gained only a minimal advantage
in the opening due to his nicer pawn structure,
but this advantage began to increase
unnoticeably.) 27 ... lld8 28 .&!.f3! .l:!.f8 29 b4!
(The defender is slowly nnming short of moves
and Black is getting into a Zugzwang.) 29 ...
Wh7 30 l'ic3 'Llc6 (30 .. .l:tc8? 31 'ti'xf7!! !Ixc3 32
'L\e6) 31 'Llf5! .l:!.e8!
32 ~g4! Simplification to a promising ending.) 32
... g6!? (32 ... .l:!.g8? 33 'Llxh6) 33 hxg6t fxg6 34
'L\xh6 ~xg4 35 lil'<g4 !.l.xe2 36 'Llf6t @h6 (36 ...
Wg7 37 'Llxd5 i.ia2 38 'it>f3 followed by @e3 and
f4 ±) 37 'Llxd5 l'ib2 38 'Lle3 a5! (Although Miss
Menchik lost ,1111 the games against our hero, she
fought hard for the draw here, too.) 39 bxa5 'Llxa5
40 c£:lg4i·! @g5 [40 ... @g7 41 .l:!.c7t @g8 42 'Lle5
g5 (42 ... l'ib6 43 f4) 43 'Llg4 l'ib5 (43 ... l'ib3 44
lt'lf6t!) 44 'it>f3 'Llc6 45 We4 'it>f8 46 a4! .llb4i· 47
Wf5+-] 41 @h3 b6 (41 ... 'it>f5??42 .llc5t) 42 !'lf3!
(The mating net is being woveIL) 42 ... ?!bl 43
zm llhlt 44 @g2 .l!cl 45 'Lle5 'Llc4 46 f4t @h6
47 'Llg4i· 1-0 (47 ... @h5 48 'Llf6t@h6 49 .l:!h7#)
6 Milner Barry - Ca1>ablanca B74
1 e4 c5 2 cbf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 'Llxd4 'Llf6 5 'Llc3 g6
6 .ie2 .ig7 7 .ie3 'Llc6 8 0-0 0-0 9 'Llb3 il.e6 (9 ...
a5) 10 f4 'Lla5 (10 ... ~c8) 11 f5 il.c4 12 'Llxa5 (12
.id3) 12 ... il.xe2 13 'ti'xe2 'ti'xa5 14 g4 (14 il.d4!
llac8 15 !Iadl !.l.fe8 16 @hl) 14 ... 'Lld7 (14 ...
l!ac8 15 g5 llxc3 16 gxf6 llxe3 17 'ti'xe3 il.xf6 =)
15 'Lld5 e6 16 f6 exd5 17 fxg7 Wxg7 18 Ll.adl
dxe4 19 .l!xd6 .l:!.ad8 20 ~f-2 @g8 21 .i.h6 e3 22
~xe3 llfe8 23 ~f4 ~c5t 24 @hl f6 25 llfdl
'fVxc2 26 ~d2 ~e4t 27 ~g2 ~elt 28 'ti'gl ~e4t
29~g2 112- 112
7 Ca1>ablanca - Golombek 036
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 ltic3 il.b4 4 ~c2 d5 5 cxd5 exd5 6
.tg5 c6 (6 ... h6 7 il.xf6 ~xf6 8 a3!) 7 e3 'Llbd7 8 il.d3
h6 9 il.h4 0-0 10 lbf3 .l:!e8 11 0-0 il.e7 12 il.g3!
('Preventing Blacks threatened 'Lle4") 12 ... lbf8 ("I
now fonned a plan for exchanging my rather
useless Q Bishop for Whites active piece on Q3.
The drawback to the scheme is that it demands a
great deal of ti.me, and meanwhile White gets on
with his Q side attack.") 13 h3 il.e6 (13 ... ltJ6d7? 14
loxd5!) 14 l::rabl! ("Now connnences the famous and
fonnidable minority attack on the Q side, against which
Black is helpless tnlless he can manage to create
sufficient compensating com1ter-attack on the K side.")
14 ... 'Llh5 15 .i.h2 g6 16 'Lle5 'Llg7 17 b4 il.f5 ("I
have achieved my purpose, but meanwhile White has
brought his Kts to bear on the Q side Pawn
position.") 18 'Ll.14 il.xd3 19 ~xd3 'Lld7 20 lifcl 'Llxe5
21 ..t.'<e5 ..td6 22 il.xd6 ~xd6 ("One might have
thought that Black, by his numerous exchanges,
has eased his position, but in reality White, by
extremely economical means, has been able to bring
his minority attack to a rapid climax, as is
demonstrated by the next powerful blow.") 23 b5!
23 ... cxb5 24 ~xb5 'Lle6? (24 ... b6 25 'Llc3 (25
.l!c6?! 'ti'd7 26 .l:!.xg6 'ti'xb5 26 .l:!.xg7t Wxg7 27
.llxb5 £l.ed8 28 'Llc3 .l:tac8!) 25 ... .&!.ed8 26 ~a6!
+-] 25 'Llc3! (25 °ifxb7 lleb8 26 ~c6 ~xc6 27
l'ixb8i· l'hb8 28 llxc6 .l:!b 1t ±) 25 ... lled8 26 ~xb7
VH{a3 ("I had hoped to obtain a glimmer of a
counter-attack by this Queen sortie, but was
merely drawing the noose tighter round my own
neck.") 27 'Llxd5 'ifxa2 28 'Llb4 ~a4 29 'Llc6 1-0
(Golombek).
8 Ca1>ablanca -Thomas C76
1 e4 e5 2 'Llf3 'Llc6 3 il.b5 a6 4 il.a4 d6 5 c3 il.d7
6 d4 g6 7 il.g5 f6 (7 ... il.e7!?) 8 il.e3 'Llh6 9 h3
.i.g7 10 'Llbd2 lbf7 11 g4!? ~e7 (11 ... h5!?) 12
d5 cbb8?! (12 ... 'Lld8) 13 il.c2! c5 14 a4 .ic8 15
'Llc4 'Lld7 16 a5 il.h6 17 il.xh6 'Llxh6 18 ~d2 'Llf7
19 llg 1 0-0 20 h4 .l:!.b8 21 g5 fxg5 22 hxg5 'Lld8 (It
threatens 'Llc4-e3-g4) 23 l'ig3 !!£4 24 'Lle3 ltif8 (24
... 'Llf7 25 'Llg2) 25 il.d3 il.d7 26 @e2 b5 27 axb6
l'ixb6 28 °ifc2 .ic8 29 .l:!a4 'Llf7 30 b3 h5!? (Else
31 ~a2 'ifh7 32 'Lld2 followed by 33 'Llec4!) 31
gxh6 'Llxh6 32 .llal 'Llg4
137

33 .llagl lbxe3 34 fxe3! l:'!f7 35 lbg5 .llg7 36 ..tc4
lbh7 37 ~d3! lbxg5 (else 38 'i'g2!) 38 !Ixg5 ..td7
[38 ... W 39 'i'f2t 'i'f6 40 'i'g2 ~e8 41 .llfl 'i'e7
42 lhg6] 39 l:'!xg6 1-0
9 Flohr- Ca1>ablanca Ell
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 ..tb4t 4 i.d2 'i'e7 5 ..tg2
lbc6 6 lbf3 lbe4 7 0-0 lbxd2 8 lbbxd2 i.xd2 9
'i'xd2 0-0 10 d5 lbd8 11 d6 'i'xd6 12 'i'xd6 cxd6
13 .llfdl l:'!b8 14 .llxd6 f6 15 I!.d2 ~ 16 lbd4 a6
17 c5 rtie7 18 !kl lbc6 19 lbc2 a5 20 lbe3 b5 21
cxb6 !ixb6 22 ..txc6 dxc6 23 lbc4 !ia6 24 lbd6 e5
25 Ll.cdl .lla7 26 lbe4 ..tf5 27 lbc5 .lib8 112-112
Buenos Aires (Olimpiade) - 1939
Capablanca played for the first and last ti.me at a
chess Olympiad in Buenos Aires leading the
Cuban team Capablanca came up with a
respectable result of 77% on boarµ I at this
ill-fated Olympiad. (The Second World War broke
out during the tournament!) However, with a little
manoeuvring the 'strong' players frequently
avoided each other. Capablanca did not even play
with Alekhine for instance. Anyway, he won a
gold medal for the best perfonnance on the first
board.
The fact that Capablanca and Alekhine took part
together in the Olympiad, which was held on the
same venue as their great match, produced a good
opportunity to initiate certain negotiations about
the return match. Professor Becker alleged that
there were financial problems, because both
masters wanted the deposit for the match to be
paid in gold because of the war. Becker thought
that the most significant problem arouse from their
vehement personal hostility. TI1e structure of their
contract was immensely complex, with
innumerous and newer and newer stipulations and
amendments, but their fighting spirit did not
appear over the chess board.
138
Prelimina1ies - 1939
10 Capablanca - Vassaux D47
1 lbf3 d5 2 e3 lbf6 3 c4 c6 4 lbc3 e6 5 d4 lbbd7 6
i.d3 dxc4 7 i.xc4 i.b4?! [''Not liking the Meran
Defence (7 ... b5). Black decides to depart from
theory, but the move is a poor one, since the
Bishop serves no strategic purpose on b4") 8 0-0
0-0 9 'i'e2 'i'e7 10 lbe5 (10 e4) 10 ... c5?! ("As a
result of Black's 7th move, White can establish his
Kt on e5 without Black being able either to repel
the piece or remove it by exchange." 10 ... lbxe5
11 dxe5 lbd5 12 lbe4 "Vassall'< therefore tries to
undermine Whites center position by indirect
means.") 11 f4 lbb6 12 i.b3 tllbd5 (12 ... cxd4! 13
exd4 i.d7) 13 ..td2 i.xc3?! ("Under the
misapprehension that he can force further
exchanges, Black allows White to obtain the
advantage of two Bishops and Knight. He now
has, however, a badly compromised position.") 14
bxc3 lbe4 15 i.e 1! f6 (15 ... lbexcJ 16 'i'd3 cxd4
17 exd4 'i'c7 18 ~f3 f6 19 ..tc2 or 15 ... lbdxcJ?
16 'i'd3 cxd4 17 exd4 ~c718 ..txc3 lbxc3 19
.l:tacl)
16 ~d3! f5 (16 ... fxe5 17 ~xe4 lbf6 18 ~xe5
lbg4 19 'i'e4) 17 a4 rtih8 18 g4! lbdf6 19 ..th4
..td7 20 I!.f3! ("With the idea of playing l!h3
followed by lbg6t winning the Queen; Blacks
reply is directed against this manoeuvre.") 20 ...
i.e8 21 .llh3 'i'd6 22 gxf5 exf5 23 rid 1 ("White
consolidates his position and centralises his pieces
before he embarks on the final attack - a
manoeuvre that marks C. 's style throughout his
career.") 23 ... cxd4?! (With this and the next
move, Black despairs too soon ... " 23 ... llac8; 24
... cxd4!?) 24 exd4 'i'a3?! (24 ... .l::tac8) 25 ..te6 g6
26 ..tg5 (Threatening 27 i.h6) 26 ... lbxg5 (26 ...
..txa4? 27 ..th6 ..txdl 28 lbxg6t hxg6 29 ..txf8t)
27 fxg5 lbe4? [27 ... lbh5! 28 lbc4 ~xa4?! 29
iixh5 gxh5 30 d5 ~g7 31 'i'd4 i· rtig6 32 Iifl ao ±
28 d5! 'i'xa4 (else 'i'd4!) 29 c4 lbg7 30 'i'd4 .lld8
31 .llh4! with the idea I!.d3-h3] 28 I!.xh7t! 1-0
(Golombek).
11 Keres - Capablanca C71
1 e4 e5 2 c2:\f3 lbc6 3 ..tb5 a6 4 ..ta4 d6 5 c4 ..td7
6 lbc3 g6 7 d4 exd4 (7 ... ..tg7 8 ..tg5!) 8 lbxd4
ftg7 9 fte3 (9 lbxc6! bxc6 10 0-0 c2:\f6 11 c5!) 9 ...
4Jge7 10 0-0 0-0 11 h3 (11.I!.cl) 11 ... 4Jxd4! 12
ftxd7 lbe2t 13 lbxe2 'iVxd7 14 ..td4 ..txd4 15
Vlfxd4 lbc6 16 'iVd5 I!.ae8 l 7 lbc3 'iVe6 18 E!ad 1
18 ... f5! 19 exf5 llxf5 20 .i:ldel E!xd5 21 llxe6
lle5 22 I!.xeSt I!.xe8 1h- 1h
12 Czerniak - Capablanca A45
1 d4 lbf6 2 4Jd2 d5 3 e3 ftg4 4 f3 ..tf5 5 c4 c6 6
Wilb3 Wic7 7 lbe2 e6 8 lbc3 ..tg6 9 e4 dxe4 10 fxe4
e5 11 dxe5 lbg4 12 fte2 lbxe5 13 0-0 lbbd7 14
4Jd l lld8 15 ~3 c2:\f6 16 lbe3 ftb4 17 4Jf3 lbxe4
18 lbh4 0-0 19 lbef5 ..td5t 20 ..te3 ..txe3i· 21
~xe3 lbd2 22 llf4 .l:!.fe8 23 'iVc3 f6 24 .iidl ftxf5
25 lbxf5 lbg6 26 r!d4 r!xd4 27 'iVxd4 .&!.xe2 28
.l':!xd2 .llxd2 29 '*1Vxd2 h6 30 h3 b6 31 b4 lbe5 32
c5 bxc5 33 bxc5 Wib7 34 'IJ!idSi· @h7 35 lbe7
'i!fr'blt 36 @h2 'ilfr'xa2 37 '//!ic8 4Jf3t 38 @g3 lbd4
39 Wies lbe2t 40 @f3 4Jglt 41 @g3 lbe2t 42
@f3 1h- 1h
13 Ca1>ablanca - Stahlberg D68
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 c2:\f3 4Jf6 4 ftg5 ..te7 5 e3 lbbd7
6 lbc3 0-0 7 .i:lcl c6 8 ..td3 dxc4 9 ..txc4 lbd5 10
ftxe7 'ilfr'xe7 11 0-0 lbxc3 12 l:ixc3 e5 13 ftb3 e4
14 lbd2 4Jf6 15 Wihl ftg4 16 l:;!.el @h8 17 h3 fte6
18 j/,,xe6 '>k\Vxe6 19 .llecl llae8 20 Z!a3 a6 21 lbb3
4Jd5 22 4Jc5 '//!ie7 23 .llb3 b6 24 lba4 b5 25 4Jc3
f5 26 4Jxd5 cxd5 27 .llc5 f4 28 exf4 .l:l.xf4 29 .llxd5
°'8'f6 30 .lle5 1h- 1h
Final 1939
14 Opocensky-Capablanca EI6
1 d4 4Jf6 2 c4 e6 3 4Jf3 b6 4 g3 j/,,b7 5 ..tg2 j/,,b4 t
6 lbbd2 c5 7 0-0 (7 a3) 7 ... cxd4 8 'iVa4 (7 c2:\b3) 8
... 4Jc6 9 lbb3 j/,,c5 10 .1lg5 Wifc7 11 j/,,xf6 gxf6 12
lladl e5?! 13 lbxc5 bxc5 14 lbh4! lbe7 15 e3!
..txg2 16 4Jxg2 I!.bS 17 'iVa3 'iVb6 18 b3 Wib4 19
'iVcl (19 'iVxa7 lbc6 20 'iVa6 0-0) 19 ... d5?! 20 f4
e4 21 exd4 cxd4!? 22 f5?! (22 I!.xd4 ~c5 23 Wife3
c2:\f5?? 24 I!.xe4 t) 22 ... d3 23 r!f4 Wib6t! 24 @hl
'IJ!id4 25 'iVe3? [25 cxd5 lbxd5 26 .i:!xe4 i. ~xe4 27
.lie 1 ~xe 1t 28 Wifxe 1t @f8 29 'iVe4 lbb4 30 'iVd4
@g7 31 4Jf4 llhd8 32 lbh5t @f8! (32 ... @h6 33
Wifxf6t @xh5 34 ~4#) oo]
25 ... Wife5! 26 Wilxa7 (26 cxd5? lbxd5) 26 ... 0-0 27
lbe3 .lla8 28 'iVc5 (28 ~6 .llfb8) 28 ... d4! 29
Wifxe5 fxe5 30 I!.xe4 (30 I!.g4 t @h8 31 4Jg2 e3! 32
.llxd3 .l:ixa2) 30 ... dxe3 31 klxe3 f6 32 g4 llxa2 33
.l;!exd3 4Jc6 34 h4 4Jd4 35 I!. ld2 [35 b4 llb2 36
b5 rk2] 35 ... I!.xd2 36 I!.xd2 lbxb3 37 lld6 lbd4
38 @g2 h5 ! 39 g5 4Jxf5 40 .l'le6 4Jxh4 t 0-1
15 Stahlberg - Capablanca D43
1 d4 4Jf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 d5 4 4Jf3 c6 5 j/,,g5 h6 (5 ...
dxc4!?) 6 .1lxf6 'iVxf6 7 ~3 (7 e4; 7 .g3; 7 '@'c2; 7
e3) 7 ... lbd7 (7 ... a5 !?) 8 e4 !? dxe4 9 tllxe4 '//!if4 10
j/,,d3 4Jf6?! (10 ... e5!?) 11 4Jxf6t 'iVxf6 (11 ... gxf6
12 0-0 llg8 13 j/,,e2 b6 14 .l!fel ..tb7 15 c5 Wife? 16
j/,,c4 ±) 12 0-0 ftd6 13 file 1 0-0 14 c5 ftc 7 15 j/_e4
lld8 16 .lladl (16 '//!ic3!) 16 ... Libs 17 lbe5 j/,,d7 18
j/,,c2 fte8 19 '@'d3 g6 20 4Jg4 'iVg5 21 '@'f3 @g7 22
g3 h5 23 lbe5 '@'f6 24 'iVa3 (24 'iVc3! .1lxe5? 25 dxe5
Wie7 26 lld6!) 24 ... ·~e7! 25 '//!ic3 (25 Wilxa7? f6 26
4Jf3 .lla8 27 '//!ixb7 r!db8 28 lbxc6 lixb7 29 4Jxe7
lixb2 30 .l!b3 ..ta5! 31 .lle3 @IB)
(See diagram on next page)
25 ... j/,,xe5! 26 dxe5 .l:l.d5 27 b4 a5 28 a3 axb4 29
axb4 b6 30 cxb6 .llxb6 1h- 1/z
16 Ca1>ablanca - van Scheltinga E32
1 d4 c2:\f6 2 c4 e6 3 4Jc3 j/_b4 4 'iVc2 0-0 5 a3
j/,,xc3t 6 '//!ixc3 d6 (6 ... b6) 7 g3 (7 b4) 7 ... '@'e7 8
j/,,g2 e5 9 d5 a5 10 b4!? (On 10 b3 see
Enevolsdsen - Capablanca) 10 ... axb4 11 axb4
llxal 12 '//!ixal lba6 13 fta3! lbg4 (13 ... 4Jd7) 14
h3 lbh6 15 4Jf3 f5 16 b5! e4!? (16 ... 4Jb8 17 c5
4Jd7 18 cxd6 cxd6 19 0-0) 17 bxa6 exf3 18 j/,,xf3
139

bxa6 19 c5! f4! 20 cxd6 cxd6 21 gxf4! rl.xf4 22
l:':ig 1! i:if6 (22 ... i:ixf3 23 i.xd6 ~f6 24 j_e5 'iVf5
25 !ixg7t 'M8 26 exf3 ~xf3 27 i.d6t @e8 28
·~e5·1')
23 ~ h5! ct'Jf7 (23 ... j_xh3? 24 j_b2 !) 24 l:':ig3
t2:'ie5 25 rl.e3 g6 26 j_g4 i.xg4 27 hxg4;i'd7 [27
... ~f7!? 28 ~d4 (28 .lixe5 dxe5 29 'iVxe5 l!ixf2!
30 ~s·1·! @g7 31 i.b2t c;,t;,h6 32 g5t?! c;,t;,h5! oo)
28 ... !if4 (28 ... I!.xf2 29 i.xd6!) 29 l!e4! (29
'!.%6!? ~xd5 30 i.xd6!?) 29 ... l!xe4 30 ~xe4
rle7 (30 ... 'iVf8 31 f4! or 30 ... t2:'id7! 31 j_xd6
etlf6 32 'iVd4 t2:'ixd5 33 j_a3 ~e6! 34 j_b2 W
35 'iVg7·1· We8 36 ~Si· c;,t;,d7 37 ~xh7t Wc6 38
~a7!) 31 f4! t2:'ic6 (31 ... ~4t 32 @d2 ~xg4 33
j_xd6 +-) 32 'iVc4 t2:'id8 33 'iVxa6 'iVe4 (33 ...
\¥Uh4t 34 @d2 'i\Vxg4 35 'i\Vxd6) 34 ~a8! ±] 28 f3!
~a4!? (28 ... t2:'ic4? 29 'iVxf6 t2:'ixe3 30 j_b2
t2:'ixd5 31 ~h8t 'M7 32 'iVxh7t @e6 33 'iVxg6t
We7 34 'iVg5t @e6 35 ~f5t) 29 j_b2 ~4t [29
... ~xa 1·1· 30 j_xa 1 !!f7 31 j_xe5 dxe5 32 .l;l.xe5
!!a7 33 l!ie4 a5 (33 ... iid7 34 r!.d4! a5 35 e4) 34
'fia4 <M7 35 e4 g5 (35 ... 'M6 36 f4! g5? 37 e5t)
36 e5 'fie7 37 e6t @£6 38 l!xa5 @e5 39 'M2
Wd6 40 f4!] 30 j_c3 ~b5 31 i.xe5 dxe5 32
rf xe5 l!if7 33 l:':ic3 ~b 1t 34 Wf2 'iVb6t 35
wg2 ~d8
140
36 ~e6! @g7 37 l!ic8 ~g5 (37 ... ~e7 38 ~xe7
.llxe7 39 e4 'fia7 40 e5 ! a5 41 d6 ! @h6 42 l:':ic7 lla8
43 d7) 38 d6 h5 39 .l;ic7! l!xc7 40 d'Cc7 1-0
17 Capablanca - Czerniak Bl3
"This is a very original game, handled with
delightful freslmess and verve by both players.
The second phase, in which C. demonstrated the
middle game superiority of minor piece against
three Pawns, is also most rewarding." (R)
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 c4 t2:'ic6?! 5 Q:)£3
j_g4 6 cxd5! ("White takes advantage of Blacks
neglect to support the centre to lure the Black
Queen into play and gain tempi by attacking it.") 6
... 'iVxd5 7 i.e2 (7 QJc3 i.xf3 8 t2:'ixd5 i.xd 1 9
t2:'ic7t Wd8 10 t2:'ixa8 i.a4 11 i.e3 e6) 7 ... e6 8 0-0
t2:'if6 9 t2:'ic3 ~a5?! ("Played on a parallel with
similar positions arising out of the Centre Counter
Defence and hoping to be able to obtain pressure
on Whites isolated Q Pawn. But here, as in the
Centre Counter, White's greater freedom of pieces
and conunand of more space assure him the better
game." 9 ... 'iVd8! 10 i.g5 i.e7 +=) 10 h3 j_h5 11
a3 lld8? (11 ... j_e7 12 g4 i.g6 13 b4 'iVd8) 12 g4!
("White is playing with great vigour and succeeds in
completely disproving Blacks opening strategy.") 12
... j_g6 13 b4! ("The start of fine combinations by
which White gains a piece for three Pawns whilst
retaning the attack.") 13 ... j_xb4!? (13 ... ~b6 14
i.e3! 13 ... 'Wlc7 14 'ifa4! lt:\d7 15 i.g5) 14 axb4
'iYxal 15 ~3 llxd4! 16 i.a3! (16 j_b2 .l:!.xb4; 16
t2:'ixd4? t2:'ixd4 17 'iVc4 ~xc3!) 16 ... j_c2 ("The
only move" F.) 17 'iVxc2 ~xa3
(See diagram on next page)
18 t2:'ib5! (18 t2:'ixd4? t2:'ixd4 19 'iVd3 'iVxc3!) 18 ...
~xb4 (18 ... !!xg4t!? 19 hxg4 'iVxb4 20 t2:'ie5
0-0 21 t2:'ixc6 bxc6 22 'iVxc6 oo) 19 t2:'ifxd4 t2:'ixd4
20 t2:'ixd4! (20 'iVc8t? @e7 21 'iVxh8 t2:'ixe2·1') 20
... 0-0 (20 ... 'iVxd4 21 i:id 1 'iVe5 22 'iVc8i· We7
23 'iVxh8 'iVxe2 24 'iVd8#) 21 lld 1 t2:'id5! 22 j_f3
t2:'if4 23 c;,t;,h2 e5 (23 ... l!d8? 24 t2:'ic6! 23 ... h6

24 '@'e4 23 ... 'l1Hd6 24 l2::ie2! 23 ... h5!?])24l2::if5!
g6 ("One weakness leads to another; but the
White Knight was to strongly posted." F.) 25
l2::ie3 l2::ie6 26 l2::id5! (26 ~bl? 'i'f4i· 27 Wg2
'@'xf3t 28 Wxf3 l2::id4t 29 We4 l2::ixc2 30 l2::ixc2
;!;) 26 ... 'l1Ha3 27 fl.d3 'i'al 28 r!.dl 'i'a3 29 i:!d3
'l/Ha 1 30 'l1Hd2! Wg7 (It threatened 31 '@"16! etc
30 ... e4? 21 ~xe4!) 31 'i'e2! f6 32 'l/He3! (It
threatens 32 lla3) 32 ... a6 33 !id 1 'i'h2 34
l2::ic3! l2::id4 (34 ... b5 35 .l;td7t nn36 I!xf7t
Wxf7 37 ~d5 or 34 ... £!f7 35 .td5 +-) 35 .l:l.bl
Wilc2 36 5te4! 1-0 (Reinfeld, Golombek, Euwe and
Panov).
18 Capablanca - Grau A25
1 c4 e5 2 l2::ic3 l2::ic6 3 g3 g6 4 d3 ~g7 5 5td2
l2::ige7 6 .ig2 d6 7 !!bl 0-0 8 h4 h5 9 b4 l2::if5 10
b5 l2::icd4 11 l2::ih3 l2::ie6 12 l2::ig5 l2::ic5 13 l2::ige4
l2::id4 14 l2::ixc5 dxc5 15 .td5 Wh8 16 e3 l2::if5 17
..Itel l2::ie7 18 Qf3 ~f5 19 .ixb7 .ixd3 20 .ixa8
'@'xa8 21 'l1Hxd3 '@'xhlt 22 We2 f5 23 .ia3 'l/Hg2
24 e4 fxe4 25 l2::ixe4 l2::if5 26 .ixc5 l2::id4t 27
.ixd4 exd4 28 ~el .ie> 29 !!fl .ig7 30 l2::id2
!!f6 31 'l/He4 d3t 32 wd 1 nxf2 33 nxf2 'i'xf2 34
'i'xd3 Wh7 35 a4 'i'f6 36 We2 'l/Hb2 37 'i'b3
'i'd4 38 'i'e3 'i'd6 39 a5 .ih6 40 l2::ie4 'i'e7 41
-~d3 'l/Hb4 42 'i'd?t .tg7 43 'i'xc7 'i'h2t 44
l2::id2 'l1Hd4 45 b6 'i'g4i' 46 Wel 'i'e6t 47 Wdl
'*Vg4t 48 Wcl axb6 49 axb6 IJi_lh
19 Capablanca - Petrov D75
1 d4 l2::if6 2 c4 g6 3 l2::ic3 d5 4 l2::if3 .tg7 5 _g3 0-0 6
cxd5 l2::ixd5 7 .tg2 c5 8 0-0 cxd4 9 l2::i.xd4 'L'lxc3 10
bxc3 l2::ic6 11 l2::ixc6 bxc6 12 ~e3 .ixc3 13 .l;tc 1
'*Va5 14 'i'b3 ~d2 15 .txd2 'i'xd2 16 .lhc6 .tf5
17 'flc7 !l.ab8 18 'l/Ha3 .l;tb2 19 nxa7 'i'xe2 20 nxe7
'flxa2 21 llxe2 r.!.xa3 22 h3 .td3 23 .l;te3 .ixfl 24
'fJ.xa3 .txg2 25 Wxg2 Wg7 26 g4 I!e8 27 Wg3 l;!e4
28 !fa7 l'!e8 29 f3 g5 30 !la5 h6 1/z-I!z
20 Capablanca - Ta1iakover B45
1 e4 c5 2 l2::if3 l2::ic6 3 d4 cxd4 4 l2::i.xd4 l2::if6 5 l2::ic3
e6 6 l2::idb5! .tb4 7 a3 (7 Qf4 l2::i.xe4 8 'i'f3 d5 9
l2::ic7t Wf8 10 0-0-0) 7 ... .ixc)t 8 l2::ixc3 d5 9
.id3?! (9 exd5 exd5 10 ~d3) 9 ... dxe4 10 l2::ixe4
l2::ixe4 11 .ixe4 'i'xd It 12 Wxd 1 .id7 ( 12 ... f5
13 .txc6t bxc6 14 ne 1 00) 13 .ie3 f5 14
.ixc6 .ixc6 15 f3 e5 16 .l::!.el Wf7 17 We2 g5 18
@f2 .&thg8 19 .l::!.ad 1 a6 20 .l::!.d6 g4 21 .l::!.h6 gxf3
22 gxf3 .l::!.g7 23 .ic5 lite8 24 c3 f4 25 .l;th5 Wf6
26 .id6 e4 27 .ixf4 exf3 28 .test Wg6 29
.ixg7 Wxh5 30 .l;txe8 .ixe8 11z_11z
21 Capablanca - Mikenas E33
"A beautiful game by C., whose apparent
simplicity hides a good deal of art." (Golombek).
1 d4 l2::if6 2 c4 e6 3 l2::ic3 .tb4 4 'i'c2 l2::ic6 5 l2::if3
d5 6 a3! .ixc3t 7 'i'xc3 a5 (7 ... l2::ie4!? 8 'i'c2
e5!?) 8 b3 0-0 9 .ig5 (9 e3) 9 ... h6 10 ~xf6 (10
.th4 g5! 11 .ig3 l2::ie4 ao) 10 ... 'i'xf6 ("Black is
now left with the inferior Bishop, which will give
him trouble for the remainder of the game." F.) 11
e3 .id7 12 .td3 .l;tfc8? ("Portentously preparing
for some Queen-side play which never
materializes." R. 12 ... .lz.fe8! followed by dxc4 and
e6-e5) 13 0-0 a4 14 b4 dxc4 15 .txc4 l2::ia7 16
l2::ie5! .te8 17 f4! b6 (it threatened 18 ... c5!) 18
'i'd3! .l;td8 19 f5! ("A strong move which takes
advantage of Blacks dislocated position to institute a
decisive attack") 19 ... b5!?
20 fxe6! ("Capablanca ignores Blacks trap and
wins material by a fine combination." 20 .ta2?
'i'xe5!) 20 ... bxc4 21 Zixf6 cxd3 22 exf7t .txf7
(22 ... Wf8?? 23 l2::ig6 #) 23 nxf7 l2::ib5 24 .l:l.f2 i;!d5
25 l2::ixd3 fl.e8 26 .l;tf3 1-0 (Euwe and Golombek)
22 Enevoldsen, J - Capablanca E32
1 d4 l2::if6 2 c4 e6 3 l2::ic3 .tb4 4 'i'c2 0-0 5 a3
.txc3t 6 'l/Hxc3 d6 7 g3 'i'e7 8 .ig2 e5 9 d5 a5 10
b3 l2::ibd7 11 l2::if3 l2::ic5 12 l2::id2 .if5 13 0-0 l2::ife4
14 l2::ixe4 .ixe4 15 f3 .ig6 16 ~e3 b6 17 b4 l2::id7
18 llfc 1 axb4 19 axb4 f5 20 f4 exf4 21 gxf4 l2::if6
141
22 h3 L!.xa 1 23 .l'!xa 1 l!e8 24 I:!.a3 .ih5 25 'ii'c2 'Lle4
26 i.d4 'it'h4 27 e3 'ii'el t 28 c;,t;,h2
28 ... i.f3! 29 .l:!.a2 l!e7 30 'it'a4 <;t,t7 31 'it'a8 'Lld2
32 .ixf3 'ii'f2t 33 @hl 'ii'flt 34 @h2 'Llxf3t 35
@g3 'Llxd4 0-1
23 Flores - Capablanca
1 d4 'Llf6 2 c4 e6 3 'Llf3 d5 4 'Llc3 .ie7 5 i.g5
0-0 6 e3 h6 7 .ih4 'Lle4 8 i.xe7 'ii'xe7 9 'it'b3
'Llxc3 10 'ii'xc3 c6 11 .id3 dxc4 12 .ixc4 b6 13
0-0 .ib7 14 'Lle5 'Lld7 15 f4 c5 16 'Llxd7 'ii'xd7
17 l!adl .l!ad8 18 .ie2 cxd4 19 lixd4 'it'e7 20
.l':!fd 1 .l':!xd4 21 'ii'xd4 l'!.c8 22 'ii'd7 ~8 23
'ii'xe7t @xe7 24 L!.d2 .id5 25 a3 g5 26 ~
.llcl 27 i.f3 .ixf3 28 @xf3 f5 29 h3 a5 30 g3
Iic5 31 e4 gxf4 32 exf5 l!xf5 33 gxf4 l'!.b5 34
@e4 ~6 35 h4 l!b3 36 l!h2 a4 37 li!d2 b5 38
Iic2 b4 39 r.xb4 .l::!.xb4t 40 ~3 llb3t 41 c;,t;,g4
llb5 42 h5 l!b4 43 ~3 l'!.d4 44 l'!.c7 Il.b4 45
l!a7 112- 112
24 Rojahn - Capablanca
1 e4 e5 2 'Llf3 'Llc6 3 i.c4 .ic5 4 b4 .i_b6 5
a4 a6 6 c3 'Llf6 7 ~b3 0-0 8 d3 d6 9 l:g5
'it'e7 10 'Llbd2 a5 11 b5 'Lld8 12 0-0 'Lle6 13
i.e3 'Llc5 14 ~c2 i.e6 15 h3 'Llcd7 16 .life 1
i.xe3 17 fxe3 i.xc4 18 'Llxc4 c6 19 d4 'Llxe4
20 'Llcxe5 'Lldf6 21 'Lld3 cxb5 22 axb5 .l:ifc8
23 c4 b6 24 .llacl l!a7 25 ~b3 Z!ac7 26 d5
'Llc5 2 7 'Llxc5 l'!.xc5 2 8 'Lld4 'it' e4 2 9 'Llc6
l'!.e8 30 lt:ld4 'it'g6 31 .l::!.c3 lie5 32 l!fl llg5
33 'ii'c2 ~xc2 34 .lhc2 'Lle8 35 'Llb3 l!c7 36
.l;!d 1 l!c8 37 'Lld2 l!g6 38 l'!.c3 i!h6 39 r!.f 1
@f8 40 l'!.f4 .l::!.f6 112- 112
CASUAL GAME - 1940
Havana - 1940
1 Capablanca -J.Corzo C41
1 e4 e5 2 'Llf3 d6 3 d4 'Lld7 4 .ic4 c6 5 c3 b5 6
142
25 Capablanca - Trompowsky EOO
1 c4 'Llf6 2 g3 e6 3 .ig2 d5 4 d4 c5 5 cxd5 'Llxd5 6
'Llf3 'Llc6 7 0-0 cxd4 ?! 8 'Llxd4 .ie7 9 'Llxc6 bxc6
10 'it'a4 i.b7 11 l'!.dl 0-0?! 12 'Lla3 [12 e4!? 'Llb6
13 !lxd8!? 'Llxa4 14 Itd7! .l!fd8 (14 ... .ia6?? 15
l!xe7 l'!.fd8 16 i.f3 or 14 ... 'Llc5?? 15 l!xe7 l!fd8
16 .if3) 15 .lixb7 Itd 1t 16 .ifl l!xcl ( 16 ... i.f6
17 'Llc3!) 17 l!xe7 ~8 (17 ... Itd8 18 c;,t;,g2 @£8 19
l'!.xa7 l'!.8dl 20 'Llc3!) 18 l'!.d7 c;,t;,e8 19 l!d2 ±] 12
... 'it'b6 13 e4 'Llf6 14 'Llc4 'it'b5 15 'ii'c2 ! l!fd8
16 i.f4 l!ac8?
D56
17 .id6! .ia6 (17 ... .if8) 18 .ixe7! (18 b3 i.f8
19 ..txf8 .lhdlt 20 .lhdl .l::M8) 18 ... .lhdlt 19
.i::!.xdl 'i¥xc4 20 ii'xc4 1l.xc4 21 b3 1l.b5 22 a4! 1l.a6
23 1l.c5 h6 24 1l.xa7 @f8 25 f3 @e7 26 1l.c5t @e8
27 00 lbd7 28 1l.d6 c5 29 e5 1l.b7 30 .i::!.cl 1l.d5 31
f4! 1l.xg2 (31 ... 1l.xb3 32 .tb7 .l::!.d8 33 a5 1l.d5 34
a6 +-) 32 @xg2 c4 33 a5! c3 34 @£3 c2 35 @e2
lbb8 36 @d2 1-0
C5 l 26 Capablanca - Villegas D04
1 d4 d5 2 'Llf3 'Llf6 3 e3 c6 4 .id3 i.g4 5 c4
e6 6 'Llbd2 'Llbd7 7 0-0 .ie7 8 'ii'c2 i.h5 9 b3
i.g6 10 i.b2 i.xd3 11 'ii'xd3 0-0 12 !lae 1 'it'c7
13 e4 dxe4 14 'Llxe4 'Llxe4 15 l'!.xe4 .if6 16
'it'e3 c5 17 'Lle5 cxd4 18 'Llxd7 'ii'xd7 19 .ixd4
.ixd4 20 I:!.xd4 ~c7 21 Iifd 1 .llad8 22 b4
l'!.xd4 23 'it'xd4 b6 24 g3 Iic8 25 !:!c 1 Iid8 26
'it'e3 ~8 27 c5 bxc5 28 'it'e4 l!d5 29 bxc5 g6
30 c6 c;,t;,g7 31 a4 l!d6 32 'it'e5t ~8 33 °iVxd6t
1-0 (It is not clear from the sources available
whether or not this game was played at the
Olympiad)
1940
i.b3 .ie7 7 a4 bxa4 8 .ixa4 ~c7 9 0-0 'Llgf6 10
Iie 1 0-0 l l 'Llbd2 'Llb6 12 .ib3 h6 13 'Llfl Iid8 14
'Llg3 c5 15 .ie3 .ib7 16 d5 .ic8 17 h3 i.d7 18
'it'd2 .if8 19 c4 'Llh7 20 .lla5 r!.db8 21 .l;!ea 1 .llb7
22 'it'c3 'Llc8 23 !!bl g6 (etc. Remis in move 33.)
 1941
EXHIBIDON GAME - 1941
New York- 1941
1 Capablanca - Forsberg D9 4
l e3 g6 2 d4 iJ..g7 3 lbf3 d5 4 c4 e6 5 lbc3 t'bf6 6
Sl.e2 0-0 7 0-0 b6 8 cxd5 exd5 9 lbe5 c5 10 b3
Sl.a6 11 Sl.a3 !!e8 12 ii..xa6 lbxa6 13 f4 cxd4 14
exd4 lbc7 15 !!cl a6 16 f5 lbb5 17 fxg6 hxg6 18
.i.b4 lbxd4 19 'i'xd4 lbd7 20 lbxd5 I!xe5 21 'ti'f2
f5 22 .l:!.fd 1 l!te4 23 ii..c3 .llc8 24 ..tX:g7 I:!.xc 1 25
!ixcl Wxg7 26 llc7 ~8 27 'ti'd2 'tlfe8 28 lbf6
!!e 1i· 29 'it'f2 l!te2i· 30 ~xe2 'ti'xe2t 31 Wxe2
cbxf6 32 l!tc6 lbd5 33 l!td6 1-0
BLINDFOLD - 1941
Havana -1941
2 Capablanca - Gonzalez COO
1 e4 e6 2 lbc3 d5 3 lbf3 d4 4 lbe2 c5 5 c3 lbc6 6
d3 e5 7 g3 cbf6 8 c4 ii..e7 9 iJ..g2 0-0 10 h3 b5 11
b3 bxc4 12 bxc4 'ti'a5t 13 iJ..d2 'ti'a3 14 ~3
'tb'xb3 15 axb3 !ib8 16 lbcl iJ..d7 17 ~dl lbe8 18
lbe 1 lbd6 19 f4 f6 20 ~c2 a5 21 ctJf3 .lla8 22 lbe2
.l:!fb8 23 l!ta3 lbf7 24 .l:!.hal Sl.d8 25 g4 lbb4i· 26
.i.xb4 cxb4 27 .ll3a2 a4 28 lbd2 a3 29 ?!fl ..te7 30
@b 1 .i.d6 31 lbf3 lbd8 32 f5 lbb7 33 lbc 1 lbc5 34
.l::!.af2 W 35 ~a2 h6 36 .llhl .i.c6 37 I:!.e2 l!td8 38
h4 l!tac8 39 ..tfl rtie7 40 g5 hxg5 41 hxg5 I!h8 42
!l.eh2 .l:!.xh2t 43 !!xh2 fxg5 44 lbxg5 ~6 45
cbh7t ffl 46 ..te2 ii..e7 47 ..th5t ~g8 48 iJ..g6
.i.e8 49 ..txe8 !ixe8 50 ~bl I!a8 51 .llh5 ~ 52
cbg5t ..txg5 53 llxg5 .l:!.h8 54 .l:!g2 .llhl 55 ~2
l:!.xc1·1· 56 ~cl lbxb3t 57 ~bl lbc5 58 .llg6
l2:\xd3 59 !ib6 lbc5 60 !!xb4 lbxe4 61 .l:l.b7t ~6
62 Wa2 d3 63 lld7 d2 64 ~a3 ~5 65 rtib4 ~4
66 c5 lbxc5 67 Wxc5 e4 68 .llxd2 11z_11z
SIMULTANEOUS GAMES - 1941
Pinar del Rio - 1941
3 Capablanca - Castillo Jose E35
l d4 e6 2 c4 t'bf6 3 lbc3 iJ..b4 4 'i¥c2 d5 5 cxd5
exd5 6 .i.g5 c6 7 e3 lbbd7 8 ..id3 h6 9 ..th4 0-0 10
cbge2 l!te8 11 a3 .i.e7 12 0-0 t'bf8 13 b4 lbe4 14
.i.xe7 'i'xe7 15 .i.xe4 dxe4 16 d5 ..id7 17 lbd4
£!.ac8 18 dxc6 ..ixc6 19 !!fc 1 a6 20 'i¥b3 lbg6 21
a4 'ii'g5 22 b5 lbh4 23 g3 axb5 24 axb5 ..id7 25
cbd5 'tb'g4 26 .llxc8 ii..xc8 27 'ti'c4 i.e6 28 'ti'c5
cbf3t 29 lbxf3 'ti'xf3 30 lbf4 I!c8 31 lbxe6 I!xc5
32 !ia8i" ~h7 33 lbf8t 112- 1/z
4 Capablanca - Celorio, Rodtiguez COO
l e4 e6 2 li:\c3 d5 3 ctJf3 lbe7 4 d4 lbd7 5 i.d3 c6
6 e5 lbg6 7 h4 f5 8 exf6 gxf6 9 'ti'e2 lbb6 10 h5
l2:\e7 11 .i.f4 ~ 12 0-0-0 h6 13 lbh4 !!g8 14
l2:\g6 ..tg7 15 !ih3 lbc4 16 i.xc4 dxc4 17 ~xc4
cbd5 18 .lif3 lbxc3 19 'ti'xc3 'ti'd5 20 i.e5 i.d7 21
~ .llge8 22 'i¥xb7 a5 23 rtibl I!ad8 24 b3 'i¥h5
25 'ti'c7 a4 26 ..txf6 i.xf6 27 'ti'e5 'ti'xe5 28 dxe5
axb3 29 axb3 llg8 30 exf6 .&txg6 31 hxg6t Wxg6
32 llfd3 1-0
5 Capablanca - Lluis Al 6
1 c4 ctJf6 2 lbc3 c6 3 g3 e6 4 i.g2 d5 5 b3 ..tb4 6
..ib2 0-0 7 'ti'c2 lbbd7 8 lbf3 h6 9 0-0 lbb6 10 d3
!!e8 11 a3 i.e7 12 e4 lbh7 13 lbe2 dxe4 14 dxe4
lbd7 15 lifdl 'ti'c7 16 e5 b6 17 lbc3 iJ..b7 18 lbe4 c5
19 lbd6 ..txd6 20 exd6 'ti'c6 21 b4 lbg5 22 lbe 1 'ti'c8
23 b5 ..txg2 24 ~g2 ~7t 25 f3 I!ad8 26 h4 lbh7
27 lbd3 f6 28 t'bf4 ct::ldf8 29 'ti'd3 e5 30 lbd5 .l:!.e6 31
lbe7t ~ 32 t'bf5 e4 33 'ti'd5 exf3t 34 ~
't'Vxd5t 35 cxd5 llee8 36 .llel llxel 37 !'txel l:'.!.d7 38
Iie7t .llxe7 39 dxe7 g6 40 exf8'i¥t 1-0
6 Capablanca - Rodtiguez Carnero E20
1 d4 ctJf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 c6 4 e4 d6 5 lbf3 lbbd7 6
..id3 ..ie7 7 e5 dxe5 8 dxe5 lbg4 9 't'Ve2 'ti'c7 10
.i.f4 h5 11 0-0 b6 12 .l:Iadl ..tb7 13 h3 lbh6 14
lbe4 g6 15 i.c2 0-0-0 16 7lbd6t .i.xd6 17 exd6
~8 18 ..te4 lbg8 19 lbe5 .llf8 20 't'Vf3 c5 21
..ixb7t 't'Vxb7 22 'ti'xb7i· 1-0
An extract from the lecture Capablanca held about
Maroczy Geza, in the New York Radio in
Febrnary 1942:
"Modem players think that they are stronger and
know more than those thirty years ago. I think this
is a mistake. Tarrasch, Schlechter, Maroczy,
Rubinstein, Lasker and myself made up such a
team 30 years ago which does not exist today, and
1 do not think it will ever exist again. And I have
not mentioned yet the names of Bernstein,
Marshall, Duras, Vidmar, Teiclunaru1 and
Janovski, all of whom had won tournaments and
important matches."
Jos Raoul Capablanca
Fred Reinfeld
New York, October 4, 1942
The Febrnary 1909 issue of THE AMERICAN
CHESS BULLETIN began with this remarkable
"advertisement": " Wanted: a youth with the
genius of Morphy, the memory of Pillsbury and
the detennination of Steinitz." A few months later,
the assigmnent was filled by a 20-year old
Columbia junior. This Young man proved himself
one of the outstanding masters of the day by
defeating Frank Marshall by the amazing score of
8-1. Two years later, the young man proved that
his first success was no fluke, by carrying off the
143
frrst prize in one of the strongest intemational
toumeys ever held (San Sebastian 1911).
The young man was now considered the
outstanding contender for the World
Championship. He was the darling of the gods.
Everything came to him easily, effortlessly. What
others achieved afters years of study and toil, he
attained with no trouble to speak of. He never
bothered to study the game systematically,
because he did not need to. His admirers called
this self reliance, his detractors tenned it laziness.
Eventually he achieved his ambition and became
World Champion. And now the· story takes a tragic
tum. l11e famous accuracy begins to sag, fighting
spirit dims, boredom sets in, and we hear ominous
a1mouncements that the game is played out, that it
is too simple. After only seven years, he loses the
title, he fights manfblly, but all his art and all his
skill are not enough. From this point on, the road
is downward. This player, who was once the
world's greatest time pressure lightning-chess
wizard, now frequently suffers from grnelling time
pressure. Once he appraised positions with
staggeringly rapid intuition; now he finds it
difficult to concentrate, he is content to take the
easiest way. Once he got along famously on his
lack of book knowledge; today there are others
who flourish on the same quality - worse yet, there
are others who combine great ability with
thorough book knowledge. The same player who
wa& previously considered a combinative genius,
becomes the symbol in certain quarters for a dry,
unimaginative type of play. He frequently used the
style for which Flohr has been execrated so often -
the policy of defeating the also-rans and drawing
with most of the prize-winners. This explains, by
the way, why he won so relatively few first prizes.
There was a brief flickering of the old genius at
the Moscow and Nottingham toumaments of 1936;
but the decline continued, and reached its nadir in
the AVRO toumament of 1938.
That player was Jose R. Capablanca. His career
was a tragic one. not only because he died so
prematurely, but because he had long ago taken
the downward path. TI1ere is obvious tragedy in
the lives of great men (such dissimilar types, for
example, as Lincoln and Mozart) who were cut of
in the plenitude of their powers, just as they were
on the verge of what would have been their
greatest achievements. Yet such a fate is not so
144
bitter as that of men like Capablanca (or
Napoleon), who have reached the heights, have
been dislodged from them, and have made vain
efforts to recover the lost position
To those who observed Capablancas sensational
climb to fame, he was an inspiration; their faith in
him never wavered. To those who belonged to a
later generation, Capablanca was by no means the
same impressive figure. Tius was due to the fact
that he had not only entered a period of decline,
but that interested parties indulged in systematic
detraction of Capablanca. As I have no personal
axe to grind, I do not care to engage in these
polemics; but it is my conviction that in the years
to come. Capablancas reputation as a great master
will be steadily on the upgrade. Partisan wrangles
will disappear, and the games will speak for
themselves.
One interesting indication of Capablancas
greatness is that to non-chess-players Ins name
was better known than the names of all other chess
masters put together! Tiiis was due partly to Ins
engaging personality and distinguished
appearance: he was one of those exceptional
people who at once stand out in a crowd.
Wherever he went, he was a goodwill ambassador
for Latin America and for chess."
A death notice from the other part of the war-tom
world:
In the March of 1942 newspapers a1mounced that
according to the British News Agency Capablanca
had died. Some days later a foreign newspaper
printed another detail: he died in the Sinai
Hospital in New York. Tius is all that we know for
the time being about the circumstances of Ins
death. (According to a later source Capablanca
was taken ill at the Manhattan Chess Club in New
York on 8th May, and without regaining his
consciousness died later. EV)
All chess player are shocked by this unexpected
death. We would have liked to have seen more of
lus toumament play, to enjoy his Ince, deep style,
because he was still yom1g and ready to fight and
there are many in the world of chess who regarded
him as the strongest opponent against the world
champion Alekhine rather than Keres or Botviimik
even in 1940 The whole chess world moums for
1nm, one of the greatest chess players ever, the
ex-world champion of the game of Kings.
Together with the many chess players his
countrymen mourn for their best-known
compatriot, who brought them fame in the world.
Every educated man thinks of him with respect
when he receives the notice of his death. Respect
accrned to chess and chess players because him, as
his name was well-known to every educated man
Index of Openings
1-
AOO 11/38 24/23 35/7-26 A03 12/7 13/58 14/40
18/17 22/24 29 /8 31/20 A04 28/36 A06 24/22
31/15 A09 24/14 25/13 36/2
1 c4
All 35/5 36/22 A12 25/10 31/11-12 35/30 36/17
A13 36/45 A15 24/5 29 /6-49 A16 41/5 A17 29
/62 A21 15/18 A25 29 /4 39 /18 A26 36/4-28-35
A28 37/11 A30 28/9 29 /50 36/16 A31 28/4 29
/44-46 A32 28/15 A33 22/26 A34 28/22
1 d4
A43 11/35 A45 39 /12
1 d4 ct)f6 2 Q)f3
A46 12/1-3 13/7-8-9 -13-14-17-18 19 /4 22/2
27/6-10 29/36 38/2 A47 22/4 26/2 27/23 28/10-34
29/10-14-25-51 31/8 36/7-29-33-42 38/1 A48
22/10 24/10 25/12
1 d4 ct)f6 2 c4
A52 19 /17 28/2 29 /64 A53 16/13 25/6 36/12 A54
25/14A55 l3/IOA5613/51 A6313/2227/7
1 d4 f5
A80 1/3-13 24/6 A83 1/7-9 2/2 11/40 14/44 A91
34/9 A92 36/39 A95 36/21
1 e4 -
BOO 27/56 B01 10/9-13 11/47-48 13/46 15/4-12
26/5 29 /66 B02 25/4 29 /42 B06 24/16 B07 26/3
1 e4 c6
B10 11/49 B12 20/1 22/11 27/11 B13 14/32-43
24/26-27 25/16 26/4-9 -14 29 /32 39 /17
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 ct)c3 dxe4 4 lb.xe4
B15 11/47 18/13 27/1 31/33 B17 35/31-38 B18
11/12-44 27/8 28/35 31/9 Bl9 27/14-16 28/7
1 e4 c5
B20 11/1 12/9 15/16 33/8 39 /1 B21 1/14 B24
25/7 36/43 B27 28/17 B36 29 /43 B37 29 /18 B38
22/15
1 e4 c5 2 ct)f3 e6
B40 11/5 B42 14/23 B44 6/5 34/10 B45 39 /20
1 e4 c5 2 ct)f3 d6
B50 31/33 B54 37/7 B58 36/25
and every newspaper reader in the world alike, as were
the names Roentgen, Caruso or Nurmi.' (V. 1942)
*
"Capablanca was called away from the chess
world too early . With his death we have lost one
of the greatest chess geniuses; we will never see
his like again." (A. Alekhine 1946)
1 e4 c5 2 ct)f3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 ct)xd4 ct)f6 5 ct)c3
B70 13/34 B74 39/6 B83 25/8
1 e4 e6
coo 8/2 11/20-37 12/5 13/33 16/22 35/34 41/2-4
COl 9/37 13/5 14/17 15/8-15 16/14 26/8 28/31
35/24 CO2 01/24 C05 29 /65 33/4-5 C06 38/17
C07 34/12 C09 31/38 38/14
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 ct)c3
ClO 2/3 13/23 18/4 19 /5 Cll 1/19 6/2 14/18-31
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 ct)c3 ct)f6 4 ..ig5 ..ib4
Cl2 10/7 ll/22-29 -46 13/49 -56 16/15 24/4-20-
24 25/11 27/3
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 ct)c3 ct)f6 4 ..ig5 ..te7
C13 29 /37
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 ct)c3 ct)f6 4 ..ig5 ..ie7 5 e5
C14 9 /28 24/19 34/11
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 ct)c3 ..ib4
C15 22/23 27 /21-55 31/32 35/9 -15 Cl 7 38/11
1 e4 e5
C22 13/52 C24 2/4 13/28
1e4e52 ct)c3
C25 1/6-8 9 /32 36/19 C28 14/36 33/3
1e4e52 f4
C30 7/3 9 /38 11/45 14/30 22/22 C31 13/42-57
C33 14/9 22/17-20 24/17-21 C38 6/7 C39 02/5
1e4e52 ct)f3
C40 1/25 C41 22/16 40/ I
1 e4 e5 2 ct)f3 ct)f6
C42 1/10 9/20-22-24-29 10/4 11/3 13/21-31 14/2-
13 15/11-14 18/8-1219 /1-3 C43 5/1
1 e4 e5 2 ct)f3 ct)c6
C44 1/21-26 10/2 11/39 19/20 26/7
1 e4 e5 2 Q)f3 ct)c6 3 d4 exd4
C45 1/15-16-22 14/24-27 C46 9 /30-31 12/8 13/4-
2719 /21 29 /53
1 e4 e5 2 ct)f3 ct)c6 3 ct)c3 ct)c6
C47 1/1-18 14/20 25/2 35/29 C48 12/6 13/2
14/1-14 15/1 19 /13 22/7 27/20
145
1 e4 e5 2 lbf3 lt:ic6 3 lt:ic3 lbc6 4 .ib5 .ib4
C49 1/4 9/16-17-18-39 10/5 11/25-28-32-33
12/2-4-10 13/1-3-5-6-15-16-l 7 14/4-16-35 16/7
18/15 19 /16 28/20 29/2133/1 36/26
1 e4 e52 lt:if3 lt:ic6 3 .ic4
C50 14/19 -39 19 /2 29 /12-52 36/27 38/7
1 e4 e5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 .i.c4 .ic5
C51 39 /24 C52 1/2 13/20 C54 11/16 C55 9/34
10/10-11-12 C58 9 /33 C59 16/18
1 e4 e5 2 lbf3 lt:ic6 3 .ib5
C60 2/1 29/54 C61 14/10 C62 9/4-6-8-27 11/34
14/33 18/9-10 19/10 C63 07/1 9/2-10-12 C64
11/43 14/45
1 e4 e5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 .t b5 lt:if6
C65 8/1 9 /26-36 11/13 22/25 C66 6/6 9 /40 11/2
13/24-25 14/5 15/5 18/14 19 /11 21/3-6-12-14
22/-1-19-21 24/2-25 26/12-13 31/36 C67 01/12-17
6/4 9 /26-36 11/13 14/25 22/25 /40 11/2 13/24-25
C68 14/8-15-29 16/2-5 19 /22
1 e4 e5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 .ib5 a6 4 .ta4 d6
C71 16/20 28/33 29/40 39/11 C72 16/19 19/14
28/25 C73 19/9 31/16 35/18-33 36/30 C74 9/14
28/19-32 31/17 C7618/2 29/3-4139/8
1 e4 e5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 .ib5 a6 4 .ia4 lt:if6
C77 1/20 7/2 08/3 11/4-6-15-36-41 14/7 C78
35/23 C79 26/11 38/6
1 e4 e5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 .i.b5 a6 4 .ia4 lt:if6 5 0-0
lbxe4 6 d4 b5 7 .i.b3 d5 8 dxe5 .ie6
C80 13/19 14/11 15/9 C82 13/55 CSJ 11/42
13/39-42-5115/3 16/4-8 25/22
1 e4 e5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 .ib5 a6 4 .ta4 ltif6 5 0-0
.i.e7
C84 9/35-41 13/32 14/12 20/4 C87 6/3 16/1 C89
18/1
1 e4 e5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 .i.b5 a6 4 .i.a4 lbf6 5 0-0
.ie7 6 l:te 1 b5 7 .ib3 d6
C90 9/25 13/37-40-44-48-50-54 15/2-7 19/8 28/39
39/2-4 C91 22/6 24/18 C96 24/12 C98 27/19
1 d4 d5
DOO 1/5-23 9/19 ll/7-10-11-27-30-37 12/5 13/12-
13-29-46 15/17 24/7 25/9
1 d4 d5 2 lt:if3
D02 1/11 10/3 11/23 13~3-45 14/38 20/3 22/12-
14 24/8 28/24 35/36 D03 36/41 D04 13/30 14/34-
37-42 39/26 D05 11/19 13/38 14/46 19/15 24/9
28/30
1 d4 d5 2 c4
D06 14/26 35/39 36/3 D07 16/21
146
ld4d52c4c6
D10 13/41 24/11Dl211/21 16/1121/837/4 D13
11/8-14 24/13 36/9 D15 16/3-16 28/8-27 D16
31/14 D17 29/26-29 31/30 35/21 37/2-8-10 Dl8
36/32 37/12-14 D19 36/34-40 37/1 38/9
1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4
D20 28/6 35/14 D21 25/17-19 28/13 D24 33/2
1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 lt:if3 lt:if6 4 e3
D25 13/36 D26 3/1 13/35 22/18 25/5 D28 37/13
1 d4 d5 c4 e6
D30 18/5-11 19/18 20/2-5 25/15 26/6 27/9-18
29/2-9-17-24-3 l-38-45-61-67 31/2 35/35 D31
25/3 35/10
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 c5 4 cxd5 exd5 5 lbf3 lbc6
6 g3
D33 9/1-23 11/24 18/6 19/6 21/9 D34 19/19 31/26
38/439/5
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3lt:if6
D35 27/52 29/27 D36 35/28 36/6 39/7
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 lt:if6 4 lbf3
D37 13/26 16/9 21/2 29 /15-63 DJS 14/41 24/15
27/13-15 29 /20
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 lt:if6 4 lbf3 c5
D40 10/611/17-18-2613/41 D4129 /59
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbf3 lbf6 4 lbc3 c6
D43 36/24-31 39/15 D45 13/11 36/20 D46 10/1
ll/936/20D4610/l 11/919/7
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbf3 ltif6 4 lbc3 c6 5 e3 ltibd7 6
.id3 dxc4 7 i.xc4
D47 25/1 27/4 28/21 31/28 35/25 36/5-23 39/10
D48 14/22 25/18 D49 35/19
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 lt:if6 4 .i.g5 lbbd7
D51 14/6 15/10 25/2127/29-51-53-5428/26 29/30
31/10 34/2
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 lt:if6 4 .ig5 lbbd7 5 e3 c6 6
lbf3
D52 11/31 15/6 24/3 26/1 27/27-31-49 31/3-10
34/2-6
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 ft:ic3 lt:if6 4 .ig5 .ie7
D53 9/3-5-7-9-11-13-15-21 10/8 16/3 18/3 31/34
33/6 35/3 36/14-44 D55 6/1 D56 39 /23 D58 22/8
36/11-13 D59 36/37
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 lt:if6 4 .ig5 .ie7 5 e3 0-0 6
lbf3 lbbd7
D60 27/25 29/54 31/35 35/4 D61 16/12 21/4-10
22/3 31/21 35/16 D62 27/28-30 35/13-22
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 lt:if6 4 .ig5 .i.e7 5 e3 0-0 6
lbf3 lbbd7 7 Itel
D63 13/47 14/3-21-28 15/13 16/6-10-17 18/16
21/1-5-11-13 27/24-33-35-37-39-41-43-45-47
28/3 29/60 31/37 34/1 37/3
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 lbf6 4 ..tg5 ii.e7 5 e3 0-0 6
lbf3 lbbd7 7 J;;{cl c6 8 ~c2
D64 18/6-7 19/12 21/7 22/5-9-13 27/32-34-46
29/28 36/18 37/5 D65 27/22
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 lbf6 4 ..tg5 ii.e7 5 e3 0-0 6
ltif3 ltibd7 7 lite 1 c6 8 ..td3
D66 29/13 31/4 36/1-8 38/3 D67 24/1 27/26-36-
38-40-42-44-48-50 28/16 31/6 33/7 35/8 D68
39/13 D69 31/7 36/15
1 d4 'Llf6 2 c4 g6 3 g3 d5
D71 34/8 D75 39/19
1 d4 d5 2 c4 g6 3 lbc3 d5
D83 38/16-20 D85 26/10 D90 35/2 D93 37/6
38/12 D94 35/12 38/8 41/1 D95 38/5
1 d4 ltif6 2 c4 e6
EOO 39 /25 E03 36/36 Ell 27/5-23 28/23 39/9
1 d4 'Llf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbf3 b6
E12 28/129/47-55 31/5 E14 29/56
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbf3 b6 4 g3
E15 25/20 27/2-17 29/22 E16 27/12 28/11-38
29/1-7-33-58 31/19-27-29-3 l 34/3 35/11-20-32
39/14 E18 38/10-22
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 ..tb4
E20 41/6 E22 29/34 36/13 E23 29/48-57 E24
28/18 29/23 34/5 35/6 E29 29/19 E30 28/37
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 ..tb4 4 ~c2
E32 39/16-22 E33 34/4 39/21 E34 28/5-28 29/35
31/1 37/9 38/15-18 39/3 E35 31/18-22-24 41/3
E36 29/16 E37 35/1 38/13 E38 28/12-14 29/20
35/27
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 iJ..b4 4 e3
E40 31/25 E42 38/21 E43 29 /5 36/10 E44 31/23
E49 38/19 E55 31/13
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 g6
E60 29/11 E62 36/38
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 g6 3 lbc3 ..tg7 4 e4
E70 28/29 E80 34/7 E86 35/17 E91 35/37

List of famous opponents

Alekhine 13/40-41 14/5-14-18 22/9 24/4-11 27/1-4-27-54, 36/39 38/10-17 Bogoljubov 14/28 22/6

24/9-20 25/19 28/1 29/11 36/35 Bernstein 11/3 14/6-21-22 Botvinnik 34/9 35/2 36/16-21-29 38/12-19

Eliskases 36/18-27 37/3-10 Euwe 22/1 28/9 29/16 30/3 31/22-31 34/136/3238/15-22 Fine 36/34 37/1-8

38/11-18 Flohr 34/8 35/13 36/6-11-20-37 37/6-13 38/9-16 39/9 Griinfeld 25/3 29/21 Janowski 11/17

13/2-18-25 14/8 16/3-16 18/5-11 24/1-14 Kashdan 31/21 Keres 37/7-14 38/14-21 39/2-11 Kostic 18/6-12

19 /5-12 Lasker 14/4-11-15 21/1-14 24/2-13 25/1 35/9 36/15-25-40 Levenfish 25/14 35/19 36/14-24

Lilienthal 34/5 35/12 36/17-26 Marshall 09/1-23 10/4-10-11-12 11/11-14 13/5-14-21 14/2-13-17 15/13-

14 18/1-7 24/10-15 25/13 26/3-7 27/5-8 28/10-14-23-29 29/22 31/19 Mieses 13/51-52 28/3 35/25

Maroczy 11/22 22/7 24/8-12 26/4-8 29/28-61 Nimzovitch 11/20 14/1-19 27/9-12 28/5-22-28 29/18

Reshevsky 35/28 36/36 37/4-11 38/13-20 Reti 14/25 22/10 24/5-19 25/10 28/11-26-32 Rubinstein 11/24

14/3 22/14 25/5 28/6-24-30 29/10-31 Schlechter 11/21 Spielmann 11/23 25/16 27/13-16 28/8-15-21-27

29/27 35/15 Sta~lberg 35/16 36/8 39/13-15 Tartakover 14/23-24 22/8 24/6-17 25/15 28/2-25-31 29/8-

37-54 36/41 39/20 Tan-as ch 11/16 14/7-12-16 28/7-33 Teichmann 11 /25 13/47-48 Torre 25/11 Vidmar

11/26 22/13 27/17-20 29/26 30/6 36/31

147
 Literature

Chalupetzky-Toth: "Capablanca palyafutasa" # "Capablanca veszit"

Mieses and Lewitt: San Sebastian 1911
Bogoljubow: Moskau 1925
Botvinnik: Moscow 1935 # Moscow 1936
Capablanca: "My Chess Career"# "A Primer of Chess"# "Chess Fundamentals"
Hooper-Brandreth: "The Unknow Capablanca"
Linder: "Das Schachgenie Capablanca"
Panov: Capablanca
Caparros: "Capablanca"
Alekhine: New York 1924 # New York 1927 # Nottingham 1936
Euwe-Prins: "Capablanca das Schachphiinomen"
Golombek: "Capablanca Hundred Best Games of Chess"
Lasker: "WettkampfCapablanca-Lasker 1921"
Reinfeld: "The Inmortal Games ofCapablanca"
Reti: "Master of the Chess Board" # "Modem Ideas in Chess"
Tart'asch: St. Petersburg 1914
Tartakover: Karlsbad 1929
Varnusz-Foldeak: "Alekhine, der Grosste"

Longer articles and studies in Games Chapter

Alekhine - Asztalos-Ban 1933 - Becker - Botvinnik - Brinckmann - Capablanca - Chalupetzky-

Toth - Chernev - Diemer - Euwe - Fine - Foldeak - Dr Hannak 1937 - Havasi 1929 - Lasker -

Lilienthal - Linder - Levenfish-Smyslov - Maroczy- DR Nagy - Prokoviev 1914 Reti - Spielmann -

Tarrasch - Tartakover - Vajda 1922

148
 CONTENTS

VOLUME I.

Foreword

A few statistics and explanations

Capablanca's career

Tournaments and matches. Capablanca 1888-1925 (Games, articles, data)

VOLUME II.

Tournaments and matches. Capablanca 1926-1942 (Games, articles, data)

Capablanca's results against grandmasters

Opening finder

Capablanca games against his most famous opponents

Bibliography

149
 Egon Varnusz

EMANUEL LASKER
Volume 1

Games 1889-1907

Egon Varnusz
SCHMIDT SCHACH

EMANUEL LASKER
Emanuel Lasker Volume2

Volume I
239x 165 mm 273pp 327 games Games 1908-1941

SCHMIOT SCHACH

Emanuel Lasker
Volume 2
239xl65 mm 27lpp 248 games
Egon Vamusz/Sergej Galtunts
Mikhail Botvinnik
Volume 1
Games 1924-1940
310 games

Egon Vamusz
Mikhail Botvinnik
Volume 2
Games 1941-1962
328 games

Egon Vamusz
Mikhail Botvinnik
Volume 3
Games 1963-1970
306 games
 EJ;(on \'arnusz
,\.,pad F,,ldeak

QGA 2000
197x140 mm 288pp
New edition!

REtN:HAROT BECKER VERL..\C:'SCllM'H\'ER.L\C 'l..\Nf'Rtl> .\IAIJLl-:k

Aljechin, der Gro8te!

242x 170 mm 242pp 1111 games
 Klassische Systeme 2000
oder SPANISCH ohne 3 ... a6
200x)40 mm 255pp

. Kin9 1s Indian
Saemiscl, S1Jstem

King's Indian Saemisch 2000

197xl40 mm 192pp
New edition!
BAD KISSINGEN 1928

NIMZOWTTSCH, CAPABLANCA, TARRASCH, MARSHALL

EUWE, YATES, TARTAKOWER, SPIELMANN, RETI, MIESES, BOGULJUBOW

(RUBINSTEIN?)