[Event "Lasker - Capablanca World Championship Match"]

[Site "Havana CUB"]

[Date "1921.03.15"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "1"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[Black "Emanuel Lasker"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "100"]

1.d4 {Notes by J. R. Capablanca} d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Bg5

Be7 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Rc1 b6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bb5 {A new move
which has no merit outside of its novelty. I played it for the
first time against Teichmann in Berlin in 1913. The normal
move is Bd3, but Qa4 may the best, after all.} Bb7 10.Qa4 a6 {
c5 at once is the proper continuation.} 11.Bxd7 Nxd7 12.Bxe7
Qxe7 13.Qb3 { With the idea of preventing c5, but still better
would have been to castle.} Qd6 { Black could have played
c5. In the many complications arising from this move. I think,
Black would have come out all right.} 14.O-O Rfd8 15.Rfd1 Rab8
16.Ne1 { The object was to draw the Knight away from the line
of the Bishop, which would soon be open, as it actually
occurred in the game.} Nf6 17.Rc2 c5 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.Ne2 Ne4 {
All the attacks beginning either with Ng4 or d4 would have
failed.} 20.Qa3 Rbc8 21.Ng3 Nxg3 22.hxg3 Qb6 23.Rcd2 { Rdc1
would not have been better, because of the rejoinder d4, etc.}
h6 24.Nf3 d4 25.exd4 Bxf3 26.Qxf3 Rxd4 27.Rc2 Rxd1+ 28.Qxd1
Rd8 29.Qe2 Qd6 30.Kh2 Qd5 31.b3 Qf5 32.g4 Qg5 33.g3 Rd6 {
Unquestionably the best move; with any other move Black would,
perhaps, have found it impossible to draw.} 34.Kg2 g6 35.Qc4
Re6 36.Qxc5 Qxg4 37.f3 Qg5 38.Qxg5 hxg5 39.Kf2 Rd6 40.Ke3 Re6+
41.Kd4 Rd6+ 42.Ke3 { K-c5 was too risky. The way to win was
not at all clear and I even thought that with that move Black
might win.} Re6+ 43.Kf2 Rd6 44.g4 Rd1 45.Ke2 { Ke3 was the
right move. It was perhaps the only chance White had to win,
or at least come near it.} Ra1 46.Kd3 { Had the King been at
e3 he could go to d4, which would have gained a very important
move.} Kg7 47.b4 Rf1 { Best. Black, however, would have
accomplished nothing with this move, had the white King been
at d4.} 48.Ke3 { The remainder of the game needs no comments.}
Rb1 49.Rc6 Rxb4 50.Rxa6 Rb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lasker - Capablanca World Championship Match"]

[Site "Havana CUB"]
[Date "1921.03.17"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "2"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Emanuel Lasker"]
[Black "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "81"]
1.d4 {Notes by J.R. Capablanca} d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3
Nbd7 5.e3 { On general principles it is better to bring the
Queen�s Bishop out first.} Be7 6.Bd3 O-O 7.O-O dxc4 8.Bxc4 c5
9.Qe2 a6 10.Rd1 b5 11.Bd3 Bb7 12.e4 { Played in order to
develop the Queen�s Bishop and thereby condemning his whole
plan of development, since he could have done that before, as
indicated in the previous note, and the only reason he could
have had for playing e3 on the fifth move would have been to
develop this Bishop via b2.} cxd4 13.Nxd4 Ne5 14.Nb3 { The
combination beinning with Bxb5, followed by Nxe6, are wrong,
viz., 14 Bxb5 axb5; 15 Nxe6 fxe6; 16 Rxd8 Raxd8; 17 Qxby Nxe4,
and Black has a won game.} Nxd3 15.Rxd3 Qc7 16.e5 { White
could not play Bg5 because of the rejoinder, Nxe4.} Nd5 17.Rg3
Nxc3 18.Rxc3 Qd7 {It was my impression that, after this
move,Black had a very superior game. } 19.Rg3 Rfd8 20.Bh6 g6
21.Be3 Qd5 { This leads to the exchange of one of the two
Bishops, but it would be very difficult to find a better
move.} 22.Na5 Rac8 23.Nxb7 Qxb7 24.Bh6 Qd5 25.b3 Qd4 { It was
probably here where Black failed to make the best move.25�Bb4
was the better move.} 26.Rf1 Rd5 27.Re3 Ba3 {Bf8 was better,
as white could not very well afford to take the Bishop; he
would be compelled to play first Re4, to be followed later on
by Bf4.} 28.g3 Qb2 29.Re1 Rc2 {Qxe2 followed by Bb4 was the
proper course to follow.} 30.Qf3 Be7 {This was my thirtieth
move; I was very much pressed for time and I could not make
the necessary analysis to find out whether Bf8 would have been
a winning or losing move.If 30�Bf8 31.Bxf8 Kxf8 32. Qf6
Kg8. 33.h4 and Black would have a very difficult position to
defend.} 31.R3e2 Rxe2 {Qxa2 now would lose because of 32.Rxc2
Qxc2 33.Rc1 followed by Rc8+,etc.} 32.Rxe2 Qb1+ 33.Kg2 Bf8
34.Bf4 h6 35.h4 b4 36.Qe4 Qxe4+ 37.Rxe4 Kg7 38.Rc4 Bc5 39.Kf3
g5 40.hxg5 hxg5 41.Bxg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lasker - Capablanca World Championship Match"]

[Site "Havana CUB"]
[Date "1921.03.19"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "3"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[Black "Emanuel Lasker"]
[ECO "C66"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "125"]

1.e4 {Notes by J.R. Capablanca} e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5

d6 5.d4 Bd7 6.O-O Be7 7.Re1 exd4 8.Nxd4 O-O 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.Bg5
h6 11.Bh4 Re8 12.Qd3 Nh7 13.Bxe7 {An old move, generally
played by all the masters. I believe, however, that Bg3 is the
best continuation.} Rxe7 14.Re3 Qb8 15.b3 {Unnecessary at this
point, since Black cannot take the pawn.} Qb6 16.Rae1 Rae8
17.Nf3 Qa5 18.Qd2 Ng5 { A very good move which gives Black the
better position.} 19.Nxg5 hxg5 20.h3 Re5 21.Rd1 Bc8 22.Rd3 Qb6
23.Kh2 R8e6 24.Rg3 Rf6 25.Kg1 {f3 would have been answered by
Qc5.} Kf8 26.Na4 Qa5 27.Qxa5 Rxa5 28.Rc3 {Played under the
impression that Black would then have to defend the pawn by
Bd7 when would follow 29.Nc5 Be8 30.e5. Since Black could play
the text move, it would have been better for White to have
played 28.c4.} Bb7 29.f3 Re6 30.Rcd3 Ba6 31.Rd4 f6 32.Rc1 c5
33.Rd2 Bb5 34.Nc3 Bc6 35.a4 Ra6 36.Kf2 Rb6 37.Nd1 Kf7 {Of
course, if c4, Ne3.} 38.Ne3 Rb8 39.Rh1 Ree8 40.Rdd1 Rh8 41.g4
{ Of very doubtful value. It would have been better to play
Kg3, threatening h4.} Bd7 42.Nd5 Rb7 43.Kg3 Rh4 44.Rd3 Be6
45.c4 Rh8 46.Rc1 Ke8 47.Ne3 Kd7 48.Ng2 Rbb8 49.Re1 Kc6 50.Ne3
Rbe8 51.Rb1 Rh7 52.Rd2 Rb8 53.Rd3 Rbh8 54.Rh1 Kb6 55.Rh2 Kc6
{Black goes back with the king because he sees that it would
be impossible for him to go through with it on the queen�s
side, since as soon as the king goes to b4 White drives it
back by checking with the Knight at c2.} 56.Rh1 Rb8 57.Rh2 Rf8
58.Rh1 Kd7 59.Rh2 Bf7 60.Nf5 Rfh8 61.Ne3 Ke6 62.Nd5 Rc8 63.Ne3
{There is no way for Black to breakthrough.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lasker - Capablanca World Championship Match"]

[Site "Havana CUB"]
[Date "1921.03.23"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "4"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Emanuel Lasker"]
[Black "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[ECO "D61"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "59"]

1.d4 {Notes by J.R. Capablanca} d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7

5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.Qc2 c6 {c5 is the proper move.} 8.Bd3
{Castles on the Queen's side would have been a much more
energetic way of continuing, but probably White did not want
to take the risk of exposing himself to a Queen's side attack,
having then his King on that side of the board.} dxc4 9.Bxc4
Nd5 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.O-O Nxc3 12.bxc3 b6 13.Bd3 g6 14.a4 Bb7
15.a5 c5 16.Nd2 { This may not have been White's best
move. Yet it is extremely difficult to point out anything
better.} e5 {Probably the only move to save the game. It was
essential to break up White�s center and to create a weakness
in White's game that would compensate Black for his own
weakness on the Queen's side of the board.} 17.Be4 Bxe4
18.Qxe4 Rae8 19.axb6 axb6 20.Ra7 exd4 21.Qc6 {Qxe7 was
slightly better, but Black had, in that case, an adequate
defense.} Rd8 22.cxd4 cxd4 23.exd4 {Not 23.Ne4, because of
Nb8!} Qf6 24.Qxf6 Nxf6 25.Nf3 Nd5 26.Rb1 f6 27.Kf1 Rf7 28.Rba1
Rdd7 29.Rxd7 Rxd7 30.g3 {There was no reasonable motive to
continue such a game, as there was not very much to be done by
either player.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lasker - Capablanca World Championship Match"]

[Site "Havana CUB"]
[Date "1921.03.29"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "5"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[Black "Emanuel Lasker"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "91"]

1.d4 {Notes by J.R. Capablanca} d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Bg5

Nbd7 5.e3 Be7 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Rc1 b6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Qa4 c5
{Considered up to now the best answer for Black, but I believe
to have had the pleasure of finding over the board in this
game the one way to knock it out.} 10.Qc6 Rb8 11.Nxd5 Bb7
12.Nxe7+ Qxe7 13.Qa4 Rbc8 14.Qa3 {This move might be said to
be the key of White's whole plan. The main point was to be
able to play Ba6.} Qe6 15.Bxf6 {This exchange had to be made
before putting the plan into execution.} Qxf6 16.Ba6 Bxf3
{Dr. Lasker thought for over half an hour before deciding on
this continuation. It is not only the best, but it shows at
the same time the fine hand of the master. An ordinary player
would never have thought of giving up the exchange in order to
keep the initiative in this position, which was really the
only reasonable way in which he could hope to draw the game.}
17.Bxc8 Rxc8 18.gxf3 Qxf3 19.Rg1 Re8 20.Qd3 g6 21.Kf1 {The
play here was extremely difficult. I probably did not find the
best system of defense. I can not yet tell which was the best
defense here, but it is my believe that with the best play
White should win.} Re4 22.Qd1 Qh3+ 23.Rg2 Nf6 24.Kg1 cxd4
25.Rc4 {The move with which I counted upon to check Black�s
attack.} dxe3 26.Rxe4 Nxe4 27.Qd8+ Kg7 28.Qd4+ Nf6 29.fxe3 Qe6
30.Rf2 g5 31.h4 gxh4 {This was Lasker's sealed move. It was
not the best. His chance to draw was to play Kg6.Any other
continuation should lose.} 32.Qxh4 Ng4 33.Qg5+ Kf8 34.Rf5 {Not
the best. Rd2 would have won. The text move gives Black a
chance to draw the game.} h5 35.Qd8+ Kg7 36.Qg5+ Kf8 37.Qd8+
Kg7 38.Qg5+ Kf8 39.b3 Qd6 40.Qf4 Qd1+ 41.Qf1 Qd7 42.Rxh5 Nxe3
43.Qf3 Qd4 44.Qa8+ {Not the best.Kh1 offered better chances of
success.} Ke7 45.Qb7+ Kf8 {A blunder, which loses what would
otherwise have been a drawn game. It will be noticed that it
was Dr. Lasker's forty-fifth move. He had very little time to
think and, furthermore, by his own admission, he entirely
misjudged the value of the position, believing that he had
chances of winning, when, in fact, all he could hope for was a
draw.} 46.Qb8+ 1-0

[Event "Lasker - Capablanca World Championship Match"]

[Site "Havana CUB"]
[Date "1921.03.30"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "6"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Emanuel Lasker"]
[Black "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[ECO "C66"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "86"]

1.e4 {Notes by J. R. Capablanca} e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O

d6 5.d4 Bd7 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Re1 exd4 8.Nxd4 O-O 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.Bg5
Re8 11.Qd3 h6 12.Bh4 Nh7 13.Bxe7 Rxe7 14.Qc4 {Up to this point
the game was identical with the third. Here Lasker changed the
course of the game.} Qe8 15.Re2 {Re3 had also to be
considered.} Rb8 16.b3 c5 17.Nf3 Bb5 {Not the best.Ng5 was the
right move. The text move leaves Black with an exceedingly
difficult ending.} 18.Nxb5 Qxb5 19.Qxb5 Rxb5 20.Kf1 Ng5 21.Nd2
Ne6 {The maneuvers of this knight are ofmuch greaterimportance
than it might appear on the surface. It is essential to force
White to play c3 in order to weaken somewhat the defensive
strength of his queen�s knight�s pawn.} 22.c3 f6 23.Nc4 Nf4
{Again the moves of the knight have a definite meeting. The
student would do well to carefully study this ending.} 24.Re3
Ng6 25.Nd2 Rb8 26.g3 a5 27.a4 {It is now seen why Black had to
compel White to play c3. With the white pawn at c2 Black�s
game would be practically hopeless, since White�s b pawn would
not have to be protected by a piece, as is the case now.} Ne5
28.f4 Nd7 29.Ke2 Nb6 30.Kd3 c6 31.Rae1 Kf7 32.Nc4 {e5 would
have lead to a much more complicated and difficult ending, but
Black seems to have an adequate defense by simply playing
fxe5, followed by d5, when White retakes the pawn.} Nxc4
33.Kxc4 Re6 {This is the best move and not Ke6 which would be
met by Rd3.} 34.e5 fxe5 35.fxe5 d5 36.Kxc5 Rxb3 37.c4 {Not the
best, but at any rate the game would have been a draw. The
best move would have been Rf1+.} dxc4 38.Re4 {Probably the
only way to obtain a sure draw.} c3 39.Rc4 h5 40.Re3 Rb2
41.Rcxc3 Rxh2 42.Kb6 Rb2+ 43.Kxa5 g5 {There was not any object
for either player too attempt to win such a game.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lasker - Capablanca World Championship Match"]

[Site "Havana CUB"]
[Date "1921.04.02"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "7"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[Black "Emanuel Lasker"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "46"]

1.d4 {Notes by J. R. Capablanca} d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Bg5

Be7 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Rc1 c6 8.Qc2 c5 {this move is not to
be recommended.} 9.Rd1 {cxd5 would have been proper to
continue.} Qa5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.Bd3 Nf6 13.O-O
cxd4 14.Nxd4 {exd4 was the alternative. It would have left,
however, to a very difficult game where,in exchange for the
attack, White would remain with an isolated Queen�s Pawn;
leading at thi stage of the match by one point, I did not want
to take any risks.} Bd7 15.Ne4 Ned5 16.Nb3 Qd8 17.Nxf6+ Nxf6
18.Qc5 Qb6 {With this move Black neutralizes whatever little
advantage White might have had. The draw is now insight.}
19.Rc1 Rfc8 20.Qxb6 axb6 21.Rxc8+ Rxc8 22.Rc1 Rxc1+ 23.Nxc1
Kf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lasker - Capablanca World Championship Match"]

[Site "Havana CUB"]
[Date "1921.04.03"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "8"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Emanuel Lasker"]
[Black "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "60"]

1.d4 {Notes by J. R. Capablanca} d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.e3

{This allows Black to bring out the Queen�s Bishop without any
difficulty.} Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Qxd3 Nbd7 8.O-O Bd6
9.e4 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Qxe4 O-O 12.Bd2 Qf6 13.Rad1 Qg6
14.Qxg6 hxg6 15.Bc3 Rfd8 16.Rfe1 Bc7 17.Kf1 Nf8 18.Bd2 f6
19.h4 Kf7 20.g3 Nd7 21.Be3 Nb6 22.Rc1 Nc8 23.Re2 Ne7 {All
these maneuvers with the Knight are extremely difficult to
explain fully. The student would do well to carefully analyze
them. Black�s position might now be said to be unassailable.}
24.Rc3 a6 25.a4 Rab8 26.b4 b5 {Bd6 was better, as it gave
Black some slightly winning chances.} 27.cxb5 axb5 28.a5 Bd6
29.Rb3 Nd5 30.Bd2 Rdc8 {The game was given up for a draw,
because having analyzed the game during the twenty-four hour�s
interval, we both came to the conclusion that it was
impossible to win the game for either side.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lasker - Capablanca World Championship Match"]

[Site "Havana CUB"]
[Date "1921.04.06"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "9"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[Black "Emanuel Lasker"]
[ECO "D33"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "42"]

1.d4 {Notes by J. R. Capablanca} d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.cxd5

exd5 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be6 8.O-O Be7 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Bg5
d4 {I had never seen this variation before and I therefore
thought for a long time in order to make up my mind as to
whether I should play Bxf6 or Ne4. I finally decided upon the
latter move as the safest course.} 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6
13.Bxf6 Qxf6 {It is my position that this position is not good
for Black, though perhaps there may be no way to force a win.}
14.Qa4 O-O 15.Qb5 {Threatening not only the b Pawn, but also
Qg5, exchanging Queens.} Rab8 16.Rfd1 h6 17.Ne1 Rfe8 18.Rd2
{Bxc6 would only lead to a draw. Viz, 18.Bxc6 bxc6 19.Qxc6
Rec8 followed by Rxb2.} Bg4 19.Rc1 Re5 20.Qd3 {If Rc5 Qg5 with
a winning game.} Rbe8 21.Bf3 Bxf3 {Black could have tried to
keep up the attack by playing h5. The text move simplifies
matters and easily leads to a draw. 22.Nxf3 Re4 23.Rc4 Qe6
24.Nxd4 Nxd4} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lasker - Capablanca World Championship Match"]

[Site "Havana CUB"]
[Date "1921.04.08"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "10"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Emanuel Lasker"]
[Black "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[ECO "D61"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "136"]

1.d4 {Notes by J. R. Capablanca} d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5

Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.Qc2 c5 8.Rd1 Qa5 9.Bd3 h6 10.Bh4
cxd4 11.exd4 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nb6 13.Bb3 Bd7 14.O-O {The
development is now complete. White has a lone d Pawn, but, on
the otherhand, Black is somewhat hampered in the manoeuvering
of his pieces.} Rac8 15.Ne5 Bb5 {With this move and the
following, Black brings about an exchange of pieces, which
leaves him with a free game.} 16.Rfe1 Nbd5 17.Bxd5 Nxd5
18.Bxe7 Nxe7 19.Qb3 Bc6 {Not Ba6 because of Nd7, followed by
Nc5.} 20.Nxc6 bxc6 21.Re5 Qb6 22.Qc2 Rfd8 23.Ne2 {Probably
White's first mistake. He wants to take a good defensive
position, but he should instead have counter-attacked with Na4
and Rc5.} Rd5 24.Rxd5 cxd5 {Black has now the open file and
his left side Pawn position is very solid, while White has a
weak d-Pawn. The apparently weak Black a Pawn is not actually
weak because White has no way to attack it.} 25.Qd2 Nf5 26.b3
{In order to free the Queen from the defense of the b-Pawn and
also to prevent Rc4 at any stage.} h5 { In order to prevent g4
at a later stage. Also to make a demonstration on the king�s
side, prepatory to further operations on the other side.}
27.h3 {Weak, but White wants to be ready to play g4.} h4 {To
tie up White's King side. Later on it will be seen that White
is compelled to play g4 and thus further weaken his game.}
28.Qd3 Rc6 29.Kf1 g6 30.Qb1 Qb4 31.Kg1 {This was White's
sealed move. It was not the best move, but it is doubtful if
White has any good system of defense.} a5 32.Qb2 a4 {Now Black
exchanges the pawn and leaves White with a weak, isolated
b-Pawn, which will fall sooner or later.} 33.Qd2 Qxd2 34.Rxd2
axb3 35.axb3 Rb6 {In order to force Rd3 and thus prevent the
White rook from supporting his b-Pawn by Rb2 later on. It
means practically tying up the White rook to the defense of
his two weak pawns. } 36.Rd3 Ra6 37.g4 hxg3 38.fxg3 Ra2 39.Nc3
Rc2 40.Nd1 {The alternative Na4, was not any better. White�s
game is doomed. } Ne7 41.Ne3 Rc1+ 42.Kf2 Nc6 43.Nd1 Rb1 {Not
Nb4 because of 44. Rd2 Rb1 45. Nb2 Rxb2 46.Rxb2 Nd3+ 47.Ke2
Nxb2 48.Kd2, and Black could not win. } 44.Ke2 {Not a mistake,
but played deliberately. White had no way to protect his
b-Pawn.} Rxb3 45.Ke3 Rb4 46.Nc3 Ne7 47.Ne2 Nf5+ 48.Kf2 g5
49.g4 Nd6 50.Ng1 Ne4+ 51.Kf1 Rb1+ 52.Kg2 Rb2+ 53.Kf1 Rf2+
54.Ke1 Ra2 {All these moves have a meaning. The student should
carefully study them.} 55.Kf1 Kg7 56.Re3 Kg6 57.Rd3 f6 58.Re3
Kf7 59.Rd3 Ke7 60.Re3 Kd6 61.Rd3 Rf2+ 62.Ke1 Rg2 63.Kf1 Ra2
64.Re3 e5 {This was my sealed move and unquestionably the best
way to win.} 65.Rd3 {If 65.Ne2 Nd2+ 66.Kf2 e4 67.Rc3 Nf3
68.Ke3 Ne1 69.Kf2 Ng2. and White would be helpless. If 65.Nf3
Nd2+ exchanging knights wins.} exd4 66.Rxd4 Kc5 67.Rd1 d4
68.Rc1+ Kd5 {There is nothing left. The Black pawn will
advance and White will have to give up his Knight for it. This
is the finest win of the match and probably took away from
Dr. Lasker his last real hope of winning or drawing the
match.} 0-1

[Event "Lasker - Capablanca World Championship Match"]

[Site "Havana CUB"]
[Date "1921.04.13"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "11"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[Black "Emanuel Lasker"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "95"]

1.d4 {Notes by J. R. Capablanca} d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Bg5

Nbd7 5.e3 Be7 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Rc1 Re8 8.Qc2 c6 9.Bd3 dxc4 10.Bxc4
Nd5 11.Bxe7 Rxe7 12.O-O Nf8 13.Rfd1 Bd7 {I do not consider the
system adopted by Dr. Lasker in this game to be any good.}
14.e4 Nb6 {...Nxc3 would have simplified matters somewhat, but
it would have left Black in avery awkward position. The text
move, by driving back the bishop, gains time for the defense.}
15.Bf1 Rc8 16.b4 {To prevent c5, either now or a later
stage. There is no Black bishop and White�s whole plan is
based on that fact. He will attempt, in due time, to place a
knight on d6.} Be8 17.Qb3 {White might have played a4 at once,
but wanted at first to prevent the Black Queen from coming out
via d6 an f4.} Rec7 18.a4 Ng6 19.a5 Nd7 20.e5 b6 21.Ne4 Rb8
22.Qc3 {Qa3 at once was best. The text move gives Black a
chance to gain time.} Nf4 23.Nd6 Nd5 {Had the White Queen been
at a3 Black could not have gained this very important tempo.}
24.Qa3 f6 25.Nxe8 {This Bishop had to be taken, since it
threatened to go to h5, pinning the Knight.} Qxe8 26.exf6 gxf6
{To retake with either Knight would have left the e Pawn
extremely weak.} 27.b5 {With this move White gets rid of his
Queen's side Pawns.} Rbc8 28.bxc6 Rxc6 29.Rxc6 Rxc6 30.axb6
axb6 31.Re1 {Bb5 was better.} Qc8 32.Nd2 {This was my sealed
move and unquestionably the only move to keep the initiative.}
Nf8 {...Rc3 would have been met by Qa1.} 33.Ne4 {The White
Knight stands now in a very commanding position. Black's game
is far more difficult than appears at first glance and I
believe that the only good system of defense would have to be
based on ...f5, after ...h6, driving back the White Knight.}
Qd8 34.h4 Rc7 {This might be said to be the losing move. Black
had to play ...h6 in order to be ready to continue with ...f5,
forcing the White Knight to withdraw.} 35.Qb3 {White's plan
consists in getting rid of Black's powerfully posted Knight at
d5, which is the key to Black's defense.} Rg7 36.g3 Ra7 37.Bc4
Ra5 38.Nc3 Nxc3 39.Qxc3 Kf7 40.Qe3 Qd6 41.Qe4 Ra4 {Neither one
of us had very much time left at this stage of the
game. Black's alternative was ...Ra7, which would have been
met by d5, leaving Black with what in my opinion is a lost
position.} 42.Qb7+ Kg6 {If 42...Qe7 43.Qc6 wins.} 43.Qc8 Qb4
44.Rc1 Qe7 {Black's game was now hopeless; for instance
44...Qa3 (best) 45.Bd3+! f5 (best) 46.Qe8+ Kh6 47.Re1 Ra8
48.Rxe6+ Nxe6 49.Qxe6+ Kg7 50.Qe5+, etc. In practically all
the other variations the check with the Bishop at d3 wins.}
45.Bd3+ Kh6 {..f5 would have prolonged the game a few moves
only. 46.Rc7 would always win.} 46.Rc7 Ra1+ 47.Kg2 Qd6
48.Qxf8+ 1-0

[Event "Lasker - Capablanca World Championship Match"]

[Site "Havana CUB"]
[Date "1921.04.16"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "12"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Emanuel Lasker"]
[Black "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[ECO "C66"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "61"]

1.e4 {Notes by J. R. Capablanca.} e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O

d6 5.d4 Bd7 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Re1 exd4 8.Nxd4 O-O 9.Bf1 Re8 10.f3
Bf8 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 g6 13.Nd5 Bg7 {I cannot very highly
recommend the system of defense adopted by me in this
variation.} 14.Nb5 {The combinations beginning with this move
are all wrong. White's proper move was simply to hold the
position by playing c3. After the text move, Black should get
the better game.} g5 15.Ndxc7 {If 15.Bf2, Nxd5 would give
Black the better game. The combination indulged in by White is
good only in appearence.} gxh4 16.Nxa8 Qxa8 17.Nc7 Qd8 18.Nxe8
Nxe8 19.Rb1 Be6 20.c3 Bxa2 {A mistake. Black had here a won
game by playing Be5. The question of time at this point was
not properly appreciated by Black, who went in to recover a
Pawn, which was of no impotance whatever. Worse yet, the
capture of the Pawn only helped White.} 21.Ra1 Be6 22.Qd2 a6
{h3 was better. After the text move Black has an extremely
difficult game to play.} 23.Qf2 h5 {Qg5 would have given Black
better chances to win. After the text move there is nothing
better than a draw.} 24.f4 Bh6 25.Be2 Nf6 26.Qxh4 Nxe4
27.Qxd8+ Nxd8 28.Bxa6 d5 29.Be2 Bxf4 30.Bxh5 Bc7 31.Rad1
{Having had twenty-four hours to consider the position, we
both came to the conclusion that there was nothing in it but a
draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lasker - Capablanca World Championship Match"]

[Site "Havana CUB"]
[Date "1921.04.19"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "13"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[Black "Emanuel Lasker"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "46"]

1.d4 {Notes by J. R. Capablanca} d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Bg5

Be7 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Rc1 Re8 8.Qc2 h6 9.Bh4 c5 10.cxd5
Nxd5 11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.dxc5 Nxc5 13.Bb5 {Not best. b4 was more
energetic and perfectly safe.} Bd7 14.O-O Qb6 15.Bxd7 Nxd7
16.Rfd1 Red8 17.h3 {Loss of time. Qa4 at once was the proper
move.} Rac8 18.Qa4 Nc6 19.Qb5 a6 20.Qxb6 Nxb6 21.Rxd8+ Nxd8
22.Ne2 Kf8 23.Rxc8 Nxc8 {Not much of a game. With three points
to the good I took matters to easy. My opponent, having the
Black pieces, could not have been expected to do much.}
1/2-1/2
[Event "Lasker - Capablanca World Championship Match"]
[Site "Havana CUB"]
[Date "1921.04.20"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "14"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Emanuel Lasker"]
[Black "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[ECO "C66"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "112"]

1.e4 {Notes by J.R. Capablanca} e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O

d6 5.d4 Bd7 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Bxc6 Bxc6 8.Qd3 exd4 9.Nxd4 Bd7 10.Bg5
O-O 11.Rae1 h6 12.Bh4 Nh7 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Nd5 Qd8 15.c4 {White
has now a powerful position and Black has to play with extreme
care in order to avoid drifting into a hopeless position.} Re8
16.f4 c6 {This weakens the queen's pawn, but something had to
be done to obtain manouvering space for the White
pieces. Besides, with the advance of the f-Pawn, White's
king's pawn becomes also weak, which is somewhat of a
compensation.} 17.Nc3 Qb6 18.b3 Rad8 {Unnecessary. Re7 was the
proper move.} 19.Kh1 Nf6 20.h3 Bc8 21.Rd1 {This is waste of
time. In order to obain an advantage, White will have to make
an attack on the king's side, since Black's queen's pawn,
though weak, cannot be won through a direct attack against
it.} Re7 22.Rfe1 Rde8 23.Re2 Qa5 24.Rf1 Qh5 25.Kg1 a6 26.Rff2
Qg6 27.Rf3 {If 27.Nf5 Bxf5 28.exf5 Qh5 29.Rxe7 Rxe7 and Black
has a good game.} Qh5 28.f5 {Of doutbful value. While it shuts
off the bishop, it weakens furthermore the king's pawn and
also creates a hole on e5 for Black's pieces. The position at
first glance, looks very much in favor of White, but careful
analysis will show that is much more apparent than true.} Qh4
29.Kh2 {A blunder, made under time pressure combined with
difficulties attached to the position.} Ng4+ 30.Kh1 Ne5 31.Qd2
Nxf3 32.Nxf3 Qf6 {Qg3 was dangerous and might lead to the loss
of some material} 33.a4 {To prevent b5. There are a number of
variations where White would regain the quality in exchange
for a pawn had he played 33. g4, to be followed by e5 and
Ne4,but the resulting ending would be so much in favor of
Black that the course pursued by White may be considered the
best.} g6 34.fxg6 fxg6 35.Re3 Bf5 36.Qd3 {There were some very
interesting variations beginning with 36.Rd3, viz.,36...Bxe4
37.Rxd6 Qg7 38.Nh4 Bf5 39.Nxf5 gxf5 40.Rxh6 Re1+ 41.Kh2 Qe5+
42.g3 Qxc3, and White is lost.} g5 37.Nd2 Bg6 38.b4 {White's
idea is to change as many pawns as possible, hoping to reach
an ending where the advantage of the exchange may not be
sufficient to win.} Qe6 39.b5 axb5 40.axb5 Ra8 41.Qb1 Qe5
42.Qe1 Kh7 43.bxc6 bxc6 44.Qg3 Qxg3 45.Rxg3 Ra3 46.Kh2 Rb7
47.c5 {Forced, as Rb2, winning a piece, was threatened.} dxc5
48.Nc4 Ra1 49.Ne5 Rc1 {The moves of this rook are worth
studying. I believe that Black had no better way to play.}
50.h4 {This brings the game to a climax, for which Black is
now ready.} Re7 51.Nxc6 Re6 52.Nd8 gxh4 53.Rd3 Rf6 {The key to
Black's defence. The holding of the KB file.} 54.Rd7+ Kh8
55.Nd5 Rff1 56.Kh3 Bxe4 0-1