The Unknown
Capablanca
David Hooper, Dale Brandreth

't,\

R.H.M. PRESS • a division ofRHM Associates ofDelaware, Inc.

In an almost unique research task the
authors have unearthed 203 of
Capablanca's games, only a few of
which have been previously published.
Many of these games compare well with
Capablanca's better known masterpieces
and they are all characterized by the
lucid style and profound understanding
of the game for which he is so famous.
All the available games from
Capablanca's youth are included in this
collection. Perhaps the most astounding
are those from his match victory against
Corzo which gained him the title of
Cuban Champion at the age of twelve.
There is a complete record of his

tournament and match career and of his
many exhibition tours of the United
States and Europe. A selection of Capa's
finest exhibition games adds further
testimony to his genius.
David Hooper was a British
international during the 1950s. He is the
author of several chess books and the
world's leading authority on Capablanca.
Dale Brandreth is well known in the
USA as a chess bibliophile, author and
publisher.
208 pages.
r 50 diagrams.

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Sidney Fried PUBLISHER.

ISBN 0-89058-008-1

The Unknown
Capablanca
Dale Brandreth, David Hooper

R.H.M. Press New York

First published in 1 973 in the USSR
English translation© B. T. Batsford Ltd, 1 975
LCCN 75-1653
ISBN 0--89058-206-8 hardback
ISBN 0-89058-207-3 paper
Printed and bound in Great Britain
R.H.M. Press
220 Fifth Avenue
New York
N.Y. 10001

Abbreviations

+
?

!?
!!

1-0

t-!

Check
Good move
Bad move
I nteresting move
Excellent move
Black resigned
Draw agreed

White resigned
by the side of a diagran
indicates which side is ti
move
In the text, a number in bracke t
refers to the corresponding diagrarr
number.
0- 1
Wor B

Contents

Abbreviations
Preface
1
2

3

4

5

6

7

Acknowledgements

The Tour of Europe
Match and Exhibition Games
Consultation Games
Simultaneous Games with Clocks
Casual and Other Games

The Corzo Match

Simultaneous Games
Studies

The Chess Record of Capablanca

Tournaments
Team Events
Individual Matches
Exhibition Games
Consultation Games
Simultaneous Displays with Clocks
Simultaneous Displays
Index of Players
Index of Openings
Index of Endgames
Index of Sources

11

iv
v

1

32

69

89

JOO

116

141

168
169

170

172

174
175

177
179

180

195

197

198

199

Preface

During the quarter of a century from 1 9 1 1 to 1 936 Capablanca was one of the
world 's best two grandmasters of chess, at one time standing on a pinnacle 01
his own.
Books about him mostly contain games from his great matches and tourna·
ments. In these events alone he created so many fine games that authors have
not found it necessary to look further afield; yet from his lesser matches, hi!
exhibition play, and other sources there are examples of his genius which bea1
favourable comparison with his most famous games. It is from these almosl
unknown events that we have collected about six hundred games, from which
the contents of this book have been selected.
Within the limits of what we could find we decided to publish all his seriom
games, and these are in the first three chapters. Only one loss is published
because there was only one.
At first we were anxious to publish all of these ninety games as a tribute to
the greatest natural genius known to the chess world, but no such justification
is needed. There is, perhaps, no other master whose every game could so well
stand the limelight.
We also decided to include all the games that we could find that
Capablanca played in the first twenty years of his life, and most of these games
are in chapter six.
For the rest, we have made a selection. Tables at the end of the book list
his achievements, few of which have been bettered.

..

Dale Brandreth
Hockessin, De. USA
David Hooper
Whitchurch, Hants. England
August 1974

Acknowledgements

Much of our success in being able to
find the simultaneous exhibition
records and some 600 games - from
which we have culled those we think
the best - is due to the devoted help
we had from a small army of people
who are cited here. It is not possible
to measure and indicate the relative
efforts of each, but the authors express
their heartfelt thanks to all these
named as well as others who may have
inadvertently
or
through
our
ignorance been left out.
Fred W. Allen, London ; John
Anderson, Milwaukee ; Peter Ander­
son, Glasgow ; Ruth M. Anderson,
Toledo ; A. F. Arguelles, Barcelona;
Francisco Prieto Azuar, Puerto Rico ;
In eke Bakker, Amsterdam ; Jam es J.
Barrett, Buffalo ; Lee T. Battes,
Albany, N. Y. ; Arne Berggren , Gote­
borg ; F. P. Bohatirchuk, Ottawa ;
Abel Bomberault, Pittsburgh ; Alice
Bonnell, New York ; Robert A. Boone,
Columbus, Ohio ; Geoffrey Brace,
Ann Arbor, Mich. ; John Bradlee,
Glenelg East, Australia ; Curt Brasket,
Minneapolis ; Reginald J. Broadbent,
Forest Row, England ; William R.
Bundick,
Timon ium,
Md. ; A.
Buschke, New York ; Bernard Cafferty,
Birmingham, England ; Olga Capa­
blanca, New York ; Sergio Casta­
�liola, Santiago, Chile ; Ricardo

..

Alvarez Cela, Irun, Spain ; Irving
Chernev, San Francisco ; Peter H.
Clarke, Bude, England ; Sir Richard
Clarke, London ; John W. Collins,
New York ; W. H. Cozens, Ilminster,
England ; Edward M. Dieter, St.
Paul, Minn. ; William Donovan,
Chicago ; B. G. Dudley, Coraopolis,
Pa. ; Peter Duncan, Paterson, N.J. ;
The Honorable Pierre S. Du Pont,
Wilmington, Del. ; Robert Erkes,
Baltimore, Md. ; H. Keith Erickson,
Cedar Rapids, Ia. ; Max Euwe,
Amsterdam ; Maurice Fox, Mon !real ;
Samuel Fulkerson, Louisville, Ky. ;
Tormod Fyri, Oslo ; Jeremy Gaige,
Philadelphia ;James E. Gates, Colum­
bus, Ga. ; Stanislaw Gawlikowski ,
Warsaw ; Jose A. Gelabert, Havana ;
Walter Goldwater, New York ; San­
ford Greene, New York ; T. D.
Harding, London ; Burt Hochberg,
New York ; John F. Hurt, Memphis,
Tenn. ; Hans Hille, Kiel; Robert
Jamieson , Mt. Waverley, Australia ;
Louis A. Kish, Detroit ; George
Koltanowski, San Francisco ; J. G.
Kramer, Egypt, Pa. ; K. W. Kruijs­
wijk, The Hague ; Luiz Kubinsky,
Sao Paulo ; Milciades A. Lachaga,
Mar tinez, Argentina ; Peter Lahde,
Nashville, Tenn. ; Edward Lasker,
New York ; Gregorio J. Lastra,
Buenos Aires ; David Lawson, Brook-

vi

Acknowledgements

lyn; Alfredo Lejarza, Mexico City;
David Levy, London; John Leite),
Dubuque, Iowa; Paul H. Little,
Chicago; Andrew M. Lockett, New
Orleans; Harold Lommer, Valencia,
Spain; Alice N. Loranth, Cleveland;
Robert Long, Davenport, Ia.; George
Mauer, Buffalo; David Moeser, Cin­
cinatti; Gordon F. Morey, Indiana­
polis; Pablo Moran, Gijon, Spain;
D. ]. Morgan, Aberystwyth, Wales;
Moe Moss, Montreal; Andre Muf­
fang, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France; Ross
Nickel, Philadelphia; Hartvig Niel­
sen, Copenhagen; Ted. W Pathakis,
., City; Glen Petersen,
Salt Lake
Piscataway, N.J. ; Jose Pazos, Wil­
mington, Del.; Stephen A. Popel,
Fargo, N. Dakota; Luiz Quintanilha,
Sao Paulo; L. Raine, Bradford,
England; H . .J. Ralston, San Fran­
cisco; Brian Reilly, Hastings; Herbert
E. Rolls, Asnieres-sur-Seine, France;
I. Romanov, Moscow; Brenda Rose,
San Francisco; John Raycroft, Lon­
don; Franklin F. Russell, Englewood,
N.J.; William A. Ruth, Collingwood,
N.J.; Alcides R. Santos, Sao Paulo;
Jaroslav Sajtar, Prague; Lothar
Schmid, Bamberg, W. Germany;
Walter Penn Shipley, Jr., Philadel­
phia; Luiz Tavares da Silva, Recife;
Robert Sinnott, Norwell, Mass.;
Frank Skoff , Chicago; David Snel­
grove, Toronto; John B. Snethlage,

East Chatham, N.Y.; Donald D.
Snoddy, Lincoln, Neb.; Jack Spence,
Omaha; Jordan Spencer, New York;
Egon Spitzenberger, Vienna; Edward
G. Stapleton, Sarasota, Fla.; Mary
Kathleen Stroh, Columbia, Mo. ; Jane
Tarr, Taunton, England; George
S. Thomas, Olney, Md.; Alma
Vaughan, Columbia, Mo.; Erhard
Voll, Essen, W. Germany; V.
Vukovich, Zagreb, Yugoslavia; Paul
L. Webb, Phoenix, Ariz.; W. N.
Wells, San Antonio; Norman T.
Whitaker, Washington, D.C.; Sandy
Whiteley, New Haven, Conn.;
Kenneth Whyld, London; Baruch H.
Wood, Sutton Coldfield, England;
Louis]. Wolff, New York; Martha E.
Wright, Indianapolis.
And we also wish to express our
appreciation to the following libraries :
The Library of Congress, Washing­
ton, D.C.; The New York Public
Library; Wilmington Institute Li­
brary; Cleveland Public Library; The
Royal Dutch Library, The Hague;
The Free Library of Philadelphia;
Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore ;
Yale University Library; The San
Diego Public Library; University of
Delaware Library; University of
California Library, Berkeley; Univer­
sity of Pennsylvania Library; British
Museum Newspaper Library.

The Tour of Europe

In September 1 9 13 Capablanca was
attached to the Cuban Foreign Office ;
his mission was to visit the capitals of
Europe and, by his fame at chess, to
put Cuba on the map. From October
19 13 to March 19 14 he went to
London, Paris, Berlin , \Varsaw, Riga,
Leningrad, Moscow, Kiev, and
Vienna. In these and other cities he
demonstrated his astonishing skill at
simultaneous chess - always with a
record crowd of spectators - and he
played twenty-four serious games
against some of the best masters of
Europe : Alekhine, Bernstein, Bogol­
jubow, Bogatirchuk, Levenfish, Duz
Hotimirsky, Mieses, Nimzowitsch,
Reti, Salwe, Tartakower, and others.
He scored 1 9 + 1- 4=,or87.5%,
an outstanding result by any stan­
dards.
There had never been such an
event before, and there will probably
never be such an event again. Well
turned out, immaculately dressed,
handsome, young, and with access to
the embassies of Europe, he must
have been the envy of the ill-dressed
and impecunious chess professionals
of the old world. Moreover, he beat
them. He met all the best people,
says Lasker ; he was the darling of the
ladies, says Alekhine. Had the Cuban
Government spent one hundred times

his salary on an advertising campaign
the result could not have been better.
The twenty-four games are here,
and most of them are masterpieces.
They were played in his prime, a
part of which was stolen from him
by the war years which followed.
Sixteen of the games were played
in two-game matches, some, perhaps
all, for stakes ; and if they were
taken into account by those who
indulge in retro-grading then the
evidence
might
well
support
Alekhine's opinion that, at the time,
Capablanca was already playing as
well as Lasker - or perhaps better.
Capablanca also played privately
against a few masters. In Moscow he•
won a consultation game against
Alexei Alekhine (the elder brother of
the great Alexander, and editor of
Shakmatny Vestnik) and L. I. Estrin
(related to but not to be confused
with Y. B. Estrin, the chess author)
on 7 February 1 9 14 ; in Kiev he won
against Bogoljubow and drew against
Bogatirchuk in games played at
thirty moves an hour, in the apart­
ment of Baron Engelhardt; and he
lost a game against Aurbach of Paris,
a master who later gave up chess and
sunk to playing bridge. Only the last
one of these games has been found see chapter five.

2

The Tour of Europe

1 JRC
A. Aurbach
Cafe de la Regence, Paris, 24 October
1913
-

These players had met over the board
the day before, in the apartment of
L. Tauber, a patron of the game.
Capablanca had lost; in this exhibi­
tion game he seeks, and gets, his
revenge.
1 P-Q4
P-Q4
2 N-KB3
P-QB4
3 P-K3
N-QB3
4 N l-Q2
PxP
5 PxP
B-N5
6 P-B3
P-K3
7 Q-R4
Capablanca tries to liven up the
game at the risk of some insecurity of
position, rather an unusual decision
for him at such an early stage.
7...
B-Q3
BxN
8 N-K5
B-B4
9 PxB
N l- K2
IO N-B3
1 1 B-K3
0-0
R-K l
1 2 B-B5
1 3 R-Ql
P-QR3 !
If now 14 P-B4 P-QN4 !
14 B-Q3
White puts an extra guard on his
KP, but he must concede the
exchange of his better bishop
BxB
14 . . .
15 R x B
N-N3
R-QB I
1 6 R-K3
Black has defended well, and now
threatens N x P.
1 7 P-QN4 (J)
An awkward move, but better than
the passive B-Q4.
17 . . .
Q-B2
Aurbach poignantly describes an
all too familiar situation : 'Black has

acquired a slight advantage . . . but
in seeking to reap full benefit there­
from he gives himself up to the con­
templation of possibilities . . . and he
is lost in the many intricacies he has
conjured up.'
Either 17 . . . N-R5 or 1 7 . . .
P-QN3 would be quite satisfactory
for Black.
18 B-Q6
Q-N3
1 9 0-0
P-Q5 ?
As conjured, but it merely loses a
pawn.
20 B-B5
Q-B2
21 P x P
N-B5
22 N-N5
Q-QI !
Black recovers well; now White's
intended N x BP would be unsound,
and the knight retreats with loss of
time.
23 N-B3
N-K2
24 P-N5
N-B4
25 P x P
Some action is necessary, for
Black's knights are becoming very
active.
25 . . .
P-QN3
26 B-Q6
NxB
Black rejects 26 . . . N x R, but it
might offer better drawing chances,
e.g. 27 P x N N-Q4 28 P-R7 N x P
29 B-N8 R x B.
27 P x N
Qx P

The Tour of Europe

28Q-R3
28 R-Nl would be more precise.
28...
Q-B3!
29R-Nl

From here Capablanca plays very
well to the end of the game. Soon he
makes one of his exchanging com­
binations leading to a favourable end­
game.
29...
30 R3-N3
31 RxP
32 Q-N3
33 P-QR4
34 P-RS!
35 R-N8+
36 QxR+
37 RxQ+

R-Rl
P-QN4
RxP
P-R3
RI-RI
Q-B2
RxR
QxQ
K-R2

On account of his isolated pawns
White has some technical problems
which, ofcourse, he solves impeccably.
38P-N3
39R-NS

N-Q4

N-B6
40 R-BS
N-R5
41 R-KS
N-B6
Black threatens 42 ... N-Q4. The
alternative would be 41 ... P-B3
42 R-Kl RxP 43 RxP.
42 N-Q2
P-B3
N-N4
43 R-K3
If 43 ... N-Q4 44 R-R3
R-Q3
44 N-N3
K-N3
45 K-Bl

Or 45 ... Nx P 46 Nx N R xN
47 R-R3. With the rook behind the
passed QRP one normally wins such
positions when the pawn is on the 5th
rank, but not always when the pawn
is stopped on the 4th rank ; thus the
importance of White's 34th move.
46 K-K2
47 P-B3!
48NxN+
49P-N4+ !

K-B4
NxP+
RxN
K-N4

3

50R-R3
51 P-R6

R-Ql
K-R5

52 P-R7
53 K-B2
54 R-R5

R-QRl
P-K4
K-N4

White wins by advancing his
king - to QN7 if necessary ; but he
must prevent counter-attack on the
king's side, e.g. 54 ...K-R6 55 K-N1
K-RS 56 K-N2 P-R4 57 PxP
KxP 58P-B4 K-NS 59 P x P PxP
60 R-R4+ K-B4 61 K-B3 P-KS+
62 K-K3 K-NS 63 KxP K-R6
64 R-R2 P-N4
66 R-R3 +.
55 K-K3

65 K-BS P-NS
1-0

2 R. Teichmann - JRC
Berlin, 15 November 1913
1st match game
This is the first of a series of two-game
matches against the grandmasters and
masters of Europe. Teichmann, the
winner of the Carlsbad Tournament
in 1911, was one of Capablanca's
strongest opponents.
1 P-K4
2 N-KB3
3 B-N5
4 B-R4
5 0-0
6 B-N3
7 R-Kl
8P-B3
9P-Q3

JO B-B2

II Nl-Q2

P-K4
N-QB3
P-QR3
N-B3
P-QN4
B-K2
P-Q3
0-0
N-QR4
P-B4
N-B3

12 P-QR4

Inappropriate here; Instead White
should play 12 N-Bl B-K3 13 N-K3
with fair prospects.
12 ...
13 N-Bl

B-K3

4

The Tour of Europe

According to Lasker 1 3 P x P would
be correct.
P-N5 !
13 . . .
R-Nl
14 B-- N5
1 5 P-Q4 ?
Black threatens P-N6 and White
wants to make a place for his KB at
Q3, but he overlooks that his centre
will come under severe pressure.
Instead he could play 1 5 P-KR3,
after which the advance of the QP
would be feasible.
BP x P
15 . . .
B--N5 !
16 P x QP
1 7 B-- K3
Lasker commends 1 7 P x P B x N
18 P x B P x P 1 9 P-B4 but Black
would still have the advantage on
account of White's ragged pawns.
17 . . .
PxP
N-Q2 !
18B x P
Capablanca could play P-N6 at
once, but he prefers to create addi­
tional threats.
1 9 N-K3
Or 1 9 B--N3 B x N 20 P x B N x B
2 1 Qx N B-B3 ! with advantage.
BxN
19 . . .
20 P x B
P-N6
2 1 B--N l
Nx B
B-- B3
22 Qx N
N-K4
23 Q-Q2
24 Q-K2
N-N3
25 N-Q5
B-- K4
26 P-B4
Sooner or later White must give up
this pawn in order to defend his king.
26 . . .
N x P!
Black
intentionally
concedes
bishops of opposite colour. He gets
rid of the dominating White knight
and his bishop will prevent White
from opposing rooks on the open file.
BxN
27 N x N

P-QR4
28 B-- Q3
Characteristically Capablanca eli­
minates counter-play before launch­
ing his attack . However, 28 . . . Q-R5
would be more incisive.
29 B--B4 (2)
White wants to get his bishop to its
best square, Q5. I nstead he could
offer more resistance by 29 Q-N4,
although Black would still win by
bringing his rooks into play as in the
game.

Q-R5
29 . . .
30 P-B3
KR-Bl
3 1 B-Q3
Not 3 1 B-- Q5 R-B7.
31 . . .
R-B4 !
32 R-KB l
R l -QBI
33 Q-KB2
Q-R3
34 R/B l-KI
R-KN4 +
35 K-R l
R-R4
R x P+
36 R-K2
0-1
If 37 Qx R B x Q
38 R x B
R-B8+ . A fine attacking finish.
3 JRC Jacques Mieses
Berlin, 1 7 November 1 9 1 3
!st match game
-

I P-Q4
2 N-KB3

N-KB3
P-B4

The Tour of Europe
P-Q3
3 P-Q5
P-KN3
4 P-B4
B-N2
5 N-B3
0--0
6 P-K4
P-K3
7 B-K2
This would have been good at an
earlier stage. Now 7 . . . P-K4 might
be better.
PxP
8 0-0
N-K I ?
9 KP x P
Black should develop, 9 . . . N-R3.
10 R-KI
B-N5
B x N?
1 1 N-KN5 !
Played with appalling lack ofjudg­
ment. Black leaves holes all over his
king's side in order to double some
pawns which he is not able to attack.
12 P x B
BxB
1 3 Qx B
N-N2
1 4 N-K4
White commences a king's side
attack which he carries in fine style.
If now 14 . . . R-Kl
15 B-N5
winning the exchange.
14 . . .
P-B3
N-Kl
1 5 B-B4
1 6 B-R6
N-N2
This rocking-horse goes to and fro,
but if 16 . . . R-B2 1 7 N-N5 !
N-R3
1 7 QR-QI
P-B4
18 R-Q3
If 18 . . . R-KI 1 9 R-K3, tripling
on the open file.
N-B2
19 N-N5
Qx Q
20 Q-K7 !
If 20 . . . N/B2-Kl 2 1 Qx R + !
N/B2-K l
21 R x Q
P-B5
22 R-R3
NxB
23 B x N
N-B4
24 R x RP
25 R--K6 (3)
R/B l -KI
25 . . .
Black has had enough, and he
decides to put his head on the block.

5

He is naturally reluctant to play
25 . . . N-N2 for the fourth time,
after which White would win the
exchange by a pretty combination :
26 R x NP R-B2 ! 27 N x R K x R
28 R-R6 + ! K-N l 29 R-R8 + !
26 R x NP+
K-B I
27 R-KB7 mate.
4 Jacques Mieses - JRC
Berlin, 18 and 19 November 1 9 1 3
2nd and last match game
I P-K4
P-K4
2 P-Q4
PxP
3 Qx P
N-QB3
4 Q-K3
N-B3
5 N-QB3
B-N5
6 B-Q2
0-0
7 0-0-0
R-KI
8 Q-N3
White gives up a pawn in the hope
of gaining a king's side attack.
8...
NxP
9 NxN
RxN
IO B-KB4
Q-B3 !
I I N-R3
If 1 1 B x P P-Q3, cutting off the
bishop.
11 . . .
P-Q3
1 2 B-Q3
N-Q5 !
1 3 B-K3 ! (4)
B-N5 ?
13 . . .

6

The Tour of Europe

4
B

Black overlooks the fine combina­
tion which follows. He afterwards
suggested 1 3 . . . R-N5 14 B x N
R x B 1 5 P-QB3 B x P 16 P x B
R-KN5 1 7 Q-K3 Qx P + 1 8 B-B2
Qx Q 1 9 P x Q R x P 20 N-B4
R-B7 ! with a very favourable end­
game.
13 . . . N-B4 would also be sound.
1 4 N-N5 !
RxB
N-K7 +
15 Qx B
16 B x N
RxB
1 7 N-K4 !
RxN
1 8 Qx R
Q-N4 +
Q-N4
1 9 P-KB4
B-B4
20 P-B3
Q-B3 !
21 KR-K l
Good psychology ! Black offers an
endgame, a phase which Mieses does
not care for; and, indeed, he would
have a hard task against the maestro
who, having a pawn for the exchange,
is at no great material disadvantage.
22 R-Q5
Q-Q2
23 P-B5
Typically Mieses continues to seek
a king's side attack, a quite mistaken
idea. Here, for instance, he could play
23 Q-K7 !
'From this moment until the end,'
writes Tarrasch, 'Capablanca's play
is perfection itself.'
P-QB3
23 . . .

P-Q4
24 R-Q2
25 Q-B3 (5)
After this White no longer has any
winning chances. For better or worse
25 P-B6 should be tried.

B-K2 !
25 . . .
Black avoids the blocking P-KB3
and gets his bishop on the long
diagonal.
B-B3
26 R2-K2
27 Q-R5
P-KR3
28 P-KN4
K-R2 !
Black's neat combination makes an
end of White's attack, for if29 P-KR4
P-KN3 ! winning a piece. Now Black
gets going with his queen's side
majority, opening up the diagonal for
his bishop.
29 K-N l
R-Ql
P-B4 !
30 R-QI
Black weakens his QP but defends
it by ingenious tactics.
Q-R5
3 1 Q-R3
Q-K5 +
32 R2-Q2
33 K-R I
P-QN4
Q-R5 !
34 Q-N2
If now 35 R x P Black would mate
in two.
P-N5
35 K-N l
36 P x P ?
White should play 36 P-B4, his
last drawing chance.

The Tour of Europe
Qx NP
36 . . .
37 P-QR3
If 37 R x P R x R 38 R x R B x P !
39 Qx B Q-KS + .
Q-RS
37 . . .
38 R x P
R-QN l
P-BS
39 R l -Q2
R -N6
40 Q-N3
P-B6
4 1 Q-Q6
PxP
42 R-QB2
Q-KS !
43 R-Q3
R-QB6 !
44 R-Ql
0-1
5 JRC - R. Teichmann
Berlin, 20 November 19 1 3
2nd and last match game
A fine positional game, faultlessly
played throughout.
P-Q4
1 P-Q4
2 N-KB3
N-KB3
3 P-B4
P-K3
B-K2
4 B-N5
N l -Q2
5 N-B3
0-0
6 P-K3
P-QN3
7 R-B l
8 Px P
PxP
9 B--NS !
The old move was 9 B--Q3 with a
king's side attack in view . The
fashionable move in 1 9 1 3 was 9 Q-R4
with positional intentions : to exploit
the hanging pawns which are likely
to come into being, and perhaps to
exchange bishops on QR6.
Capablanca introduces a new move
also aimed against the hanging pawns,
whose defence may be jeopardized by
the move B/QNS x N/Q7.
This new move, which most
authorities still consider best, also
induces Black to advance, and per­
haps to weaken, his queen's side

7

pawns.
9...
B-- N2
10 0-0
P-QR3
R-B l
11 B-QR4
If 1 1 . . . P-B4 1 2 P x P P x P 1 3
B/R4 x N Q x B 1 4 N-QR4 !
12 Q-K2
P-B4
13 P x P
NxP
Whether Black plays this move
leaving himself an isolated QP, or
13 . . . P x P leaving himself with
hanging pawns, he should seek
chances in the middlegame whilst
White should seek chances in the
endgame. Capablanca therefore per­
mits the exchange of his bishop at
QR4, to the surprise of his opponent.
1 4 KR-Ql
NxB
1 4 . . . P-N4 1 5 B--B2 P-NS should
be tried.
P-N4
15 N x N
Qx R
16 R x R
Q-BS
1 7 N-B3
Black does his opponent's work,
mistakenly supposing that his two
bishops will give him good endgame
prospects. 1 7 . . . P-NS would offer
better chances.
Qx Q
18 N-Q4
1 9 N3 x Q ( 6)
6
R

It is possible that Black already has
a lost game. That such judgments

8

The Tour of Europe

were harder to make then than now
shows how technique has since
• ; and much of the pioneer
advanced
work was done by Capablanca.
R-B l
19 . . .
Or 19 . . . P-N3 20 R-QB l R-Bl
2 1 R x R + B x R 22 N-B6 K-B l
23 N x B.
20 N-BS !
K-B l
If 20 . . . B-QI 2 1 N-Q6 R-B2
22 N x B R x N 23 N-B4 �K2 24
N x P N x N 2S B x B.
21 NxB
KxN
22 N-Q4
P-N3
23 P-B3
P-R3
Otherwise the pin cannot be
relieved, and White would move his
king or a pawn to KS.
N-Q2
24 B x P
2S P-KR4 !
A far-sighted move, preparing to
mobilize the king's side pawn majority
and to strengthen the dark-coloured
squares so that the king may later
advance.
2S . . .
N-B4
26�B4 !
N-K3
27 N x N
KxN
28 R-Q2
R-KR I
Black induces White to exchange
rooks. Capablanca does just this,
showing to the surprise of both his
opponent and his contemporaries that
the win with bishops of opposite
colour is feasible.
29 R-QB2
R-QB I
30 R x R
BxR
3 1 K-B2
P-QS
Black gives up another pawn in
order to free his pieces, and to prevent
the occupation of his QS by White's
king.
32 P x P
K-Q4
33 K-K3
�K3

34 K-Q3
K-B3
3S P-QR3
B-BS+
36 K-K3
B-K3
37�R6
K-Q4
38�N7 !
1 -0
If 38 . . . B-B4 39 K-B4 B-Q6
40 K-NS K-K3 4 1 P-KN4 �B7
42 P-B4 � Q6 43 P-BS+ P x P
44 P x P + B x P 4S P-QS + , winning
a piece.
6

JRC - Aronson, Goldfarb,
Gottesdiener, Hirszbajn, Rosen­
baum, and G. Salwe
Lodz, 27 November 1 9 1 3

P-K4
1 P-K4
N-QB3
2 N-KB3
P-QR3
3�NS
4�R4
N-B3
NxP
s 0-0
6 P-Q4
P-QN4
P-Q4
7�N3
SP x P
B-K3
�K2
9 P-B3
Steinitz gave up this defence in
1873 because he considered Black's
pawn-structure to be shaky, a view
held by Capablanca and subsequent
generations. \Vhite's correct strategy,
well shown in this game, is to restrain
Black's queen's side majority and
then - but not before - White may
advance his own pawns on the king's
side. Black must play very accurately
if he is to prevent this happening.
10 N l-Q2
N-B4
Castling would be correct
1 1 �B2
�NS
White would also have a strong
initiative after 1 1 . . . P-QS 1 2 N-K4 !
or 1 1 . . . 0-0 1 2 N-N3 or N-Q4.
�R4
12 P-KR3
�N3
1 3 R-K I

The Tour of Europe
The alternatives are : 1 3 . . . 0-0
1 4 N-N3 N-K5 15 B--B4, or 1 3 . . .
P-Q5 1 4 N-N3 P x P 1 5 N x N
B/K2 x N 1 6 B--K4 Q-Q2 1 7 Q-N3,
with advantage to White in either
case.
14 N-Q4
NxN
N-K3
15 P x N
B-N4
1 6 N-N3
After 1 6 . . . P-QB4 1 7 P x P the
isolated QP would eventually fall.
Now, however, Black's pawn majority
is crippled, and he is hampered
throughout the rest of the game by
the need to defend his QBP. From
such a position none could escape
against Capablanca.
The game will be won on the files,
and White encourages the exchange
of the minor pieces, which do not
contribute to the advantage of his
position.
1 7 P-N3
B/N4 x B
18 R x B
0-0
1 9 P-B4
Bx B
20 R x B
P-N3
R-K l
2 1 N-B5
NxN
22 Q-Q3
23 R x N (7)

He will advance a pawn to KB5
with decisive effect. This takes a long
time because he will first seek and
destroy even the faintest chance of
counter-attack. In his book Chess
Fundamentals Capablanca discusses the
technical aspects of the magnificent
endgame which follows ; and comment
here would be superfluous if not pre­
sumptious.
23 . . . Q-Q2 24 P-KN4 P-QB3
25 R I-QB! QR-Bl
26 Q-QB3
R-K3 27 K-R2 K-R I 28 Q-R3
Q-N2 29 Q-KN3 P-B4 30 Q-KB3
Q-Q2 3 1 K-N3 R-Bl 32 Q-R3
R-R l 33 Q-QB3 R-QB I 34 Q-B2 !
K-N I 35 K-B3 P x P + 36 P x P
Q-KB2 37 K-K3 R-B I 38 R-B I
Q-Q2 39 Q-N2 Q-K2 40 R I - B l
R3-B3 41 R-B l K-R l 42 Q-QB2
Q-K I 43 Q-R2 Q-K2 44 R-KB3
R-K3 45 K-B2 ! P-QR4 46 P-B5 !
P x P 47 P x P Q-N4 48 Q-B4
R x BP (desperation)
49 Qx R
Q-Q7 +
50 K-B I R-N3
51
Q-KB8 + R-N I 52 Q-B6 + R-N2
53 R-KN3 1-0.
Black cannot give perpetual check:
53 . . . Q-QB+ 54 K-N2 Q-K7 +
55 Q-B2 Q-K5 + 56 Q-B3 R x R +
57 K x R and now 57 . ;. Q-KN3 +
58 K-B2,
or 57 . . . Q-K8 +
58 K-R3.
7 Eugene Znosko Borovsky
JRC
St. Petersburg, 12 December 1 9 1 3
1st match game

The battle has been perfectly
fought by Capablanca. The dust
settles, and the win is in sight.

9

-

This was the first game in a series of
three two-game matches played for
stakes ; the other contestants were
Alekhine and Duz Hotimirsky.
Besides the stake-money there was a

10

The Tour of Europe

gold cup to be awarded for the series, for if 20 . . . N-K2 ? 2 1 B-N7.
PxP
20 . . .
either to Capablanca if he won all six
games, or to the player who made the
2 1 B-Q2
N-K2
best score against him.
22 B--K4
P-B5 !
1 P-K4
P-K4
Black pushes through with his
2N-KB3
pawn majority in order to gain a far
N-QB3
P-QR3
advanced passed pawn. This move is
3 B--N5
N-B3
4 B-R4
either incisive or premature, a judg­
B-K2
5 0-0
ment that depends upon the following
P-QN4
tactical phase.
6 R-K l
P-Q3
P-Q4
23 N-N5
7 B-N3
8 P-B3
N-QR4
NxB
24 B x B
P-B4
9 B--B2
BxN
25 Q-R5
1 0 P-Q3
26 B x B
Q-N3+
N-B3
B-K3
27 K-R l
1 1 N l-Q2
R/QB l-K l
12 N-B l
0-0
Capablanca overplays his hand.
1 3 Q-K2
He later suggested 27 . . . P-Q5,
White tries to prevent the advance avoiding the awkward pin of his QP
of Black's QP, not a bad idea. Instead which now follows.
he might well play 1 3 N-K3, per­
28 P-KN4
N-Q3
P-Q5
mitting this advance, after which he
29 B-K3
could exert pressure on Black's KP.
30 B-N l
BP x P
13 . . .
RxR
N-KR4 !
31 R x P
Nx N
14 N-N3
32 Qx R (8)
15 BP x N ?
White seeks attack, but this move is 8
a serious positional mistake. Black B
i mmediately seizes the chance to gain
a central and queen's side pawn
majority which will, in the fullness of
time, give him a won endgame.
15 . . .
P-B4 !
16 P x P
White concedes the centre, seeing
that he can best continue his attack
this way. In view of his poor endgame
32 . . .
N-B5 ! ?
prospects this decision can hardly be
32 . . . R-Kl would be objectively
criticized.
better but it would not be easy for
B x BP
16 . .
Black to make progress after 33 Q-N3
K-R l
1 7 B--N3 +
P-Q7 34 B x P Q-B3 35 R-Q l .
R-B l
1 8 B--Q5
3 3 R-KB l ?
1 9 P-QR4
B-B3
White would also lose after 33
20 P x P
20 B--Q2 would be more precise, B x P ? N x Q 34 B x Q N-B5, or
.

The Tour of Europe
33 Qx QP ? Qx Q 34 B x Q P-Q7
35 R-Ql R-K l 36 B-B2 R-K7
37 K-N l N x P.
He overlooks the resource 33
Q-KB5 ! attacking both the pawn al
Q3 and the rook at KB8, after which
it is difficult to see now Black coul d
save the game.
Q-Q l !
33 . . .
R-K l
34 Qx QP
35 Q-R7
If 35 R-K l P-Q7 !
35 . . .
P-Q7
36 B-Q4
R-K2
37 Q-B5
38 R-Ql
If 37 Q-R l Q-Kl
R-K8+ 39 B-N l N x P.
R-K8
37 . . .
Not 37 . . . N x P ? 38B x P + !with
perpetual check.
0-1
A very i nteres ting stru.gg'l e .

..

8 JRC - A. A. Alekhine
St. Petersburg, 14 December 1913
! st match game
This was the first encounter between
these two great champions. Alekhine,
younger by four years, had, in fact,
had more experien ce of international
chess ; but as he later said himself, his
positional skill had not yet matured.
P-Q4
1 P-Q4
P-QB3
2 P-QB4
N -B3
3 P-K3
4 N-KB3
P-K3
5 N l -Q2
After 5 N-B3 N l -Q2 6 B-Q3 the
game might continue:
(a) 6 . . . B-K2 7 0-0 0-0 8 P-K4
P x KP 9 N x P.
(b) 6 . . . B-Q3 7 0-0 0-0 8 P-K4
P x B P 9 B x P.

..

11

6 . . . P x P 7 Bx BP.
Capablanca considered 5 N l-Q.2
to be the best mov e. It might trans­
pose to (a), as Alekhine supposes when
he plays 6 . . . B-K2; but in varia­
tions (bJ and (c) White would gain
the advantag e by r e ca p t ur i n g un
QB4 with his kni ght .
N l -Q2
5...
Pl ayab le but passive. Instead Bhck
c,:,uld play 5 . . . P-B4; he would lose
a tem po, but as compensation he
could develop his QN at QB3 whe-re
it would be more effectively pl aced
than White's QN at Q2.
B--K2
6 B-Q3
7 0-0
0-0
8 Q-B2
Capablanca thought this move to
be better than 8 P--K4, transposi ng to
well kn own lines. Later, however, he
suggested 8 P-QN3 ! after which
Black's pieces would not be well
placed to meet this old-fashioned
(c)

set-up.

8. . .
PxP
Black plans to g ive \'\"hite an
isolated QP, not at all a bad idea. but
his de fen si ve skill is not up to t h e ta sk .
Capablanca suggested 8 . . . P-B4,
after which \Vhitc would not get the
advanta ge by 9 P-QN3 because for
this line his qu ee n would be misplaced
at QB2.
9 NxP
P-B4
10 N4-K5
Px P
II P x P
N-N3
1 2 N-N5 !
\Vhite threatens mate in three. He
forces a w eakness which compensates
for the weakness or his isolate-cl pawn.
12...
P-N3
K-N2
13 N /:"<5-B3
14 B-KN5
N/N3-Q4

12

The Tour of Europe

B-Q2
1 5 QR-B l
N-N l !
1 6 Q-Q2
Qx B
17 B x B
1 8 B-K4 !
A positional move, attacking the
blockade square in front of the QP.
B-N4
18 . . .
So far Black has defended well but
the position has proved too difficult
for him ; he now loses a pawn, and
after a desperate struggle the game.
The following sharp combinations are
instructive.
Instead he should play 18 . . .
N l -B3, strengthening the blockade ;
his game would be defensible,
although he would still suffer a slight
weakness on the dark-coloured
squares.
Q-Q3?
19 KR-K l
19 . . . N l -B3 would still be best.
20 B x N
P x B (9)
Not 20 . . . Qx B 21 R-B5, but
now White's QP is safe.

QR-B l
24 R x NP
25 P-QN3
R-B7
26 P-QR4
B-K7
27 N-R4 !
P-KR4
I f 27 . . . P-N4 28 N4-N6 ! R-KI
29 R x P mate.
28 N4 x P
R-Kl
29 R x P +
K-R3
30 P-B4
Black might as well resign here.
The game ended 30 . . . P-R4 3 1
N-R4 R x N
3 2 BP x R K-N4
3 3 P-N3 K-N5 34 R-KN7 + K-R6
35 N-N2 1 -0.
Fourteen years later, by a twi st of
fate, Alekhine won against Capablan­
ca by precisely the same manoeuvre.
The diagram above may be com­
pared with the following diagram
(10) in which Alckhinc won the last
and decisive game of the match for
the world championship by playing
23 Q-R5 !

w

P-QR3
21 Q-R5 !
After 21 . . . B-B3 22 N x B one of
Black's weak pawns (QBP, QRP)
must, in time, surely fall.
22 Q-B7 !
Qx Q
23 R x Q
P-KR3
If 23 . . . QR-N I 24 N-N5 B-K I
25 N-K6 + !

9

F. I. Duz Hotimirsky JRC
St. Petersburg, 16 December 1 9 1 3
!st match game
-

I P-Q4 P-Q4 � N-KB3 N-KB3
3 B-B4 P-B4 4 P-B3 Q-N3 5 Q-B2
P x P 6 P x P N-B3 7 N-B3 B-Q2
8 P-K3 R-B I 9 R-B I P-K3 10

13

Tlze Tour of Europe
B-K2 B-K2

1 1 0-0 0-0

1 2 Q-N l

(JI)

Q-R4!
12 . . .
The struggle concerns control and
occupation of the outposts on the
open file, for White h is QBS (cS) and
for Black his QB5 (c4) .
Capablanca spent a long time
before making this apparently risky
queen-manoeuvre, looking into the
tactical consequences. It prevents
White from playing N-QR4 (en
route for c5), but it also obstructs h is
own knight from playing to QR4.
A deeper insight indicates Black's
intentions: he does not at once plan
to occupy his outpost at c4, but first
to prevent his opponent from occupy­
ing c5. It is not that he nips h is
opponent's plans in the bud : he
prunes the branch before the bud can
form.
P-QR3
1 3 N-Q2
A preparation for . . . P-QN4 ,
strengthening the outpost.
Q-N5 ! ( 12)
14 N-N3
15 N-B5 ?
White now threatens P-QR3
followed by P-QN4, but he over­
looks a h idden danger ; his QB ,
which seems to be bedded on rock, is
suddenly undermined.

Capablanca had also foreseen the
following lines, in each of which he
gains a pawn : 15 B-KNS N-QR4
1 7 N-B5 B x N
16 B x N P x B !
18 P x B N-BS ! or 1 5 B-Ql N-QR4
16 N -BS ? B x N 1 7 P-QR3 Q-N3
1 8 P x B R x P! 1 9 P-QN4 R4-B l !
IS . . .
N x P!
A bombshell 'not foreseen by the
masters who were present' says a
report. The game continues, but the
struggle is over. As a r esult of this
abrupt finish Capablanca's deep and
beaut iful queen manoeuvre has not
become widely known.
1 6 P x N B x N 1 7 P-QR3 Q. x QP
18 B--N3 B-K2 19 R/B l -QI Q-N3
20 B-K5 B-B3 21 R-Q3 N-Q2
22 R-R3 P-B4 23 B-KB4 P-QS
24 Q-R 2 R-B3 25 B-KN5 P x N
26 B x R B-Q4 ! 27 Qx B P x Q
28 B x B P x P
29 B-Q3 R-B8
30 B-N4 P-QR4 3 1 B x BP P x B
32 B x P+ K-B l 33 R-KB3 + N-B3
34 P x P Q-N4 ! 0- 1 .
1 0 JRC
Eugene Znosko­
Borovsky
St. Petersburg, 18 December 1 9 1 3
2nd match game
-

At this point in time Capablanca had
notched up twenty-one consecutive

14

The Tour of Europe

wins in serious play, beginning with
his defeat of .J. Grommer in the
tournament at New York, July 1 9 1 3.
\\'hether fate had decreed, i n
accordance with the laws o f proba­
bility, that he should lose, or whether
he was gelling anxious about the gold
cup, is not known. At all events his
play in this game, after the opening,
is not up to his usual standard.
P-K3
I P-Q 4
P-Q4
2 P-K 4
3 N-QB3
N-KB3
4B-N5
B-N5
5 Px P
Capablanca demonstrated many
times that this aprarnetly harmless
move could yet ofter chances of an
opening advantage. He did not like
the move 5 P-K5 because he con­
sidered that the long-term strategic
prospects lay with Black.
Qx P
5...
BxN+
6 BxN
6 . . . P x B would be heller, as
Bogoljubow showed many years later.
PxB
7 Px B
8 N-B3
P-QN3
9 Q-Q2
B-N2
1 0 B-K2
N-Q2
1 1 P-B 4
Q-KB 4
12 0-0-0
0-0-0
K R-N I
1 3 Q-K3
Obtaining a pin on the long
diagonal, which turns out to be use­
less. 13 . . . K R-K l would seem to be
better.
Q-QR4?
1 4P-N3
'Unquestionably a mistake, overlooking White's fine reply' - JRC.
15 R-Q3 !
K-N l
Q-KB 4
16 R I -Q I
Q-K i'\4
1 7 N-R 4
18 P-B 4
Q-N2

1 9 B-B3
R/N l -KI
KxB
20 B x B
P-B3
21 P-QBS
White threatened P-B6 + !
22 N-B3
Q-B l
23 N-Q2
Capablanca writes that he con­
sidered 23 R-N3 ' which was the right
move' but that he wanted to find a
quicker way of winning.
23 . . .
pxp
24N-B 4
N-N3
25 N-RS +
K-R l
26 P x P
N-Q4
R-BI
27 Q-Q 4
28 P-B 4?
White could maintain his advan­
tage by 28 N-B 4, with an eye on the
hole at Q6. Instead he gives up the
exchange in order to get an advanced
passed pa wn, 'I was looking for the
grand combination', he writes.
28 . . .
P-K 4!
29 Q-N l
P-K5
30 PxN
PxR
R-K 7
3 1 P-Q6
R-QB 7 +
32 P-Q7
33 K-N l
R-Nl +
3 4N-N3
Q-K2 (13)

35 R x P ?
Probably the losing move. After
35 Q-Q 4R-K 7 36 Qx QP R-K8

The Tour of Euro/1e
37 Rx R

White

would

have

15

l3lack

36Q-Q4

R-K7

advantage

R-Q_l

(Rubinstein)

37 Q-R4

Q-K5

17

38 Q-R6

K-Nl !
RxQi'

40 N -Q 4

Capablanca writes in

Chc5J

aCter
16

N-R4 !

B-K3

N xN +

B-Q.nl ! (Yates).

JG B-K3

Q.R-B l

sriuarc. He intentionally docs not play

Funda­

mentals, 'Black deserves gre at credit
for the way in which he conducted

th i s exceedingly di ffi c ul t def'cnce ...

the natural 16 . . . J\'
he hopes. after his

x N + because
I 7th move, to make

use of the pawn on Q.5 for his attack

on the que e n' s side - quite a reason­
able idea.

from move 22 onwards he always

17 BxN

PxB

playe d the best move.' In this book,

18 P Q.R4!

Q-N3

1921,

he

19 PxP

I' x p

modes tly included six out of the

ten

20 1'-R'.1

BxN

21 QxB

N-Q2

published

in

November

losses which he had sustained up lo

Black plans to occupy an outpost

that date.

II

JRC

strong

a

15

Black should mm·e the KR to this

R-KB+

0-1

P xN

maintain

would

35 ...

39 K -BI

0-0

15 B-Q_3

fair

drawing chances.

on one of the open files.

- F.

I. Duz Hotimirsky

St. Petersbur g , 21 December 1913
2nd match game

22 KR-Bl
23 P

QM

N-B4
N- R5?

Black should ha\T been suspicious
that \Vhitc should help him on his
ch an ge

1 P-K4

P-K4

2 N-KB3

N-QB3

plan and play 23 .. . N x B 24 QxN

B-B3 with a position which is hard lo

way.

Instead he should

3 B-N5

P-QR3

4B-R4

N-B3

asse ss , although \'\'hite

5 0-0

B-K2

seem to be at any disadvantage.

6R-Kl

P-QN4

7 B-N3

P-Q 3

8 P-B3

N-QR4

9 B-B2

P-B4

10 P-Q4

Q-B2

11 Nl-Q 2

24 RxR

would

his

not

RxR (14)

N-B3

12 N-Bl
Capablanca notes that it is difficult
to decide the best move here. Sixty
years on, and theory has the same
problem, the choice resting between
12 PxKP, 12 P-QR4, or 12 P-KR3.
12...

BPxP

13 Px P

B-N5!

14 P-Q5

N-Q5

Black can h ard ly be blamed for

overlooking what follows; even the

kibitzers , including players of grand-

16

The Tour of Europe

master class, were of the opinion that
Black had the better game.
25 P-K5!
White begins one of the most
unexpected attacks in the history of
chess, bringing his few and scattered
pieces into play with surprising speed
so that they all take part in the final
assault.
P-N3
25 . . .
If 25 . . . P x P 26 Q-B5 !
26 P-K6 !
R-Bl
If 26 . . . P x P 27 Q-N4, threaten­
i n g either 28 Qx KP+ or 28
B x KNP.
27 N -N3!
Q-N2
After 27 . . . P-B4 28 B x BP !
P x B 29 N x P White's passed pawns
lead to a win.
28 N-B5 !!
Walking right into a pin. If now
28 . . . K-Rl
29 Q-K4 - ]RC.
Whilst if 28 . . . P x N 29 Qx P
K-N2 30 Qx RP + .
28 . . .
PxP
29 P x P
Q-B2
30 Q-B6 !
Gaining control of the queening
square for the KP.
Q-Q l
30 .
Qx N
31 N x B+
N-B6
32 B x QNP
33 Q-Q7
Qx Q
34 B x Q
R-N l
If 34 . . . N-Q4 35 R-Ql R-B5
36 P-N3 R-K5
37 B -B6 R-K4
38 R x P N-K2 39 R x P -]RC.
K-B2
35 P-K7
36 R-Kl
This rook moves for the first time,
and it is all over: 36 . . . R-Kl
3 7 B x R + K x B 38 R-K6 P-Q4
39 K-B l N-N4 40 K-K2 N-B2
41 R-K5 N-R3 42 P-N5 N-N5
.

.

43 P-N6 P-Q6 + 44 K-Q2 K-Q2
45 P-K8Q+ K-Q3 46 Q-K7 +
K-B3 47 Qx N 1-0.
12 A. A. Alekhine JRC
St. Petersburg, 23 December 19 1 3
2nd match game
-

P-K4
1 P-K4
N-QB3
2 N-KB3
P-QR3
3 B-N5
N-B3
4 B-R4
B-K2
5 0-0
P-QN4
6 R-Kl
P-Q3
7 B-N3
8 P-B3
N-QR4
P-B4
9 B-B2
Q-B2
10 P-Q4
P-N5 !
11 P-QR4
0-0
1 2 N l-Q2
The best move ; probably White
should reply 1 3 P-KR3.
13 N-B l
BP x P
B-K3
14 P x QP
Capablanca sees that he could get
a good game by 14 . . . B-N5 ; but he
decides instead to seek attack on the
queen's side. White does not reply 15
P-Q5 because then Black would have
a good square for a knight at his QB4.
QR-B l
15 N-K3 !
N-B5 !
1 6 B-Q2
Qx N
17 N x N
18 R-QB !
P-N6
Q x RP
1 9 B-N l
20 P x P
Px P
21 N x P
RxR
Capablanca gets the kind of posi­
tion he likes. He has the endgame
chances on account of his queen's
side majority, whilst Alekhine has
attacking chances.
Black has a two-fold task : to seek
exchanges, and to hold back White's

17

The Tour of Europe
attack.
R-QI
22 B x R
P-R3
23 Q-K2
B-QB4
24 P-R3
N-Q2
25 B-B4
B-N3
26 R-QI
B-B5
27 N-B3
N-B4
28 Q-K I
N-Q6 ! ?
2 9 B-Q6
Both contestants have played very
well up to this point, and now one
might expect 29 . . . N-K3 30 P-K5
with a complex game. Instead
Capablanca makes a simplifying
combination, which, however, con­
tains a flaw. Either he overlooks this,
or he speculates because his opponent
is very short of time.
RxB
30 B x N
3 1 R-RI ?
White avoids exchanges; instead he
should play 31 B x B R x R
32
B x BP + , winning a pawn, although
Black would not be without some
drawing chances; his bishop would be
stronger than White's knight in this
open position.
31 . . .
Q-N4
32 B x B
Qx B
33 R-B I ( 15)

15
B

Q-B7!
33 . . .
Black finishes with a fine queen-

offer. If now 34 R x Q P x R 35 N-Q2
B-R4 36 Q-QBI R x N 37 K-R2
R x P threatening B-Q7, or if 34
R-N I B x P + .
Qx NP
34 K-R2
35 P-K5
BxP
R-KN3
36 Q-B l
A move which both attacks and
defends.
K-R2
37 R-B8 +
38 R-B8
Q-B7
P-N7
39 R x P
40 R-N7
B-N3 !
4 1 N-Q2
Qx N
42 P-K6
P-N8 = Q
0-1
13 A. Niinzowitsch JRC
Riga, 30 December 1 9 1 3
-

An exhibition game which has become
famous because of its classic endgame,
'one of the finest in the whole range
of chess literature', writes Reinfeld.
P-K4
I P-K4
2 N-KB3
N-QB3
3 N-B3
N-B3
4 B-B4
B-B4
5 P-Q3
P-Q3
6 B-KN5
B-K3
Capablanca notes that this bishop
is not well placed at K3. 6 . . . N-QR4
would be better.
P-KR3
7 B-N5
8 B-KR4
B-QN5
'I should have castled', he writes,
noting that the text move is risky
because he will be forced to weaken
his king's side pawns ; but he plays
with his eyes open, hoping for a com­
pensating weakness on White's queen's
side.
9 P-Q4
This sharp line does not lead to

llJ

'!lie Tour of Europe
I"hcrefore i t should not

advan tage.

hi"

play . . d,

accur d i ng

( assuming \Vh i t •..· is playing

H e S Ltggc s 1 ' 9

� Q_'.2

lo

IB :\ -Q.2

wi n ) .

fol l owed

by

K-B2

17 . . .

Lasker

to

KR - K l

Black de\·clops. n o t fraring b i sh o ps
of oppos i t e colour.

P-KIB r n ;iking room fo r thr Q.B at

\ '.) P-In

NxN

KB2,

20 R x N

Q R- Q l

.

and

p re p ar i w. ; a

build-up m

t h e centre latl'r o n .

2 l P-:\"4

1 1 Px

'\\"h ite becomes aggress i ve on the

B Q.2

9. . .

1 0 0 -0

B x :\'

B

l'-K:\4

The spectators

ha\-e g a sp e d

k i n g ' s side because h i s posit i o n on t he

\\Tl"C

reported

othrr
to

t his 1110\ C . It woul d

al

21 . . .

hardly raise an en·brow wday.
!'.) B x '.\J

13lack
defend

had
his

17

R I -Q I

23

24 R x R
foreset·n th a t he could

ganic in

\·ariat ion : 13

0 0

22 R-:\' l

N x KI'

l l B - l\ 3

side of the board is ra t her bad'

the

foll owing

C.t-· Q_'.l -:\" x B 14 B P x '.'J

1 5 P x P :'\ x P

-

JRC.
B-:\'4 !
B-R3
R-K7 !

BxR

25 R-K l

BxP

26 R-KB l

P-QB4 ! ( 1 6)

1 6 ::'\ x '.\J B x B

1 8 Q x KP R-K l

Q.x B P x N

1 9 Q Kl35 Q-K2 20 Q R - K l Q B l .

13 .

13 x B

. .

1 -! P x l'

P x l'

15 B x P

I n h i ndsi gh t t h e critics
that 1 5 :'\ x

P

all

agreed

would \Jc t h e best way

lo draw. The 1 ex1-rno\·e i s not bad,

however, a nd there is, as ye t , no ru l e

w h ich precludes

Lo w i n .

15 . . .

a

player from t rying

Technically. 1 6 KR x

Q

wou ld be

correc t ; b ut \\" hi tc not unreasonably
seeks attack i n the centre. That this

d ec i s ion

1 urns

2 7 B x KBP ?

Q x Q.

1 6 QR x Q

out Lo be incorrect

Also a fte r 2 7

R x B P x B 28 R-Q3 !
R-QB l Black would have t h e better
chances, although the game should
then be drawn. :\'imzow i tsch p lac es
his faith in bishops of opposite colour,
d e cisi on many other mas t e rs

requires play of a high or d e r , which

a

is forthcomi n g ; and b y a series of

have taken at that time.

t ac t ica l strokes B l ack gradually takes

27 . . .

the init iative.

28

16 . . .

1 7 B-Q4
After 1 7

P-B3 !

B x Ql3P N x QBP Wh ite's

Q R P would be en pr i s e .

B- K 5

29 K x R

would

R-QB !

R x R+
BxP

30 P-QR4

Or

30

B-N8 P--R3 3 1 K-K l P--B5
B-B4 , and White must give

32 K-Q2

19

The Tour of Europe
up a pawn ifhc wishes to free his king.
30 . . .
K-K3 !
P-QR4 !
3 1 B-N8
32 K-K l
If 32 B-B7 P-N4 ! 33 P x P P-R5
and wins.
K-Q4
32 . . .
33 K-Q2
I f 33 B-B7 K-B3 ! 34 B x P P-N3
trapping the bishop.
B-Q2
33 . . .
K-B3
34 B-B7
P-N3
35 B-Q8
K-N2
36 P-B4
BxP
37 K-B3
Black now demonstrates the win­
ning technique with a pawn-majority
on both wings : 38 K-N2 B-Q2
39 K-N3 B·-K3
40 K-B3 P-R5
41 K-Q3 K-B3 42 K-B3 P-N5
43 B-R4 P-R4 44 B-N3 P-R6 45
K-N3 B x P + ! 46 K x P P-N4 47
P-B3 K-Q4 48 B-B2 B-K7 49
50 K-N2 K-B5
K-N3 B-Q8 +
5 1 K-B l B-B6
52 K-Q2 P-N5
53 P x P P x P
54 B-R4 B-K5
55 B-B6 B-N3 56 B-R4 P-QN6
57 B-B6 P-R5 ! 58 K-K3 P-N6
59 P x P P-R6 60 K-B2 B-B4 6 1
P-N4 l3 x P 62 K-N3 K-Q6 ! 63
K-R2 K-B7 64 K-N3 P-N7 ! 0- 1 .
14 Benjamin M. Blumenfeld and
D. N. Pavlov JRC
Moscow, I February 1 9 1 4
-

I P-K4
2 N-KB3
3 P-Q4
4NxP
5 N-QB3
6NxN
7 B-Q3
8 Px P

P-K4
N-QB3
PxP
N-B3
B-NS
NP x N
P-Q4
PxP

9 0-0
0-0
I O B-KN5
BxN
Characteristically Capablanca cre­
ates a pawn-weakness on the queen's
side; but he cedes the bishop-pair,
and then finds that the weakness
cannot be effectively attacked.
11 PxB
P-KR3
R Kl
12 B-R4
1 3 Q-B l
'On the king's side everything is
calm, and White transfers his queen,
via QR3, to the queen's side, where
the decisive battle takes place', writes
Blumenfeld. The idea is interesting
but the allies have to give up the
bishop-pair ( 1 4 B x N) to achieve
their aim. Instead White should play
• I
1 3 P-QB4
!
13 . . .
Q-Q3
14 B x N
Qx B
1 5 Q-R3
Q-K2
16 Q-R5
White's game could be defended
after 16 Qx Q, but one does not
ligh tly accept the challenge of an
endgame against Capablanca.
16 . . .
P-QB4
1 7 P-QB4
B-K3
18 KR-Kl
Q-Q3
1 9 QR-Ql
Black also maintains a slight but
not decisive advantage after 1 9 P x P
B x P, and now 20 Q-R4 R-K4 ! but
not 20 R x R + R x R 2 1 Qx RP ?
R-R l .
19 . . .
P-Q5
Nol 1 9 . . . Q-N3 20 Qx Q P x Q
2 1 P x P B x P 22 R x R + R x R
23 B-NS !
B-Q2
20 R-N l
BxR
21 R x R+
22 R-N7
B-B3 !
23 Q-B7
-

20

The Tour of Europe

Tarrasch suggests 23 R x RP R-N l
24 Q-K l , but Lasker adds that after
24 . . . R-Kl 25 Q-QBI Q-Nl !
Black has adequate compensation for
the sacrificed pawn.
Q-K3
23 . . .
RxR
24 R-N8 +
Q-K l
25 Qx R +
26 Qx P
The allies bring their plan to
fruition ; they do not play 26 Qx Q+
after which Black would have excel­
lent endgame chances.
Q-K8 +
26 . . .
27 B-B l
� KS !
' I t is impossible not to marvel at
the foresight and the depth of the play
of Capablanca who for a long time
before this move was playing for
this position, which the allies did not
foresee could be dangerous for them' Blumenfeld.
28 Q-N8 +
K-R2 ( 1 7)

29 Q-KS ?
Black could draw by 29 Q-K8 !
The allies considered this for some
time, examining the ending after
29 . . . P-B4
30 P-KR4! Q-BB
3 1 P-RS Q-N4 32 Q-N6 + Qx Q
33 P x Q+ K x P 34 B-Q3 K-B3
35 P--KB3 B x B 36 P x B P-N4. They
concluded that Black would win

because there was no way for them to
break through on the king's side, and
that meanwhile Black's king could
move over and win the QRP.
This was a pardonable error ; in
fact, White could make a clever
breakthrough : 37 P-R4 K-K3 38
P-RS K-Q3 39 P-B4 ! K-B3 40
P-N4 !
Black would therefore have to
accept the perpetual check threatened
by White's 3 1 P-KRS.
29 . . .
P-B4
P-Q6
30 Qx QBP
B x QP
31 P x P
32 P-KR.3
Qx B +
0-1
15 0. Bernstein JRC
Moscow, 4 February 1 9 1 4
!st match game
-

I P-Q4
P-Q4
2 P-QB4
P-K3
3 N-QB3
N-KB3
4 N-B3
B-K2
5 B-NS
0--0
6 P-K3
N I -Q2
7 R-B l
P-QN3
PxP
8PxP
9 Q-R4
B-N2
9 . . . P-B4 would lose a pawn,
IO Q-B6 R-N l 1 1 N x P. It was sub­
sequently shown that after 1 1 . . .
B-N2 Black would get a compensat­
ing attack.
I O B-QR6
BxB
Black's loss of time with his QB is
not serious ; White will lose time with­
drawing his queen.
I I Qx B
P-B4
12 B x N
NxB
13PxP
PxP
1 4 0-0
Q-N3

21

The Tour of Europe
P-B5
1 5 Q-K.2
Capablanca is not prepared to wait
for the endgame. With this enter­
prising move, which weakens his
hanging pawns, he seeks and obtains
combinative chances. Obviously he
gets some pressure on White's QNP,
but there are other tactical considera­
tions: he gets play for his bishop, and
a pocket at Q6.
1 6 KR-Ql
The immediate break by 16 P-K4
would be better, but it leads to rapid
simplification. Bernstein, quite natur­
ally in view of the hanging pawns,
is trying to win.
KR-Ql
16 . . .
B-N5 !
1 7 N-Q4
White did not foresee this fine move
which threatens B x N, perhaps fol­
lowed by N-K5-QB4-Q6. Taken by
surprise he changes tack, and tries to
break up Black's centre pawns.
1 8 P-QN3
Wise after the event the critics all
decried this move. Black gets a passed
pawn, but it is isolated and far from
home. Is it weak or is it strong ? At
the time the answer was not clear.
QR-B l
18 . . .
19 p x p
PxP
20 R-B2
Losing a tempo ; but if, for instance,
20 P-KR3 then 20 . . . Q-R4, and
White must guard his threatened
knight with his queen, which would
make his intended attack on the
QBP less effective.
20 . . .
BxN
21RxB
N-Q4 !
If now 22 R x P N-B6 !
P-B6 !
22 R-B2
23 R I-QB!
R-B4
Black sets a trap, no doubt foreseen

some moves before.
24 N-N3
R-B3
25 N-Q4
R-B2
26 N-N5
R-B4
2 7 N x BP ?
White expects to exchange his
QRP for Black's QBP, a fair bargain.
He could achieve this by 27 N-Q4
followed by Q-K l and N-K2, after
which, however, he would still be at
some disadvantage on account of
Black's passed QRP.
27 . . .
NxN
28 R x N
RxR
29 R x R ( 18)

29 . . .
Q-N7 ! !
0-1
Instead of losing his QRP (29 . . .
Q-N8 + ) White loses at least a rook,
e.g.
30 Q-Q3 Q-R8 +
Q-N8 +
30 R-B2
30 Q-K l Qx R
3 0 Q-B2 Qx Q
30 Qx Q R-Q8 mate.
'A finish which endeared itself to
chessplayers the world over' - Rein­
feld.
16 JRC 0. Bernstein
Moscow, 6 February 1 9 1 4
2nd match game
-

22

The Tour of Europe

P-Q4
I P-Q4
P-QB3
2 P-QB4
'I wanted to play a sharp game',
writes Bernstein ; he hopes to win this
game and thus draw the match.
3 P-K3
N-KB3
4 N-QB3
P-K3
N l -Q2
5 N-B3
6 B-Q3
Px P!
Black considered this move better
than the fashionable 6 . . . B-Q3. He
plays what came to be called the
Meran Defence after it was invented
by Rubinstein in 1 923.
P-QN4
7 B x BP
P-QR3
8 B-Q3
9 0-0
'White cannot very well play 9
P-K4', wrote Alekhine in 1 924. Before
the ink was dry, however, 9 P-K4
came into fashion, and it has remained
so ever since.
P-B4
9...
10 P x P
A weak move. Capablanca needs
only a draw, and he decides to force
exchanges. He gets the very medicine
that he prescribed for others when
they tried to simplify against him, but
skilful defence saves him from defeat.
10 . . .
N xP
B-N2
1 1 B-K2
1 2 Qx Q+
Rx Q
R x R+
1 3 R-QI
B-Q3
14 N x R
1 5 P-QN3
N-Q4 !
Black prepares for his next move,
limiting the scope of White's QB.
P-B3
1 6 B-N2
NxN
1 7 N-B3
If 1 7 . . . N-N5 1 8 R-Ql , but not
18 P-QR3 N x P !
18 B x N
N-K5
B-R6
1 9 B-K I !

20 N-Q4
Not 20 N-Q2 N-B6.
20 . . .
P-K4
2 1 N-B2
B-N7
22 R-N I
B-B6
23 B-B3
BxB
24 N x B
N-Q7
25 R-B l
N x B+
26 N x N
K-Q2
27 N-Q2
B-Q4
28 P-K4
B-K3
29 P-B3
K-Q3
30 K-B2
t-!
Bernstein has played well, and he
still has some chances ; but perhaps he
felt disinclined to cross swords with
Capablanca in the endgame.

•

17 N. M. Pavlov and
Selesniev JRC
Moscow, 8 February 1 9 1 4

A.

S.

-

Capablanca plays a very fine defen­
sive game - perfect in its way.
Curiously, Spassky used a similar
strategy nearly 60 years later, in his
1 6th match game against Fischer.
Em. Lasker almost certainly saw
this game, and must have noted
Black's uncertain play in the opening.
Perhaps this explains his choice of the
exchange variation for his historic
encounter with Capablanca in the
final of the St. Petersburg tournament,
1 9 1 4.
I P-K4
P-K4
2 N-KB3
N-QB3
3 B-N5
P-QR3
4BxN
QP x B
5 P-Q4
PxP
6 Qx P
Qx Q
B-QB4 ?
7NxQ
N-B3
8 B-K3
9 P-KB3
0-0

The Tour of Europe

23

R-Kl
I O N-Q2
l I K-B2
B-K3 !
Black cannot find a good place for
his QB. He therefore boldly gives up
the bishop-pair in order to gain
development.
12 N x B
B x B+
RxN
13 K x B
1 4 K-B2
In order to prevent 1 4 . . . N-Q4 + .
N-K l !
14 . . .
20 QR-B l
1 5 KR-QI
R-N l
21 P x P
Not best, but the White allies want
R x NP
to play their knight to KB ! , en route
22 R-K2
K-B l
Black's king takes part. If now
for K3. They suppose that Black will
occupy the open file. Black has no 23 R x P ? N x P + .
23 K-K l
such intention : he occupies the king's
R-QN3
24 N-B4
R-QR3 !
file in order to restrain White's
25 P-K5
king's side pawns, and he brings his
Not unnaturally White mobilizes
knight to succour his own pawn­
majority. If Black were to exchange his pawn majority, but the time is not
rooks he would probably get a lost yet ripe, and it now becomes easier
for Black to force pawn exchanges.
endgame.
N xN
15 . . .
N-Q3
25 . . .
R-R4
26 R x N
1 6 N-B l
R I -Kl !
Black continues to seek active play
1 7 R-Kl
If 1 7 N-K3 P-KB4 18 N x P N x N for his rooks.
27 P-B4
P-N4 !
1 9 P x N R-K7 + .
28 P-KN3
17 . . .
PxP
P-QR4 !
29 P x P
'A doubtful and unmotivated ad­
K-K2
30 K-B2
P-QB4
vance', writes a contemporary anno­
Now the rook at K3 comes into
tator of this and Black's next move.
On the contrary it pins down White's play.
QNP, as will be seen.
3 1 R2-B2
R-QN3
32 K-B3
\Vhether this move is good or bad
K-K3
is in any case irrelevant. Black must
33 K-K4
P-B4 +
play aggressivel y ; were he to do
34 P x Pep
Not 34 K-Q3 K-Q4.
nothing the game would of itself
KxP
increasingly favour "White because of
34 . . .
the inherent superiority of his pawn­
35 P-B5
structure.
'\Vhite misses his last chance to
P-R5 !
18 N-K3
win, which Black proves by a sequence
19 P-QB4 ( 19)
of fine moves', write the allies,
P-QN4 !
recommending 35 P-KR4. Even so,
19 . . .

24

The Tour of Europe

.

the ending should be drawn.
35 . . .
R4-N4
36 R x RP
RxP
RxR
37 R4-B4
38 R x R
P-B3
To keep out \Vhite's king.
39 R x P
R-R3
40 R-B4
RxP
K-N4
41 R x P +

R-R7 39 R-R6 R-R8 40 K-B4
R-R7 4 1 P-B3 R-KR7 42 K-N3
R-QR7 43 P-R5 R-R8 44 K-B4
R-R7 45 K-K4 P-R3 46 P-B4
R-KN8 47 R x RP R x P 48 K-B5
R-N6 49 P-K4 R-N8 50 R-KR2
R-N6 5 1 R-R4 R-K6 52 R-N4 +
K-B l 53 R-N l R-K7 54 R-N3
R-K8 !---!-

t-!
18 Bogoljubow, F. P. Bohatir­
chuk, and A. M. Evenssohn - JRC
Kiev, 5 March 1 9 1 4
The leading masters of the city pre­
pare an 'improvement' ( 1 2 0-0) on
the game Bernstein - Capablanca,
played a week or so earlier. They note
that 13 N-K5 leads nowhere after
1 3 . . . R-Kl 14 N-B6 Q-B2 1 5
N x B + R x N 1 6 P-B4 Q-B I , and
they add that, although their tactics
look menacing, they at no time had a
decisive advantage. All in all, a draw
could have been agreed sooner.
I P-Q4 P-Q4 2 N-KB3 N-KB3
3 P-B4 P-K3 4 N-B3 B-K2 5 B-N5
N l -Q2 6 P-K3 0-0 7 R-B l P-QN3
8 P x P P x P 9 Q-R4 B-N2 1 0
B-QR6 B x B 1 1 Qx B P-B4 1 2 0-0
P-B5 1 3 KR-Ql Q-B l 1 4 Qx Q
QR x Q 1 5 N-K5 KR-Q I 16 N-N5
P-QR3 1 7 N-R7 R-B2 1 8 N7-B6
N x N ! 1 9 N x B + R x N 20 P x N
R x P 2 1 B x N P x B 22 R x BP
P x R 23 R x R + K-N2 24 K-B I
R-QR4 25 R-Q6 P-N4 26 P-QR3
P-B6
27 P x P R x P 28 P-N4
P-QR4 29 R-N6 R-N6 30 R-R6
R-R6 3 1 R-N6 R x P 32 R x NP
R-B8 + 33 K-N2 P-R5 34 R-QR5
R-QR8 35 R-R6 K-N3 36 P-R4
K-N2 37 R-R8 P-R6 38 K-B3

19 Hugo Fahndrich and Arthur
Kaufmann - JRC and Reti
Vienna, 1 1 and 1 2 March 1 9 1 4

I P-K4
P-K3
2 P-Q4
P-Q4
3 N-QB3
N-KB3
4PxP
PxP
5 B-Q3
P-B4
Faced with opponents who have
chosen a drawish variation the Black
allies make this risky move in order to
enliven the game.
6 Px P
BxP
7 N-B3
0-0
8 0-0
N-B3
9 B-KN5
B-K3
1 0 N-K2
Pointless, as is shown.
P-KR3
10 . . .
1 1 B-R4
B-KN5
12 N-B3
N-Q5
1 3 B-K2
N x B+
1 4 Qx N (20)
14 . . .
B-Q5 !
The idea of this move is to force
some exchanges. The Black players
will sooner or later play P-KN4
weakening their king's position, and
the exchanges will make their king
safer.
The old-fashioned move would be
14 . . . R-Kl according to Reti, who
calls the text-move 'hypermodern'.

The Tour of Europe
20
B

He discusses the matter at some
length in his book Modern Ideas in
Chess. He does not, however, examine
14 . . . R-K I , which would leave
Black a most difficuh game after
15 Q-Q3.
It is possible, of course, that
Capablanca selected the text-move
because he thought it was best.
B/Q5 x N
15 Q-Q3
16 Qx B
N-K5 !
P-KN4
1 7 Q-Q4
B-B4
1 8 N-K5
1 9 P-KB3 ?
Euwe notes that White would have
some advantage after 1 9 B-N3 N x B
20 RP x N, on account of Black's
weak pawns.
19 . . .
PxB
20 P x N
BxP
2 1 R-B2
If 2 1 N-N4 P-B4.
21 . . .
P-R6
22 R-Kl
P-B4
23 P x P
Q-B3 ?
23 . . . K-R2 would be correct.
24 N-B3 ?
White should play 24 R x B !
QP x R 25 R-N2 + K-R I 26 R-N6
R-KN I 2 7 N-B7 + ! K-R2 28 Qx Q
R x R+
29 N-N5 + ! When the
Black allies played their 23rd move
they supposed this line would favour

25

them ; afterwards they agreed that it
should lead to a draw.
K-R2
24 . . .
RxQ
25 Q x Q
The Black players have the advan­
tage of a passed pawn, but its advance
is blocked, especially on the dark­
coloured squares ; it is not easy for
them to break through. 'The coming
ending is very difficult, I consider i t
one of m y best' - J RC.
26 R-K3 (21 )
White tries t o get play fo r this rook
on the 3rd rank, a plan which the
Black allies forestall.

26 . . .
R-QN3
27 P-N3
This weakens the QBP. '27 R-N3
would be better' - Em. Lasker ; Black
would continue 27 . . , R x R 28
RP x R P-QR4, but the exchange of
rooks would ease White's task.
27 . . .
R-QB I
R-KB3
28 N-Q4
29 R-B4
K-N3
Not 29 . . . B x P 30 R-K7 + . Now
White must do something about the
QBP ; if 30 R-82 the Black players
would bring their king to K4, push
up the KBP, and advance their rook
to QB6.
K-N4
30 P-B3

26

The Tour of Europe

3 1 N-K2
R-R3 !
32 P-KR1 +
K-B3
33 P-R4
P-N4 !
A fine break-through sacrifice.
34 P x P
R-R8 +
35 R-B l
R x R+
36 K x R
K-K4
37 N-Q4
Perhaps the White allies hope to
play N-B6 + . Their rook, which they
should have exchanged on their 27th
move, is now driven out of play. I f,
however, 37 R-N3 then 37 . . . P-B5
38 R-N7 P-B6 and their QBP,
weakened by their 27th move, falls.
37 . . .
P-B5
38 R-R3
R-KN l
39 K-K l
R-N8 +
40 K-K2
R-N 7 +
41 K-BI
R-QN7
42 K-K l
P-KR4
43 K-Ql
The White players are almost in
zugzwang. 43 P-N4 would immobilize
their pawns ; 43 N-B6 + K-B4 would
endanger their rook ; and if 43 K-B l
B-N7 + .
43 . . .
B-B4
44 N x B
KxN
45 P-B4
K-K5
46 R-QB3
P-B6
47 K-K l
P-Q5
0- 1

20

S. Tartakower

-

JRC

Vienna, 1 3 March 1 9 1 4
1 s t match game
1 P-K4
2 N-KB3
3 P-Q4
4NxP
5NxN
6 B-Q3

P-K4
N-QB3
PxP
N-B3
NP x N
P-Q4

PxP
7 Px P
Are Black's pawns strong because
he has a pawn in the centre, or weak
because he has more pawn islands ? In
either case White should always have
in mind the attack by P-QB4.
B-Q2
8 B-QN5 +
9 Bx B+
Qx B
B-K2
1 0 0-0
1 1 N-Q2
Rather slow. Instead White could
at once attack the centre, 1 1 B-N5
0-0 12 P-QB4 (Steinitz).
11 . . .
0-0
KR-K l
1 2 P-QN3
1 3 B-N2
A game Maroczy-Janowski, Lon­
don, 1 899, continued 1 3 N-B3 l\'-K5
14 B-N2 and, because White won, the
critics recommended 1 4 . . . B-B3
As Black is ahead there is no reason
for him to seek equality, and Capa­
blanca makes a much more construc­
tive plan.
13 . . .
QR-QI
1 4 N-B3
N-K5
1 5 Q-Q3
B-B4 !
1 6 QR-Ql
R-K3 !
17 P-B4
White plays this move too late or
too soon. The quiet 1 7 B-Q4 would
be appropriate.
R-Q3 !
17 . . .
1 8 R/Ql -K l
I f 18 P x P R x P 19 Q x R Q x Q
20 R x Q R x R 2 1 P-N3 N-Q7
22 N x N R x N winning a pawn.
P-B4
18 . . .
Capablanca takes the positional
path ; 18 . . . R-KN3 would also be
good, with a king's side attack in view.
BxB
1 9 B-Q4
20 N x B
Q-B2 !
White supposes that his QBP 1s
= .

The Tour of Europe
attacking Black's QP, but i t is now
apparent that Black's QP is attacking
Whites QBP.
R3-Q2 !
2 1 N-N5
22 R-B l
If 22 N x RP R-R l .
PxP
22 . . .
23 Q x P
Qx Q
24 P x Q
P-B3
25 N-R3
R-Q7
26 P-B3
N-B4
R l-Q6
27 R-QB2
A loss of time. Black should play
27 . . . P-B5 containing his hold on
the king's side. He then manoeuvres
his knight to one of the dark-coloured
squares, Q5, Q86, or even K6.
28 R-K I
P-B5
K-82
29 K-B l
30 R-K5 (22)
Better 30 R x R writes Burn,
adding that it is doubtful whether
White can save the game ; but the
text-move has point : White hopes to
gain active play for this rook, perhaps
at QR5.

27

35 N-Q2 R/Q8-K8, and White is in
a mating net. A very pretty variation,
given by Capablanca.
31 . . .
N-K3
32 R x N
There is nothing better.
KxR
32 . . .
R-Q5
33 P-B5
34 N-B4
Another pretty finish : 34 N-NS
P x N ! 35 P-B6 R-KNB 36 K-B2
RS-QB 37 P-87 R/QB-KBB + 38
K-K2 R x P + - JRC.
R-KR8
34 . . .
35 N-Q6
The game ended : 3S . . . R-KN8
36 K-82 RS-QB 37 R-B4 R/Q8K88 + 38 K-K2 R-KB + 39 K-Q2
R-K4 40 R x P R x NP + 41 K-Q3
R x BP 42 N-K4 R-Q4+ 43 K-K3
R x KRP 44 P-R4 R-QR7 4S R-N4
R-R6 + 46 K-K2 K-82 47 N-NS +
K-N I 48 K-B2 P-KR4 49 R-N l
R x RP 50 N-K4 R-K84 0- 1 .

21

JRC

-

S. Tartakower

Vienna, 1 4 March 1 9 1 4
2nd match game

I P-K4
P-QB4
P-K3
2 N-K83
PxP
3 P-Q4
P-QR3
4NxP
N-KB3
S B-Q3
Even at this early stage the best
move for Black is not clear. Geller Filip, Curacao, 1 962, continued S . .
8-84 ; but this was not a serious game,
and Filip did not try the move again.
P-Q4
6 0-0
Later in the same tournament a
game Keres-Filip continued 6 . . .
Q-82 7 N-Q2 B-84 8 N2-N3 B-K2
9 P-K84 with advantage to White.
.

30 . . .
R-Q8 +
3 1 K-K2
A mistake, but in any case \Vhitc ' s
plan is shown to be inadequate :
3 1 K-B2 N-K3 32 R-QR5 N-Q5
33 R-N2 R-KR8 34 N-N l R6-Q8

28

The Tour of Europe

7 Px P
Capablanca avoids the compli­
cated 7 P-K5 B-B4. Having won the
first match-game he seems to be in
peaceful mood.
NxP
7...
B-B4
8 P-QB3
N-Q2
9 N-B3
N2-B3
10 N l -Q2
NxN
1 1 N-K4
N-B3
12 B x N
1 3 Q x Q+
'It is difficult to decide whether
this move or 1 3 B-N5 is better' -JRC.
KxQ
13 . . .
K-K2
1 4 B-B2
P-R3
1 5 N-N5
NxN
16 N-K4
P-B4
17 B x N
1 8 B-B2
White rests his chances on his
queen's side majority. Instead 1 8
B-B3 could be considered.
P-KN4
18 . . .
Weak, says Capablanca, who does
not prove it so.
K-B3
1 9 R-Kl
B-N3
20 P-QN4
R-Ql
2 1 B-N2
P-QR4 !
22 R-K2
Black defends ingeniously. In reply
2 3 P-QR4 might be best.
23 QR-K l
PxP
PxP
24 B-N3
25 B x BP +
B-Q5
26 B x B +
RxB
27 B x P
R-Q3 !
The precise move. The game con­
tinued 28 B-N3 B-Q2 29 R-K7
K-N3 30 P-KR3 R-KB l 3 1 R l-K2
P-R4 32 B-B2 P-N5 33 K-R2
R-QB l 34 B-N3 R-KB l 35 B-B2
R-QB l 36 B-N3 R-KBl 37 B-B2

H-

22 JRC - R. Reti
Vienna, 1 5 March 1 9 1 4
A n exhibition game i n which Capa­
blanca wins yet another fine endgame.
1 P-K4
P-K4
2 N-KB3
N-QB3
3 B-N5
N-B3
4 0-0
NxP
This is the Berlin Defence. It was
abandoned by Steinitz in 1 872,
resuscitated in the 1 890s, abandoned
again at the turn of the century,
resuscitated again by Dr. C. Vianna
of Rio de Janeiro (with the move
1 3 . . . P-QB4 as in this game), and
finally abandoned after the game
Schlechter-Reti, Vienna, 1 9 1 4.
The Steinitz Defence, 4 . . . B-K2
5 N-B3 P-Q3 6 P-Q4 P x P, would
be sounder, although it, too, has fallen
out of fashion.
5 P-Q4
B-K2
6 Q-K2
N-Q3
7 BxN
NP x B
8 Px P
N-N2
9 R-K l
9 N-Q4, avoiding the Rio de
Janeiro variation, would be stronger.
9...
0-0
1 0 N-Q4
N-B4
1 1 N-QB3
N-K3
12 B-K3
NxN
13 B x N
P-QB4
P-Q4
1 4 B-K3
l 5 P x Pep
BxP
l 6 QR-Ql
Q-B3
Reti improves on the game Lasker­
Tarrasch, 1 908, which continued
16 . . . Q-R5 1 7 P-KR3 Q-QN5
1 8 B-B l with advantage to White.
1 7 Q-R5
R-N l
1 8 B-Bl
Q-B4
l 9 Qx Q
BxQ

•

29

The Tour of Europe
20 N-K4

Black's bishops compensate for the
weakness of his pawn structure, and
Capablanca therefore seeks to ex­
change one of them, although he
must concede bishops of opposite
colour. Later he suggested 20 R-K2
20 . . .
21 NxB
22 R x R +
2 3 B-K3
24 P-QB3

KR-K l
PxN
RxR
R-K3
P-QR3 (23)

It needed no more than this to
stimulate Capablanca's imagination,
always at its keenest in the endgame.
He sacrifices material in order to gain
a passed pawn on the queen's side.
Instead of the text-move 24 . . . P­
QR4 would be sufficient.
23
w

turns out to be a decisive mistake.
After 3 1 . . . R-NS 32 P-B3 B-Q4
33 R-B8 + K-R2 34 R-Q8 White's
small advantage would hardly be
sufficient for a win.
32 P-B3
33 R-B8 +
34 P-N7
3 S R-B7 +
36 R x B
37 K-B2
38 K-N3

B-Q4
K-K2
B x NP
K-K3
R-R8 +
R-R7 +
P-QR4

The endgame requires care because
Black has two passed pawns, and
whilst White is watching these Black
attacks on the other side of the board
in an effort to exchange off all the
pawns, a plan which nearly succeeds.
39
40
41
42
If 42
43

R-R7
R-R6 !
B-BS
B--R 7
. . . R-R7 43
P-R4

P-RS
P-N4
R-Q7
P-B4
B--N 8.

A precautionary move, in case
Black should try to set up a mating
net.

2S P-QN4 !

Not, of course, 2S B x P ? B--B 7
winning a piece.
2S . . .
26 P x P
2 7 P-QR4
28 R-R I
29 P-NS
30 R-QB 1
3 1 P-N6

PxP
P-KR3
B-B7
R-KS
Rx P
B-KS
K-B l ?

Black does not want his king to be
driven from the centre (should White
play R-B8 + ), but this natural move

43 . . .
P-BS +
44 K-R3
K-B4
4S P x P
PxP
46 R x RP
R-Q8
47 P-N4 +
P x Pep
48 K x P
P-Q4
49 B--K 3
R-Q6
SO K-B2
1-0
If SO . . . P-QS SI R-RS + , but
not S 1 R x P ? R x R S2 B x R P-NS !

23 JRC A. Aurbach
Paris, 20 March 1 9 1 4
!st match game
-

I P-Q4

P-Q4

The Tour of Europe

30

P-K4
2 P-QB4
P-Q5
3 QP x P
N-QB3
4 N-KB3
B-KN5
5 N l -Q2
6 P-KR3
6 P-QR3 would be better.
BxN
6 . . .
P-B3 !
7NxB
NxP
8 Px P
9 P-KN3
B-N5 +
Q-K2
10 B-Q2
B x B+
I I P-QR3
1 2 Qx B ( 24)
24
B

-�-■"--/�
.
'

�

z

■ •
.

�·�

"

"

m

�.
r.½

,
.

��

"
�

0-0-0 ?
12 . . .
Black misses his chance. 1 2
N-K5 would force the advance of his
QP : 1 3 Q-Q3 N-B4, or 1 3 Q-B2
0-0-0 1 4 R-QI P-Q6 1 5 R x P
R x R 1 6 Q x R R-QI 17 Q-N I
N-QN5 ! 1 8 P-K3 N x NP !
P-KN3
1 3 Q-Q3 !
Not 1 3 . . . N-K4 14 Q-B5 + .
KR-K l
1 4 B-N2
N-Q2
1 5 P-QN4
16 R-Ql
N2-K4
NxN
17 N x N
N-B3 ?
1 8 Q-K4
1 8 . . . P-B4 would be correct.
K-N l
19 Q-N4+
20 B x N
PxB
Q x KP
2 1 0-0

This leads to a lost endgame ;
2 1 . . . P-B4 could be tried.
22 R x P
RxR
23 Q x R
P-KR4
24 P-N5
P-B4
P-R5
25 Qx P
Q-B6
26 P x P
2 7 Q-B6
Q-B2
1 -0
28 R-Ql

24

A. Aurbach

-

JRC

Paris, 24 March 1 9 1 4
2nd match game
I P-K4
P-K4
2 N-KB3
N-QB3
3 P-Q4
PxP
4NxP
N-B3
5 N-QB3
B-N5
6NxN
NP x N
7 B-Q3
P-Q4
8 Px P
PxP
9 0-0
0--0
1 0 B-KN5
P-B3
1 1 N-K2
B-Q2
Black is at no disadvantage ; there
are at least four other satisfactory
moves here : 1 1 . . . P-KR3, 1 1
B-KN5, I I . . . R-K l , and I I . . .
B-Q3.
1 2 P-QB3
Driving Black's KB where it wants
to go, a loss of time which concedes a
slight initiative.
12 . . .
B-Q3
1 3 N-Q4
R-K l
1 4 Q-B3
R-N l
15 N-B5 ?
Characteristically Aurbach goes
for the attack. Instead he could play
1 5 B x N, or 1 5 P-QN3, without
serious disadvantage.
B-K4
15 . . .
1 6 KR-Kl

The Tour of Europe
White could guard his QNP, but
he would remain very much on the
defensive. Instead he tries a combina­
tion, which Capablanca proves to be
unsound.
R x P ( 25)
16 . . .

31

17 Q-R3
P-N3
Forced and forcing. Capablanca
makes yet another one of his simpli­
fying sequences leading to a won end­
game. It all looks simple, but it had
to be foreseen.
18 R x B
RxR
1 9 Q-R4
BxN
20 B x N
Q-Q3
21 Bx R
Qx B
Qx B
22 B x B
23 R-K I
Q-K4 !
24 P-KB4
Q x QBP
25 R-KB +
K-N2
26 P-KR3
Q-QS +
27 K-R2
R-KB7
0-1

Match and Exhibition Games

The match games are those played
against Chajes and Jaffe, and those
played for the Manhattan Chess Club
and for Columbia University. As for
his exhibition games it is evident from
his high score that he took them
seriously. Most of them were played
on two visits to Buenos Aires, where
on each occasion he fulfilled a six­
weeks engagement at the Club
Argentino de Ajedrez. On each visit
he won every game, a feat equalled
by no other master.
Capablanca's concern to win, and
to better his rivals, both in these
games and even in his simultaneous
displays, was not mere childishness :
he needed backing, both moral and
financial, in order to get a match with
Lasker ; and he used every means at
his disposal . This was fortunate.
Otherwise the games might merely be
of the type one plays in order to collect
a fee, but instead they are hard
fought, and often brilliant as well.
He scored thirty-seven wins and
four draws from the 41 exhibition
games he is known to have played.
The scores of four games have not
been found ; the rest are here or in
chapter one.

25

Albert W. Fox

-

JRC

New York, 1 0 November 1 906
This game marks the beginning of
Capablanca's adult career, and al-

ready his mature style can be seen :
fast development, a little combination
which brings advantage, clear-cut
endgame technique, and generally
sound play.
A. W. Fox, a contestant at the
Cambridge Springs tournament of
1 904 in which he defeated Chigorin,
Janowski, Schlechter, and Teichmann
amongst others, was the current
champion of the Manhattan Chess
Club. ' Capa' treats him with respect,
in contrast to his contempt for lesser
opponents at this time ; a contempt
that led to some downright bad
play.
I P-K4
P-K4
2 N-KB3
N-QB3
N-B3
3 B-NS
B-K2
4 0-0
P-Q3
S R-Kl
PxP
6 P-Q4
B-Q2
7NxP
8 N-QB3
0-0
R-K l
9 N4-K2
1 0 N-N3
N-K4
I O . . . B- -KBI would be better.
II B x B
Qx B
1 2 P-B4 ?
\Vhite should instead fianchetto his
queen's bishop, with good prospects.
12 . . .
N-N3
B-B I
1 3 N-BS
QR-QI
14 Q-Q3
15 B-Q2 ( 26)
\Vhitc's pieces arc awkwardly
placed ; he cannot defend his centre,

33

Match and Exhibition Games
which Black destroys by a fine com­
bin ation.

The Columbia University chess
club, which Capablanca had just
joined, arranged some Saturday after­
noon practice matches in preparation
for the inter-'varsity contests. This
game was probably played in a match
against the Manhattan chess club.

26 JRC

-

Hermann Helms

Columbia-Brooklyn CC
Brooklyn, 24 November 1 906

P-Q4 !
15 . . .
1 6 P-K5
White would lose a pawn after
1 6 P x P R x R + 1 7 R x R N x QP
1 8 P-KN3 N x N 1 9 B x N Q x Q
20 P x Q R x P 2 1 R-K8 P-KB3.
B-B4 +
16 . . .
N-N5
1 7 K-R l
18 N-Ql
P-KB3 !
1 9 P-KR3
After l 9 P x P N3 x P ! 20 R x R +
R x R 2 1 Q-QB3 Q x N 22 Q x B,
Black would mate in three or win the
queen.
N-B7 +
19 . . .
BxN
20 N x N
P x P!
2 1 R-K2
P-K5
22 R x B
PxN
2 3 N-R6 +
Q-N2
24 Q- Q 1
2 5 Qx RP?
White should try 25 B-B3.
Now Black's pawns smash through
in the centre : 25 . . . Qx P 26 R-K l
P-Q5 27 P-B5 P-K6 28 R2-K2
N-B5 29 B-B l Q-N 3 30 Q-R4
N x R 3 1 Q-B4 + K-R l 32 R x N
Q-R3 33 Q- Q3 Qx Q 34 P x Q
P-B4 35 P-N4 P-B5 0- 1

Helms was one of the great men of
American chess. Although a strong
player until his death in 1 963, the day
after his 93rd birthday, he chose chess
journalism as his career. Co-founder
with Hartwig Cassel of the American
Chess Bulletin in 1 904, he was editor
until is ceased publication in Decem­
ber 1 962, a run of 59 years ! He edited
chess columns in several newspapers,
and he nurtured the careers of many
budding chess masters all the way
from Capablanca to Fischer.
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-N5 P-QR3 4 B-R4 N-B3 5 0-0
P-Q3 6 R-K l B-K2 7 P-B3 0-0
8 P-Q4 N-Q2 9 N l -Q2 P-KN3
10 N-B l B-B3
1 1 B-R6 B-N2
12 Q-Q2 R-K l 1 3 N-N3.
Not a good square for this knight,
but White needs it here for the
unsound attack he is planning.
1 3 . . . P-QN4 14 B-N3 N-R4
15 B x B K x B 16 P-KR4 R-QN l !
1 7 P-R5 P-QB4 1 8 B-Q5 N-N3
1 9 B x P ? K x B 20 Q-R6 K-N l
2 1 P x P R-N2 ! 22 N-R5 R-K3 !
23 P x BP R x P 24 Q-Q2 N3-B5
25 Q-K2 B-N5 26 N-N3 P x P 2 7
QR-QI Q-K B l 28 P-QN3 N-N3
29 Q-K3 B x N 30 P x B N-B3 3 1
K-B l N-Q2 32 K-K2 N-K2.

34

Match and Exhibition Games

Helms has defended well, but he
seems unable to win a won game.
Here, for instance, he might advance
his QNP securing an outpost at
Q5.
33 R-KR I P-QR4 34 R-R5 P-R5
35 R l -KR I R-N2 36 R-R6 Q-B5
37 Qx Q P x Q 38 N-R5 R-KB2
39 R-R6 P x P 40 P x P N-KN3 4 1
R-Ql K-B l 4 2 R-R8 + K-K2 43
R-KN8 P-N5 44 P-B4 N2-K4 45
N-N7 K-B3 ? 46 N-KB + K-K2
47 N-Q6 R-R2 48 R-K8 + K-B3
49 N x R R-R 7 + 50 R-Q2 R x R +
5 1 K x R N x KBP + 52 K-Ql K x N
53 R-QB8 P-R4 54 R x P N3-K4
55 K-K2 P-R5
56 K-B l P-R6
57 R-Q5 K-N3 (27) �-l-

This agreed result cut short an
interesting endgame. Black still has
winning chances, e.g. 58 P-B5 ?
N-R7 + and now 59 K-N l N4-B6 +
60 K-R l N-N5 or 59 K-K l P-B6
60 R x N N-N5
6 1 R-KB P-R7
62 R-KR8 N-R3 !
A patchy but interesting struggle ;
with an ingenuity born of desperation
Capablanea finds resource, even in
the most unlikely circumstances, and
aided by considerable luck he just
escapes unscathed.

27 JRC

-

Q. A. Brackett

Columbia-Harvard
New York, 20 December 1 906
Both Black's 9th and 1 2th moves are
imprecise ; and they permit White to
gain ground by 13 P-QN4, antici­
pating by some years the theory of
blockade as expounded by Nimzowitsch.
I P-K4 P-K3 2 P-Q4 P-Q4
3 N-QB3 N-KB3 4 P-K5 N3-Q2
5 P-B4 P-QB4 6 P x P B x P 7 Q-N4
0-0 8 N-B3 P-84 9 Q-R3 Q-- K l
1 0 B-Q3 N-QB3 1 1 N-QN5 Q-N3
12 P-B3 N-N3 13 P-QN4 ! B-K2
14 R-KNI Q-N5 15 Qx Q P x Q
16 N3-Q4 N x N 1 7 N x N B-Q2
1 8 B-K2 P-KR4 19 P-KR3 P x P
20 P x P QR-B l
Black could spare the king's rook
for this square, giving more support
to his counter-attack.
2 1 B-Q2 N-R5 22 R-QB l P-R4
23 P x P B-R6 24 R-N l N x P 25
B x N R x B 26 R x QNP R-BB +
27 B-Ql R x P 28 N-N3 R-K5 +
29 K-82 R-KB5 + 30 K-N3 R x B
3 1 R x R R-B2 32 P-R6 B-B3 33
R x R K x R 34 N-Q4 B-R l 35
N-N5 B-B4
36 R-QB I B-N3
37 R-B8 P-Q5
38 R x B P-Q6
39 K-B3 1 -0.

28

E. B. Burgess

-

JRC

Yale-Columbia
New York, 2 1 December 1 906
Both White's 8th and 1 1 th moves are
suspect. Black has the edge in a cut
and thrust game, and one gets the
impression that he could have done
better in the middlegamc.
I P-Q4 P-Q4 2 P-QB4 P-K3
3 N-QB3 N-KB3 4 B-N5 B-K2

Match and Exhibition Games
5 P-K3 0-0 6 N-B3 P-QN3 7 P x P

p x P 8 Q-B2 B-N2 9 B-Q3 P-KR3

JO B-R4 P-B4 1 1 0-0 P-B5 1 2 B-K2
P-R 3 1 3 P-QR3 N-K5 14 B x B
Q x B 1 5 N x N P x N 1 6 N-Q2
P- QN4 1 7 P-QN3 P x P 1 8 Qx NP
1 9 P-B3 B-Q4 20 Q-B3
R-Q I
P-B4 2 1 P x P P x P 22 R-B4 N-Q2
23 Q-N4 Qx Q 24 P x Q N-B3
25 R-B5 QR-B 1 26 B-QI R-B6
28 R-B5 ! N-Q4
27 N-B l B-85
29 B-N4 N x NP 30 B-K6 + K-R 1
3 1 N-Q2 R x KP 32 N x B P x :\'
33 R x BP N-Q6 34 P-R3 N-B5
35 P-QS R-KB l 36 R x RP R-K8 +
37 K-R2 R-K7 38 R-B8 N x B ? ( 28)

0- 1 .

Black should try 38 . . . R x P + but
he supposes White to have blundered.

35

attack, which has all the earmarks of
great haste, cannot be recommended.'
The haste was partly due, no doubt,
to Capablanca's arriving late, an
invariable habit in his early days.
1 P-K4 P-QB4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 P-Q4 P x P 4 N x P P-K3 5 B-K3
N-B3 6 N-QB3 B-K2 7 B-Q3 0-0
8 0-0 N x N 9 B x N P-QR3 I 0
P-K5 N-K l 1 1 P-B4 P-B4 1 2 R-B3
P-QN4 1 3 R-R3 P-N3 1 4 P-KN4
B-N2 1 5 P x P KP x P 1 6 Q-K l
N-N2 1 7 Q-N3 N-K3 1 8 B-K3
R-B2 19 K-B2 Q-B2 20 R-KN l
R l -KBI 2 1 N-K2 R-N2 22 N-Q4
B-K5 23 N x N P x N 24 B-Q4 B x B
25 Qx B R-Ql 26 P-B3 B-B4 2 7
Q-Q2 R2-Q2
28 R-Q3 Q-N3
29 R-Q l P-QR4 (29).

2;

�·

11 R

BE B

Bi

B

0 .§ B

B

•
White goes along with this view, not
eali z ing that 39 R6-R8 would draw.
Perhaps the best players have the best
luck ; at all events both Janowski
at New York 19 16, and Thomas at
Hastings 1 9 1 9, also resigned drawn
games against Cap ablanca !
r

29

JRC

-

W. M. Ward

Columbia-Princeton
New York, 2'2 Decembe r 1 906

Comm e nting on \·V hite's 1 2 th move
Helms writes 'The entire plan of

30 B x D ! ?
' . . . else Black . . . after exchanging
pieces, [would] emerge with a winning
ending', explains a con temporary ;
were this to happen a fter 30 Q-K3,
however, the pawn ending would be
drawn. All Capablanca's team - mates
are winning their games, and probably
he wants to do the same ; the er rors in
the following play seem to indicate
time-trouble, a factor in his favour,
for h e was alre ady well-known for his
skill at fast play.

36

Match and Exhibition Games

RxR
30 . . .
RxR
3 1 Q-K3
R l -Q7 +
32 B x Q
33 K-B3
R-Q6
R x Q+
34 B x P
R-QRB
35 K x R
36 P-QR3
R-R7
R x QRP
37 P-N4
R-R7 ?
38 K-Q4
There are several plans available
to Black : getting a passed pawn,
moving his king to the queen's side,
or moving it to attack the king's side.
He mixes them up, not knowing what
to do. Here he could win by 38 . . .
P-N4 ! 39 P x P P-B5, for instance.
K-N2
39 P-R4 !
40 B-Q8 ?
This should lose the bishop ; 40
K-B5 would be correct.
R-RB ?
40 . . .
41 K-B5
R-QBB
RxP
42 K x P
R-B5
43 K-N6
RxP
44 P-N5
R-B7
45 K-B5 !
K-B2
46 P-N6
R-B7 +
47 P-N7
R-Q7 +
48 K-Q6
R-QB7 +
49 K-B7
R-QN7
50 K-Q7
K-K l ?
5 1 K-B8
Advancing the passed pawn would
draw : 51 . . . P-B5 ! 52 P-N8 = Q
R x Q + 53 K x R P-B6 54 B-N6
P-R4 55 B-B2 P-N4 !
After the text-move White wins
efficiently : 52 B-B7 P-R3 53 P­
P-N8 = Q R x Q+ 54 B x R P-N4
55 P x P P x P 56 B-B7 P-B5 57
B-Q8 ! P-N5 58 B-N5 P-B6 59
B-R4 K-B2 60 K-Q7 K-N3 6 1
K x P K-R4 62 B-N3 K-N4 63
K-Q5 K-B4 64 P-K6 1 -0.

30 JRC

-

Otto Roething

New York, 1 4 March 1 909
Capablanca wanted some practice
games before he played his match
with Marshall. This is one of them,
played for a small stake, against one
of New York's leading players of the
time.
On the 1 4th move White begins a
plan which leads to his gaining a
queen's side majority, and on the 1 7th
move he deprives Black of the bishop­
pair by means of a temporary pawn­
sacrifice. These small gains are not
in themselves decisive ; the interest
of this game is Capablanca's ability
to make something of the rather
barren-looking ending with major
pieces.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-N5 P-QR3 4 B-R4 N-B3 5 0-0
B-K2 6 N-B3 P-Q3 7 B x N + P x B
8 P-Q4 P x P 9 N x P B-Q2 1 0
P-KR3 0-0 1 1 P-B4 R-K l 1 2 P-K5
N-Q4 1 3 Q-B3 N-N5 14 P-R3
P-QB4 1 5 P x N P x N 1 6 N-K4
B-QB3 1 7 N-B6 + ! B x N 18 Qx B
P x P 1 9 P x P R-K3 20 Q-B4 B x P
2 1 B-B4 ! Q- Q3
22 B x B Qx B
23 P-N5 ! P-QR4 ( 30).

24 KR-K l !

Match and Exhibition Games
White offers another sacrifice : his
rooks for the queen. Normally the
rooks would be stronger, but here the
situation of the pawns would favour
the queen.
Q-Q3
24 . . .
Q-N3
25 R/K l-Ql
P-QB3
26 R x QP
27 P x P
RxP
Q-B2
28 Q-N4 !
This is better than 28 . . . P-KN3
29 Q x Q R x Q 30 P-QN4 !
29 P-B3
P-KN3
R-N l
30 Q-N5
R-K3
3 1 Q-K2
32 Q-KB2
R I-K l
R-K4
33 R-Q2
R4-K3 ?
34 QR-QI
Black does not understand the end­
game. A pawn majority is often
indecisive in a rook-ending but
frequently decisive in a queen-ending.
He should therefore exchange the
queens rather than the rooks. Capa­
blanca now demonstrates the win
with an outside passed pawn, his
king challenging the Black queen
and making a tour right round the
board.
35 R-Q7 R-K8 +
36 R x R
R x R + 37 Qx R Qx R 38 Q-K5 !
Q-Q8 + 39 K-R2 Q-N6 40 Qx P
Qx NP 4 1 Q-B7 P-R4 42 P-B4
K-N2 43 P-B5 K-B3 44 Q-Q6 +
K-N2 45 P-B6 Q-B6 46 P-R4 K-R2
47 P-B7 Q-B5 48 K-N l ! Q-QB8 +
49 K-B2 Q-B7 + 50 K-K3 Q-B6 +
5 1 K-K4 Q-B5 + 52 K-K5 Q-B6 +
5 3 K-Q5 Q-QN6 +
54 K-B6
Q-B5 + 55 K-N7 Q-N6 + 56 K-B8
Q-N4 57 K-Q8 Q-R4 58 K-K8
Q-R l +
59 Q-Q8 Q-K5 +
60
Q-K7 Q-R l + 6 1 K x P Q-KN! +
62 K-B6 + K-R3 63 P-B8 = Q ! 1 -0.

31

37

Juan Corzo - JRC

Havana, 2 1 July 1 909
After an absence of nearly five years
during which Capablanca had grown
to manhood, and had defeated the
great Frank J. Marshall , he returned
home. All kinds of celebrations were
planned, including this exhibition
game against his childhood rival.
P-K4
I P-K4
2 N-QB3
N-QB3
B-N5
3 N-B3
Capablanca avoids well-known
lines, but the move is bad.
4 N-Q5
B-R4
5 B--B 4
Here, or on the next move, White
should play P-QB3, perhaps follow­
ing with P-QN4 and P-QR4.
N l-K2
5 . . .
6 N-K3
0-0
7 0-0
P-Q3
8 P-Q4
PxP
9 Nx P
NxN
I O Qx N
B--N 3
I I Q-Q3
N-N3
1 2 P-B4
White keeps out the knight; but he
weakens his pawns, and the initiative
passes to Black.
12 . . .
Q-B3
1 3 P-KN3
B--R6
1 4 R-B2
KR-K l ?
A rare mistake for Capablanca - he
moves the wrong rook !
PxP
1 5 P-K5 !
16 P x P
NxP
17 R x Q
NxQ
18 R x B
NxB
19 R x P
RxN
20 R x N
R-K2
2 1 B-Q5
B-K3
22 R x B P

38

Match and Exhibition Games

Corzo's fine combination has
brought him a distinct advantage,
but his endgame skill has evidently
not improved since it lost him the
match against Capablanca in 1 90 1 .
Here h e should play 2 2 B--N 2, main­
taining his threats.
22 . . .
RxR
23 B x R
B x P ! (3J)
A manoeuvre made famous by
Fischer sixty-two years later. Black
regains his pawn, having seen further
than White has seen.
31
w

24 B-K4
If 24 P-N3 then not 24 . . . B x P ?
25 R-Q l R-B l 26 B-N7 B x P 27
R-Q2 ! but 24 . . . P-N3 ! 25 B--Q5
P-QR4 26 B-B4 P-R5 27 R-R l
P x P 28 P x P R x B !
Instead
White makes a swift advance of his
pawn majority.
24 . . .
P-N3
25 K-B2
P-B4
26 B-Q3
B-Q4
27 P-QN4
K-B2
28 P-B4
K-B3
29 R-K I
B-K3
30 P-BS
P-N4
3 1 K-K3
P-KR4
32 K-Q4
R-Q2 +
P-B5
33 K-B3
B-R6
34 R-KB l
= .

B-B4 ! ?
35 R-B2
Black sees that 35 . . . K-K4 would
draw. Instead he makes this winning
attempt, which is so ineffective that
one supposes he has overlooked some­
thing.
36 B--N 5
R-QN2
37 B--R 6
PxP
38 R x B +
White could win more simply by
38 P x P R-K2
39 B-Q3 R-K4
40 P-B6.
38 . . .
KxR
PxP
39 B x R
40 B-Q5 ?
White should play 40 K-Q4 with
the idea of bringing his king to attack
Black's pawns before they advance
too far.
40 . . .
K-K4 !
4 1 K-B4
P-R5
42 P-N5
P-N5
PxP
43 P-N6
44 P x P
K-Q3
45 P-N7
K-B2
46 K-Q3
P-N6
47 K-K2
P-R6
48 K-B l
t-!

32

Juan Corzo - JRC

Havana, 3 1 July 1 909
This is the second game played
against Corzo by Capablanca on his
return home in 1 909. That on both
occasions he had the Black pieces and
defended in the same inferior way
suggests some pre-arrangement ; per­
haps a trial of a variation of Corzo's
favourite Vienna Opening. \Vere this
so then the games should not properly
be classified as exhibition games.
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-QB3 N-QB3
3 N-B3 B-N5 4 N-Q5 B-R4 5 B-B4

Match and Exhibition Games

39

N l -K2 6 0-0 P-Q3 7 P-Q4 B--KN5
There is nothing better. If64 K-K3
S P x P N x P?
K-B3 65 K-B4 N-Q2, or if64 B-K2
Capablanca falls into Legal's trap
K-B3 (completing Black's triangula­
(c. 1 75 0 ! ) , and loses a pawn.
tion) 65 B-B I N-Q2, in either case
9 N x N ! B x Q I O N-KB6 + K-BI
threatening 66 . . . N-N3.
1 2 N x Q+
64 . . . N-Q2 65 K-N6 N-N3
I I N6-Q7 + Q x N
K-K l
13 R x B K x N 14 B x P
66 K x P K-B2 67 B-R3 (32).
QR-KB I
1 5 B--R5 ! B-N3
16
B-N4 + K-K l 1 7 R-BI N-B3 1 8
B-K 3 ? B x B 1 9 P x B K-K2 20
R-B4 R-B3 2 1 R I -KB ! R l -KB I
22 P-QR3 N-K4 23 B-K2 N-Q2
24 B-B4 P-B3 25 P-KN4 ? R x R
26 P x R.
The endgame should, of course, be
drawn ; but it would be easier for
White if he were to continue 26 R x R
R x R 27 P x R N-B3 28 K-N2.
Instead he manages to get four iso­
lated pawns and to place them all on
It would seem probable that Black
light-coloured squares, positional
could win by 67 . . . N x BP, for if
hara-kiri one might say.
68 B-K6 + K x B 69 K-N7 N-K4
26 . . . N-B3 27 B-Q3 N x NP
70 P-R6 N-B2.
28 P-R3 N-B3 29 K-B2 P-KN4 !
Instead the game ended 67 . . .
30 K-K3 P x P + 3 1 R x P R-KN I
K-N I ? 68 K-N6 N x RP 69 K-B6
32 R-R4 P-N4
33 R-B4 R-N7
N-N3 70 P-K5 P x P 7 1 K x P P-R5
34 R-B2 R x R 35 K x R K-K3
72 B-B5 P-R6 73 B-N l N-R5 74
36 K-K3 K-K4 37 P-N3 N-Q2
B-R2 K-R2 75 K-Q6 K-R3 76
38 P-B4 ? P x P 39 P x P P-B4 40
K-B6 K x P 77 B-N3 t-!.
B-K2 N-NI
41 B-QI N-B3 42
B-K2 N-Q5 43 B-Ql N-K3 44
P-KR4 N-B5 45 P-R5 N-K3 46
33 JRC Walter Penn Shipley
B-K2 P-KR3 47 B-N4 N-Q5 48
Manhattan CC-Franklin CC
B-Ql K-B3
49 K-B4 N-K3 +
New York, 30 May 1 9 1 0
50 K-K3 N-Q5 5 1 K-B4 P-R3
52 P-R4 N-B3
'The dean of chess i n America for
53 B-K2 N-K4
54 B-B I P-R4.
several generations', writes the Ameri­
The pawns are all fixed, and Black
can Chess Bulletin of Shipley, on the sad
occasion of his death in 1 942. He
commences his final manoeuvres.
55 B-K2 N-Q2 56 B-QI N-N3
promoted correspondence chess in
57 B-N3 K-K3 58 K-B3 K-K4
USA, often acted as arbiter for chess
59 K-K3 N-Q2 60 B-Ql K-B3
disputes, being noted for his impartial
6 1 K-B4 N-K4 62 B-K2 K-K3 ! judgments, actively assisted Pillsbury,
63 B-B I K-K2 ! 64 K-B5.
Capablanca, and others in their chess
-

40

Match and Exhibition Games

careers, gave generously as a patron,
and edited an excellent chess column
in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
This is one of only four occasions
on which Capablanca played for his
club. His play is nicely balanced
between middle-game attack and
endgame advantage, with, of course,
the usual little combinative touches.
1 P-K4
P-K3
P-Q4
2 P-Q4
N-KB3
3 N-QB3
B--N 5
4 B-N5
Qx P
5 Px P
B x N+
6BxN
PxB
7 PxB
B-Q2
8 N-B3
8 . . . P-QN3 would be better.
B--B 3
9 Q-Q2 !
After 9 . . . B--N4 10 Q-B4 ! the
complications would favour White.
Q-K5 +
10 P-B4
R-N l
1 1 B--K 2
Black foregoes the possibility of
castling on this side, and White makes
a plan to prevent Black's castling on
the other side.
N-R3
12 0-0--0 !
If l 2 . . . R x P 1 3 P-Q5 B-Q2
1 4 KR-N I !
Q-N5
1 3 B-Q3
B-Q2
1 4 P-Q5 !
BxP
15 P x P
Q-R4
1 6 P-KR3
1 7 B-- K4
N-B4
If 1 7 . . . Q-QB4
1 8 KR-Kl
Q-R6 + 1 9 K-N l Q-N5 + 20 Q x Q
with the better +
endgame.
18 KR-K l
NxB
Here 1 8 . . . R x P, with difficult
play, would be the logical continua­
tion if Black's 1 1 th move were to be
j ustified.
Q-QB4
19 R x N

Now if 1 9 . . . R x P 20 Q-K3
Qx P 2 1 R-Q5 ! threatening R-R4.
20 Q-B3 !
R-Ql
Or 20 . . . K-K2 2 1 R-Q5 !
KxR
2 1 R x R+
22 Q x P +
K-B l
After 22 . . . K-K l the sacrifice
would not be clear. White has his
pawn, however, and might simply
continue 23 R-Q4.
Q-R6 +
23 R x B !
Q-N5 +
24 K-N l
Qx P
25 K-R l
The extra piece is decisive : 26 R-Kl
P-N3 2 7 P-N4 R-Ql 28 Q-B5 +
K-N l 29 Q-K4 R-Q8 + 30 K-N2
Q-N4 +
3 1 K-B3 Q-QB4 +
32
Q-QB4 Q-R6 + 33 Q-N3 Q-B4 +
34 K-N2 R x R 35 N x R Qx KBP
36 N-Q3 Q-B3 + 37 Q-B3 Q-B8
38 Q-R8 + K-N2 39 Qx P Q-B3 +
40 P-B3 Q-B6 41 N-K l Q-K7 +
42 N-B2 Q-N4 + 43 N-N4 ! P-R4
44 Q-K4 + K-N I 45 P-QR4 Q-B8
46 N-B6 + 1 -0. Black must exchange
queens or be checkmated.

34 JRC

-

Hermann G. Voigt

Philadelphia, 2 1 October 1 9 1 0
A n exhibition game of high quality.
Voigt played in ten of the famous
cable matches against Britain, scoring
3 + 2 - 5 ; he was also champion
of Philadelphia five times.
P-Q4
1 P-Q4
2 P-QB4
P-K3
3 N-QB3
N-KB3
B-K2
4 B-N5
5 P-K3
N-K5
Black should castle before playing
this move. Then he could, if necessary,
defend his QP with his KR.
=

Match and Exhibition Games
Qx B
6BxB
7 PxP
NxN
8 Px N
PxP
9 Q-N3
P-QB3
9 . . . Q-Q3 would be better.
After the passive text-move White
gets pressure on the queen's side, and
on the dark-coloured squares.
10 N-B3
N-Q2
I I P-B4
PxP
12 B x P
N-N3
1 3 0-0
0-0
1 4 P-QR4
NxB
I S Qx N
B-K3
1 6 Q--B3
B-Q4
1 7 N-KS
P-B3
1 8 N-Q3
Q-KS
1 9 N-B4
KR-K l
20 QR-N I
QR-N I
2 1 Q-RS ( 33)
White has a bind on the queen's
wing, and a central pawn majority
ready to expand. He has won the
positional struggle, and his pieces are
placed in readiness for the tactical
phase which follows.

21 . . .
B--BS
What else ? I f 2 1 . . . B-B2 'l2 KR-Kl
threatening both Q x RP and P-KB3.
If 2 1 . . . P-KN4 22 N x B Q x N
23 Qx RP. If 2 1 . . . P-QR3 22
KR-B l P-KN4
23 N x B Qx N

41

24 Qx Q with a won rook-ending.
22 KR-B l
P-QN4
Black sacrifices a pawn for counter­
play. 22 . . . B-R3 would leave White
a free hand in the centre.
23 P x P
PxP
24 Q x RP
R-R l
25 Q-BS
R-R7
Black threatens R x P, but White
has prepared a reply.
R-Q7
26 P-QS !
27 R-R I !
Seizing the remote open file. If now
27 . . . B x P 28 P-B3 ! Q x KP +
29 Qx Q R x Q 30 R-88 + K-B2
3 1 R-Q8 R-K4 32 R-R7 + .
27 . . .
P-N4
28 N-RS
Q-N3
29 P-N4 !
K-R l
Neither 29 . . . B x P 30 Q-B3 nor
29 . . . R x QP 30 Q-B6 would be
satisfactory. After the text-move Black
threatens 30 . . . R x QP, but he is
thwarted by an unexpected sacrifice.
30 R x B !
Px R
R-N7
3 1 Qx P
32 R-R7 !
Q-N8 +
R-NS
33 K-N2
Once again it seems that Black is
getting back on his feet, but another
blow falls.
34 R x P + !
Qx R
35 Q x R
Q-KB2
36 Q-Q4
R-K4
3 7 P-K4
Q-K2
38 P-Q6
1 -0
For if38 . . . Q-Ql 39 N x Pl Qx N
40 P-Q7. A very fine game indeed.

35 JRC

-

Miguel A. Gelly

Buenos Aires, 1 2 May 1 9 1 1
Black's 1 0th move seems natural, and

42

Afatch and Exhibition Games

others, including the great Pillsbury,
have so played ; but it is a decisive
error, which Capablanca exploits in
impeccable style.
This is the first of a series of thirteen
exhibition games against the best
players of Argentina. He won them
all.

I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 N-B3 N-B3 4 B-N5 B--N5 5 0-0
0-0 6 P-Q3 P-Q3 7 B-N5 B x N
8 P x B N-K2 9 N-R4 P-B3 I O
B-QB4 B-K3 ? 1 1 B x N P x B 1 2
B x B P x B 1 3 Q-N4 + K-B2 1 4
P-KB4 N-N3 15 P-B5 P x P 1 6
R x P ! N-B5
1 7 R-KB I R-KN I
19 P-N3 K-Q2
1 8 Q-B3 K-K3
20 K-R l N-K3 2 1 Q-RS ! N-N4
22 R x BP K-B2 23 N-N2 Q-Kl
24 Q-R6 R-N3 25 R x R Q x R 26
Q x Q Px Q 27 R-B6 N-R6 28
N-K3 1 -0.

36 JRC - Carlos M. Portela
Buenos Aires, 15 May 1 9 1 1
Black's early greed is punished by a
decisive king's side attack. Note
White's brilliant 2 l st move, giving
back the piece he has gained in order
to keep the diagonal open for his
bishop.

1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 N-B3 N-B3 4 B-NS B-NS 5 0-0
0-0 6 P-Q3 P-Q3 7 B-NS N-K2
8 N-KR4 K-R I ? 9 B-QB4 P-B3
1 0 P-B4 B-QB4 + 1 1 K-R l N-N5 ?
1 2 P-B5 ! N-B7 + 1 3 R x N B x R
1 4 P-B6 ! P x P 1 5 B x P + K-N l
1 7 P x B Q-Q2
16 N-B5 B x N
18 Q-N4 + N-N3 1 9 Q-R5 B-K6
20 P x N P-KR3 2 1 N-Q5 ! P x N
22 B x QP QR-B I 23 R-KB I R x P

24 P x P + R x P 25 Q-N6 + K-BI
26 B x R 1-0.
37

Leopoldo Carranza - JRC

Buenos Aires, 19 May 1 9 1 1
Capablanca opens in the manner of
Steinitz and advances his pawns in a
way that would have delighted the
heart of Philidor ; but the magnificent
ending with rooks is one of his own
specialities.

1 P-K4
2 N-KB3
3 N-B3
4 B-N5
5 P-Q4
6 P x P?
7 B-N5
8 Q-Q3
9 B-QR4
1 0 B/N5 x N
I I N-Q5
12 B x N

P-K4
N-QB3
P-Q3
N-K2
P-B3
BP x P
B-N5
P-QR3
P-R3
BxB
0-0

This exchange does not help White's
game. He could play 12 B-N3.
Alternatively Capablanca gives the
following : 1 2 Q-N3 ! K-R2 13 Qx P

B x N 1 4 B x N R-QN I 1 5 Q x BP
Qx Q 1 6 N x Q B x NP 1 7 R-KNI
B-R6 1 8 R-N3 B-B l , noting that
Black would have sufficient compen­
sation for the pawn.

12 . . .
13 N x B+
1 4 N-Q2
1 5 0-0

PxB
Qx N
B-K3

Now Black's pawns roll forward.
White should try 1 5 P-QB4.

15 . . .
1 6 P-KB3
1 7 K-R l
18 N-N3
1 9 Q-B3

P-Q4 !
Q-B4 +
P-QR4 !
Q-N3
P-Q5

43

Match and Exhibition Games
BxN
20 Q-B5
PxQ
2 1 Qx Q
P-B4
22 RP x B
K-B2 !
23 K-N I
Black crosses the KB-file at the
right moment ; if now 24 P-KB4 P x P
25 R x BP + K-K3 26 R l -KB I R x R
27 R x R P-R5 ! and wins.
K-K3
24 K-B2
P-QN4
25 K-K2
P-N4
26 K-Q2
P-R4
27 P-R3
P-KR5
28 P-KN4
29 K-K2 (34)

38 Emilio Carranza JRC
Buenos Aires, 22 May 1 9 1 1
-

Senor Carranza misses a chance to
join the immortal few who defeated
Capablanca.
White opens too passively ; on the
1 4th move he should contest rather
than occupy the centre, e.g. 14 0-0-0
perhaps following with P-KB4. Of
Black's 20th move the less said the
better : even Homer nods from time to
time. 20 . . . Q-B3 would maintain
Black's advantage.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-K83 N-QB3
3 B-N5 P-QR3 4 B x N QP x B 5
P-Q3 8-Q3 6 N-83 8-KN5 7
B-K3 N-K2 8 P-KR3 B-R4 9
P-KN4 B-N3 1 0 Q-Q2 P-Q84 ! 1 1
N-KR4 P-K83 1 2 N-85 N x N 1 3
14 N-K4 P-QN3
KP x N 8-B2
1 5 P-N3 B-K2 1 6 P-KB4 P x P 1 7
B x KBP Q-Q2 1 8 Q-B3 P-QR4
1 9 P-QR4 P-B5 ! 20 0-0-0 B-N5 ? ?

(35) .
This game answers the charge that
Capablanca was merely a 'piece­
player'. He has already made six­
teen pawn-moves ; moreover he has
achieved a won two-rooks ending,
although neither rook has yet moved !
The endgame is beautifully played,
the pawns advancing relentlessly. At
the finish White runs out of moves
altogether.
29 . . . R-B2 30 R-B2 R2-QR2
3 1 K-Q3 P-R5 32 P x P P-B5 +
33 K-Q2 R x P 34 R-QN I R-R8
35 R2-8 1 R x R 36 R x R R-R7
37 K-Ql P-N5 38 K-Q2 K-Q3
39 K-Q l K-B4 40 P-N3 P-B6 4 1
R-B I P-Q6 ! 4 2 P x P R-KR7 43
R-82 R-R8 + 44 K-K2 K-Q5 ! 0- 1 .

.. .
m

•

• ft •

• ft .

•

�-

•

2 1 Q-N2 ? ?
I t is not even difficult to see that
White could win quickly by 2 1
N x P + ! P x N 2 2 KR-KI + .
21 . . .
Q-83
The game, as Alekhine would say
when he himself had emerged un-

44

Match and Exhibition Games

scathed after a blunder, resumes its
natural course.
P-B6
22 K-N l
0-0-0
23 Q-B l
24 Q-K3
A mistake, but in any case Black
would win in due course by P-QN4,
breaking through on the queen's side.
B x P!
24 . . .
P-B7 +
25 Px B
Px R=Q
26 K-R2
0- 1
39 JRC - Lizardo Molina Carranza
Buenos Aires, 26 May 1 9 1 1
After Black's faulty 8th move White
could probably gain some advantage
by steady play. Instead he goes for a
sacrificial attack, a temptation one
could hardly resist. The idea is old
enough, but there are many new and
pretty variations.
1 P-Q4 P-Q4 2 P-QB4 P-K3
3 N-QB3 N-KB3 4 B-N5 N l-Q2
5 P-K3 P-B3 6 N-B3 B-K2 7 P x P
N x P 8 B x B N x B 9 B-Q3 P-QB4
1 0 0-0 0-0 1 1 P x P N x P 1 2 B x P + !
K x B 1 3 N-KN5 + K-N3 1 4 Q-N4
(36) .

If 1 4 . . . P-K4 1 5 N-K6 + K-B3
1 6 P-B4 ! P-K5 1 7 Q-N5 + K x N
1 8 Q-K5 + K-Q2 1 9 KR-QI +
N-Q6 20 N x P.
1 5 Q-N3
K-R 3 ?
After 1 5 . . . P-B5 ! 1 6 P x P N-B4
18 Q-N3 N-B4
1 7 Q-N4 N-R3
(Em. Lasker) it would seem that
White has nothing better than to
draw by repetition of moves.
K-N3
1 6 Q-R4 +
K-B3
1 7 Q-R7 + !
Or 1 7 . . . K x N 1 8 Q x NP +
K-R4 1 9 P-B4.
18 P-K4
N-N3 !
Threatening to trap White's queen.
If at once 18 . . . R-R l then 1 9
P-K5 + K x P 2 0 Qx R !
19 Px P
19 P-B4 would be stronger Capablanca.
19 . . .
PxP
20 QR-Ql
N-Q6
2 1 Q-R3
N6-B5
Black still cannot take the knight :
21 . . . KxN
22 R x N Q-R4
23 R-Q6 !
22 Q-N3
Q-B2
23 KR-K l
N-K7 +
There is nothing to be done, e.g.
23 . . . B-Q2 24 N-Q5 + ! N x N
25 N-R 7 + K-B2 26 Qx Q N x Q
2 7 R x B + K-N l 28 N x R.
24 R x N
Qx Q
25 N-R7 + !
K-B2
26 RP x Q
R-R l
27 N-N5 +
K-B3
28 P-B4
1 -0
40

JRC - Jorge Nollman
Buenos Aires, 29 May 1 9 1 1

14 . . .

P-B4

A curious game, quite unlike Capa­
blanca's usual s tyle. On his 4th move

Match and Exhibition Games
he seeks to gain a centre pawn for a
wing pawn ; even so the chances
remain about even until Black deserts
his queen's side by his 1 6th and 20th
moves ; and there he loses a pawn.
1 P-Q4 P-Q4 2 P-QB4 P-QB4
3 QP x P P-Q5 ! 4 P-QN4 P-QR4
6 N-KB3 N-QB3
5 B--N2 P x P
7 N x P N-B3 8 P-N3 P-K4 9 N x N
Qx Q+ 1 0 K x Q P x N 1 1 B-N2
B--N2 1 2 N-Q2 N-Q2 1 3 P-K3
N x P 1 4 K-K2 P-B3 1 5 KR-Ql
N-R5 1 6 QR-N I R-Ql 17 B-QR I
18 N-N3 B--K2 1 9 N-R5
B--R l
R-QB I 20 P-B4 0-0 ? 2 1 R-Q7
B--Q l 22 R x QNP P-QB4 23 R x N
B x B 24 R-R7 (37) .
White avoids the pinning of his
knight, for if instead he moves it his
rooks will be forked. All his pieces are
stranded on the edge of the board, yet
he disentangles them successfully,
having foreseen, no doubt, that his
rooks can escape the wrath of the
enemy minor pieces.

24 . . . B-B2 25 N-N3 P x P 26
NP x P KR-K l
27 K-B2 B-B3
28 R-R3 R-K5 29 N-Q2 R-K2
30 R3-R6 B-K l 3 1 R-R8 B-N l .
Black pins his faith in a combina­
tion ; it would be better to exchange
rooks, when his bishop-pair would be

45

some compensation for the pawn
minus.
32 R-N6 B x P 33 R x R B x KBP+
34 K-K2 B-Q5 + 35 K-B3 B x B
36 N-K4 ! B-K4 37 N-Q6 B x N
38 R6 x B K-B2 39 R x QBP R-R2
40 R-Q2 P-N4.
White's next task is to get the rook
at QB5 behind rather than in front
of the pawn ; but first he takes preven­
tive action on the king's side.
4 1 P-KR4 P x P
42 R-KR5
B-B3 + 43 K-N4 K-N3 44 R-QB5
P-R4 + 45 K x P B-B6 46 R-QN5
R-R5 47 K-N3 B-B3 48 R-QB5
R-R6 + 49 K-R2 B-B6 50 R-QN5
B--N5 5 1 R-N3 R-R5 52 R-QB3
B-K3 53 P-B5 B x P 54 P-B6 B-K3
55 P-B7 R-R I 56 R-'Q8 1-0.
41 JRC Benito H. Villegas
Buenos Aires, 2 June 1 9 1 1
-

1 P-Q4
P-Q4
2 P-K3
N-KB3
3 N-Q2
White reserves the option of an old­
fashioned queen's fianchetto (which
he later chooses) , a Colle system (then
well-known to him), or a stonewall
system.
3...
P-K3
P-B4
4 B-Q3
N-B3
5 N I-B3
B-Q2
6 0-0
R-B l
7 P-QN3
Instead Black should play 7 . . .
B-Q3 8 B-N2 Q-K2 9 N-K5 (else
Black advances his KP) 9 . . . P x P
1 0 P x P B-R6 !
8 P-QR3 !
Preventing
Black's
threatened
N-QN5 and, more importantly,
preventing the bishop-exchange given

46

Match and Exhibition Games

the preceding note. White 1s
winning the battle for the centre.
8...
PxP
9 PxP
B-Q3
I O P-B4
0-0 ?
I 0 . . . P x P would be better.
I I P-B5
White now has a positionally won
game. Capablanca's strategy is inter­
esting : he does not rush ahead with
his pawn majority, but plays to pre­
vent counter-play in the centre or on
the king's side ; after Black's 23rd
move, for instance, counter-action on
the KB-file is prevented even before
it has begun.
1 1 . . . B-Nl
12 B-N2 P-KN3
1 3 P-QN4 N-KR4 14 R-K l Q-B3
15 P-N5 N-K2 1 6 P-QR4 N-B5
1 7 B-KBI P-N4 18 N-K5 B x N
1 9 R x B N5-N3 20 R-K l N-B4
2 1 N-B3 P-KR3 22 N-K5 KR-QI
23 N x N P x N 24 Q-Q2 R-B l
25 P-R5 R-KB2 26 P-R6 P x P
27 R x RP R-N l 28 R-R5 B-K l
29 R l -R l R l -N2 30 B-B3 P-N5
3 1 P-B6 R/N2-B2 32 Q-B4 P-R4
33 B-Q3 Q-Q l 3 4 B-N4 N-R5
35 Q-K5 R-B6 (38) .
A joke which rebounds on the
joker.
m

36 R x P ! R x R

37 R x R B-B2

38 P-B7 Q-B l 39 P x R ! N x P +
K-N2 N x Q 41 P x N B-K l
42 P-N6 1 -0.
40

42 Benito H. Villegas JRC
Buenos Aires, 5 June 1 9 1 1
-

White weakens his pawns ( 1 3 P-KR4)
and moves away his king which
might otherwise defend them ( 1 6
0-0-0) ; and Capablanca gives yet
another aemonstration of his genius
for the endgame.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 N-B3 P-Q3 4 P-Q4 B-N5 5
B-QN5 P x P 6 Qx P B x N 7 P x B
Q-Q2 8 Q-R4 P-QR3 9 B-K3
R-N l IO B-K2 P-KN3 ! 1 1 N-Q5
(if ! ! B-Q4 P-QN4 12 N x P P x N
1 3 B x P R x B ! ) I I . . B-N2 1 2
P-B3 N l-K2 1 3 P-R4 ? N x N 1 4
P x N N-K2 1 5 Qx Q+ K x Q 1 6
0-0-0 ? R/N l-Kl (39).
White has misjudged the position
in supposing that his bishops com­
pensate for his weak pawns.
.

17 P-KB4
If l 7 B-Q4 B x B 1 8 R x B N x P,
or if 1 7 P-R5 N-B4 18 R-Q3 B-R3.
17 . . .
P-KR4
White's KRP is now a fixed target.
18 B-B l
K-Ql

Match and Exhibition Games
KR-N I !
1 9 B-R3
A mysterious rook's move, echoed
in reverse five moves later.
20 P-B4
N-B4 !
21 BxN
PxB
Now Black also has doubled and
isolated pawns, but with a difference :
they cannot easily be attacked.
B-B3
22 QR-N I
23 K-Q2
RxR
R-R l !
24 R x R
After 24 . . . B x NP 25 R-QN I or
24 . . . B x RP 25 R-KR I White
would get some counterplay.
25 P-N4
If 25 R-KR l R-KN I ! and Black
would control the remote open file.
BxP
25 . . .
26 B-Q4
R-R3 !
B--K2
27 K-K2
K-Q2
28 R-N8 +
29 K-B3
29 K-B l would be better.
P-R5
29 . . .
P-B4 !
30 R-N7
Black broadens the front ; if 3 1
P x Pep + P x P, and now 32 R-Nl
R-K3, or 32 R x P P-R6.
3 1 NP x P
Black gets a passed pawn on both
wings, and the rest is easy : 3 1 . . .
P x P 32 B-K3 P-R6 33 R-N I P-N4
34 K-K2 P x P 35 K-Q2 K-Q3
36 K-B3 K x P 3 7 P-B3 B--B3 + 0-1 .
43 JRC - Julio A. Lynch
Buenos Aires, 7 June 1 9 1 1
White misses a chance on his 1 2 th
move ( 1 2 N x N P x N 1 3 B-KR6 +
K-K2 14 R-Kl + K-Q2 1 5 Q-R5)
and he has to start winning all over
again.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3

47

3 N-B3 N-B3 4 B-N5 B-N5 5 0-0
P-Q3 ? 6 N-Q5 ! B-QB4 7 P-Q4
P x P 8 N x QP B-Q2 9 N-B5
R-KN I 1 0 B-N5 B x N I I P x B
K-B l 1 2 P-QN4 B-Q5 ! 1 3 P-QB3
P-KR3 ! 1 4 B-KR4 B-N3 1 5 B5 x N
P x B 1 6 N x N P x N 1 7 Q-R5
R-R l 1 8 KR-K l P-R4 19 P-QR3
P-Q4 20 QR-QI P x P 2 1 RP x P
P-B4 22 Q-B3 P-B3 23 P-N5 (40) .

23 . . .
R-R5
Black has defended well, and here
he could play 23 . . . R-R6 ! Before
making this move, however, he
decides to drive away White's bishop.
This attempted finesse is met by a
brilliant sacrifice.
24 P x P !
RxB
25 R x P
Q-N l
2 6 P-N3
R-R5
R-QR2
27 R-Q7
28 Q-R5
RxR
K-N2
29 P x R
If 29 . . . Q-Q3 (best ) 30 R-K8 +
K-N2
3 1 Q-N4 + K-R2
32
R-K6 ! - the point of White's combination. Now if 32 . . . P x R 33
Q-N6 mate, or 32 . . . Q-B2
33
R-K7 R-KB l 34 Q-N6 + ! and wins ;
but Black could offer fair resistance
by 32 . . . Qx QP, giving back the
piece.

Match and Exhibition Gam.£s

48
30 R-K7
3 1 Q-N6 + !
32 Q x RP +
33 R-K4

R-KB I
K-R l
K-N l
1 -0

44 JRC Rolando Illa
Buenos Aires, 9 June 1 9 1 l
-

Capablanca makes a sustained and
brilliant attack against the best player
of Argentina, an opponent worthy of
his steel. The notes are based on those
in My Chess Career.
P-Q4
l P-Q4
2 P-K3
N-KB3
3 N-Q2
P-K3
White soon gets a slightly favour­
able variation of the stonewall
opening, which Black could avoid in
various ways : here, for instance, by
3 . . . B-B4.
4 B-Q3
P-B4
5 P-QB3
N-B3
6 P-KB4
B-Q3
0-0
7 N-R3
8 0-0
N-K2
9 K-Rl
B-Q2
1 0 N-B3 !
Black could ease his task if he
could advance his KN to KS, the
theme of the struggle which follows ;
but if now l O . . . N-KS l l B x N
P x B 1 2 N-KS with advantage.
B-B3
lO . . .
Q Kl
1 1 N-KS
Not l l . . . N-KS 1 2 B x N P x B
1 3 N x B N x N 1 4 N-NS winning a
pawn.
1 2 P-QR4 !
White prevents both B-N4 and
N-KS, e.g. 12 . . . N-KS 1 3 P x P
B x P ( 1 3 . . . N x P/B4 1 4 B x P + )
1 4 P-QN4 and 1 5 P-NS.
P-QR3
12 . . .

1 3 P-QN3
P-QN4
14 RP x P
RP x P
15 R x R
Qx R
16 P x P
BxP
1 7 Q-K2
P-NS
18 p x p
B x NP
1 9 B-N2
Q-Q l ?
Black misses his chance : 1 9
N-KS !
20 N-NS !
Rather than play 20 N x B N x N
2 1 Q-QB2 winning a pawn , White
seeks a decisive attack. This is a very
self-confident decision considering
the complexities of the following com­
bination.
20 . . .
B-R l
20 . . . N-KS would lose a pawn ;
and if 20 . . . P-R3 2 1 N x B N x N
22 B x N P x B 23 N-R7 R-Kl 24
Q-N4 + K-R l
25 Q-RS K-N2
26 R-B3 and wins.
2 1 N-N4 !
N-N3
If 2 1 . . . N-KS 22 B x N P x B
23 B x P ! K x B 24 Q-N2 + winning
Black's queen .
22 B2 x N
PxB
23 N-R6 +
K-N2
24 N6 x P l
Q-K l
24 . . . R x N would lose the queen.
PxN
25 Q-RS
26 Q-R6 + ! (4/)

-

26 . . .

K-N l

Match and Exhibition Games
If 26 . . . K x N
27 Qx R P +
K-B3 28 B x N, and now 28 . . .
R-R l after which White mates in
six, or 28 . . . Qx B 29 P x P + K-K4
30 Q-QB7 + K-K5 3 1 R x R Q-R4
3 2 Q-KB4 + K-Q6 33 Q-Q4 +
K-K7 34 R x B.
27 N x P
1-0
After 27 . . . Q-K2 28 B x N P x B
30 Qx Q+
29 Qx P + Q-KN2
K x Q 3 1 N x P + White would have
a winning advantage in material.
45

Rolando Illa JRC
Buenos Aires, 1 2 June 1 9 1 1
-

Against Maroczy at San Sebastian,
1 9 1 1 , Capablanca had played 1 3 . . .
B x B followed by an early draw.
Here he improves by 1 3 . . . B-N4,
gaining a little time on the bishop
exchange.
I P-K4 P-K3 2 P-Q4 P-Q4
3 N-QB3 N-KB3 4 B-N5 B-N5
5 P x P Qx P 6 B x N B x N + 7
P x B P x B 8 N-B3 B-Q2 9 P-N3
B-B3 I O B-N2 Q-K5 + 1 1 Q-K2
N-Q2 1 2 N-R4 Qx Q+ 1 3 K x Q
B-N4 + ! 1 4 K-Q2 0-0-0 1 5 QR­
QN l B-R3 1 6 B-Bl B x B ! 7 KR x B
KR-N I (42).

Capablanca has reached the end-

49

game phase he loved so well, and now
he threatens R-KN4-QR4.
Both sides have weak pawns, but
Black's are the harder to assail, a
difference which is by no means
decisive. However, a weakness is a
weakness only if it can be attacked ; if
one player can force the other on the
defensive then his own weakness is of
no account, and he may have a strong
or even a decisive advantage. By
clever play Capablanca does just this.
18 P-KB4 ?
White leaves a hole at K4, and bars
the way for a possible attack on Black's
king' side.
18 . . .
P-KB4
1 9 N-B3
N-B3
20 R-N3
20 K-Q3 would be better.
N-K5 +
20 . . .
2 1 K-K3
R-Q4 !
22 R-K l ?
For what purpose ? Now Black gets
strong pressure on the queen's side.
22 R-R3 or 22 R l-QN I could be
tried.
22 . . .
R-R4
23 P-QR3
P-B4
N-Q3 !
24 N-Q2
25 R-QR I
R-Ql
26 P-QR4
R-Q2
R-B2 !
27 R3-R3
28 K-Q3
If 28 N-N3 P x P +
29 P x P
N-B5 + 30 K-Q3 N x R, winning a
pawn.
28 . . .
P-B5 +
29 K-K3
R-B3
30 R-QN I
R3-R3 !
This rook finally completes its
remarkable journey, and Capablanca
wins his pawn.
P-N4
3 1 R-N4

50

Match and Exhibition Games

32 K-K2
RxP
33 R3 x R
RxR
PxR
34 R x R
35 K-Ql
K-N2
36 K-B l
K-B3
K-Q4
37 K-N2
38 K-R3
N-N4 +
39 K x P
N x BP +
40 K-N4
N-R7 +
41 K-R3
N-B8
42 P-B3
P-B3
43 K-N2
N-Q6 + ?
After forty-two moves of impeccable
play Capablanca falters. He could
win here by 43 . . . N-N6 ! and now
44 N x N P x N with a won pawn­
ending, or 44 N-N l P-QR3 ! 45
N-R3 N-R4 46 K-B2 K-K5 and the
Black king enters.
P-QR3 ?
44 K-B2
44 . . . P-QR4 would be correct.
45 N-B l !
Presumably
Capablanca over­
looked this move, which threatens to
win his QBP.
N-K8 +
45 . . .
N-N7
46 K-Q2
P-QR4
47 K-K2
P-R4
48 N-Q2
49 P-R4
It was reported that a large crowd
showed 'great enthusiasm' watching
this game. Their champion has
trapped the mighty Cu ban's knight !
If, however, 49 K-B2 P-QR5 50
N-N l K-K5 5 1 K x N K-Q6 ! and
Black wins.
P-K4
49 . . .
49 . . . P-R5 would be better, but
the game should still be drawn.
50 QP x P
PxP
P-R5
51 P x P
52 P-K6
52 N x P would be more precise.

52 . . .
53 N x P
54 P x P ?
54 K-B2 N-K6
draw.
54 . . .

KxP
P-B5
55 N-R3 would
N x RP ! (43)

This endgame is of great theoretical
interest : it would seem that two passed
pawns six files apart can defeat two
passed pawns two files apart. The
following play, which includes a few
superfluous repetitions, requires no
special comment :
55 K-B2 N-B4 56 K-B3 N-Q3 !
57 N-R3 K-Q4 58 K-N3 N-B4 +
59 K-B3 K-B4 60 K-N2 K-B3
6 1 K-B2 K-Q4 62 K-B3 N-Q3
63 K-N3 N-B4 + 64 K-B3 K-B3
65 K-N2 P-R5 66 K-R3 K-Q4
67 K-N4 K-K5 68 P-B4 K-Q5 0- 1 .
Black wins the QBP, and then wins
the knight for his QRP.
46 Jorge Nollman - JRC
Buenos Aires, 23 June 1 9 1 1
A feeble opening by White leads to a
nice king-hunt.
I P-Q4 P-QB4 2 P-Q5 P-Q3
3 P-QB4 P-KN3 4 B-Q2 B-N2
5 B-B3 N-KB3 6 N-Q2 0-0 7 P-K4
P-K3 8 B-K2 P x P 9 BP x P R-K I

Match and Exhibition Games

1 0 Q-B2 P-QR3 1 1 P-QR4 Q-K2
12 B x N Qx B 1 3 R-NI B--Q2 1 4
P-QN4 ? R-QB I 1 5 Q-N3 P-QN4
1 6 NP x P QP x P 1 7 P x P P x P
1 8 B x P B x B 1 9 Qx D P-B5 ! 20
N x P N-Q2 2 1 N-Q2 QR-N I 22
Qx N R x R + 23 N x R R-B8 +
25 K-K3
24 K-K2 Q-R3 +
R x N/QN8 26 Q-K8 + B-B l 27
Q-B6 (44) .
44
B

.

• t•t
• t•
. ft . •
B B ft B •
•

The game ends with an artistic
touch, a repeat theme in which
Black's bishops checks on the short
diagonal and each time White
answers with a pawn advance block­
ing his king's escape.
27 . . . B--R 3 + ! 28 P-D4 R-N6 +
29 K-Q4 B--N2 + ! 30 P-K5 Q-Q6 +
3 1 K-B5 B-Bl + ! 32 P-Q6, and
Black mates in four.
47 JRC - Rolando Illa
Buenos Aires, 26 June 1 9 1 1
Illa starts well, gaining the bishop­
pair, but he later misjudges the
situation - an unfortunate tendency
when playing Capablanca !
l P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-N5 P-QR3 4 B-R4 N-B3 5
P-Q3 P-Q3 6 N-B3 P-KN3 7
B-KNS B-N2 8 Q-Q2 P-R3 9 B-K3

51

N-KN5 1 0 P-KR3 N x B 1 1 P x N
B--K3 1 2 P-Q4 B-Q2 1 3 0-0 0-0
14 R-B2 Q-K I
1 5 N-Q5 R-BI
16 B-N3 N-K2 1 7 N-B3 P-QB4 ?
Black leaves a gaping hole on Q4 ;
instead he should exchange pawns,
gaining scope for his KB.
1 8 P x KP P x P 1 9 R-QI B x P ?
Black weakens White's king's side
which he has no means of attacking
and concedes White a pawn majority
which has every prospect of
advancing.
20 P x B P-B5 2 1 B--R4 P-QN4
22 Q-Q7 P x B
23 Qx P R-B3
24 N-Q5 N x N 25 P x N R-N3
26 Qx BP R x P 27 Qx P Q-B l
2 8 Q x Q R x Q 2 9 P-Q6 R x RP
30 P-B4 R-R2 3 1 P-B5 R-Q2 32
R-Q5 P-B3 33 N-R4 P-N4 34 N-B5
B--B l 35 P-K4 K-B2 36 R x P ! 1-0.
48 JRC - AHredo Anaya
Montevideo, 7 July 1 9 1 1
To end his South-American tour
Capablanca played two exhibition
games against each of two of the
strongest players of Uruguay.
P-Q4
I P-Q4
2 N-KB3
P-K3
3 P-K3
P-QB4
N-KB3
4 N l -Q2
5 B-Q3
N-B3
6 0-0
Q-B2
Not bad if correctly followed up ;
but 6 . . . B-Q3 would be simpler.
B--Q2
7 P-QN3
P-QN3
8 B--N2
Here Black should play 8 . . . P x P
9 P x P N-QN5.
9 N-K5 !
Very forceful ; White could instead
maintain a small advantage by

52

Match and Exhibition Games

9 P-QR3 or 9 P-B4.
B--Q3
9...
PxP
10 P-KB4
11 PxP
N-QNS
1 2 P-B4 !
NxB
White's bold play sets Black a dif­
ficult choice. The alternative would
be 1 2 . . . B x N 1 3 BP x B N x B
1 4 P x N N x B 1 5 P x P KR-N I
16 Q-B2 P x P !
0--0
13 N x N
Q-N2
1 4 R-B l
14 . . . P x P might be better again Black has a difficult choice. In
either case White maintains a firm
grip on the centre.
B-K2
1 5 P-QBS !
1 6 P-QR4 !
To restrict Black's QB, and better
than 1 6 P-QN4 B--N4 !
16 . . .
P-QR4
QR-N I
1 7 N-B3
KR-B l
1 8 B--R 3
1 9 N/B3-K5
PxP
The threatened P-B6 could be
better met by 1 9 . . . B-B l .
B x B?
20 B x P
Losing the exchange. Either 20 . . .
Il-K l or 20 . . . B--Q l should be played.
Q-R2
2 1 N3 x B
22 N/BS x B
NxN
RxN
23 N-B6
24 R x R
Q-N2
Qx P
25 Q-B2
RxQ
26 Qx Q
R-NS
27 R-R6
28 R-R8 +
N-B l
29 R-B l
1-0
49 Jose F. Berasain - JRC
Montevideo, 10 July 1 9 1 1
Black's experiment (6 . . . P-QN4)
leads to a curious draw by repetition.

1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B--NS P-QR3
4 B--R4 N-B3
5 P-Q4 P x P 6 0-0 P-QN4 7 B-N3
B-- K2 8 P-KS N-KS 9 B--QS N-B4
1 0 N x P B-N2 1 1 N-BS 0-0 12
Q-N4 P-N3 1 3 B x N B x B 1 4
B--R 6 R-Kl
1 5 N-N7 ! R-KB I
1 6 N-BS R-Kl 1 7 N-N7 R-KB l

t+
50 Alfredo Anaya - JRC
Montevideo, 1 3 July 1 9 1 1

A marathon struggle in romantic
style. Capablanca's 5th move would,
no doubt, be claimed by the hyper­
moderns who invented themselves
about ten years later. Black's idea,
however, is merely to exchange his
bad bishop.
1 P-QR3 P-K4 2 P-QB4 N-KB3
3 N-QB3 P-B4 4 P-K4 N-B3 5
P-Q3 B--Q3 6 N-R3 B-B2 7 P-B4
P-Q3 8 P-BS B--R 4 9 B--K2 B x N +
10 P x B P-KR3 1 1 0-0 B--Q2 1 2
B-K3 Q-R4 1 3 Q-N3 0-0--0 1 4
QR-N I P-QN3 (45) .

Capablanca shuts out his queen.
For more than twenty moves she
remains as a standing threat on the
queen's side whilst his other pieces
manoeuvre on the king's side. Aston-

Match and Exhibition Games

ishingly, this extraordinary plan
works !
Black proceeds systematically, but
White, for a time, doesn't know what
to do, and his moves are hard to
explain. He might, for instance,
advance his knight to Q5, or drive
away the enemy queen in order to
advance the QRP, or do both.
Eventually he decides to advance the
QP, not a particularly good plan
because his pawns become harder to
defend.
15 Q-N2 QR-B l 16 R-B2 K-B2
1 7 K-R l N-K2 1 8 N-N l B-B3 1 9
B-Ql P-N3 2 0 P x P P x P 2 1
P-QR4 P-KN4 2 2 Q-Q2 N-N3
23 R-QB I N-B5 24 R-Bl R-R2
25 B-B3 R2-B2 26 B x N NP x B
27 R/KB I -K l P-R4 28 Q-K2 R-R2
30 N-B2 P-R5
29 N-R3 B-Q2
3 1 N-R3 R-KN I 32 P-Q4 B x N
33 P x B K-N l !
Black now threatens Qx QRP
without fearing the reply R-QR I . In
reply White decides to go all out for
an attack on the open file, which
Capablanca, having won his pawn,
defends with great coolness.
34 P x KP P x P 35 R/K l -Q l
Qx R P 36 R-Q6 R-R3 37 R I-QI
K-B2 38 Q-Q3 R3-N3 39 B-N4
N x B 40 R-Q7 + K-N l 41 R-Q8 +
K-N2 42 R-Q7 + K-R3 ! 43 P x N
R3-N2 44 P-R3 R x R 45 Qx R
Qx Q 46 R x Q (46).
White could be pardoned for
supposing that with a rook on the 7th
rank which is also on the open file he
would have a satisfactory game. He
Would be wrong ; for Black's king
runs down the board with astonishing
speed to threaten mate and to support
his passed pawn.

53

46 . . .
P-N4 !
47 P x P +
If 47 R-Q5 R-QB l threatening
P-N5.
47 . . .
KxP
48 R x P
K-B5
49 R-K7
K-Q6
50 R x P
P-B6
50 . . . R-KB I would be simpler.
5 1 R-B5 !
K-K7
52 P-K5
R-Kl !
R-QR I ? then
If at once 52
53 P-K6.
R-K3
53 P-B4
54 K-N l
R-QR3
55 P-K6
White gives up this pawn in order
to be able to check on the king's file.
RxP
55 . . .
56 R-B8
R-K5
57 R-B7
If 57 P-N5 R-K4 !
K-K6 !
57 . . .
58 P-N5
RxP
59 P-N6
After 59 R-K7 + K-B5 Black
would threaten both K x P and K-N6.
59 . . .
R-B8 +
R-B7 +
60 K-R2
6 1 K-Nl
Or 61 K-R l R-KN7 62 P-N7
P-B5 63 R-QB7 K-Q6 64 R-B7
K-Q7.

54

Match and Exhibition GaTTUJs

61 . . .
R-KN7 +
62 K-B l
RxP
The game ended : 63 R-K7 +
K-BS 64 R-QB7 R-N4 65 R-B7 +
R-B4 66 R-KR7 K-K6 67 R-K7 +
K-Q6 68 K-B2 P-BS 69 R-Q7 +
K-B6 70 R-K7 R-BS 0- 1 .

2 7 Q-Q3 Q-K3
29 R-Q5 R-Kl
(47) .

28 Q-K2 R-B3
30 Q-Q3 Q-N3

51

JRC - Jose F. Berasain
Montevideo, 1 4 July 1 9 1 1

Against White's 3rd move Black
could equalize in more than the usual
number of ways, but he finds none of
them. His 3rd move is passive, his
6th wastes time, his 7th is premature,
and his 9th cedes the bishop-pair.
After some well-timed exchanges he is
saddled with three isolated pawns and
a bad bishop which gets stuck at Q3
for thirty moves. Capablanca gives a
classic demonstration of the appro­
priate technique.
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 P-Q3 P-Q3 4 P-B3 N-B3 5 B-K2
B-K2 6 N l -Q2 P-Q4 7 Q-B2 P x P
8 P x P B-K3 9 N-B4 B x N 1 0 B x B
Q-Q2 1 1 0-0 0-0 1 2 B-QNS ! B-Q3
14 B/QNS x N
1 3 B-NS ! Q-K3
1 5 Q-R4 P-B4 1 6 B x N
PxB
Qx B 1 7 QR-QI Q-K3 1 8 N-Q2
KR-Ql 1 9 Q-B4 Q-K2.
An exchange of queens would
favour White - his king might move
up the board on the light-coloured
squares, for instance.
Next he attacks the unfortunate
bishop, bringing his knight to the
pocket at QB4, and tripling on the
open file.
20 N-N3 QR-N I
2 1 R-Q2
R/Ql -QB I
22 KR-Q I R-N3
23 Q-Q5 R I -N I 24 N-R5 ! Q-K l
2 5 N-B4 R-R3 2 6 P-QN3 P-R3

3 1 N-K3 !
White cannot win a pawn by 3 1
N x B because his KP is under attack ;
but he does not play 3 1 P-B3 because
he wants to keep lines open on the
king's side in order to broaden the
attacking front. His immediate threat
is 32 Q-N5
R-Nl
31 . . .
R3-N3
32 Q-B4
33 N-B5
K-R2
34 R5-Q3 !
White threatens 35 R-N3. Black is
quite unprepared for this sudden
switch to the king's side.
R-N l
34 . . .
35 R-N3
Q-B3
36 N-K3 !
Q-K3
Black meets the double threat
(37 N-QS or 37 R-B3) but gets two
more isolated pawns.
3 7 Qx Q
PxQ
38 B-N4
R-R3
39 R-Q2
R-N l
Threatening 40 . . . R x NP.
R-Ql
40 R3-Q3
41 N x P
R-QN I
42 N-B4
B-B5
43 R-N2

Match and Exhibition Games

55

O therwise Black would recover his
pawn.
B-B8
43 . . .
44 R-B2
B-N4
B-Ql
45 P-N3
1-0
46 R2-Q2
The hapless bishop has nowhere to
go. More pawns fall after 46 . . . B-K.2
47 R-Q7.

23 K-Q3 N-Q2 24 K-K2 N-B l
25 B-QB4 N-N3 26 P-QN4 B-N3
27 B-Kl KR-QI 28 R x R R x R
29 P-KR4 R-KR I 30 R-R3 N-B l !
3 1 P-N4 P x Pep 32 R x P P-N3
33 R-N4 R-R4 34 R-N2 P-N4
35 P x P P x P 36 B-KN3 N-N3 37
R-R2 R x R 38 B x R N-B5 + 39
B x N t--!-

52 Charles Jaffe JRC
New York, 18 October 1 9 1 2

53 JRC Oscar Chajes
Brooklyn, 2 1 October 1 9 1 2

Both Jaffe and Chajes, two of the
leading players of USA, felt aggrieved
that they had not been selected to
play in the Havana tournament of
1 9 1 3. To settle the question Capa­
blanca offered to play a match of
three games against each of them.
Shortly afterwards a qualifying tour­
nament was arranged instead. Jaffe
finished his match, but Chajes chick­
ened out after one game.
In this game Capablanca gets
rather the worse of the opening newly adopted by him - but is let off
the hook when White plays 1 0 0-0-0
instead of 1 0 B-QB4 ! Black's play is
a model of defensive technique ;
against the bishop-pair he consistently
seeks strong-points on or near the
centre for his knights.
1 P-Q4 N-KB3 2 N-KB3 P-Q3
3 N-QB3 B-B4 4 N-KR4 B-N3
5 N x B RP x N 6 P-K4 P-K4 7
P x P ! P x P 8 Qx Q+ K x Q 9
1 0 0--0--0 P-B3 !
B-KN5 N-Q2
1 1 B-QB4 K-K l
12 P-B3 N-N3
13 B-N3 N/B3-Q2 1 4 P-QR3 B-K2
15 B-K3 B-B4 1 6 B-N5 P-B3 1 7
B-Q2 K-K2 1 8 P-R3 N-KB I 1 9
N-K2 K-K3
20 P-B3 P-KN4
2 1 K-B2 N-KB5 22 N x N NP x N

Capablanca again puts his defensive
skill to the test ; he emerges almost
unscathed, and wins a fine middle­
game without queens.
1 P-K4
P-K4
2 N-KB3
N-QB3
3 N-B3
N-B3
4 B-N5
B-NS
5 0-0
0-0
6 Bx N
A vanat10n re-introduced by
Nimzowitsch at San Sebastian 1 9 1 1 ,
and for a time favoured by Capa­
blanca.
6...
QP x B
7 P-Q3
B-N5
8 P-KR3
B-KR4
9 P-N4 ! ?
Capablanca 1s aware of the dan­
gers, but has prepared a new move
( 1 1 K-R l ) which he wishes to try out.
However, L. Paulsen's 9 K-R l ! is the
best move here.
9...
N x NP
BxP
IO P x N
1 1 K-R l
Q-B3 !
Better than 1 1 . . . P-KB4
12
R-KN I ! P-KR4 1 3 B-NS ! Q-K l
1 4 R-N3 B/QN5 x N 1 5 P x B P x P
1 6 P x P Q-B2 1 7 K-N2.
QR-K l
12 K-N2

-

-

56

Match and Exhibition Games

R-K3
1 3 R-KN l
B/QN5 x N
1 4 Q-K2
Q-N3
15 P x B
Q-R4
16 K-B l
Qx R
17 R x B
Q-R5
1 8 N-N5
19 Q-B3
R-B3
P-KR3 ?
20 Q-N2
Black could win by 20 . . . Q-R4,
threatening mate.
Q-R4
2 1 N-B3
R-N3
22 K-K2
Qx Q
23 Q-R2
24 N x Q (48)
48
B

Black has a slight material advan­
tage ; but the chances are about even,
for it is not easy for him to get active
play for his rooks.
P-KB4
24 . . .
RxP
25 P x P
P-QN3
26 B-K3
R-N5
27 N-B3
28 P-R4
It will be more difficult for Black to
attack the isolated QRPon this square.
28 . . .
P-QR4
29 P-Q4
PxP
R-B3 ?
30 P x P
White, of course, is trying to get
strongholds in the centre for his minor
pieces. Black should play 30 . . . P-B4 !
striking at White's centre pawns.

R-K3
3 1 P-B4
R-R5
32 N-K5 !
K-R2
33 P-B4
34 K-B3
Preparing a little trap.
P-KN4 ?
34 . . .
Strategically desirable, but tacti­
cally defeasible.
35 K-N3 !
Black loses this game because he
fails to get play for his rooks. On his
last move, for instance, he could have
played 34 . . . R-R6 + , and at least
one of his rooks would have become
active.
35 . . .
P-B4
36 P-Q5
R-K2
37 R-K l
R-R4
P x P+
38 B-Q2
R-B4
39 B x BP
40 K-N4
R-B3
4 1 R-KR I
R-Kl
Black now succumbs to a king's
side attack, but his game is almost
certainly lost in any event. Capa­
blanca demonstrates, as he does so
often in his games, the maxim of
Steinitz, that the king may often be a
strong piece for the attack.
R-B2
42 N-Q7
K-N2
43 R x P +
R l -K2
44 R-K6 !
K-R2
45 B-K5 +
K-N2
46 N-B6 +
K-R2
47 N-R5 +
K-N l
48 K-N5 !
R-Q2
49 B--B6
R-Q3
50 K-N6 !
1 -0
5 1 B--N 7 !
54 JRC - Charles Jaffe
Morristown NJ, 23 October 1 9 1 2
1 P-K4

P-K4

Match and Exhibition Games
N-QB3
2 N-K.B 3
N-B3
3 N-B3
B--N5
4 B-N5
0-0
5 0-0
QP x B
6 Bx N
R-Kl
7 P-Q3
Jaffe rightly considered this move
to be better than 7 . . . B--N 5. White
gets no advantage from the opening.
N-R4
8 N-K2
P-KN3
9 P-KR3
IO P-N4 ! ?
White presses hard, but Black
should gain the advantage by opening
the KB file.
N-N2
IO . . .
I I K-R2
B--Q3
P-KB4
1 2 B--R6
N x P?
1 3 NP x P
Jaffe's fondness for the bishop-pair
is his undoing : he would get an
excellent game by 13 . . . B x P !
Q-Q2
14 B-N5
N-N2
15 N3-N I
16 Q-Q2
N-R4
Q-N2
1 7 K-N2
18 B-R6
Not 1 8 P-KB4 P x P 1 9 N x P
P-KR3 !
Q-K2
18 . . .
Q-K3
1 9 B-N5
Black misjudges the position, hop­
ing to make play for his bishops ;
instead, White gains the advantage
because of his central pawn major­
ity.
After 19 . . . Q-N2 ! White has
nothing better than to repeat moves.
PxP
20 P-KB4
Q-K4
21 Nx P
PxN
22 N x N !
The check at KR7 leads nowhere
at all.
Q-N2
23 Q-B4

24 Q-B6

57
Q-N3 (49)

25 Qx Q+ !
A typical Capablanca surprise
move : he exchanges one kind of
advantage for another. He unites
Black's pawns, but makes his king
safe, and gains advantage on the
dark-coloured squares. His lead in
development and his stronger centre
outweigh the power of the bishops.
25 . . .
PxQ
26 N-B3
R-K3 ?
It would be better to develop the
QB.
27 B-R6
B-Q2
R-K2
28 N-N5
K-R I
29 R-B6
30 B-B8 !
The exchange of Black's better
bishop is decisive : 30 . . . R2-KI
3 1 B x B P x B 32 R x QP R-K2
33 R x NP R-N2 34 R x R K x R
35 R-K.B l K-N3 36 P-KR4 P-B4
37 K-N3 B--B 3 38 P-K5 R-Kl 39
R-B6 + K-N2 40 N-K6 + K-N I
41 K-B4 R-QB l 42 R-N6 + K-B2
43 K-B5 B-Q2 44 R-N7 + K-K I
45 K-B6 B x N 46 K x B R-B3 +
47 K-B5 P-B5 48 P-Q4 P-B6 49
P x P R x P 50 R x P R x P 5 1 R x P
R-R7 52 P-Q5 R x KRP 53 P-Q6
R-R8 54 P-K6 1-0.

58

Match and Exhibition GaTTliiS

55 Charles Jaffe - JRC
New York, 9 November 1 9 1 2
A king's side attack i n which a queen's
side majority plays a decisive part !
White blunders on his 9th move,
losing a pawn, but the game is
interesting none the less.
1 P-Q4 N-KB3 2 N-KB3 P-Q3
3 Q-Q3 N l -Q2 4 P-K4 P-K4 5
P-B3 B-K2 6 B-K2 P-B3 7 N l -Q2
0-0 8 N-B l R-Kl 9 B-N5 ? P x P
1 1 P-KR4 B x B
10 P x P N x P
1 2 P x B N-B l 1 3 N-K3 N-N3 1 4
P-KN3 Q-K2 (50) .

NxP
23 Q-Q4
24 K-B2
Black threatened 24 . . . N x B.
P-B5
24 . . .
NxB
25 N-N2
Q-N6 +
26 R x N
B-R6
2 7 K-B l
This bishop goes at once to its best
square - a good example of delayed
development.
RxR
28 Q-B2
R-K t +
29 K x R
P-R6 !
30 K-B l
P-B6
31 Px P
0- 1
If 32 R-R l B x N +
33 Qx B
R-K8 mate ; or if 32 Qx Q P x Q
33 R-R l P-B7 !

56 JRC - Benito H. Villegas
Buenos Aires, 1 9 August 1 9 1 4

1 5 R-KN l
White prepares to play P-KB3
driving away Black's knight. If
1 5 N-Q2 N x P/N6.
P-QR4
15 . . .
Black widens the attacking front,
and deters White from castling.
16 R-QB l
P-R5
1 7 P-Q5
P-QB4
Qx P
1 8 N-R4
P-B4
1 9 R-B4
PxN
20 N x N
2 1 P-B3
P-N4 !
Black makes two neat intermediate
moves, pushing up the pawns with
gain of time.
22 R-B2
P-QB5

O n his second visit t o South America
Capablanca played and won ten
exhibition games and six consultation
games, a record unequalled by other
visiting masters, including the great
Lasker.
Villegas, ex-champion of the famous
Club Argentino de Ajedrez, was one
of the best players of the country.
Here he defends somewhat passively
(7 . . . B-- Q3 would be better than
7 . . . B-K2) . He expects to equalize
after 1 7 . . . P x P, but just at this
point he is caught by one of Capa­
blanca's ' little combinations' - one
involving a queen sacrifice.
I P-Q4 P-Q4 2 N-KB3 N-KB3
3 P-K3 P-B3 4 B-Q3 B--N5 5 P-B4
P-K3 6 N l -Q2 N l -Q2 7 0--0 B--K2
8 Q-B2 B--R4 9 P-QN3 B--N 3 1 0
B--N2 B x B 1 1 Q x B 0--0 1 2 QR-K l

Match and Exhibition GaTMs

Q-B2 1 3 P-K4 P x P 1 4 N x P N x N
15 R x N ! B-B3 1 6 Q-K3 P-B4
1 7 N-K5 ! P x P (51 ) .

18 N x N !
After 1 8 B x P White's queen's side
majority would hardly be a decisive
advantage.
18 . . .
Qx N
This loses control of the Q-file - the
object of White's combination ; but
accepting the queen would lose two
minor pieces for the rook : 1 8 . . .
P x Q 1 9 N x B + K-R l (or Black is
mated in two) 20 R-R4 ! P-KR3
2 1 R x P + ! P x R 22 N-KB + .
BxB
19 B x P
Q-B2
20 R x B
KR-Q I
2 1 R I -QI
RxR
22 P-QN4
23 Qx R
P-QN3
This opens up the possibility that
White can quickly get a passed QBP,
and for this advantage he cedes
control of the open file on his 25th
move. 23 . . . P-QR3 would be better.
R-QB I
24 P-N3
25 R-QB I
R-Ql
26 Q-K3
K-B l ?
Black does not foresee the following
combination by means of which
White gets his QBP to the 6th rank,
an advantage which is decisive.

59

Instead Black should play 2 6
P-N3.
27 P-B5 !
PxP
26 Q-K4 !
R-Q4
29 P x P
P-N3
lf 29 . . . R x P 30 Q-QN4 ! or if
29 . . . Q-B3 30 Q x RP R x P 3 1
R x R Qx R
32 Q-RB + K-K2
33 Qx P, and White would gain a
passed KRP.
K-N2
30 P-B6
3 1 P-QR4
R-Q3
Fatal, but the game is anyway lost,
e.g. 3 1 . . . P-QR4 32 Q-N l R-Q3
33 Q-NS, threatening R-BS followed
by Q-QN7 or Qx RP.
K-B l
32 Q-KS +
1 --0
33 Qx R + !
5 7 Valentin F . Coria - JRC
Buenos Aires, 20 August 1 9 14
A charming miniature ending with a
mating finish. White's unguarded
queen is the signal for a combination,
for if 1 8 N x B Q-N4
1 9 P-B3
N-R6 + .
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 N-B3 N-B3 4 B-NS B-NS 5 0-0
0-0 6 P-Q3 P-Q3 7 B-NS B x N
9 N-Q2 P-KR3
8 P x B Q-K2
10 B-KR4 ? N-Ql 1 1 P-Q4 N-K3
12 P x P P x P
1 3 B-Q3 N-B5 !
15 B x N Qx B
14 N-B4 R-QI
16 Q-Q2 ? B-R6 ! 1 7 N-K3 B x P !
18 N-BS B x P 19 N-N3 N-R6 mate.
58 JRC - Raul Lopez Martinez
Buenos Aires, 22 August 1 9 1 4
This game was selected b y Nimzo­
witsch for inclusion in his instructive
book, My System.
P-K4
I P-K4

60

Match and Exhibition Games

B-B4
2 B-B4
N-KB3
3 N-QB3
N-B3
4 P-Q3
P-KR3
5 B-KN5
P-KN4
6 B-R4
'6 . . . P-Q3 seems better. The
textmove is very risky and leads to a
loss', writes Capablanca, who also
condemns Black's next move.
P-KR4
7 B-KN3
P-N5
8 P-KR4
P-Q3
9 Q-Q2
Q-K2
1 0 N l -K2
P-R3 ?
1 1 0-0
Black weakens his pawns and loses
time. 1 1 . . . B-Q2 would be better.
NxN
1 2 N-Q5
N-Q5
13 P x N
BxN
14 N x N
15 P-QB3
B-N3
1 6 P-Q4
P-KB3 ! (52)

1 7 QR-Kl
Not the best move. White is con­
cerned to bring about an endgame,
and he wants to have possession of the
KB file and to attack the weak pawns
on Black's king's side ; but it is not
typical of Capablanca to overlook the
chance of play on both wings,
especially as Black's 1 1 th move has
provided a suitable point of attack.
1 7 KR-Kl would be correct, as

noted by Nimzowitsch. The game
might continue 1 7 . . . 0-0 18 P x P
BP x P 1 9 R x P ! B x P + 20 Qx B
Qx R 2 1 B x Q R x Q 22 K x R
P x B 23 R-KI with a won endgame,
or 1 7 . . . B-Q2 IB P-R4 0-0-0
19 P-R5 B-R2 20 P-N4 with a win­
ning attack.
17 . . .
B-Q2
1 8 B-B4
White could win Black's queen by
18 P x P etc., but the cost would be
too high.
18 . . .
0-0-0
1 9 B-K3
QR-K l
20 P-KN3
K-N I
2 1 P-N4
B-R5 !
22 B-N3
Q-Q2
23 P x P
B3 x B
24 P x B
BP x P
25 R-B6
An error, says Capablanca, who
adds no further enlightenment.
BxB
25 . . .
R-K2 ?
26 P x B
26 . . . R/K l -KBI should be
played here.
27 R l-KB I
R I -K l
28 P-K4
Q-N4
29 R-R l !
At last White broadens the front.
He threatens 30 P-B4 Q-N3 + 3 1
P-B5 Q-N4 3 2 R-R5.
29 . . .
Q-Q2
R-B2
30 P-B4
White threatened P-N5, with a
queen's side attack. Black must take
some action, but now he gets a lost
endgame on the king's side.
Qx R
31 R x R
32 R-KBI
Q-N2
33 R-B5
R-KB l
34 Q-N5
Q-R I
35 Qx RP
Qx Q

61

Match and Exhibition Games

R-B6
36 R x Q
R x QNP
37 K-N2
1-0
38 R-BS
White's passed pawn cannot be
stopped.
59 Benito H. Villegas JRC
Buenos Aires, 25 August 1 9 1 4
-

P-Q4
1 P-Q4
N-KB3
2 N-KB3
P-B3
3 P-K3
B-NS
4 N l-Q2
N l -Q2
5 B--K2
P-K3
6 P-B4
B-Q3
7 0-0
Q-B2
8 Q-B2
9 P-KR3
This move, which would be harm­
less if Black were castled on the king's
side, creates a slight weakness. 9
R-Kl could be played.
B--R4
9...
10 P-BS
I t would be better strategy for
White to play in the centre ( 10 P-K4)
rather than on the wing.
B--K 2
10 . . .
P-KN4 !
1 1 P-QN4
1 2 P-N4 ?
White panics. He should instead
develop normally, e.g. 1 2 R-K I or
12 B--N 2, for Black's threats are not
yet serious.
12 . . .
B--N 3
1 3 B--Q3
BxB
1 4 Qx B (53)
14 . . .
P-KR4 !
Black now develops a crushing
attack with astonishing speed.
RxP
15 P x P
P-NS
1 6 K-N2
N x NP
17 P x P
1 8 B--N2
0--0-0

53
B

■t�
■t■
• � "i!iJ,i

.. ..

..

JIil

H

•

�

.
z•

"

l'/',

7.

1 9 R-KNl
19 R-R I R-N I !
R-R7 + !
19 . . .
R x P+
20 K-B I
N2-B3
2 1 K-K I
NxN
22 N-KS
N-KS !
23 P x N
24 B-B3
If 24 N x N P x N 25 Q x R +
Q x Q 26 R-QI Q x R + !
B--RS !
24 . . .
25 K-QI
R x N+ !
0-1
If

60 Julio A. Lynch JRC
Buenos Aires, 27 August 1 9 1 4
-

When playing his 1 2th move White
apparently overlooks Black's 1 5th
move, expecting instead that play
w�uld continue 15 . . . Q-N3 16 P-KS.
I P-Q4 P-Q4 2 N-KB3 N-KB3
3 B--B4 B--NS 4 N-B3 P-B3 5 P-K3
P-K3 6 B-Q3 B--Q3 7 B--N3 B x B
8 RP x B N l -Q2 9 Q-K2 Q-R4
1 0 P-R3 P-B4 ! I I P x P Q x BP
12 P-K4 ? P-QS 1 3 N-QNS B x N
1 4 P x B P-QR3 1 5 P-QN4 Q-B3 !
1 6 0-0 P x N 1 7 B x P Q-B2 1 8
P-KS N-Q4 1 9 P-KB4 N-B6 20
B x N + Q x B 21 Q-Q3 0-0 22
P-N4 P-B3 23 P-B3 P x P 24 P x P
R-BS 25 R -B2 Q-Q4 0- 1 .

62

Match and Exhibition Games

61 Enrique G. Ruiz - JRC
Buenos Aires, 28 August 1 9 1 4
White's development i s not good : his
pieces get too bunched in the centre.
One slip on his 9th move, and it is all
over.
l P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-B4 P-KN3 4 P-Q3 P-KR3 5
N-B3 B-N2 6 B-K3 P-Q3 7 Q-Q2
N l -K2 8 P-KR3 P-B4 9 P x P ?
P-Q4 10 B-QNS P-QS 1 1 P x P
P x B 1 2 Q x P 0-0 1 3 B-B4 + K-R l
1 4 0--0-0 N x P l S P-Q4 P x P 1 6
R x P N x R 1 7 R-Ql P-B4 1 8
N-QNS Q-N3 1 9 NS x N P x N 20
R x P R x N 0-- 1 .

but even this is ineffective in the long
run - see White's 25th move.
12 P x P
PxP
R-Ql
1 3 P-Q4
14 P x P
NxP
1 5 N-Q4
White threatens P-QN4 followed
by N-K6.
15 . . .
Q-B2
N-Q2
1 6 P-QN4
Capablanca now makes a decisive
attack against the king in the
centre.
1 7 P-NS
PxP
1 8 N3 x NP
N-N l (54)

62 JRC - AHredo Israel
Buenos Aires, l September 1 9 1 4
P-Q4
l P-KB4
N-KB3
2 N-KB3
P-K3
3 P-QN3
P-B4
4 B-N2
N-B3
5 P-K3
6 B-NS
B-Q2
P-QR3 ?
7 0--0
Black loses time, forcing an
exchange which favours White.
BxB
8 BS x N
9 P-B4 !
White has mastered his KS square ;
he does not play the obvious N-KS,
but broadens his attack upon the
centre.
N-Q2
9...
Q-B2
10 N-B3
1 1 R-B l
White should first exchange pawns.
P-B3 ?
11 . . .
Black loses the battle for the centre
and, in all probability, his game is
now lost. He protects his K4 square

BxN
1 9 N-K6 !
20 N-B7 +
K-Q2
21 N x B
N-B3
22 P-K4
K-B l
23 Q-R4
K-N l
B-Q3
24 B-Q4
If 24 . . . P x P 25 B-R7 + K-B l
26 B-N6.
B-B2
25 P-KS !
PxR
26 R x N !
2 7 P-K6 !
Covering a flight square for Black's
king ; after his reply White forces
mate.
Q-K2
27 . . .
K-B l
28 Q-R7 +
B-N l
29 Q-R8 +

63

Match and Exhibition Games

30 Q x P +
3 1 Q-R8 +
32 R-Bl +

B-B2
B-N l
1-0

63

Rolando ma - JRC
Buenos Aires, 3 September 1 9 1 4

Capablanca's handling o f the opening
phase could not be bettered ; indeed
he plays throughout with great
accuracy.
P-Q4
1 P-Q4
N-KB3
2 N-KB3
P-K3
3 P-B4
N l -Q2
4 N-B3
B-N5
5 B-N5
At this time Schlechter had just
published an analysis of this defence,
the Manhattan variation as it later
came to be called.
6 Q-R4
P-B4
B x N+
7 P-QR3 ?
8 PxB
0-0
QP x P
9 P-K3
PxP
lO B x P
P x B!
11 BxN
Appearances notwithstanding Black is
about to leap ahead in development;
the open KN file will therefore favour
him.
1 2 BP x P
N-N3
1 3 Q-N3
NxB
14 Qx N
B-Q2
R-B l
1 5 0-0
16 Q-K2
Q-R4
1 7 KR-N I
B-83
18 N-Q2
K-R l
19 P-K4
Incorrect, for White's centre comes
under attack.
19 . . .
R-KN I
P-B4 !
20 R-N3
2 1 N-B4
Instead of playing 2 1 P-B3 White

goes for the attack, expecting at least
a draw. Black, however, calculates
accurately, and accordingly grabs the
offered pawn.
Q-Ql
21 . . .
Qx P!
22 N-K5
K-N2
23 N x P +
Qx KP
24 R-Ql
25 R-N3 +
After 25 Qx Q B x Q 26 N-Q6
R/B l-Ql
27 R-N3 + K-B l
28
R x R+ K x R
29 R-Q2 B-B3
Black would have a winning endgame.
KxN
25 . . .
K-B 3 !
26 Q-R5 +
0-1
26 . . . K-B l would lead to perpetual check.
64

L. Molina Carranza - JRC
Buenos Aires, 8 September 1 9 1 4

In the opening White fails t o provide
for action in the centre, and then h e
weakens his queen's side pawns.
1 P-Q4 N-KB3 2 N-QB3 P-Q4
3 P-K3 P-84 4 N-83 N-83 5 B-N5
B-N5 6 B-Q2 P-K3 7 N-K2 Q-N3
8 P-QR4 P-QR3 9 B x N + P x B
1 0 P-QN3 P x P I I N3 x P P-K4
1 2 N4-B3 B-Q3 1 3 P-R3 (55) .

55
B

:n: • • •.t.•
• :n: • •4.J• ft

13. . .

BxN

64

Match and Exhibition Games

Very probably Black already has a
won game. Characteristically he
makes a further weakness and plays
for the endgame. He could instead
withdraw the QB when his strong
centre and pair of bishops would
offer good middlegame chances.
0-0
14 P x B
P-N3
1 5 N-N3
1 6 R-KN 1
White has no means of following up
this attacking gesture, which costs
him the right to castle on the king's
side.
K-R l
16 . . .
QR-QI
1 7 P-K4
18 Q-K2
If 1 8 B-N5 B--N5 +
1 9 K-B l
R-Q3.
18 . . .
R-Q2
1 9 R-Ql
B--N 5
20 B x B
White seems to welcome these
exchanges, which lead directly to a
lost endgame !
Qx B +
20 . . .
2 1 Q-Q2
Qx Q+
P-Q5
22 R x Q
23 K-K2
If White were to move his knight,
with the idea of finding a pocket on
the queen's side, then Black would
reply 23 . . . N-R4 himself finding a
pocket at his KB5.
P-QB4
23 . . .
24 R-QB l
R-QN l
R-N5 !
25 K-Q3
26 R-QR l
R-B2
P-B5 +
27 R2-Ql
Breaking up White's pawns.
28 P x P
R5 x BP
29 R-R2
R-B6 +
R x KBP
30 K-Q2
R x N!
3 1 K-K2

A family fork simplifies to an easily
won rook-ending : 32 P x R N x P
33 R-Q3 N-B6 + 34 R x N R x R
35 K-B2 P-B4 36 R-N2 P-KR4
37 R-N6 P-K5 0- 1 .
6 5 Walter P. Shipley - JRC
Philade!phia, 19 November 1 9 1 5
In this exhibition game Capablanca
adopts the French Defence, Shipley's
life-long favourite.
1 P-K4
P-K3
2 P-Q4
P-Q4
3 PxP
PxP
4 N-KB3
B--N5
5 B--Q3
N-QB3
6 P-B3
Q-Q2
7 0-0
0--0-0
A well-known line when Black 1s
trying to win, although theory holds
that White has the better chances.
8 B-KB4
Probably not the best.
B--Q3
8...
Black could well play 8 . . P-KB3,
followed by P-KN4 gaining time by
attacking the bishop on White's KB4.
Characteristically, however, Capa­
blanca completes his development
before committing himself in any way.
Qx B
9BxB
N l -K2
I O N l -Q2
P-B3
1 1 Q-B2
QR-K l !
1 2 P-QN4
With this and his 14th move Black
takes defensive measures.
1 3 P-QR4
P-KN4
N-Ql
14 P-R5
1 5 P-B4
White offers a pawn in return for
which he eventually opens all three
files in front of the opponent's king,
a worthwhile idea, one might suppose.
.

65

Match and Exhibition Games

But when you offer a pawn to Capa­
blanca you do so at your peril ! He
accepts the pawn, and with great
economy of effort he both defends his
king and mounts a counter-attack in
the
centre.
Afterwards
White
suggested 15 P-N5.
pxp
15 . . .
Not 1 5 . . . Qx NP ? 16 P-B5.
1 6 N x BP
Q-B5 !
N2-B3
1 7 B-K4
BxN
1 8 N4-Q2
19BxB
N x QP
N-B2
20 Q-Q3
2 1 B-Ql
There would seem to be nothing
better.
21 . . .
N-K4
22 Q-QB3
R-Ql
23 N-N3
NxN
24 Q x N3
R-Q6
25 Q-K6 +
K-N l
26 P-N5
R l-Ql
27 P-N6
RP x P
28 P x P
PxP
29 Qx NP
Q-Q5 !
30 Q-N l
R-Q7
3 1 Q-B l
Otherwise Black plays 3 1 . . . N-Q6
winning White's KBP; as it happens
the pawn is lost just the same.
31 . . .
R x P!
32 R x R
N-Q6
33 Q-Q2
Qx R/R8
34 R-K2
Q-Q5 +
0-1
66

grandmasters, Capablanca, Janowski,
and Marshall. They were, one
supposes, well paid for their services.
Schroeder makes an error on his
14th move, and Capablanca pounces,
ending the game prettily.
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 B-B4 N-QB3
3 N-KB3 N-B3 4 N-N5 P-Q4 5
6 B-N5 + P-B3
P x P N-QR4
7 P x P P x P 8 B-K2 P-KR3 9
N-KB3 P-K5 10 N-K5 Q-B2 1 1
P-KB4 P x Pep 12 N x P/B3 B-Q3
1 3 P-Q4 0-0
1 4 P-B4 ? N-N5
15 Q-Q3 R-Kl 16 N-B3 B-N6 + !
1 7 P x B Qx P + 18 K-Q2 N-B7
(56).

\.'-' '°\, 1·t c

� resigned after 19 R-R3 B x R
0- 1 .
If instead 1 9 Q-B2 then 1 9 . . .
N x P + , and now 20 B x N Q-B5
·
mate ! or 20 K-Kl N-Q6 + 2 1 K-Ql
Q-K8 + ! ! 22 R x Q N-B7 mate.

67 Sydney T. Sharp JRC
Franklin CC-Manhattan CC
Manhattan, 30 May 1 9 1 6
-

Mario Schroeder JRC
Brooklyn CC-Manhattan CC
Brooklyn, 19 February 1 9 1 6
-

This was the key match fo r the
metropolitan club championship.
Manhattan won, aided by three

The occasion was the eighth annual
match between these clubs for the
Reichhelm Trophy. It was won out­
right by the Manhattan players, who

66

Match and Exhibition Games

in this match scored their third
successive win.
Sharp ( 1885-1 953) was one of the
strongest-ever players from Pennsyl­
vania. His record of winning the
State championship ten times, begin­
ning in 1 908 and for the last time in
1 937, will stand for a long time. In
this game he does not show up too
well - the demoralizing effect, no
doubt, of Capablanca's perfect play.
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-N5 P-QR3 4 B-R4 P-Q3 5 0-0
B-Q2 6 P-B3 P-KN3 7 P-Q3 ?
B-N2 8 R-K l N l -K2 9 N l-Q2 0-0
10 N-B l P-R3
1 1 N-K3 P-B4 !
12 P x P ? P x P 1 3 B-N3 + K-R2
1 4 N-Q5 N x N
15 B x N Q-B3
16 Q-B2 (57).

Nominally a blunder ; but against
Black's massive centre nothing could
avail.
20 . . .
N-B5
2 1 Q-Q I
N x NP
22 R-B l
Q-N3
0- 1
68

W. P. Shipley - jRC
Philadelphia, 10 November 1 9 1 6

1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-N5 P-QR3 4 B-R4 P-Q3 5
P-Q4 P-QN4 6 B-N3 N x P 7 N x N
P x N 8 B-Q5 R-N l 9 B-B6 + B-Q2
1 0 B x B + Qx B I I Qx P N-B3
1 2 0-0 B-K2 1 3 N-B3 0-0 (58) .

57

• • •
•
ft &�•
% ,_·_

�

16 . . .
N-K2 !
In all probability Black already has
a strategically won game on account
of his opponent's neglect of the centre.
He does not, however, attack at once :
first he broadens and strengthens the
central front.
1 7 B-N3
If 1 7 B x NP R-R2 !
17 . . .
P-B4 !
B-B3
18 Q-K2
N-N3
19 B-B2
20 N-Q2

The chances are hardly equal, as
the books suggest. Black's game has
the greater potential because his
QNP, backed by his QR, may spear­
head a queen's side attack. White
should forestall this by playing
P-QR3, but even so he will have
difficulty finding a good square for
his bishop.
This position also occurred in the
game Stoltz-Alekhine, Bled, 1 93 1 ,
which Alekhine won by means o f a
finely tuned middle-game attack. By
contrast Capablanca, with equal

Match and Exhibition Games

precision, achieves a won endgame
within six or seven moves.
14 R-K l KR-Kl 15 P-B3 P-N5 !
16 N-Q5 N x N 1 7 Qx N B-B3
18 Q-Q3 Q-N4 1 9 Qx Q R x Q
20 P-QR3 P-N6 ! 2 1 R-K2 P-Q4 !
22 P-B3 P x P 23 P x P R4-K4 24
B-B4 R x P 25 R x R R x R 26 B x P
R-K7 27 R-N l B-N4 28 P-N3
B-K6 + 29 K-R l P-B3 30 B-B4
B x B 3 1 P x B P-QR4 32 K-N l
K-B2 33 P-KR4 K-N3 0- l .
69

W. H. Stewart - JRC
Philadelphia, 29 May 1 926

In this exhibition game the champion
of the world meets the champion of
the club an unequal contest. White
does not realize that his pair of
bishops in no way compensate for the
weakness of the doubled pawns on the
half-open file.
l P-K4 P-QB3 2 P-Q4 P-Q4
3 P x P P x P 4 N-QB3 ? N-QB3
5 N-B3 B-N5 6 B-K2 P-K3 7
B-KB4 ? B-N5 ! 8 P-KR3 B/KN5 x N
9 B x B N-B3 10 0-0 B x N ! 1 1 P x B
0-0 1 2 Q-N I N-QR4 1 3 Q-N4
R-B l 14 QR-N I R-B3 15 B-K5
P-QN3 16 P-N4 ? Q-B I ! (59) .
-

1 7 Q-K7

67

Black would also win after 1 7 B x N
P x B 1 8 Q-K7 R x P !
RxP
17 . . .
18 B-N2
If l B B x N R x B ! 19 B-K5 P-B3.
N-B3
18 . . .
1 9 Q-Q6
N-K l !
0-1
An amusing finish : White's queen
is trapped in the middle of the board.
70 JRC - Rafael Cintron
San Juan, Puerto Rico, 8 October
1 934
Although this was Capablanca's last
exhibition game it was the first game
of a new phase of his career after more
than three years absence from serious
play : a phase which led to his winning
the two greatest tournaments of 1936.
In the game White gets a kind of
Maroczy Bind. Black defends too
passively; he would do better to play
6 . . . N-B3 rather than 6 . . . P-QR3,
Later 12 . . . Q-N I could be con­
sidered instead of 1 2 . . . R-Q l .
I P-K4 P-QB4 2 N-K2 N-QB3
3 P-Q4 P x P 4 N x P P-K3 5 N-N5
P-Q3 6 P-QB4 P-QR3 7 N5-B3
N-B3 8 B-K2 B-K2 9 0-0 Q-B2
IO B-K3 0-0 1 1 N-Q2 P-QN3 1 2
R-B I R-Ql 1 3 N-Q5 ! (60).
A type of sacrifice which has since
become familiar in this opening.
If Black were to accept the knight
there might follow : 13 . . . P x N
14 BP x P, and now 14 . . . B-Q2
15 Q-N3 P-QN4 1 6 B-B3 Q-N2
17 P x N B x P
18 R x B ! Qx R
19 P-K5 ; or 14 . . . B-N2 15 R-B3 !
with the idea of tripling on the open
file. In either case White would have
the advantage, but there are many

68

Match and Exhibition Games

variations and Black could put up a
fight. In the game he simply gives up
a pawn without a struggle, after
which Capablanca finishes off the
game with his usual efficiency :
1 4 N x P R-NI
1 3 . . . Q-N2
15 P-QN3 N-Q2 1 6 N x N B x N
1 7 N-N l B-K l 1 8 Q-Q2 B-B3 1 9
KR-QI N-K2 2 0 P-B3 B-B3 2 1
Q-RS N-B l 2 2 P-KS ! B-KRS 2 3
P x P N x P 24 B-B4 Q-R2 + 25
P-B5 N-N2 26 B x R 1 -0.

3

Consultation Games

Capablanca took his consultation
games quite seriously, and their
quality compares well with his other
games. There are, perhaps, fewer
brilliant attacks, but this is because,
for some reason, he mostly had the
Black pieces.
There is a fine attacking game
against Molina Carranza and Enrique
Ruiz which he published in My Chess
Career. In half a dozen games he was
opposed by one or more grandmasters,
against whom he scored three wins
and three draws. Twice he had the
Black pieces against the Viennese
masters Fahndrich and Kaufmann,
and he won them both by systematic
manoeuvring of a high order. There
are the usual impressive examples of
endplay, and the usual combinative
touches some of which he conjures up
even in the most normal-looking
situations, as in his game against the
two Carranzas in 1 9 1 1 .
He is known to have played thirty
consultation games, scoring twenty­
one wins and nine draws. Five games
have not been found, five are in
chapter one, and the rest are here.

are concerned to prevent White's
breaking through with his pawns, as
evidenced by their 7th, 9th, 1 4th, and
1 7th moves, respectively holding back
White's KP, KBP, QBP, and KNP.
They were perhaps influenced by the
game Marshall-Rubinstein, Vienna,
1 908, in which White won brilliantly
by pawn advances in the centre and
on the queen's wing. They put up a
strong resistance, but theirplayis over­
defensive, and Capablanca finally
carries the seige on his 37th move.
1 P-Q4 P-Q4 2 P-K3 P-K3
3 B-Q3 N-KB3 4 N-Q2 P-B4 5
P-QB3 N-B3 6 P-KB4 B-Q3 7
Q-B3 P x P 8 KP x P Q-B2 9 N-R3
N-K2 10 N-B l B-Q2 1 1 B-Q2
0-0-0 1 2 0-0-0 P-KR3 1 3 N-K3
K-N l 14 K-N l P-QN4 15 KR-Kl
KR-K l 16 P-KN3 P-N3 17 N-KB2
P-KR4 18 N-R3 ! B-B3 19 N-NS
N-Bl 20 N-B2 P-R4 2 1 Q-B l ! (61).

71 JRC
Leon L. Labatt and
Percy H. Moise
New Orleans, 1 6 January 1 9 1 1
-

Capablanca meets two of the best
players of the City. In this game they

21 . . .

N-QR2 ?

70

Consultation GaTTll!s

This knight should go via QN3 to
QB5. Instead of the text-move the
allies could play 2 1 . . . Q-Q2 after
which they would have no need to
fear, as they may have done, the con­
tinuation 22 N x BP Qx N
23
B x QNP.
22 P-QN4
R-Q2
23 P-QR3
White seals the queen's side in
order to prevent counter-play. He
does not at once attempt a break by
23 N x BP R x N 24 B x KNP, which
would lead to the exchange of his
most active pieces ; he first brings his
other pieces to their best squares.
23 . . .
P-QR5
24 R-K3
R2-K2
K-N2
25 N-K l
N-N5
26 N l -B3
27 R-K2
R-KR I
28 N-K5
B x N?
At a stroke White now gains a
diagonal for his QB and the KB file
for his rooks. The Allies could instead
try 28 . . . B-Kl or 28 . . . N-R3, but
they have the almost impossible task
of manoeuvring their many pieces in
a very restricted space, and it is
natural that they should seek
exchanges.
29 BP x B
K-N3
N-R3
30 P-R3
N-B I
3 1 R-B2
B-K I
32 R-B6
33 Q-B3
N-N l
N-R3
34 R-B4
35 R-KBI
N-R2
N-B3
36 R-B6
PxP
37 P-N4 !
Black could not prevent the opening
of a file, for if 37 . . . N-KN l 38
N x BP !
38 P x P
N-KN l

39 R-B4
N-Ql
40 R-R l !
White makes a turning-movement,
outflanking on the KR-file.
R x R+
40 . . .
4 1 Qx R
B-B3
42 Q-R8
R-Kl
43 Q-N7
Q-K2
44 R B l
B-Q2
If 44 . . . Q-B I 45 Qx Q R x Q
46 B x KNP, or if 44 . . . R-B l
45 B x KNP.
45 N x BP
R-Bl
46 B-N5 !
RxN
47 Q x R
NxQ
48 B x Q
1 -0
Black loses a piece.
-

72

..

Alfredo C. Israel and Carlos
M. Portela JRC
Buenos Aires, 1 7 May 1 9 1 1
-

The first of five consultation games
against the leading players of Argen­
tina.
I P-K4
P-QB3
2 P-Q4
P-Q4
3 N-QB3
PxP
4NxP
B-B4
5 N-N3
B-N3
6 B-QB4
The White players do not oppose
bishops by B-Q3 ; later they hope
to attack Black's QB with a knight or
a pawn.
6...
N-Q2
7 N l-K2
P-K3
8 N-B4
Here White could try 8 0-0 N I-B3
9 P-B4 threatening P-KB5.
8...
N l -B3
9 P-QB3
And here 9 P-KR4 could be considered.

71

Consultation Games
B-Q3
9...
Q-B2 !
I O Q-K2
1 1 N-Q3
1 1 N x B would be sound, but the
allies are understandably reluctant to
open the KR file.
11 . . .
0--0-0
P-K4
1 2 B-Q2
13 P x P
NxP
14 N x N
BxN
1 5 0-0-0
Q-R4 (62)
For once, Capablanca overlooks a
tactical resource. He threatens B x N
followed by Q-KB4, and he foresees a
pretty winning variation : 1 6 Q-B3 ?
Q-B4 1 7 _B-K2 N-Q4 1 8 N-K4
Q-R4 19 B-QB4 Q-R5 ! Afterwards
he suggested that 1 5 . . . N-Q4 would
have maintained his advantage.

16 P-B4 !
B-Q3
1 7 P-B5 !
BxP
18 N x B
Qx N
19BxP
K-B2 !
Capablanca recovers quickly. He
discerns the possibility of a favourable
endgame and his king starts moving
up the board. His opponents oblig­
ingly force exchanges - the converse
of the normal situation.
20 KR-Bl
Q-K5
2 1 Qx Q
NxQ
22 B--KB4
KR-B l

RxB
23 B x B +
KxR
24 R x R
R x R+
25 B-B4
K-K4
26 B x R
K-B5
27 K-QI
P-KR4
28 K-K2
29 K-Q3
Or 29 P-KN3 + . Black could not
win after 29 . . . N x NP + 30 P x N +
K x P 3 1 K-K3 P-R5 32 B-Q3.
29 . . .
P-KN4
P-N5
30 B-K2
P-R5
3 1 P-N4
32 K-Q4
N-N4
33 P-R4 ?
The allies rightly seek counterplay
on the queen's side ; but it so happens
that after this move Black's knight
can defend his pawns against the
combined attack of White's king and
bishop. This would not be possible
after 33 P-N5 ! forcing an exchange of
pawns.
Black now wins neatly ; the Allies
cannot advance their king on the 38th
move, for if 38 K-K6 P-R6 ! 39 B x P
N-QI + !
33 . . . P-N6 34 P x P + K x P
35 K-K5 K x P 36 B--N4 K-N6 !
37 B-B8 N-B2 + ! 38 K-Q4 N-Q3
39 B-Q7 P-R6 40 B x RP K x B
4 1 P-B4 K-N5 42 P-B5 N-B2 43
P-N5 K-B4 44 K-B4 K-K5 45
P-R5 N-K4 + 46 K-N4 P-R3 0-1 .
73 Raul L. Martinez and Valentin
F. Coria - JRC and Emilio
Carranza
Buenos Aires, 24 May 1 9 1 1
I P-K4
2 N-KB3
3 B-N5
4 P-B3

P-K4
N-QB3
B-B4
Q-B3

72

Consultation Games

N l -K2
5 0-0
An old defence, invented by
Steinitz. In reply White should play
6 P-Q4.
P-KR3
6 P-Q3
7 B-K3
P-Q3 ! ?
8 N l -Q2 ?
8 P-Q4 would be correct; as a
consequence of White's failure to take
active steps in the centre the Black
players are able to start an attack on
the wing.
0--0
8...
9 R-K l
P-KN4 !
I O N-B l
B-KNS
I I N-N3
N-N3 !
12 P-N4
It would be better to triple Black's
pawns ( 1 2 B x B and 1 3 B x N ) . Even
so the superior position of Black's
pieces, including the rooks which
could move to the half-open files,
would outweigh the disadvantage of
the tripled pawns which could not
easily be attacked.
12 . . .
B-N3
RP x B
13 B x B
BxN
1 4 P-KR3
15PxB
N-BS
PxB
16 B x N
1 7 K-R2
R-R6 !
R I-R I
1 8 Q-Q2
P-B4 !
1 9 N-BS
The Black players open another
file for their major pieces.
20 P x P
QP x P
2 1 R/K l-Ql
21 R-K3 would offer more resis­
tance. Black would then force the
advance of White's QBP, in due
course, by playing Q-K3, after which
White's QP would be exposed to
attack both from the rank and from
the file.

21 . . .
K-R2
22 QR-B l
Giving up the QRP ; in any case
Black's threat to play Q-K3 is
unanswerable.
22 . . .
Q-N3
A finesse, threatening Q-R4.
23 N-N3
R x RP
24 R-B2
Q-K3
25 N-BS
RxR
26 Qx R
R-R7
0-1
74 Leopoldo
Carranza
and
Lizardo Molina Carranza - JRC
and Carlos M. Portela
Buenos Aires, 3 1 May 1 9 1 1
I P-K4
P-QB3
2 P-Q4
P-Q4
3 N-QB3
PxP
4NxP
B-B4
S N-N3
B-N3
6 B-QB4
P-K3
7 B-K3 ?
N-B3
8 N l -K2
N I -Q2
9 0-0
B-Q3
1 0 P-B4 ?
The White players threaten P-KBS,
a plan which fails. The unfortunate
position of their QB gives Black the
chance of a delightful and quite
unexpected combination.
10 . . .
N-NS !
I I Q-Q2
Setting a little trap : if 1 1 . . . N x B
12 Qx N B x QBP
1 3 P-BS !
Objectively, 1 1 B-B2 would be better.
11 . . .
N-N3 ! ( 63)
12 B-N3 ?
Capablanca gives the followin g
variation : 12 B-Q3 N-Q4 1 3 B-B2
N x RP ! 1 4 K x N Q-RS + ! S K-NI
N x P 16 N x N B x N 1 7 Q-K l

Consultation Games

73

PxP
5 PxP
6 Q-R4+ (64)
This is Marshall's variation, still
considered best.

R-Ql , a remarkable position in
which four of White's pieces, and the
king, are held down by a queen and a
bishop.
After 1 8 B-o-K2, however, White can
put up a fight, e.g. 18 . . . R x P 1 9
R-Ql ! or 1 8 . . . R-Q4 1 9 P-QR4 !
12 . . .
B x QBP !
1 3 P-KR3
If 1 3 B x B N-B5.
13 . . .
NxB
Capablanca and his ally have won
a pawn ; the game ended : 14 Qx N
B x B 1 5 Q x B 0-0 1 6 QR-Ql
1 7 P-B5 Q-Q4 1 8 N-B4
Pr-K2
Qx Q 1 9 P x Q N-Q4 ! 20 N x N
KP x N 2 1 N-R5 B-N4 22 P-KN4
KR-K l 23 KR-K l B-K6 +
24
K-N2 R-K5 25 K-B3 R I-Kl 26
N-N3 R-B5 +
27 K-N2 R-B7 +
28 K-R l K-B l 29 R-Q3 B-N4
30 R x R + K x R 3 1 K-N l R x NP
32 N-B I R-QR7 33 R-KB3 B-B3
n- 1 .
75 .}RC Benito H . Villegas and
Emilio Carranza
Buenos Aires, 1 4 June 1 9 1 1
-

l P-K4
2 P-KB4
3 N-KB3
4 P-B3

P-K4
B-B4
P-Q3
B-KN5

B-Q2
6...
A few years earlier Capablanca,
playing Black, met this move in
casual play against A. Pulvermacher.
Not knowing the book Capablanca
continued 6 . . . N-Q2 7 N x P N-B3
8 P-Q4 0-0 !
9 B-KN5 ? N x N
I O P x N N x P ! 0-1 (game no. 75a).
7 Q-N3
A loss of time which gives Black the
initiative.
N-QB3
7 ...
Q-K2
8 B-B4
N-B3
9 Q-B2
P-KR3
I O P-Q3
A natural move which avoids an
awkward pin. Capablanca recom­
mended IO . . . P-QR4, considering
it more important that Black should
not lose ground on the queen's side.
1 1 P-QN4
B-N3
1 2 P-QR4
P-QR4
1 3 P-N5
N-Ql
B-QB4
14 B-R3
15 B x B
Qx B
1 6 Q-B2 !
Qx Q+
The Allies see that after 1 6
Q-K2 1 7 0-0 White has a useful lead

74

Consultation Games

in development, and they decide to
exchange queens, after which, rather
curiously, they cannot defend their
KP. They do not see the resource
16 . . . N x P !
Capablanca wins his pawn, and
methodically improves his position
before making the final break. The
endgame is interesting, but requires
no special comment :
1 7 K x QN-NS + 18 K-K2 N-K3
19 B x N B x B
20 P-R3 N-B3
2 1 N x P N-R4 22 K-K3 P-N4
23 N-Q2 0-0-0 24 P-Q4 KR-Kl
25 P-N4 N-BS 26 N-Q3 N-N7 +
27 K-B2 N-RS 28 N-B3 N-N3
29 P-QS B-Q2 30 QR-Kl P-KB3
3 1 P-B4 R-Rl
32 N-Q4 P-R4
33 P-BS B-Kl 34 P-B6 P-N3 35
N-K6 R-Q3 36 N-N7 P-RS 37
K-K3 N-K2 38 KR-B l B-N3 39
N-N2 N-N l 40 N-B4 R-R2 4 1
N x R+ P x N
4 2 N-K6 R-K2
43 P-KS ! 1-0.

result is a fine display of defensive
endgame technique.
1 P-K4 P-K3 2 P-Q4 P-Q4 3
N-QB3 N-KB3 4 B-KNS B-NS 5
P x P Qx P 6 N-B3 N-KS 7 B-Q2
B x N 8 P x B N x B 9 Qx N 0-0
1 0 B-Q3 P-QB4 1 1 0-0 P-BS 12
B-K2 N-B3 1 3 Q-K3 ! B-Q2 14
N-Q2 N-R4 1 5 P-B4 Q-KB4 16
1 7 B x N Qx QBP
NxP NxN
18 B-Q3 Q-RS 19 Q-K4 P-KN3
2 1 Q-R6
20 Qx QNP QR-N I
KR-B l 22 Qx Q B x Q 23 QR-B l

76 Rolando Wa and Miguel A
Gelly - JRC
Buenos Aires, 2 1 June 1 9 1 1

23 . . .
R-N7
Taking the 7th rank.
24 R-KB2
R I-N I
25 R I-B l
Capablanca suggests 25 B-K4.
25 . . .
K-Bl
Black's king prepares to oppose the
passed pawn.
26 P-N4
RxR
27 R x R
R-B l !
Forcing White's rook to guard the
QBP from the side rather than from
the rear.
28 B-B2
B-N4
P-QR4 !
29 R-B3
Depriving White of an anchorage
for his bishop at QN3.
B-B3
30 P-BS

Capablanca won all his games on this
tour of Argentina except this one,
played almost at the end of his visit.
He discovers that his 1 1 th move does
not lead to anything on the queen's
side, whilst his opponents are gaining
ground in the centre and on the king's
side.
On his 1 5th move he makes an
interesting decision : he chooses an
endgame with positional advantage
but a pawn down rather than a
middlegame with positional dis­
advantage but level material. The

( 65) .

65
B

.. • • t • t
B
• • • •

Consultation Games

KP x P
3 1 R-K3
32 P x P
R-N l
Seizing the remote open file.
33 P x P
Here 33 P-B6 could be tried.
33 . . .
RP x P
34 B-N3
P-R5
R-N8 +
35 B-B4
Advancing on the file in order to
attack the passed pawn from the
rear.
36 K-B2
R-Q8
3 7 R-Q3
R-KR8
38 P-Q5
B-Q2
39 K-N2
R-QB8
40 R-K3
P-N4 !

t-!

Now the White players cannot
advance on the king's side. Rightly
deciding that no further progress can
be made they agreed to a draw.
77

Hugo Fahndricb and Arthur
Kaufmann -JRC and Tartakower
Vienna, 1 8 October 1 9 1 I
A game characterized by some fine
and sustained manoeuvring on the
part of the Black players who end up
with extensive control right across the
board.
P-QB3
I P-K4
2 P-Q4
P-Q4
3 N-QB3
PxP
4NxP
N-B3
5 N x N+
KP x N
6 P-QB3
B-Q3
7 B-Q3
0-0
8 N-K2
Not the best move. White should
play either 8 Q-R5 forcing a pawn
weakness, or 8 Q-B2 gaining time
(Black would reply 8 . . . K-R I ) .
8...
N-Q2

..

75

9 0-0
R-Kl
J O N-N3
N-B l
I I Q-RS
Perhaps this move is played in
order to tie down Black's knight. In
fact, the Black players have no inten­
tion of moving the knight which is to
defend their king's side whilst they
commence operations in the centre ;
and these operations will be all the
more effective now that White's queen
is off-side.
11 . . .
B-K3
1 2 B-Q2
Q-B2
1 3 N-K4
B-K2
1 4 KR-Kl
QR-QI
15 N-B5
B-Q4 !
16 N-K4
The White players wish to avoid
doubled pawns. They are in some
difficulty on account of their
unguarded bishops on the Q-file, e.g.
16 P-QB4 B x N !
P-QN3
16 . . .
1 7 B-B2
This bishop moves to a safer
square . . .
17 . . .
P-QB4
1 8 B-K3 ?
. . . and so does this bishop. In­
stead, there is a chance here for a neat
insertion bid, 18 B-R4 !
P-N3
18 . . .
Whilst the Black players expand
and re-group the White queen
remains an idle spectator.
19 Q-R6
P-B4
N-K3
20 N-N3
2 1 N-K2
This knight, like the Duke of
York's men, has been all the way up
the hill and back again.
Q-B3
21 . . .
22 P-B3

76

Consultation Games

If 22 Q-R3 B-Q3, threatening
P-KB5.
22 . . .
B-B5 !
The beginning of a brilliant com­
bination offering first the exchange,
and then the queen.
B-B l
23 B-N3
BxN
24 Q-R4
RxP
25 P-Q5
Qx B
26 B x R
N-Q5 !
27 R x B
PxP
28 P x N
RxB
29 R-Q2
30 K-R l
If 30 R x P B-B4 ! ! 3 1 R x Q R-KB
mate.
B-N2
30 . . .
The Black players have a bishop
and two pawns for their rook. They
now proceed to gain more territory :
3 1 P-KR3 P-KR3 32 Q-B4 Q-K3
33 Q-N3 P-KN4 34 Q-B2 P-KR4
35 P-R3 P-R5 36 R-KB I Q-K4
37 R-Rl Q-B5 38 R-KB I K-R2
39 R-R l K-N3 40 R I-QI B-K4
4 1 K-N l Q-R7 + 42 K-B l R-N6
43 Q-N l Q-B5
44 Q-B2 P-B3
45 R-K2 (66) 0-- 1 .

45 R2-Q2 B-Q5 46 Q-K l Q-R7.
Their advantage is so great that some
such winning line would become
available to them, e.g. 44 . . . K-R3
45 R2-Q2 P-QR4 46 Q-K2 P-N5 !
Julio A. Lynch and
78 JRC
Benito H. Villegas
Buenos Aires, 1 0 September 1 9 14
-

The first of a series of six consultation
games played during Capablanca's
second trip to South America. The
allies play a sound opening but then
become a little over-anxious to
simplify ( 1 2 . . . N-R2 instead of
12 . . . R-Kl ! ) . White makes the
most of a slender advantage, obtain­
ing a fine grip after 1 7 . . . N-B3 ? At
this point Black should play 1 7 . . .
P-B3 ; they unnecessarily feared the
reply 18 Q-N6.
1 P-K4 P-K3 2 P-Q4 P-Q4
3 N-QB3 N-KB3 4 P x P P x P 5
B-N5 B-K2 6 B-Q3 N-B3 7 N l -K2
P-KR3 8 B-R4 N-QN5 9 0--0 0--0
10 R-Kl P-B3 1 1 P-QR3 N x B
1 2 Q x N N-R2 1 3 B x B Qx B 14
N-N3 Q-Q3 1 5 R-K5 B-Q2 1 6
R I -K l QR-K l 1 7 P-B4 N-B3 1 8
P-R3 P-QN3 1 9 N-Ql ! P-B4 2 0
N-K3 P-N3 (67).

w

The game was broken o ff and
adjudicated a win for the Black
players. Were their king at KR3 they
could win at once by 44 . . . P-Q6 !

77

5 N-QR4 !
B--N3
6 B--N5
B--Q2
7 NxB
RP x N
8 P-Q3
N l -K2
Not 8 . . . N-B3 ? losing the king's
pawn.
9 0--0
0--0
1 0 P-B5 !
This advance is sound because
Black's pieces are not well placed for
supporting the natural counter-thrust,
P-Q4.
10 . . .
P-B3
1 1 B--QB4 +
K-R l
12 P-QR3
White's immediate task is to prevent
Black's playing P-Q4; the text-move
provides a retreat for his KB should
Black play N-QR4.
B--K l
12 . . .
1 3 B--K6 !
B--R4
If 1 3 . . . P-Q4 14 P x P N x QP
15 P-Q4 and White's bishops would
become immensely powerful ; or if
1 3 . . . B--B2 1 4 B x B R x B 1 5 N-R4
threatening Q-R5.
14 Q-K l
Q-Kl
1 4 . . . B-B2 would be better,
although White would still retain a
strong grip after 1 5 B x B R x B 1 6
P-B4 !
1 5 Q-R4
N-Ql
B--B2
16 B--R2
1 7 P-B4 !
P-B4
This is not a bad idea ; the Black
players bolster their centre and shut
out Whites KB. However, they can
achieve counter-play only by the
advance P-QN4, and they might
better play it at once.
N-N l
18 P-KN4
P-QN4
1 9 B--Q2
BP x P
20 P-N5
N-KB3
2 1 N x NP

Consultation Games

Capablanca now begins one of his
famous simplifying manoeuvres lead­
ing to won endgame.
2 1 P x P P x P 22 N x P ! N x N
23 P-B4 Q-KB3 24 P x N Qx P
25 R x R R x R 26 R x R + B x R
27 Q-K4 ! Qx Q 28 N x Q K-B l .
White's winning method is unusual.
He does not move up his king but
advances his pawn-majority. Nor­
mally such an idea would fail, but
here he is able to prevent Black's
king from getting across the board to
blockade the queen's side pawns (e.g.
28 . . . P-B5 29 N-B6 + K-B l 30
P-Q6) .
29 P-Q6 ! P-B4 30 N x P B--B3
3 1 P-QN4 P-B5.
The Black king would still be con­
fined after 3 1 . . . K-Kl 32 P-QR4
K-Ql 33 P-N5. After the text-move,
however, White makes a seven-move
combination in order to win Black's
bishop.
32 P-QR4 P-R3 33 P-R5 B--N4
34 N-K6 + K-B2 35 N-B7 B--Q6
Or 35 . . . B--B5 36 P-N5 ! P x P
37 P-R6 B--Q6
38 P-R7 B--K5
39 N x P.
The game ended 36 P-Q7 K-K2
37 N-K6 ! K x P 38 N-B5 + K-B3
39 N x B K-N4 40 K-B2 1--0.

-

Lizardo Molina Car­
79 JRC
ranza and Enrique G. Ruiz
Buenos Aires, 1 7 September 1 9 1 4
P-K4
1 P-KB4
B--B4
2 P-K4
P-Q3
3 N-KB3
N-QB3
4 N-B3
4 . . . N-KB3 5 B--B4 P-QR3
would be better, preserving the king's
bishop.

..

78

Consultation Games

22 R-B3
PxP
If 22 . . . P-KR3 23 N x B + N x N
24 K-R I P x P 25 R-KNl R-KN l
26 R3-N3 threatening 27 B x RP!
N x B 28 R x P !
23 N x P !
After 2 3 R-R3 P-KR3 2 4 N x B +
N x N White would be a tempo short
were he to continue as in the preceding
note ; whilst if 25 B x BP P-Q4 !
Instead Capablanca discovers this
fine sacrifice which ties up Black's
pieces; moreover, it prevents once and
for all the possibility that Black might
play P-Q4.
23 . . .
NxN
24 R-R3
B--N l
25 B x P
R-B2
Capablanca gives the variation
25 . . . N-B2 26 P-B6 ! P-KN4 27
Q-R5 N-Ql 28 Q-R6 R-B2 29
B x P Q-B l 30 K-R l ! Qx Q 3 1
B x Q and wins.
26 K-R l
P-QN4
27 B--Q5
R l -R2
28 R-KN l
R-B3
29 B--N5
R2-KB2 (68)

order to make a manoeuvre on the far
side of the board.
He sees that he could get a won
endgame after 30 B/N5 x R R x B
3 1 B x B Q x B 32 Qx R ! and realizes
that the endgame would be easier to
win ifhe were to get a passed pawn on
the queen's side before exchanging
pieces.
30 . . .
Q-B l
3 1 P-R4
PxP
32 P x P
Q-K l
33 P-R5
N-B3
34 P-R6
N-N5
35 B/N5 x R
NxB
Black avoids the endgame mentioned in the above note.
36 B x NP +
RxB
37 R x R
KxR
K-R l
38 Q-R6 +
Or 38 . . . K-B2 39 R-N3 K-K2
40 R-N7 + B--B2 4 1 Q-K6 + !
39 Q x P
1 --0
In fact, Black resigned a few moves
later. If 39 . . . K-N2 40 P x N Q-R5
4 1 R-N3 + . A very beautiful game,
played to perfection throughout.
80

Carlos M. Portela and Raul
L. Martinez JRC
Buenos Aires, 22 September 1 9 14
-

30 P-N3 ! !
This move presents an astonishing
effect. In the middle of a king's side
attack Capablanca takes time off in

1 P-K4
P-QB3
2 P-Q4
P-Q4
3 Px P
PxP
4 B-- Q3
N-KB3
4 . . . N-QB3 would be correct.
N-B3
5 P-KR3 !
6 N-KB3
P-K3
7 0-0
B--Q3
Q-B2
8 P-B3
B--Q2
9 R-Kl
B-B5
1 0 Q-K2
Black is at some disadvantage, and

79

Consultation Games
he seeks nothing more than to ease
his game by exchanges. The White
p layers re-act in the most extraordin­
ary way, in an effort, presumably, to
refute this move.
1 1 N l-Q2

P-KN3

1 2 P-KN3

B-R3

If 19 N x BP R-R7 + !

Or 20 N3-K5 N x N

B-B5 !

Now this move is bad because
Black can force open the KR-file or
win a pawn. 14 N-B l would be
better.
P-KR4
BxB

1 6 QR x B

PxP

17 p x p

PxN

P-K4 !

20 . . .

1 4 N-K5 ?

15 N2-B3

21

R-R5 2 2 P-B3 R I -R I .

This pawn becomes an object of
attack and a gaping hole is left at
White's KB4. Instead, 1 3 N-K5
would be satisfactory.

14 . . .

Q-B5

19 . . .
20 N3-R2

1 3 P-KN4 ?

13 . . .

20 K-N l

R x P.

( 69)

2 1 R-KR I

P-K5

22 B--N5

R-R5

23 P-B3

R I -R I

0-1

81 JRC - Rolando Illa and
Miguel A. Gelly
Buenos Aires, 28 September 1 9 1 4
Capablanca i s anxious t o score 1 00%
on this tour. This is his last game,
played against the same opponents
who so nearly defeated him in 1 9 1 1 ;
accordingly he plays a solid and care­
ful game. For the opening see also
game 1 98 .
1 P-K4 P-K4

2 N-KB3 N-QB3

3 B-N5 P-Q3 4 P-Q4 B-Q2 5 N-B3
N-B3

6 BxN BxB

7 Q-Q3 P x P

8 N x P B--Q2 9 B-N5 B--K2
0--0

I I QR-QI P-KR3

R-Kl

1 3 KR-K l N-R2

Qx B

15 N-Q5 Q Q l

N-B3

-

1 7 P-B3 B-K3 ?

0--0-0 !

17 . . .

This sacrificial offer takes White by
surprise. If now 18 N x BP Q-B5 !
19

N x KR

Q-R6 +

Qx NP +

20

K-B l

2 1 K-N 1 R x N.

1 8 K-N2

Another
accepted.

fine

19 N x N

N x NP !

offer,

this

time
1 8 N-N5 !

1 0 0-0

1 2 B--R 4
14 B x B
16 P-QB4

( 70 ) .

Consultation Games

80

Black should not have permitted
this move after which White gains
strong pressure on the half-open
QB-file
18 . . .
BxN
1 9 BP x B
P-QR3
P-KN3
20 N-Q4
N-R4
2 1 R-K2
R-K2
22 R-QB2
23 R I -QB!
N-B3
R-N l
24 Q-N3
25 R-B4
N-Q2
An ingenious defence, for if now
26 R x P N-B4 !
After the obvious 25 . . . N-K l
White could continue 26 R-N4 Q-B l
27 N-B6 ! winning the exchange.
R-K4
26 Q-B2
K-N2
2 7 Q-Q2
28 Q-B3
K-N l
1-0 (time)
In the long run Black's game can­
not be defended. White could at once
win material by 29 P-QN4 N-N3
30 R x P N-R5
31 Q-B2 N-B4
32 R-B6. Capablanca, however,
would probably delay the break­
through until he had taken all the
necessary steps to prevent or minimize
counter-play.
.

82 Walter P. Shipley and Beuja•
min M. Neill JRC
Philadelphia, 4 December 1 9 1 8
-

I P-K4
P-QB3
P-Q4
2 P-Q4
PxP
3 N-QB3
4NxP
N-B3
KP x N
5 N x N+
6 B-QB4
B-Q3
B-K2
7 Q-K2 +
8 B-K3
This bishop is badly placed here,

remaining a bystander until captured
later on.
8. . .
0-0
9 N-B3
N-Q2
1 0 0-0
P-QN4 !
An interesting attempt to gain
control ofsome light-coloured squares,
e.g. Q4.
1 1 B-Q3
1 1 B-N3 would be better, followed
by P-QR4. White's queen's side
pawns (QNP, QBP) would then
remain united and mobile.
11 . . .
N-N3
1 2 P-B4
PxP
1 3 B x BP
NxB
1 4 Qx N
B-K3
15 Q-B2 ?
Having ventured thus far since
their 1 1 th move the Allies should now
continue 15 Qx P - they might as
well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb.
After the text-move they have no
compensation for the extensive scope
available to Black's rooks and bishops.
B-Q4
15 . . .
1 6 N-R4
This knight should seek a strong­
point in the centre, e.g. QB5. As the
play goes it gets there too late.
P-N3
16 . . .
P-KB4
1 7 P-B4
R-Kl
18 N-B3
R-Nl
19 Q-B2
B-N5
20 P-QN3
P-B3
2 1 N-K5
22 N-Q3
B-QB6
23 QR-Bl
Q-R4 ( 71)
24 KR-Ql
The Allies hope to get out of their
difficulties by playing 25 B-Q2,
which Black prevents by a fine
sacrifice. Also after 24 N-B5 Black
would get a winning attack by means

Consultation Games

71
w

of a sacrifice : 24 . . . R-K2 25 KR­
QI R I-Kl 26 B-Q2 R-K7 ! 2 7
B x B R x Q 28 B x Q R x NP +
2 9 K-B I R l -K7.
24 . . .
R x B!
25 Q x R
Qx P
26 N-B2
Not 26 Q-B2 B x QP !
26 . . .
B-N7
27 R x P
BxR
28 Q-K6 +
K-N2
29 Qx B
Qx P
30 P-Q5
Q-N2
3 1 Qx Q+
RxQ
32 K-B I
P-QR4 !
33 N-Q3
If 33 R-N I P-R5 34 N-Q3 P-R6
35 N x B P-R7 ! The menace of the
QRP induces White to seek exchanges
losing another pawn, and it is all
over :
33 . . . B-Q5 34 N-B I B-B4 35
P-Q6 R-Q2 36 N-N3 R x P 37
R x R B x R 38 N x P B x P 39 P-N3
B-K4 40 K-N2 P-N4 41 N-B4 P-N5
42 N-K3 K-N3 43 N-Q5 B-Q3
44 P-R4 P-R4 45 N-B3 P-B5 46
N-K4 P-B6 + 47 K-B2 B-K4 48
N-Q2 K-B4 49 N-B I K-K5 50
N-Q2 + K-Q6 5 1 N-B I B-Q5 +
52 K-KI P-B4 53 N-R2 P-B7 +
0-1 .

81

Esteban Puig y Puig, Ardevol,
and Puntas JRC
Barcelona, February 1 920

83

-

I P-K4
P-QB3
2 P-Q4
P-Q4
3 P-K5
Capablanca always won when this
move was played against him. Black
has the better long-term strategic
prospects, a type of game which
suited his positional style.
3...
B-B4
4 B-Q3
After the exchange of their good
bishop the White players find them­
selves somewhat weak on the light­
coloured squares. It might be better
to avoid or delay this exchange, e.g.
5 N-K2 P-K3 6 N-N3.
BxB
4...
5 Qx B
P-K3
Q-N3
6 N-K2
7 0-0
P-QB4
8 P-B3
This strengthens the pawn chain
but further confines White's QB. The
more active 8 P x P B x P 9 N l-B3,
as played by Nimzowitsch, would be
preferable.
8...
N-QB3
PxP
9 P-KB4
N:-R3
10 P x P
N-B4
I I N-Q2
P-KR4
1 2 N-KB3
P-R4 !
1 3 B-Q2
14 P-QR3 ?
This weakens the light-coloured
squares QN3 and QB4. Instead the
allies should play 14 B-K3, correcting
their 1 3th move.
Q-R3 !
14 . . .
R x Q ( 72)
1 5 Qx Q
Capablanca has in all probability a

82

Consultation Games

winning game. He perfected the
technique for such positions, and the
following play should be compared
with his games against Atkins at
London 1 922, and against Nimzo­
witsch at New York 1 927.
Everything now flows smoothly to
the end :
1 6 QR-B l K-Q2 !
1 7 R-QB2
B-K2 18 R I -B l B--Ql ! 19 K-B2
B-N3 20 B--K3 P-QR5 ! 2 1 R-Ql
R-QB l 22 N-B3 N-R4 23 K-K2
N-B5 24 B--B l B-Ql ! 25 K-Q3
R-N l 26 R-N l P-QN4 2 7 P-KN4
P x P 28 R x P P-N5 29 P x P R x P
30 N-Ql R-B3
3 1 P-R4 P-N3
32 B--Q2 N x B 33 R x N R-N6 +
34 K-K2 B--R4 ! 0-1 .
84 Sydney T. Sharp and Walter
P. Shipley - JRC
Philadelphia, 25 February 1 922
The allies write : 'We believe that this
form of the Scotch Gambit is about
the best opening that White can
adopt if they are content with a drawn
game.' They paid for a chance to play
the world champion and decided to
throw their money away.
They force bishops of opposite
colour by 15 Q-B3 which is, perhaps,
their drawish aim. Instead 15 P-B3,

making play for the bishop-pair,
would be quite promising. At the
finish Black's advantage of a king's
side majority would hardly be suffi­
cient for a win against correct defence.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 P-Q4 P x P 3
N-KB3 N-QB3 4 N x P N-B3 5
N-QB3 B--N5 6 N x N NP x N 7
B--Q3 P-Q4 8 P x P P x P 9 0--0 0--0
I O B--KN5 B x N ? 1 1 P x B P-KR3
1 2 B--R4 Q-Q3 1 3 R-KI ! B-N2
14 R-N l QR-N I 15 Q-B3 N-K5
16 B x N P x B
1 7 Q-B5 Q-Q4
1 8 Qx Q B x Q 1 9 P-QR3 P-KB4
20 B--K 7 KR-K l 2 1 B--B5 P-R3
22 B--R 7 R x R
23 R x R P-B5
24 R-N8 K-B2 25 R x R K x R 26
K-B l P-N4 2 7 B-Q4 K-K2 28
P-N3 K-K3 29 P x P P x P 30
P-KR4 K-B4 t--!.
85 Sydney T. Sharp and W. H.
Stewart - JRC
Philadelphia, 8 March 1 924
A drawn game, but not without
interest. Capablanca slowly but surely
manoeuvres from an unfavourable
beginning to a favourable end - a
good example of his systematic posi­
tional play.
1 P-K4 P-QB3 2 P-Q4 P-Q4
3 P x P P x P 4 B-Q3 N-QB3 5
P-QB3 N-B3 6 B-KB4 P-K3.
Theory commends either 6 . . .
P-KN3, which had been roughly
handled upon its first appearance
in the game Lasker-Tartakover,
Mahrisch-Ostrau, 1 923, or 6 . . .
B-N5 7 Q-N3 Q-B I , a sound but
rather passive line.
7 N-B3 Q-N3 8 Q-N3 N-Q2 !
Capablanca first deals with his
opponents' positional threats, and

Capablanca was scheduled to give
a simultaneous display the same
evening, and time for this afternoon
game was limited. He begins with
slight disadvantage ; typically, and by

Sydney T. Sharp, Walter P.
Shipley, and W. H. Stewart - JRC
Philadelphia, 1 1 October 1 924

86

83

l P-Q4 N-KB3 2 N-KB3 P-QN3
3 P-KN3 B--N2 4 B--N2 P-B4 5 0--0
P x P 6 N x P B x B 7 K x B P-N3
8 P-QB4 B--N2 9 N-QB3 Q-B l
1 0 P-N3 N-B3 1 1 B-N2 0-0 1 2
N-B3 P-Q3 1 3 Q-Q2 Q-B4 1 4
QR-QI QR-B l 1 5 KR-K l N-K5
1 6 N x N Qx N/K5 1 7 B x B K x B
18 Q-Q3 (73) .
Qx Q
18 . . .
19 p x Q?
The White allies plan to advance
their pawns on the queen's side,
beginning with P-Q4. This seems
reasonable, yet Capablanca, with his
infallible judgment of position, in­
stantly remarked to his partner that
the text-move was a serious error.
The theme of the next phase is

87 Walter Cruz, Souza Mendes,
and Gauby Pulcherio - JRC and
Luis Vianna
Rio de Janeiro, 2 1 January 1 928

means of solid positional play, he
turns the tables, ending with slight
advantage. In the late opening the
White players should play 14 B-KB I !
instead of 14 B x N.
I P-K4 P-QB3 2 P-Q4 P-Q4
3 P x P P x P 4 B--Q3 N-QB3 5
P-QB3 N-B3 6 B--KB4 B--N5 7
Q-N3 Q-Q2 8 N-Q2 P-K3 9
N l -B3 B x N 1 0 N x B N-KR4 I I
B--Q2 B--Q3 1 2 0--0 0-0 1 3 KR-K l
N-B5
14 B x N B x B 1 5 R-K2
P-QR3 1 6 R I - K l P-QN4 1 7 B--N l
QR-B l 1 8 Q-B2 P-N3 19 Q-Q3
N-R4 20 P-KN3 B-B2 2 1 P-KR4
Q-K2 22 P-R5 Q-B3 23 P x P
RP x P 24 K-N2 K-N2 25 R-R l
R-KR I 26 R2-Kl N-B5 27 Q-K2
R x R 28 R x R t-!.

Consultation GaTTll!S
plays to prevent their occupying KS
with a piece ; his 1 1 th move is also
part of the plan.
9 N l -Q2 P-KR3 10 0-0 P-KN4 !
1 1 B--N3 P-N5 12 Qx Q.
The Allies further weaken Black's
pawns, and they soon gain the bishop­
pair; on the other hand, Black gains
the half-open QR file - of which he
later makes use - and a strong grip on
the centre. It is a matter of nice judg­
ment as to who stands better. At all
events, Capablanca gradually comes
out on top.
1 2 . . . P x Q 1 3 N-R4 B--K2 1 4
P-KB4 P-B4 1 5 N-N6 R-KN l 1 6
N x B N x N 1 7 KR-K I K-B2 1 8
P-QR3 N-N3 1 9 P-B4 N-B3 20
P x P N x QP 2 1 N-B4 B--Q2 22
N-K5 + N x N 23 QP x N R-R5 !
24 R/K l-QI .
The natural move would be
QR-QI ; but the White players
presumably suppose that their QR
should go to QB l . In the event the
rook never gets there.
24 . . . B--B3 25 B-QB2 R-B5
26 B-N3 R-K5 ! 27 B x N B x B 28
R-Q2 R-QB I
29 R-Kl R5-B5
30 R l -Ql P-N4 t-i·
Black has a distinct advantage. Had
there been time to play on he might
well have won notwithstanding the
bishops of opposite colour.

,.

84

Consultation Games

White's attempt to advance the QP.
19 . . .
KR-QI !
20 R-K2
After 20 P-Q4 P-Q4 ! 2 1 P-B5
P-K3 22 P-QR3 P x P 23 P x P
P-QR4 White's pawn majority would
come under fire.
20 . . .
P-K3
R-Q2
2 1 R-QB I
P-KR3
22 P-QR3
23 P-QN4
If 23 P-Q4 N-R4.
K-B3
23 . . .
P-KN4
24 R2-B2
Now if 25 P-Q4 P-N5.
P-KR4
25 P-KR3
N-K4
26 P-N5
R2-B2
27 N-Kl
28 K-B l
The White players have their
pieces inactively placed, defending
the pawns they had hoped to advance.
If, for instance, 28 R-K2 P-Q4 !
P-R5 !
28 . . .
The Black players accordingly
broaden the front, opening up the
king's side.
P-N5 !
29 P-QR4
PxP
30 RP x P
K-N4
3 1 P-B3
K-B5
32 K-N2
P-B4
33 R-K2
PxP
34 P x P

R-R2
35 P-Q4
35 . . . N-N3 would be more
prudent, but Capablanca wants to
give up a piece for a king's side attack,
a course of action to which his partner
agreed with the utmost reluctance,
entering a long disclaimer in his
annotations.
36 P x N
R-R 7 +
37 K-B l
R I-R I
38 R-KN2
PxP
39 P-B5
40 R x BP

Here the game was broken off.
After 4 1 P x P P x P 42 R-B7 R-R8 +
R. J. Broadbent kindly sent the
following analysis adding that he had
satisfied himself that the position
would be drawn with best play.
First variation : 43 K-K2 R l -R7
44 R-B7 + K-K4 45 R-B l R7 x R +
46 N x R R x R 47 K x R K-Q5 = .
Second variation : 43 R-N l R8-R2 !
44 R x R R x R 45 R-N2 R-R8 +
46 K-K2 R-R7 47 K-Ql K-K4,
and now,
48 R x P R-QR7 = ,
48 K-B2 K-B5 ! 49 K-B3 R x R 50
N x R + K-B6 51 N-K l + K-K7 = ,
48 K-B2 K-B5 49 R-Q2 P-K6
50 R-N2 R x R + = , or
48 R-Q2 R x R +
49 K x R
K-Q5 = .

85

Consultation Ga1111s1
88 Rafael Blanco, Juan Corzo,
and Jose A. Gelabert JRC
Havana, 1 9 May 1 928
-

1 P-K4 P-QB3 2 P-Q4 P-Q4 3
N-QB3 P x P 4 N x P B--B4 5 N-N3
B--N 3 6 N-B3 N-Q2 7 B--Q3 N l -B3
8 P-B3 P-K3 9 B--KB4 N-Q4 1 0
B--KN5 Q-N3 1 1 R-QN l P-KR3
12 B--K 3 B x B 1 3 Qx B Q-N4 !
1 4 P-B4 ( 75).

Q-R4 + ! ?
14 . . .
Black makes an interesting attempt
to enliven the game, giving up a
knight in order to gain some passed
pawns. 1 4 . . . Q-R3 would be the
alternative.
N-N5
15 B--Q2
Qx P
1 6 Q-N3
1 7 Qx Q
NxQ
18 P-N4
If 1 8 P-B5 P-K4 !
N-N3 !
18 . . .
19 N-K5
The alternatives would be : 1 9
R-N2 N x B P 2 0 R x N N x B , or
19 P-B5 N-B5 20 N-K5 N x N 2 1
P x N 0-0--0 2 2 R-N2 N x P 23
B x N R-Q4.
19 . . .
R-Q l ?
Black intends to finesse but blunders
instead, leaving his QRP unguarded.

1 9 . . . B--Q3 20 P-B5 B x N would
be correct.
20 N-K2
B--Q3
BxN
2 1 P-B5
22 P x N
B--B3
Capablanca spent a long time
before deciding which of several
losing moves he should play. In
answer to the one he chooses White
could win by 23 P x P l
PxP
2 3 R-N2 ?
24 R x N
BxP
25 R-R7
The allies misjudge the position.
Instead of trying to win back some
pawns they should play 25 N x B,
preserving their bishop for the end­
game.
The game ended 25 . . . B x P + !
26 K x B R x B 27 R x P 0--0 28
R x NP R-R l 29 R x P R l-R7 30
R-Kl R/Q7-N7 3 1 R-N6 R-R5

!-!.

Black gains the QNP, and with all
the pawns on one side of the board it
would be difficult if not impossible
for White to win. An honourable
draw was therefore agreed.
89

JRC and Hans Kmocb
Euwe and A. Lilienthal
Hilversum, 1 6 January 1 935

As

-

M.

the moves were played so they
were broadcast on the radio. Three
grandmasters took part, an unusual
event which drew a huge audience.
Capablanca tried hard to win ; he
wanted to beat Euwe, who was
Alekhine's challenger, and also to
have his revenge against Lilienthal
who had beaten him two weeks
previously at Hastings.
P-Q4
1 N-KB3

86

Con.rultation Games

P-QB3
2 P-B4
3 P-QN3
B-B4
P-K3
4 B-N2
N-B3
5 P-N3
N l -Q2
6 B-N2
7 0-0
P-KR3
8 P-Q3
B-B4
9 N l -Q2
0-0
10 R-B I
B-R2
P-QR4
I I P-QR3
1 2 P-Q4
B-K2
13 N-K l !
The White players jockey for posi­
tion, preparing for action in the
centre or on the wing. They re-group
their knights in preparation for open­
ing up the game in a manner which
cannot, as yet, be specified.
P-QN4
13 . . .
The Black players seek a decision
regarding the queen's side. They
realize that their QBP is technically
weak, but they see no way by which
it could be attacked, otherwise they
would play the less committal 1 3 . . .
Q-B2.
The rest of the play in this game
centres around Black's QBP, and the
White players brilliantly demonstrate
that in the end it can be effectively
attacked.
14 P-B5
This blocks the queen's side, and
action is therefore fore-shadowed in
the centre and on the king's side.
14 . . .
N-K5
Q-B2
1 5 N2-B3
16 N-Q3
QR-QI
NxN
17 N/B3-K5
18 N x N
KR-K l
19 N-Q3 !
B-N4
White's threatened break in the
centre cannot be prevented, so the
Black players try a little diversion ;

but they could hardly expect that
White would reply 20 P-B4.
20 P-K3
B-K2
• I
B-B
2 1 Q-K2
Preparing to defend the coming
attack.
22 P-B3
N-N4
If 22 . . . N-B3 23 P-K4 P x P
24 P x P N-Q2 25 P-K5 ! B x N 26
Qx B N x KP ? 2 7 Q-K4 winning
Black's QBP.
PxP
23 P-K4
Now the White players gain
increased scope for their KB on the
long diagonal, but otherwise they
could continue their attack by 24
P-K5.
24 P x P
P-B3
25 P-K5 !
This fine sacrifice opens lines for
attack on both wings - a triumph for
White's fianchettoed bishops that
would have delighted Reti, the
inventor of this opening.
25 . . .
B xN
26 Q x B
PxP
27 Q-N6 !
P-K5 !
28 P-KR4,
If 27 . . . P x P ?
threatening l>-K4.
28 P-KR4
N-B6 +
29 B x N ?
After outplaying their world class
opponents the White allies miss their
way in time trouble. 29 R x N ! P x R
30 B x P Q-B2 3 1 Qx Q+ K x Q
32 B x P should win. It is fair to add,
however, that White's attack also
looks promising after the text-move.
PxB
29 . . .
30 R x P
Q-Q2
PxP
3 1 P-QN4
32 P x P
Q-Q4
33 R I -B l
R-K2
34 R-B4

Consultation Caws
Capablanca afterwards suggested
34 B-B3.
34 . . .
Q-N6 ( 76)

t-t

87

score against just four masters, all of
whom he had met only once. He
never again played Sultan Khan who
had returned for ever to rural life in
the Punjab, nor did he get a second
chance against Verlinsky ; but a few
weeks after this game he levelled up
against Reshevsky.
For this game he travelled specially
to Leningrad, and enjoyed a sweet
revenge against Zhenevsky, to whom
he had lost in 1 925. In the opening he
intentionally avoids the well-known
7 . . P-KN3 ; he wants to win, and
he plays 7 . . . P-Q4. His opponents
were quite unprepared for this move,
which theory considered unsound.
1 P-Q4 N-KB3 2 N-KB3 P-QN3
3 P-KN3 B-N2 4 B-N2 P-B4 5 0-0
P x P 6 N x P B x B 7 K x B P-Q4
8 P-QB4 Q-Q2 ! 9 P x P N x P 1 0
P-K4 N-B2 1 1 N-QB3 P-K4 1 2
N-B5 Qx Q 1 3 R x Q N l -R3 14
B--K 3 R-Ql 1 5 R x R + K x R 1 6
P-QR4 ( 77) .
.

Unfortunately the game had to be
broken off just as the climax was
approaching.
The White players were considering
the brilliant resource 35 P-Q5 ! and
if Black were to capture either this
pawn or the bishop he would lose :
(a) 35 . . . BP x P ? 36 B-B6 !
(b) 35 . . . KP x P ? 36 B-Q4 ! Q-R7
37 R-N4.
(c) 35 . . . Qx B ? 36 P-Q6 R-R2
37 Qx KP + K-R2 38 R x B.
(d) 35 . . . P-K4 ! would be the only
good defence, leading to a draw after
36 P-Q6 P x R 37 P x R Q-K6 +
38 R-B2 R-Q8 + 39 K-N2 Qx KP.
White also considered 35 B--B I
Qx QNP 3 6 B-K3 when 3 6 . . .
P-K4 would draw ; or 35 R I -B2
Qx QNP 36 P-N4 Q-N6 37 K-R2,
and here, too, Black would draw by
advancing his KP.
90 Alexander Ilyin Zhenevsky
and Ilya R. Rabinovich - JRC
Leningrad, 1 3 June 1 936
At this time Capablanca had a minus

K-Q2 !
16 . . .
Black moves his king away from the
queen's side, and as a consequence the
White players are tempted to win a
pawn. Capablanca is not setting a
trap ; this is a useful side-effect, but

88

Consultation Games

the advance of his king is good i n its
own right, a preparation for the end­
game.
1 7 N-N5
The Allies should continue 1 7
P-R5, as, no doubt, they had at first
intended.
P-N3
17 . . .
1 8 N-R4 ?
The chances would be about even
after 1 8 R-Ql + K-K3 1 9 N/B5-Q6
NxN
20 N x N, but the allies
naturally wish to continue with their
queen's side attack.
18 . . .
B-B4
1 9 N x RP
BxB
N-B4
20 P x B
2 1 N-N5
NxN
22 P x N
K-K3
In suffering the doubling of their
pawns and the misplacing of their
knight the allies quite reasonably
suppose that their extra pawn and the
control of the remote open file would
be at least sufficient compensation.
Capablanca must have foreseen when
he played his 1 6th move that this
would not be so.
23 K-B3
If 23 R-Ql R-R I (seizing the
remote file) 24 K-B3 R-R5 !
23 . . .
R-Ql
24 P-QN4

If 24 R-QBI R-Q3 25 P-QN4
N-N6.
N-N6
24 . . .
25 R-R7
N-Q7 +
26 K-N2
NxP
27 N-B3
R-Q4
28 R-R8
RxP
29 R-K8 +
K-B3
30 P-N4
The Allies hinder the advance of
Black's KRP, which they hope to
attack. This is indeed, their only hope
of counter-play.
N-N4
30 . . .
31 N x N
KxN
32 K-N3
K-B3 !
33 R-KR8
K-N2
34 R-K8
P-KR3 !
35 P-R4
K-B3 !
If now 36 R-KR8 R x P 37 R x P
K-N2 ! temporarily putting the White
rook out of play, e.g. 38 P-N5 R-K5
39 K-B3 R-QB5 40 K-N3 P-N4
4 1 P-R5 P-N5 42 P x P P x P 43
R-R2 P-N6.
36 R-QB8
RxP
37 R-B6 +
K-N2
38 P-N5
P-R4
39 R-B8
R-N5 +
40 K-R3
R-K5
4 1 R-B3
P-N4
0- 1
A very fine endgame.

4

Simultaneous Games with Clocks

A simultaneous display with clocks is
very different from one without, as
masters often find to their cost. If, say,
there are ten opponents then, at
twenty moves an hour, the master
must play at an average speed of 200
moves an hour ; but things do not turn
out this way. Some games take more
time. If half the games were played at
a rate of 1 20 moves an hour then it
would be necessary to play the other
half at 600 moves an hour ! Clearly
time pressures will be severe. Whilst
the master is moving at one board
then his clock may be ticking away at
another board, even at all the other
boards.
Here is a paradox : the outward
effects of time trouble may occur on
those boards where the master is not
in time trouble. In Capablanca's
game against Ravinsky nothing much
happens for a long time ; Capablanca's
manoeuvres seem purposeless ; indeed,
apart from avoidance of error and the
maintenance of the status quo, they
are purposeless. He is playing very
quickly at this table because he wants
more time at another table.
His early displays against two or
three players attracted little attention.
His later displays, onwards from 192 8,

were quite different and much harder,
and his score for twelve of these is 52 +
1 2 - 2 0 = .The losses seem numerous,
but what is surprising is that he did
not do worse. He gave displays against
seven of Sweden's top players includ­
ing Lundin and Stoltz, and against
ten of Denmark's top players ; both
events included national champions or
ex-champions. He played the leading
players of Barcelona, Kiev, Havana,
and other cities.
His hardest display was at Lenin­
grad in 1 935. His ten first-category
opponents included Tolush, a future
grandmaster ; he even took the Black
pieces in some of the games. He
scored 3 + 4 - 3 . Afterwards h e
declared that simultaneous displays,
of any kind, were no longer possible
against players of this class.
His most satisfying display was at
Manchester in 1 935. He defeated
four teams composed of the strongest
... North of England. All
players of the
Alekhine could do at Manchester in
1 934, against comparable opposition,
was to score O + I
3
The com­
parison indicates how difficult it is to
do well at such displays, and how,
even at the age of 46, Capablanca's
skill at fast chess was still unrivalled.
=

-

= .

Simultaneous Games with Clocks

90

91 JRC
L. L. Labatt and
Charles Rosen
New Orleans, 1 6 or 1 7 April 1 9 1 2
-

A brilliant game against two of the
strongest players of New Orleans.
Capablanca makes a beautiful combination, with many echoes in the
variations.
P-Q4
1 P-KB4
P-K3
2 P-K3
P-QB4
3 P-QN3
N-KB3
4 B-N2
N-B3
5 N-KB3
B-Q3
6 P-QR3
0-- 0
7 B-Q3
The Allies develop in a routine
way ; 7 . . . Q-K.2 would be better.
B-Q2
8 0--0
R-B l
9 Q-Kl
P-KR3
10 N-B3
If 10 . . . Q-K2 1 1 Q-N3 N-KR4
then 1 2 Q-N4 N-B3 1 3 Q-R4 P-K4
1 4 N x QP ! The Allies accordingly
play to avoid this variation . . .
N-K2 ?
1 1 Q-N3
. . . but then they change their
plan. 1 1 . . . N-KR4 would be better.
BxN
1 2 N-K5
Black could not play the intended
12 . . . N-B4 because of 1 3 B x N
P x B 14 N x B Qx N 1 5 N x QP an echo of the combination given
above.
N-K l
13 P x B
P-B4
14 R-B2
1 5 P x Pep
NxP
K-R l (78)
16 R l -KB I
PxR
17 R x N!
If l 7 . . . R x R 1 8 R x R P x R
1 9 N-K4 ! - yet another echo of the
knight sacrifice.
18 N x P ! !
White makes this sacrifice after all.

NxN
18 . . .
Now if 1 8
N-B4 1 9 R x N !
echoing the exchange sacrifice on
White's 1 7th move ; and if 1 9 . . .
P x R 20 Q-N6 R-B3 2 1 N x P
R3 x N 22 Qx RP + K-N l
23
B-B4 + .
Q-K2
19 Q-N6
20 Qx RP +
K-N l
Q-N2
2 1 R-B3
R-KB2
22 R-N3
RxR
23 R x Q+
24 P-K4
1-0
Black's game is falling apart at the
seams ; if24 . . . N-B2 25 B x P N-Kl
26 P-K5.
92 JRC - Juan Corzo
Havana, 7 September 1 9 1 3
After his mistake on the 1 3th move
Black must lose a pawn ; for if, later,
16 . . . N-R2 - instead of 1 6
N-B5 - then 1 7 N x P ! N x N 1 8
Q-Q3.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-N5 P-QR3 4 B-R4 N-B3 5 0--0
N x P 6 P-Q4 P-QN4 7 B-N3
P-Q4 8 P x P B-K3 9 P-B3 N-B4
1 0 B-B2 B-K2 1 1 P-QN4 N-Q2
1 2 R-Kl N-N3 1 3 P-QR4 0-0 ?
14 P x P P x P 1 5 R x R Qx R 1 6
N-R3 ! N-B5 1 7 N x P Q-N2 1 8

Simultaneous Games with Clocks

N5-Q4 B-N5 1 9 N x N Q x N ( 79).

White now gives back his pawn in
order to get a decisive attack on the
king's side. He makes an offer of the
queen, which if accepted would lead
to further loss of material for Black.
20 N-Q4 ! Q-Q2
2 1 P-K6 !
B x KP 22 N x B P x N 23 Q-R5
P-N3 24 B x P ! P x B 25 Qx NP +
K-R l 26 R x P B-R5 27 Q-R6 +
K-N l
28 R-KN6 + K-B2
29
R-N7 + K-Kl 30 Q-R5 + R-B2
3 1 R-NB + K-K2 32 Qx B + 1-0.
93 A. Silbert JRC
Paris, 22 March 1 9 1 4
-

This i s one of two games played a t the
Cafe de la Regence. Silbert was a
leading French player, runner-up for
the Championship of Paris on two or
more occasions.
P-K4
1 P-K4
N-QB3
2 N-KB3
3 B-N5
B-B4
P-B4
4 P-B3
Not good, says Capablanca, who
explains that he wanted to throw his
opponent on his own resources.
P-Q3
5 P-Q3 ?
6 B-N5
N-B3
P-KR3
7 N l-Q2

91

BxB
8 B-K3
PxP
9 Px B
0--0
lO P x P
White has isolated, doubled, and
blocked KPs. Steintiz first questioned
the long-held assumption that such
pawns favoured White, who would
have the use of outposts on the
adjoining files. Capablanca's tech­
nique is interesting. First he prevents
or neutralizes the use of these out­
posts by White, then he ties White
down to the defence of the weak KPs,
and finally he attacks.
N-K2
1 1 0-0
12 B-R4
B-Q2
1 3 B-B2
P-KN4 !
14 Q-K2
N-N3
15 K-R l
Q-K2
16 P-B4
White plans to move a knight via
QB3 to Q5. This is a good idea, but
he does not succeed in carrying it out.
R-B2
16 . . .
1 7 N-KNl
R l-KB l
P-N5
18 R-B2
19 P-KN3
N-R2
20 R x R
RxR
2 1 R-KB I
N-N4
22 R x R
Qx R
23 K-N2
23 Q-B l would be better - JRC.
23 . . .
N-B l
N l-R2
24 P-N4
25 P-QR3
N-B3
26 P-N5
Q-N3
K-N2 !
27 Q-Q3
Black now threatens N3 x P fol­
lowed by B-KB4.
28 N-K2 ( 80)
28 . . .
N-B6 !
The decisive attack begins. If now
29 N-B3 N-KB + !
P x N+
29 N x N

Simultaneous Games with Clocks

92

80
B

Q-R4 +
30 K x P
3 1 K-B2
If 3 1 K-N2 Q-R6 + 32 K-N I
N-N5.
Qx P +
31 . . .
B-N5
32 K-KI
Black threatens 33 . . . N x P !
33 N-B3
B-B6
Qx P +
34 B-QI
35 K-Q2
N x P+ !
Q-N7 +
36 N x N
37 K-B3
BxN
Qx Q+
38 Q-Q2
39 K x Q
K-N3
0- 1
94

JRC Andre Mufl'ang
Paris, 22 March 1 9 14
-

N x P N2 x N 15 B x N N x B 1 6
Q x N B-B3 1 7 Q-K2.
'Here is one of those deceptive
positions in which it seems that Black
has a strong game, whereas, in reality,
his position is weak.' - ]RC. Black
should now complete his develop­
men t ; instead he advances in the
centre, which leads to the loss of a
pawn.
1 7 . . . P-K4 ? 18 QR-QI P-QR3
1 9 B-B4 ! B-K3 20 B x QP ! B x B
2 1 P-QB4 R-QB l 22 R x B Q-N3
23 R-B l (a loss of time) 23 . . . P-KS
24 P-B5 Q-K3 25 R I -QI R-B2
26 R-Q6 Q-K4 27 R-Q7 R x R
28 R x R Q-B4 29 Q-B4 + K-R l
30 Q-B7 Q-K4 3 1 R-Q5 Q-K3.
' 3 1 . . . Q-N l would offer better
resistance' - JRC. With a clear pawn
up, however, White should win in due
course.
32 Qx Q R x Q 33 R-Q7 P-R3
34 R x QNP B x P 35 R-N6 R-K2
36 R x QRP B-K4 37 P-B6 K-N l
38 R-R4 B-B5 39 R-B4 P-K6 ( 81).
A schoolboy joke ? Muffang recalls
the moment sixty years later: 'Capa­
blanca avait du employer assez
Jargement son temps OU cherchait a
se liberer le plus vite possible - car
sur mon coup 39 . . . P-K6, laissez en
prise le Fou noir en KBS, ii a, a
tempo, allonge la main vers sa Tour
pour prendre le Fou ne l'a arretee
que quelques centimetres avant de
l'atteindre (car si 40 R x B P-K7 ! et
le Pion va a Dame) .'
40 P x P B x KP + 4 1 K-B I B-N3
42 P-QR4 R-QB2 43 P-RS B-R2
44 K-K2 K-B2 45 K-Q3 K-K3
46 N-Q4 + B x N 47 K x B K-Q3
48 P-R6 R x P 49 R x R + K x R
50 K-KS 1-0.
-

The sixteen-year-old Muffang was
already one of the best players of his
country, which he later represented
at several chess Olympiads. Capa­
blanca explains that he chose an
opening which he thought would be
effective against an inexperienced
player.
I P-Q4 P-Q4 2 N-KB3 N-KB3
3 P-K3 P-B4 4 P-B3 N-B3 5 N l -Q2
P-K3 6 D-Q3 B-Q3 7 0-0 0-0 8
P x P B x BP 9 P-K4 B-K2 ? I O
Q-K2 R-Kl 1 1 P-K5 ! N-Q2 1 2
N-N3 P-B3 13 B-KB4 P x P 14

Simultaneous Garnes with Clocks

95 JRC - J. W. Morton, J. W.
Perkins, and A. Shackleton
Bradford, England, 6 October 1 9 1 9
White's 1 1 th move i s positionally
decisive. Capablanca builds up his
game in his usual methodical way :
first h e prevents counterplay (note
his late castling), next he re-groups all
his pieces, moving them to their most
effective squares, and then he makes
the break, sacrificing the exchange
for a winning attack.
I P-Q4 P-Q4 2 P-QB4 P-QB3
3 N-KB3 P-K3 4 N-B3 P-KB4
5 B-B4 N-B3 6 P-K3 B-Q3 7 N-K5
0-0 8 B-Q3 Q-K2 9 P-B5 B-B2
1 0 P-KR4 B-Q2 ? 1 1 N-N6 ! P x N
1 2 B x B Q-B2
1 3 B-Q6 R-Ql
14 N-K2 B-Kl 15 N-B4 N l -Q2
1 7 N-N5 Q-B3
1 6 N-R3 N-R2
18 P-B4 N/Q2-B l 1 9 B-K5 Q-K2
20 P-KN4 N-B3 2 1 P x P KP x P
22 Q-B3 N l -R2 23 0-0-0 R-R4
24 N x N ! K x N 25 QR-N I Q-K3
26 R-N5 R-Q2 27 R l -N l P-N4
(82) .
28 B x BP ! P x B 29 R x N + B x R
30 Qx B + K-N l 3 1 R-N6 Q-K l
3 2 Q x P R-KB2 3 3 Q-N5 Q-K2
34 R x BP Qx Q 35 RP x Q R-Ql

93

36 P-N6 R2-Q2 37 P-B5 R-KB l
38 P-B6 P x P 39 B x P 1-0.
White gets too many passed pawns
after 39 . . . R-K l 40 K-Q2 R-KB l
41 K-Q3 R-K l 42 P-N4 R-KB l
43 P-K4.
96 JRC - Theodore Germann,
David Miller, and W. Skillicorn
London, 1 6 January 1 920

This is one of those 'inevitable' games
so typical of Capablanca's style : h e
seems t o w i n without h i s opponent's
having made any perceptible error ;
he achieves an illusion of continuity,
whereas it is self-evident that chess is
a series of separate steps.
1 P-Q4 P-Q4 2 P-QB4 P-K3
3 N-KB3 N-KB3 4 B-N5 N l -Q2
5 P-K3 B-K2 6 N-B3 P-QR3 7
Q-B2 0-0 8 R-B l P x P 9 B x P
P-QN4 10 B-Q3 B-N2 1 1 P-QR4 !
P-N5 1 2 B x N ! N x B 1 3 N-K4
B x N 1 4 B x B N x B 1 5 Qx N
P-QB4 1 6 P x P Q-R4 1 7 P-QN3 !
B x P 18 N-N5 P-N3 (83) .
19 Q-R4 P-KR4 20 N-K4 KR-B l
2 1 Q-N5 ! B-N3 22 Qx Q B x Q
23 K-K2 B-Q l 24 N-Q6 R-B2
25 R-B4 R-Q2 26 N-K4 B-K2
27 R-Ql R x R 28 K x R R-Ql +
29 K-K2 R-Q4 30 R-B6 P-R4

94

Simultaneous Games with Clocks

3 1 N-Q2 K-N2 32 N-B4 B-Ql
33 P-K4 R-QS 34 P-B3 R-Q2
35 R-R6 K-B3 36 N x P B x N 37
R x B R-QS 38 R-QNS P-K4 39
P-RS K-K3 40 P-R6 R-Q3 4 1
P-R7 R-R3 42 R-N6 + ! 1 -0.
Where did Black go wrong ? It
subsequently came to be understood
that the extended queen's fianchetto
should be played by Black only when
preceded by what Nimzowitsch called
'popping the question'. Black should
play 9 . . . P-KR3 ! I O B-R4 P-QN4,
safeguarding the KRP. No doubt he
might have defended better at a later
stage, but after the 1 8th move he is
lost; at this point White's charming
combination, in which the queen and
knight change places as in a study, is
decisive.
97 JRC Erik Lundin
Stockholm, 4 November 1 928
-

This game is one of seven played
against the strongest players of
Sweden, four of whom had won or
were to win the National champion­
ship. The young Lundin is up to date
with his book knowledge, and
accordingly he comes adrift.
l P-K4
P-K4
2 N-KB3
N-QB3

3 B-N5
P-QR3
4 B-R4
N-B3
5 0-0
B-K2
6 R-Kl
P-QN4
7 B-N3
P-Q3
8 P-B3
N-QR4
Then fashionable ; now superseded
by 8 . . . 0-0.
9 B-B2
P-B4
I O P-Q4
Q-B2
I I N l -Q2
B-N5 ?
At New York in 1 927 Capablanca
had beaten Vidmar, who had here
played 1 1 . . . 0-0. Afterwards 1 1 . . .
B-NS was suggested as an improve­
ment : it turns out to be worse.
12 P-KR3
B-R4
1 3 P-QS
0-0
1 4 N-Bl
N-N2
15 P-KN4
B-N3
1 6 N-N3
N-Q2
1 7 P-KR4
P-B3
1 8 P-RS
B-K l
1 9 P-R4
Having gained space on one side of
the board White turns his attention
to the other side.
19 . . .
N-N3
20 P-RS !
White blocks the position, so that
he may safely resume his king's side
attack. This strategy may be com­
pared with that used by Fischer in his
10th match game against Spassky,
1 972.
20 . . .
N-BS
2 1 P-N4
P-N3
Black logically tries to regain some
space, and if he could play P-KB4 he
might do well ; but White prevents
this by a little combination.
22 P x P
PxP
B-Q2
23 K-N2
24 N-R4
K-N2 (84)

Simultaneous Gam£s with Clocks
84
w

PxN
25 N3-B5 + !
R-KN I
26 NP x P
B-K l
27 Q-R5
B-Ql
28 N-N6
1-0
29 K-B3 !
If 29 . . . K-B2 30 R-R l , but not
30 Q-R7 + R-N2 3 1 N-R8 + K-B l
32 B-R6, when it is Black who check­
mates !

98 G. Bancroft, R. J. Broadbent,
J. Parker, and D. N. Simon - JRC
Manchester, 8 January 1 935
The annotations are by R. J. Broad­
bent, British champion in 1 947 and
1 949.
P-K4
I P-K4
N-QB3
2 N-KB3
P-QR3
3 B-N5
P-Q3
4 B-R4
PxB
5 B x N+
6 P-Q4
P-B3
A complex variation that requires
careful handling; it is often hard to
judge who will ultimately be the
gainer from whatever plan is followed.
N-K2
7 B-K3
P-N3
8 N-B3
B-N5
9 Q-Q2
BP x P
10 P x P
I I B-R6

95

Capablanca said after the game
that this was the only move of White's
that he wished to criticize. It cer­
tainly creates a weakness in the Black
camp, but long before that can be
exploited successfully Black will be
able to counter-attack strongly along
the KB file.
BxN!
11 . . .
12 P x B
BxB
1 3 Qx B
R-KB I !
An excellent stroke, for Black's
rook and knight will prove remarkably
effective in warding off any further
encroachment. The White allies
would now do best to withdraw their
queen to K3, preparing to hinder
their opponent from castling.
14 Qx RP
RxP
1 5 0-0-0
Q-Q2
Black naturally avoids 1 5 . . . R x P
16 KR-B l , when he would indeed be
in serious difficulties.
1 6 Q-R8 +
R-B l
1 7 Q-R6
Q-NS
1 7 . . . R x P would still be unsatis­
factory, yielding White a strong
initiative after 18 KR-B l R x R 1 9
R x R 0-0-0 2 0 R-B7 ; but Capa­
blanca is in no hurry to win a pawn.
0-0-0
18 R-Q2
19 Q-K3
Q-B6
20 Q-K l
R-R l
21 Q Bl
K-N2
Black makes his queen's side secure,
and is now ready for a full-scale
attack against White's king's side
pawns.
22 P-KR4
R/Ql-KB I
23 R-R3
Q-B5
24 Q-R l
P-N4 !
Black eliminates his only weakness,
and makes room in which to deploy
a greater variety of threats. Now
-

96

Simultaneous Games with Clocks

25 P-R5 R-R3 would lead to the gain
of a pawn, e.g. 26 R-R2 R I-KR !
27 N-K2 Q-B2 threatening both
R x RP and Qx QRP.
RxR
25 P x P
26 Q x R
Q x NP
27 N-Ql
N-B I !
28 P-QB4
N-N3
R-B5
29 Q-Q3
30 K-B2
Q-N7
R-B6
3 1 R-K2
Q-R7
32 N-K3
33 P-N3
A pawn must fall, for the conse­
quences of 33 Q-Q2 Q-B5 34 K-Q3
P-Q4 ! would be catastrophic.
RxP
33 . . .
34 R x R
Qx R +
Q-B6
35 Q-Q2
N-Q2 !
36 Q-Q3
37 N-Bl
Q-B7 +
0- 1
A second pawn will be lost after
38 N-Q2 N-B4. This game is one
more example of Capablanca's
supreme clarity ofstyle, and his ability
to outplay opponents without any
apparent effort.
99 JRC
A. Eva, T. Higgin­
bottom, M. Sutcliffe, and A.
Wolstencroft JRC
Manchester, 8 January 1 935
-

-

1 P-Q4
2 P-QB4
Losing a tempo.
3 PxP
4 N-QB3
5 P-KN3
6 B-N2
7 Q-R4 +
8 Q-B4
9 N-B3

N-KB3
P-Q4
Qx P
Q-Q l
P-K3
P-B4
B-Q2
Q-B l
N-R3

Not 9 . . . P x P 10 Qx Q+ and
White gains more time; but 9 . . .
N-B3 10 P x P N-QR4 could be
considered.
1 0 B-N5
PxP
1 1 Qx QP
B-B4
1 2 Q-Q2
B-B3
If 1 2 . . . B-K2 1 3 N-K5.
13 B x N
PxB
1 4 0-0
Q-B2
1 5 QR-B l
K-K2
16 N-KR4
QR-QI
1 7 Q-R6
BxB
18 N x B
Q-K4
1 9 N-B4
Q-N4
20 Q-R3
KR-N I
The Black players have defended
well, and the chances are about even.
Here 20 . . . P-KR4 could well be
tried.
2 1 Q-N2
R-Q2
22 KR-QI
B-Q3
23 N-K4
Q-N4
24 Q-B3
B-K4
Not 24 . . . P-B4 25 Q-R5 B x N
26 Q-R4 + !
Q-N5
25 Q-R3 +
KxR
26 R x R +
K-K2
27 Q-Q3 +
28 R-QI
N-N l
P-B4
29 P-K3
30 N-N5 !
P-KR3
3 1 N-B3
BxN
32 KP x B
Qx BP ?
Now the tactical struggle ends with
an amusing finish. Instead of the
text-move Black should play 32 . . .
R-QB l .
33 Q-R3 +
K-B3
34 Q-B3 +
K-K2
35 R-Q4 !
1-0
Black's queen, curiously obstructed
by the Black knight, is trapped in the
middle of the board !

Simultaneous Games with Clocks
100 JRC - L. A. Davidson, E. A.
Grieg, R. Rydz, and W. Turner
Manchester, 8 January 1 935
P-Q4
I P-Q4
2 P-QB4
P-QB3
3 N-KB3
N-KB3
N l-Q2
4 N-B3
PxP
5 P x P!
N-R4
6 B-B4
P-B3
7 B-K5
P-K3
8 B-N3
P-KN3 ?
9 P-K3
The allies weaken their pawns too
much. 9 . . . P-B4 would be better,
providing a square for their KN,
should this be necessary.
B-K2
10 B-Q3
K-B2
1 1 Q-B2
If 1 1 . . . 0-0 1 2 N-QN5.
12 N-QN5
NxB
1 3 RP x N
N-B I
To meet the threat of R x P + ; and
not 13 . . . K-N2 losing the exchange.
Now, however, Black's pieces are
gummed up on the king's side ; White
therefore seeks to open the game in the
centre, or on the queen's wing.
B-Q2
1 4 N-B3
1 5 0-0
R-B l
B-B3
16 Q-N3
1 7 P-K4 ! (85)
The culmination of White's
excellent opening strategy.
P-QR3 ?
17 . . .
Black has nothing better than to
concede the centre by 1 7 . . . P x P
18 B x P B x B 19 N x B Q-Q4, after
which White continues his attack by
20 Q-K3, and if 20 . . . N-Q2
2 1 N-B3 Q-B5 22 P-Q5.
1 8 QR-B l
Threatening 19 N x P !
R-R l
18 . . .

97

85
B

19 P x P
PxP
20 B-K4 !
Thus Capablanca wins his pawn.
The allies make an interesting attempt
to stir up the game but the end is, of
course, inevitable :
20 . . . K-N2 2 1 B x QP P-KN4
22 KR-Kl N-N3 23 B x B P x B
24 Q-B4 Q-Q2 25 N-QR4 Q-B4
27 Q-N7
26 Qx BP P-KR4
R/QR l-K l 28 N-B5 K-R3 29
Qx P P-R5 30 P x P P-N5 3 1 N-R2
N x P 32 N-K4 KR-N I 33 N-N3
Q-Q4 34 Q-B6 Qx QP 35 R-K4
Q x NP 36 R l -K l R-QBI 37 Q-Q5
R-N4 38 Q-B7 1-0.
101 JRC Angel Ribera
Barcelona, 1 4 December 1 935
-

Capablanca makes the oldest sacrifice
in the book, but with some new
twists, including a further sacrifice
and an amusing finish.
I P-K4 P-QB3 2 N-QB3 P-Q4
3 N-B3 P x P 4 N x P N-Q2 5 P-Q4
N l -B3 6 N-N3 P-K3 7 B-Q3 B-K2
8 0-0 0-0 9 Q-K2 P-84 10 R-Ql
Q-B2 1 1 B-KNS P-QN3 ? (86) .
12 P-Q5 !
NxP
13 B x B
NxB
14 B x P + !
KxB
1 5 N-N5 +
K-N l

98

Simultaneous Games with Ck>cks

86r="lmm,-'1'1""
W ,

�
�

16 R x N !
Qx R
1 7 Q-R5
R-Ql
18 Q x P +
K-R l
1 9 P-KR4
If 1 9 N-R5 Black would mate in
two !
19 . . .
N-B4
20 N-R5 !
Q-K l
I f 20 . . . B--R 3 2 1 Q-N6 K-N l
22 N-B6 + .
1-0
2 1 N-B6 ! !
White would have a won endgame
after 2 1 . . . N-Q3 22 N x Q N x Q
23 N x N + K-N I 24 N x R B--Q2
25 N x KP R x N 26 N-N5.
102 JRC Grigory Ravinsky
Leningrad, 24 March 1935
-

One of three wins from the toughest
clock-simultaneous display of all
time. A classic blockade game with
some of the finest behind-the-lines
manoeuvres ever seen.
I P-Q4 N-KB3 2 P-QB4 P-K3
3 N-KB3 P-QN3 4 P-KN3 B-N2
5 B--N2 B-N5 + 6 B-Q2 B x B +
7 Q x B P-Q3 8 0-0 N l -Q2 9 N-B3
N-K5 10 N x N B x N I I N-R4
B x B 12 N x B 0-0 13 P-K4 Q-K2
14 P-B4 QR-QI 15 KR-K l P-QB4
1 6 QR-QI N-N l 1 7 P-Q5 P-K4
1 8 N-K3 KR-K l 19 P-B5 N-Q2

20 N-N4 R-N l 2 1 P-QR4 P-QR3
22 R-R l R-N2 2 3 R-KB I ! P-B3
24 N-K3 R I -N I 25 R/B l -N l Q-Q l
26 Q-K2 Q-K2 2 7 R-R3 P-R3
28 K-N2 R-R2 29 R l -QR I R I-R I
30 N-Ql N-B l 3 1 N-B3 Q-Q2
32 Q-QB2 R-N l
33 R-QN I
P-QR4? 34 R-KNI N-R2 35 P-R4
Q-KB2 36 K-R3 K-B l 37 P-KN4
K-K2 38 Q-Ql R2-N2 39 N-N5
R-KRI 40 R3--KN3 Q-K l (87).

Black is at some disadvantage : he
has less space behind his pawns, he
has been forced to block an outlet for
his pieces on the king's side (23 . . .
P-KB3), and he has voluntarily
blocked the way for coWlter-play on
the queen's side (33 . . . P-QR4) .
Capablanca now commences a
unique long march with his king in
order to guard his pawn at QR4. He
does not play P-QN3, which would
block a way for his pieces (see his 6 l st
move) .
41 K-N2 ! K-Q2 42 K-B2 Q-K2
43 K-Kl K-Bl 44 K-Q2 R-Q2
45 K-B l R2-Ql 46 K-N l R/Ql-Nl
47 K-R2 Q-Q l 48 K-R3 ! K-N2
(88) .
49 R l -N2 !
White makes space for the maN-QB3-K2-KN l -KB3,
noeuvre

Simultaneous Games with Clocks
88
w

followed by tripling on the KN file.
49 . . .
Q-K2
50 N-B3
Q-Q2
P-KN4
5 1 N-K2
White's plan seems to be unanswer­
able, so Black takes the bull by the
horns and opens the game himself.
52 P x Pep
RxP
53 Q-KB l
R I -KN !
54 Q-B3
Q-N2
K-B2
55 Q-B5
56 N-B3
White plans to bring his knight to
KB5. In the event it makes a tour
right round the board back to its
starting point at K3.
Q-B2
56 . . .
5 7 Q-B3
Q-N2
Q-B2
58 N-Ql
59 N-K3
Q-K l
Q-KB I
60 N-B5
R-R I
61 Q-N3 !
Q-K l
62 Q-N5
63 N x QP !

99

With this fine knight-offer Capa­
blanca wins his pawn. If Black were
to take the knight, he would lose too
many pawns.
63 . . .
Qx Q
64 N x Q+
K-Q2
65 N-B3
The knight goes over to guard the
rooks.
65 . . .
R l-KN l
66 N-Ql
P-R4
67 N-K3
N-B l
68 R-N I
K-Kl
69 R3-N2
Forcing off the rooks.
K-B2
69 . . .
70 P x P
RxR
71 R x R
RxR
72 N x R
K-N2
73 N-K3
White's knight commences another
tour, mopping up Black's pawns.
73 . . .
K-R3
74 N-N4 +
KxP
75 N x BP +
KxP
76 P-Q6
N-K3
77 N-Q7
N-Ql
78 N x NP
K-N4
79 N-Q7
N-N2
80 N x KP
NxP
8 1 K-N3
N x KP
82 N-B6
K-B5
83 N x P
K-K6
84 K-B2
1-0
A brilliant endgame ; White's
knight made thirty moves in all.

Casual and other games

In the years 1 907 and 1 908 few of
Capablanca's chess activities were
recorded. Eight game-scores or posi­
tions have been discovered, and they
are here. He played in no tourna­
ments. He defeated Eugene Delmar in
a match of three games, conceding
pawn and move, but he almost
certainly played no other matches.
If this chapter seems short it is
because he was interested only in
serious chess or fast chess. He found
cable matches boring ; when asked
why he did not give simultaneous
blindfold displays he answered 'Why
should I kill myself?' Public displays
of living chess were, for him, merely
entertainment for the crowd. After he
was given a Government post, and his
livelihood was thus secured, he played
few casual games, either privately or
in a club ; but he never lost his liking
for fast chess.
The games have mostly been
selected for tactical interest. There are
highly original combinations against
Beihoff and Pulvermacher, amusing
snap finishes against Meyer and
Wolbrecht, and deep combinations
against Baca Arus and Steiner although these last two games were
probably pre-arranged.
There is a game against Bonar Law
and two others. Bonar Law was Prime
Minister and Capablanca world
champion when they met again in

5

Delmar

Lasker

Davidson

Capablanca

Lasker

Capablanca
Capablanca

1 922. It is doubtful whether the1
played chess on that occasson, fo1
Bonar Law had deserted the nobles
of games. This was bad enough, bui
worse followed : he writes to a friend
'I am now taking the "brandy·
drinking" which I used to find ir
chess in the form of bridge, and i1
serves the same purpose.'
Perhaps the most beautiful game i!
that against Fonaroff. It has beeri
published many times before, witli
variations of the loser's name (e.g.
Tanerow), with an incorrect score, 01
with the wrong date.
There are two rapid-transit game!
in this chapter ; these were all thal
could be found although Capablanca
was the fastest player in the world for
more than twenty-five years. He long
remembered his first break, on the
27th of December 1 906, when he
came ahead of Em. Lasker in a knock­
out tournament. Here is the line up
and result of the last three rounds :
Capablanca vs. Nicholson ; Davidson
vs. Raubitschek ; Em. Lasker vs.
Field ; Delmar vs. Mayer.

•

101

Casual and Oth£r Games
103 A. Ettlinger - JRC
New York, 1 907

9 B-Q2
10 P x P
0-1

P-B5 !
B-Q l !

104 JRC H. J. Rose
Cable game, 23 March 1 907
Columbia, Harvard, and Yale Cambridge and Oxford
-

'Capablanca has repeatedly shown
remarkable gifts for seeing through
complicated variations,' writes Em.
Lasker, 'the position is in itself suffi­
cient to attract attention. Neither
White nor Black appears to be safe . . .
one expects an attack by Black, but it
is by no means easy to see how it
should be begun, since the knight,
bishop, and king have difficulty in
approaching the enemy. The object
is accomplished in splendid fashion.'
N-B5 !
1 ...
2 NxN
If2 N-B l R-B7 3 K-K l R x N + .
PxN
2...
3RxP
K-Q4 !
4 R-B8
If 4 R-R4 K-K5 5 R-R3 R-N7
6 K-K l R x P and wins.
K-K5
4...
K-Q6
5 R-K8 +
P x R+
6 RxR
7 K-K l
'At this moment one would suppose
that White could secure at least a
draw. The actual termination is there­
fore a great surprise' - Em. Lasker.
B-B2
7...
B-R4
8 B-B4

Capablanca did not care for the slow
pace of telegraph matches, and he
played only two. For this game he
turned up late, moved quickly,
embarked on a superficial attack, and
soon had a lost position. Rose could,
for instance, have won a piece by 32
. . . Q-QB5 instead of 32 . . . B x N.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-N5 P-B4 4 P-Q3 N-B3 5 0-0
P x P 6 P x P P-Q3 7 N-B3 B-K2
8 P-KR3 0-0 9 N-N5 Q-K l I O
P-B4 P-KR3 1 1 B-B4 + K-R l 1 2
N-K6 B x N 1 3 B x B N-Q5 1 4
B-N3 N x B 1 5 RP x N Q-B3 1 6
Q-K2 P x P
1 7 B x P P-R3
18
QR-Kl QR-Kl 1 9 Q-Q3 N-Q2
20 N-Q5 N-B4 2 1 Q-QB3 N-K3
22 Q-Q2 N x B 23 N x N Q-B4 +
24 K-R l B-N4 25 N-N6 + K-N l
26 Q-Q3 R x R + 27 R x R B-B3
28 P-K5 P x P 29 P-QN4 Q-B3
30 Q-QN3 + Q-K3 31 Q-N3 B-N4
32 N-R4 B x N ? 33 Q x B P-K5
34 R-Kl Q-K2 35 Qx Q R x Q
36 K-N l K-B2 37 K-B2 K-B3 38
K-K3 K-K4 39 R-Ql P-KR4 40
R-Q4 K-B4
41 R-Q5 + K-N3
42 R-Q4 !--!-.
105 JRC - Edward B. Adams
Washington, 1 907
A game from one of Capablanca's
simultaneous displays, on his first
visit to Washington. It is doubtful

Casual and Other Garms

102

whether he overlooks Black's 1 5th
move ; at all events he comes out well
after the combinative phase but then
slips. 22 N-RS would be better than
22 B-B2.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-N5 P-Q3 4 0--0 B-Q2 5 R-Kl
B-K2 6 P-B3 N-B3 7 P-Q4 P-QR3
8 B-R4 P-QN4 9 B-B2 0--0 1 0
P-QR4 N-R2 1 1 RP x P N x NP
12 B-N5 B-N5
1 3 B-Q3 Q-Q2
14 Q-K2 P-B3 1 5 P-QS N x QP
16 P x N B x B
1 7 P x P Qx P
18 B x P + ! K-R l 1 9 B-K4 P-Q4
20 N x P B x Q 2 1 N x Q B-QB5
22 B-B2 ? KR-K l 23 R x R + R x R
24 N-R3 N x N 25 P x N B-Q7
26 P-N3 B x P 27 R-Ql B-K7 28
R-Nl B-B6 29 B-Q3 P-Q5 30
N-N4 P-R4 31 N-B2 B-K7 32 B x B
R x B 33 R-QB l P-Q6 34 N-K3
P-Q7 35 R-Ql R-K8 + 36 K-N2
P-R5 37 P-R4 B-N5 ! 38 P x B R x R
39 N x R P-R6 0- 1 .
106 JRC Albert Pulvermacher
New York, December 1 907
-

The score of this casual game, as
taken from the source, gives 1 3 K-R I .
We assume this to be an error, and
have substituted 13 R-K l .
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-N5 P-QR3 4 B-R4 N-B3 5
P-Q4 P-QN4 6 B-N3 N x KP 7
N x P N x N 8 P x N B-N2 9 0-0
B-B4 JO Q-N4 Q-K2 1 1 N-B3 !
N x N 12 P x N 0-0-0 1 3 R-K l
P-KR4 14 Q-R3 P-N4 1 5 P-R4
P-KN5 1 6 Q-Q3 Q-R5 ? 1 7 B-K3
BxB
1 8 Qx B P x P
19 R x P
P-KB4 ? 20 P-K6 ! P-Q3 2 1 P-K7
QR-K l 22 B-K6 + K-N l 23 B-Q7
Q-B3 (90).

90
w

Instead of gaining the exchange
White gives up the exchange. Already
he foresees his brilliant 28th move ;
for otherwise the combination would
fail.
24 R x RP ! B x R 25 R-N l +
B-N2 26 B-B6 R x P 27 R x B +
K-B l 28 R-R7 ! 1-0.

107 JRC L. B. Meyer
New York, 5 March 1 908
-

A rapid transit game, the final in a
knock-out tournament at the Man­
hattan Chess Club, played at twenty
seconds per move.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-N5 P-QR3 4 B-R4 N-B3 5
P-Q4 N x KP 6 P-Q5 N-K2 7
N x P P-QN4 B B-N3 B-N2 9 P-Q6
N x QP (91) .

Casual and Other Games
10 Qx N ! 1-0. A sure winner at
fast chess. Black does not see the reply
1 0 . . . N-Q4.
108 JRC and J. D. W. Curring Henry F. Davidson and R. W.
Ferguson
New York, 28 June 1 908
Capablanca published this game in
My Chess Career. It compares with his
best, a delightful blend of tactical and
positional play which cannot be
faulted.
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-N5 N-83 4 0-0 B--K2 5 R-K l
P-Q3 6 P-B3 0-0 7 P-Q3 P-QR3
8 B--R4 P-QN4
9 B--B2 N-Kl
10 N l -Q2 P-B4 1 1 B--N3 + K-R l
1 2 B-Q5 B-Q2 1 3 P x P R x P 14
P·-Q4 ! N-B3 ! 1 5 B x N B x B 1 6
P x P B x N 1 7 N x B P x P 1 8 Q-B2
P-K5 1 9 N-NS ( 92) .

At this critical point the Black
players should continue 1 9 . . . Q-Q4 !
20 N x KP R-K4 2 1 P-B3 N x N 22
P x N B-B4 + 23 K-R I R l-KI 24
B--B4 R x P 25 R x R Qx R 26 Qx Q
R x Q 27 B x P R-K7 28 P-QN4
B-K2 29 B-N3 K-N l . They would
be a pawn down, but the endgame
should be drawn.
Instead the game continued : 19 . . .

103

Q-K I ? 20 N x KP B--B4 2 1 B--B4 !
N x N 22 R x N Q-B2 23 B--K 3
B-Q3 24 P-QR4 ! R-R4 25 P-KN3
Q-N3 26 P x P R x NP 27 R l-R4 !
P-R3 28 Q-B l K-R2 29 R-R4
P-KR4 30 Q-Q l K-N I 3 1 P-QB4
R-KB4 32 Q-Q3 ! P-B4 33 R-R5
Q-B3 34 P-QN4 Q-B l 35 P x P
(93) .

The pawn cannot safely be recap­
tured : 35 . . . B x BP 36 R-B4 ! R x R
37 B x B ! Q-K l 38 P x R Q-K8 +
39 K-N2 Qx R 40 Q-Q5 + K-R2
41 Q-K4 + P-N3 42 Q-N7 + K-R3
43 Qx R, threatening mate.
The game now ended : 35 . . . B--K2
36 R-B4 R x R 37 B x R R-Ql
38 B--Q6 B x B 39 Q-Q5 + Q-B2
40 P x B 1--0.

109 Henry F. Davidson and R. W.
Ferguson - JRC and J. D. W.
Cutting
New York, June 1 908 ( ?)
I P-K4
2 N-KB3
3 N-B3
4PxP
5 P-Q4
6 B-Q3

P-K3
P-Q4
N-KB3
PxP
B--Q3
0-0

104

Casual and Other Games

7 B-KN5
R-K l +
sides of the board.
B-KN5
B-N3
30 . . .
8 N-K2 ?
3 1 R-Ql
Q-B3
9 P-KR3 ?
BxN
10 P x B
P-B4 !
32 R-Q3
The Black players make no imme­
The queen is a poor blockader,
diate attempt to blockade or attack but it dare not move. If 32 Q-Q3
the weak pawns. I nstead they widen P-K7 ! 33 N x P R-K6 with a decisive
the front, with the result that White attack.
32 . . .
Q-B5
must abandon the idea of castling on
33 N-R5
B-B2
the queen's side.
34 Q-N4
BxP
II PxP
A desperate combination.
1 2 Q-Q2
Q-N3
Qx RP+
1 3 0--0
N l -Q2
34 . . .
Q-B2
1 4 P-KB4
3 5 K-R l
P-N3
To prevent N-K4, but the remedy
36 Q-K2
PxP
is worse than the disease.
37 P x P
R-K2
38 R-Q7
14 . . .
Q-K3
0- 1
1 5 K-R2
N-K5 !
PxB
16 B x N
P-B3
1 7 N-N3
18 P-B5
1 10 Robert Raubitscbek JRC
The more the doubled pawns New York
advance the harder they are to
defend.
Q-B3
18 . . .
QR-QI
1 9 B-B4
N-K4
20 Q-K2
RxB
21 B x N
R I -K l !
22 QR-Ql
The beginning of a plan to force
the advance of the rear doubled
pawn.
K-B l
23 Q-B4 +
24 Q-K2
If 24 P-QN4 B x BP !
In 1 9 1 3 this position was submitted
24 . . .
P-QN4
by Capablanca to the Russian
25 Q-RS
K-N I
magazine Shakmatny Vestnik. There it
P-QR3
26 Q-K2
says (p. 366) that he won it when he
P-K6 !
27 P-QB3
was six ! He spoke no Russian, and
R-Q4
28 P-KB4
there may have been a misunder­
29 R x R
Qx R
standing ; for according to Revista del
30 P-QN4
Club Argentina de Ajedrez (Oct.-Dec.
1 9 1 0) the game was played in New
To protect the QRP ; but now the
White allies have weaknesses on both York, and the probability is that it
-

Casual and Other Games
was played some time during the
years 1 905-08.
Capablanca (Black) had the move,
and he sacrificed both of his minor
pieces for a brilliant mating finish.
I ...
N-K6 +
2 K-R3
If 2 R x N R-Q7 +
3 K-R3
R x RP mate.
R-Q4 !
2...
3 RxB
An echo of the preceding note : if
3 R x N R-R4 + 4 K-N2 R x P mate.
R-R4 +
3...
4 K-N3
Or 4 R-R4 Q-KBB + 5 K-N3
N-B4 + 6 K-N4 R x R mate.
Q-KB +
4...
5 K-B3
After 5 R-B2 N-B4+ 6 K-B3
N-Q5 + 7 K-B4 Black mates in two.
After the text-move, however, Black
forces mate or wins the queen : 5 . . .
R-R6 + 6 R-N3 R x P ! 7 Q x N
Q-KR8 + 8 K-N4 R-R5 + 9 K-B5
Q-Q4 +
J O K-N6 Q-N l +
II
K-BS R-R4 +
1 2 K-K4 Q-Q4
mate.
1 1 1 A. N. Other - JRC
New Orleans, 15 February 1 909
A position from an off-hand game
(95) . At an earlier stage Capablanca
had blundered away a piece, but he
makes up for this with a pretty finish.
38 . . .
N-K5 !
39 R-KBI
If 39 P-KR4 P-N6
40 R x P
N x R + 4 1 K-N I R-N7 mate !
N-B7 +
39 . . .
N-R6 +
40 K-N l
R-N7 !
41 K-R I
0-1

105

If42 B x P R-NB + 43 R x R N-B7
mate.
112 JRC - George P. Northrop
New York, 1 9 March 1 909
Capablanca entered the handicap
tournament of the Manhattan Chess
Club, seeking practice for his match
with Marshall. This was the first and
only club tournament, which he won
handsomely, 1 1 + I
2
Here he concedes the handicap of
the draw, which explains Black's
choice of what he imagines to be a
drawish defence.
P-K4
1 P-K4
N-KB3
2 N-KB3
P-Q3
3NxP
NxP
4 N-KB3
P-Q4
5 P-Q4
B-Q3
6 B-Q3
0-0
7 0-0
P-QB3
8 P-B4
NxN
9 N-B3
PxP
IO P x N
1 0 . . . B-KN5 would be better ;
now the pin will be less effective.
B-KN5
1 1 B x BP
N-Q2
1 2 Q-Q3 !
1 3 N-NS
A new move, leading to interesting
combinative play.
-

= .

Casual and Other Games

106
13 . . .
1 4 P-KR3
15 P-B4
1 6 P-N4 ! (96)

N-B3
B-R4
P-KR3

There is nothing better. The game
ended 28 B x R Q x B 29 Q-K6 +
K-R l 30 Q-R3 + K-N l 3 1 Q-R7 +
K-B l 32 Q-R8 + K-K2 33 Q x P +
K-K3 34 Q-B7 + K x P 35 P-N7
Q-N4 + 36 K-B2 Q-R5 + 37 K-K.2
Q-K5 +
38 K-Q2 Q-N7 +
39
K-B l Q-N8 +
40 K-B2 Q-N5
4 1 Q-K7 + 1--0.
113 JRC - Jacob C. Rosenthal
New York, 3 1 March 1909

16 . . .
PxN
Black could defend better by 1 6 . . .
P-N4 1 7 B-N3 P-B4 ! and if 1 8 B-Q5
B-N3 1 9 Qx B P x N, transposing to
a position which occurred in the game
Corzo-Marshall,
Havana,
1 9 1 3.
Capablanca now recommends 20
Qx P with advantage, but Black
would have a good deal of counter­
play.
17 P x P
NxP
18 P x N
BxP
1 9 Q-K4
Q-Q2
20 P-N6 !
B-K3
21 B x B
PxB
Not 2 1 . . . Qx B
22 P x P +
winning the queen.
22 B-N5
Q-K l
23 R x R +
BxR
24 R-KB 1
Leading to a nice finish, but 24
K-N2 would win more quickly; if
24 . . . P-K4 25 R-R l P x P White
would mate in three.
24 . . .
P-K4
25 R x B + !
KxR
26 Q-B5 +
K-N l
27 P x P
R-Ql

At this time Capablanca played
a number of ten-seconds-a-move
matches. They were played for stakes,
to be paid to the first player to score
five wins, draws not counting. He
won them all : v. L. R. Eisenberg 5 +
2 - ; v. C. Jaffe 5 + 0 - ; v. A. Marder
5 + 2 - ; and v. J. C. Rosenthal 5 +
4 - , and 5 + 0 - .
This was the deciding game when
the score stood at four wins each.
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-N5 N-B3 4 0-0 B-K2 5 P-Q3
P-Q3 6 R-Kl 0-0 7 N l -Q2 B-NS
8 P-B3 K-R l 9 N-B l N-KR4 1 0
P-KR3 B x N 1 1 Qx B N-B3 1 2
P-KN4 P-QR3 1 3 B-R4 P-QN4
1 4 B-B2 P-Q4 1 5 N-N3 P x P 1 6
1 7 N-B5 B-B4
18
P x P Q-B l
N x P ! K x N 1 9 B-R6 + ! K-N3 20
P-N5 N-KR4 2 1 Q-B5 + Qx Q 22
P x Q mate.
1 14 JRC - George H. Wolbrecht
USA, 9 December 1 909

S t. Louis, Mo.,

Capablanca meets in friendly combat
an ex-champion of the West, 'one of
the most able players of St. Louis'.
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-KB3
3 N x P P-Q3 4 N-KB3 N x P 5
P-Q4 P-Q4 6 B-Q3 B-Q3 7 0-0

Casual and Other Games

B-KN5 8 R-Kl P-KB4 9 P-B4
P-B3 I O N-B3 0-0 l l P x P ? B x P + !
12 KxB N x P
1 3 Q-K2 N x B
14 Qx N B x N
1 5 B-N5 Q x B
1 6 Qx B Q-RS + 1 7 Q-R3 Qx P ?
1 8 QR-QI Q-KB5 +
1 9 K-N l
Q-Q3 20 R-K6 Q-84 + 2 1 K-R l
P x P 22 R x P Q-B7 23 R-K7
Q-88 +
24 K-R2 Q-KB5 +
25
Q-N3 Q-R3 +
26 K-N l N-B3
27 R x QNP QR-Kl 28 R5-Q7
P-N3 (97) .

29 Q-N5 ! !
1 -0
After 2 9 . . . Q x Q White would
mate in three. Apparently Black
resigns from shock ; he could put up a
fight by 29 . . . R-KB + 30 K-B2
R-KR8 !

107

Beihoff was no mean opponent. In
the championship of the Manhattan
Club championship, 1 909- 10, he
came 3rd, after Marshall and Johner.
P-84 !
I P-K4
One of Capablanca's favourite
defences at odds of pawn and move.
He offers another pawn in order to
get ahead with his development.
P-KN3
2 Q-R5 +
3 Q x BP
N-Q83
If now 4 P-Q4 P-K4 !
4 P-QB3
N-B3
5 Q-B4
P-Q4
6PxP
NxP
B-N2
7 P-Q4
8 N-B3
0-0
B-K3 !
9 B-K2
Enticing what follows.
B-B4
10 N-N5
I I B-B3
P-K3
1 2 P-KN4 ? (98)
White should castle instead ; but it
is hardly surprising that he should
overlook Black's extraordinary com­
bination.

115 George Beihoff JRC
New York, April 1 9 1 0
(Remove Black's KBP)
-

Great masters rarely forget their
losses. Beihoff was the only player to
have beaten Capablanca in the club
handicap tournament of 1 909. Capa­
blanca welcomed the chance of
revenge at the same odds, and a
match of seven games was arranged.
He won handsomely : he drew the 5th
game, lost the 6th, but won the rest.

N x QP ! !
12 . . .
13 P x B
RxP
R-Q8 1
14 P x N
1 5 B x N?
Instead White could put up a real
fight by 1 5 N x KP. Black might

108

Casual and Other Games

continue 1 5 . . . R x Q 1 6 N x Q
R5 x B +
1 7 K-K2 R-B7 +
18
N-Q2 B-R3 1 9 KR-QI N-B5 +
20 K-B I N-Q6, with good endgame
chances after he has regained his
piece, or 15 . . . Q-K I
16 B x N
R x Q 1 7 B x R Q-B3, with at least
a draw in spite of White's material
plus.
PxB
15 . . .
Qx Q
1 6 Qx R
B x P!
1 7 B-K3
18 N-QB3
B x N+
19 P x B
Qx P +
P-Q5
20 K-K2
2 1 KR-QB !
Q-N7 +
RxN
22 B-Q2
23 QR-N I
P-Q6 +
24 K-K3
R-K4 +
0-1
For some time before the tourna­
ment at Hamburg in 1 9 1 0 F. J.
Marshall analysed a new move for
White in the Max Lange ( 1 5 B-KR6).
He successfully sprung this surprise
on Tarrasch, who had made a
characteristic pronunciamento to the
effect that the Max Lange favoured
Black.
Afterwards a match of six games
was arranged to test the value of
Marshall's new move. Capablanca
was to take the Black pieces in every
game. Play was to take place daily,
commencing on the 3rd of October
1 9 1 0. It is not clear whether this
happened ; for the last game was
apparently played some weeks later.
The result of this handicap match is
also not clear ; it may have been, from
White's point of view, 3 + 2 - I = .
Marshall published the following
three games in his book, Modern
Analysis of the Chess Openings. He does

not say where Black went wrong, nor
does he give any of the games i n
which Black gained the advantage ;
mere carelessness, no doubt.
All the games commenced : I P-K4
P-K4 2 P-Q4 P x P 3 N-KB3
N-QB3 4 B-QB4 B-B4 5 0-0 N-B3
6 P-K5 P-Q4 7 P x N P x B 8
R-KI + B-K3 9 N-N5 Q-Q4 I O
N-QB3 Q-B4
1 1 N3-K4 0-0-0
1 2 N5 x B P x N 1 3 P-KN4 Q-K4
1 4 P x P KR-N I 1 5 B-R6 P-Q6
1 6 P-QB3 B-K2 ! 1 7 Q-B3 Q-Q4

( 99) .

1 16 F. J. Marshall JRC
New York, October 1 9 1 0
-

1 8 Q-B4 N-K4 1 9 N-Q2 B-Q3
20 R-K4 R-Q2 2 1 Q-K3 B-B4 22
R x N B x Q 23 R x Q B x B 24
R x R K x R 25 N x P R x P 26
P-KR3 B-B5
27 R-Ql P-KR4
28 R x P + K-B3 29 P-B3 P-N4
30 N-R5 + K-N3 31 P-N4 P-B4
32 R-Q8 BP x P 33 BP x P R-QB2
34 R-QN8 + K-R3
35 R-K8
R-BB + 36 K-B2 R-B7 + 37 K-B I
K-N3 38 R x P + K-82 39 R-K7 +
K-Q3 40 R-K2 R-88 + 4 1 K-N2
P-R5 42 N-N3 R-85 43 R-K4
K-Q4 44 N-B5 B-Q7 45 P-R3
B-B8 46 N-Q3 B x P 47 P-N5

Casual and Other Games

..

R-B7 + 48 K-B l R-B6 49 K-K2
B-BB 50 P-N6 B-R3 5 1 R x P B-N2
52 N-B4 + K-K4 53 N-R5 ( 1--0,
55).

117 F. J. Marshall - JRC
New York, 7 October 1 9 1 0
The fifth game, according t o Marshall.
18 QR-QI P-N4 19 P-N5 N-K4
20 Q-B4 R-Q2 2 1 R-K3 P-QR4
22 R I-Kl P-N5 2 3 N-Q2 B x P
24 Qx B N-B2 25 Q-R4 N-Q3
26 Q-B6 N-B4 27 R-K5 Q-N2
28 R x N P x R 29 Qx P Q-Q4
30 R-K5 Q-B2 3 1 Qx Q R x Q
32 R x P K-N2 33 P x P R-B3 34
R-QN5 + K-R2 35 R-KR5 R-N3 +
•
37 P-QR3 R-KN I
36 K-B l R-Nl
38 B-K3 + 1 -0.

118 F. J. Marshall - JRC
New York, 1 5 November 1 9 1 0
Q-B7 QR-K l 1 9 R-K3 N-K4
Q-B4 N-N3 2 1 Q-B7 N-K4
Q-B4 N-N3 23 Q-B7 N-K4
Q-B4 N-N3 t-!.
Keres gives 1 8 Q-B7 B-R5 1 9
QR-QI N-K4, with a similar draw
by repetition ; and he concludes that
the chances are even. This match
throws an interesting light on so­
called openings theory, which is, i n
fact, nothing more than the concensus
of a handful of authors who write the
books. A few months after the intro­
duction of a powerful new move for
White Capablanca demonstrates that
Black can hold his own ; yet for more
than twenty years the text-books con­
tinued to regard the Max Lange as
indefensible.
18
20
22
24

109

1 19 Richard C. Grif6.th, A. G .
Gordon Ross, and Ferdin.and
Ruffer - JRC
Sydenham, England, 25 November
191 1
Capablanca liked to meet the best
people. Mr. Ruffer was a patron, in
whose house this friendly encounter
was played ; Canon Ross helped found
the British Chess Federation and
was later its president ; R. C. Griffith
was a co-author of Modern Chess
Openings, and British Champion in
1912.
1 P-Q4 P-QB4 2 P-K4 P x P
3 N-KB3 P-KN3 4 N x P B-N2
5 P-QB4 Q-N3 6 N-N5 P-QR3
7 B-K3 Q-R4 + 8 B-Q2 ?
The allies optimistically try to out­
wit Black by means of a little tactical
sortie, which rebounds on them.
8 . . . Q-Q l 9 B-B3 N-KB3 I O
P-K5 N-K5 1 1 P-K6 P-B3 1 2
P x P + B x P 1 3 N-Q4 P-K4 1 4
N-B3.
Black is ahead in development, will
soon gain the bishop-pair, and has a
powerful centre : in short, he has a
positionally won game. Characteristi­
cally he further improves the position
of his pieces before advancing his
pawns - indeed he never does advance
them.
14 . . . Q-N3
15 Q-B2 B-B3
16 B-Q3 N-B4 1 7 N l-Q2 N x B +
18 Qx B N-Q2 1 9 0-0 0-0 20
KR-Kl QR-QI 21 Q-K3 Q-B2
22 QR-B I KR-K l 23 P-QN4 Q-Q3
24 R/B l -QI N-B l 25 N-K4.
Black's threat to play N-K3, and
his grip on the open file, are too much
for the \Vhite players who decide to
exchange their rooks for the Black

110

Casual and Other Games

queen. This gives Black the chance of
a nice attacking finish.
25 . . . Qx R 26 R x Q R x R +
27 N-Kl N-K3 28 P-B3 R I -QI
29 P-B5 N-B5 30 N-B2 B-R3 ! 3 1
N x R R x N 32 Q-B2 N-Q4 33
Q-B2 R-B8 0-1 .
120 JRC - Juan Corzo, Rafael
Blanco, and R. Portela
Havana, 23 December 1 9 1 0
.
On the 2 1st o f August 1 909, amidst
the jubilation of Capablanca's vic­
torious return after five years absence
from his homeland, he essayed the
task of playing blindfold against three
of Cuba's strongest players in con­
sultation, Juan Corzo, Rafael Blanco,
and Fernando Rensoli.
He lost. Here he again plays blindfold, and takes his revenge.
P-Q4
I P-K4
2 PxP
Qx P
3 N-QB3
Q-QR4
4 B-B4
N-KB3
5 P-Q3
B-N5 ?
B-B4
6 P-B3 !
7 N-K2
P-B3
8 P-KN4 !
B-B l
8 . . . B-N3 would be dangerous ;
in one variation White could make a
winning sacrifice of his queen : 9
B-Q2 Q-B2
10 P-KR4 P-KR3
1 1 N-B4 B-R2 12 P-N5 P-K4 1 3
Q-K2 P x P 1 4 P x P B x P 1 5 R x R
B x Q 16 P x N ! P x P 1 7 N4 x B.
9 B-Q2
Q-B2
P-K3
I O N-N3
N l -Q2
1 1 Q-K2
1 1 . . . B-K2 would be better.
12 P-N5 !
N-KN I
P-N4
1 3 P-B4
14 B-N3
N-B4

1 5 N/B3-K4
NxB
16 RP x N
Bringing White's QR into play,
and giving him a decisive lead in
development. The manner in which
he now opens the game is most
original.
N-K2
16 . . .
1 7 N-R5 !
N-B4
PxN
1 8 N5-B6 + !
K-K2
19 N x P+
Not 1 9 . . . K-Ql 20 B-R5 !
20 B-N4 +
N-Q3
And not 20 . . . P-B4 2 1 N-Q5 + !
2 1 Q-K5
B-KN2
22 R-KB I
P-QR4
PxB
23 P-B5 !
Otherwise the pin is deadly : 23 . . .
R-Ql 24 B-B5 K-B l 25 N x P +
K-N l 26 N-B6 + K-B l 2 7 P x P
B x P 28 P-N6 !
24 R x R
N-Kl
25 Q-B5 +
Q-Q3
26 R-R7 +
K-B l
2 7 Q x Q+ !
Characteristically
Capablanca's
brilliant play leads neither to mate
nor to material gain, but to the end­
game.
NxQ
27 . . .
NxN
28 N-K4
29 P x N
K-K l
30 P-B6
B-B l ( JOO)

Casual and Other Games

The allies have now completed
their plan to get their pieces back to
the starting line !
3 1 K-K2
P-K4
32 K-B3
B--QB4
If 32 . . . P-R3 33 P-N6 ! Or if
32 . . . R-Nl 33 R-Ql R x P 34
R-R8.
33 R-B7
B--Q2
White now regains his material,
and almost at once he sacrifices again
in order to advance his king; finally
on the 43rd move the allies decide
to complete their development !
34 R-Ql B--Q5 35 P-B3 P x P
36 P x P K-Ql 37 R7 x B + K x R
38 P x B P x P 39 P-K5 ! P-B4 40
K-K4 K-B3 41 P-K6 ! P x P 42
K-K5 K-Q2 43 P-N4 R-KN 1 44
P-R4 R-QB I 45 P-R5 1 -0.

121 JRC Jaime Baca-Arus
Havana, 8 April 1 9 1 2
-

Capablanca plays blindfold, which
was unusual for him. As far as is
known he played only two other solo
blindfold games. The occasion for this
game was social, and the moves were
played rapidly, as an entertainment.
Black castles into an attack ; his
1 0th move is played i n anticipation
of the advance of White's KNP, but
the long diagonal is weakened ; and
his 1 1 th move gives White the
opportunity of a really brilliant com­
bination which opens this diagonal
with devastating effect.
1 P-Q4 P-Q4 2 P-K3 P-K3
3 B-Q3 B--Q3 4 N-KB3 N-Q2
5 N l-Q2 P-KB4 6 P-QN3 N-R3
7 B-N2 Q-B3 8 P-B4 P-B3 9 Q-B2
0-0 10 P-KR3 P-KN3 1 1 0-0-0

111

P-K4 ? 1 2 QP x P N x P 1 3 P x P
P x P 1 4 N-B4 ! ! P x N 1 5 B x QBP +
N3-B2 16 R x B Qx R 1 7 N x N
B-- K3 1 8 R-Ql Q-K2 (101).

White ends with yet another
sacrifice : 19 R-Q7 ! ! B x R 20 N x B
KR-B l 2 1 Q-B3 R x B 22 P x R
N-Q3 23 Q-R8 + K-B2 24 N-K5 +
K-K3 25 Qx R 1-0.
Regarding this game there hangs a
tale, told by B. Cafferty in the pages
of the British Chess Magazine, 1 973,
p. 88. The diagram position occurred
in a simultaneous game, JRC-H. E.
Price, Birmingham, England, 24
November 1 9 1 1 . Capablanca won i n
mundane fashion after 1 9 N x N. No
doubt he then discovered the move
19 R-Q7, and it seems probable that
the later game was pre-arranged.
This would not be altogether unusual
for such an occasion.
Such a game may be reported by
others, of course. The ethical question
is whether the winner himself should
publish without an explanation. This
game was published in the first num­
ber of the Capablanca Magazine, more
than two weeks after Capablanca had
left Cuba ; in any event, it is unlikely
that he ever went near the editorial
office. He did not publish this game

112

Casual and Other GaTTll!S

in his own books, nor was it published
in Gelabert's collection ( 1 923) which
is probably the nearest representa­
tion of what would have been inclu­
ded had Capablanca summoned the
energy to edit his own games­
collection.
122 A. Aurbach JRC
Neuilly-sur-Seine, 23 October 1 9 1 3
-

R-K7 + 29 K-Q3 ! R x B because
he would be mated in four moves.
28 K-N3 ! R-K4.
A powerful-looking move for which,
however, White is prepared.
29 R-N4 ! Q-B4 30 R x P R x Q
3 1 B x Q R x B 32 N-B4 P-R4 33
R-R7 P-N4 34 N-K3 R-B6 3S
N-N2 P-QB4 36 R x RP P-B5 +
37 K-R3 K-N3 38 R-K5.
White must still watch for traps ;
if 38 R-R4 K-R4 39 R-B4 ? P-N5
mate ! The rest is fairly straight­
forward :
38 . . . P-B3 39 R-K3 R-B7 40
N-Kl P-B4 4 1 R-B3 R-K7 42
R x P ! R x N 43 K-N4 R-K7 44
R x P + K-R3 45 K x P R-K5 +
46 K-Q3 R-QR5
47 R-QN3
R-KR5 48 R-N4 R-R7 49 P-R4
K-R4 50 K-B4 R-N7 S I R-NS +
K x P S2 P-N3 + K-R6 S3 R-RS +
K-N7 54 R-QS K-B7 5S P-N4
R-N6 S6 R-QBS ! R-NS + S7 K-N5
K-N6 S8 P-B4 R-N I 59 R-B6
R-N4 + 60 P-B5 R-N5 6 1 R-QN6 !
1 -0.

This i s one of Capablanca's rare
defeats in friendly play, a game
played in the apartment ofL. Tauber,
a patron. Aurbach is to be praised for
the manner in which he holds his
advantage after Black's speculative
play, and weaves his way through all
the complications.
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 P-KB4 P-Q4
3 KP x P P-KS
4 P-Q3 Qx P
S Q-K2 ! N-KB3 6 N-Q2 B--KNS ! ?
7 N l -B3 N-B3 8 P x P Q-QB4
9 P-B3 0--0-0 1 0 N-N3 Q-KR4
I I B--Q2 B-Q3 ! ?
Black decides to sacrifice a piece in
order to have the initiative ; he might
instead regain his pawn by 1 1 . . .
R-K l , but he would remain at some
123 JRC Marc Fonaroff
positional disadvantage.
New York, 1 7 June 1 9 1 8
12 0-0-0 KR-K l 1 3 P-KS B x KP
14 P x B N x P IS Q-B2 N x N 1 6 ' A lightweight classic, that will take
PxN BxP
1 7 Qx RP N-Q2 ! rank with some of Paul Morphy's,
18 R-N l ! B x R 1 9 R-NS Qx P was produced by Jose R. Capablanca
20 K x B Q-R8 2 1 R-N l Q-KS Tuesday, when, as a guest at a soiree
22 K-B l ! P-QB3 23 N-RS N-B4 in the apartment of Professor Marc
Fonaroff, of the New York Institute
24 B-R3 + K-B2 2S Qx N R x B.
of Musical Art,* he played a game of
After 2S . . . P-QN3 26 Q x B P +
Qx Q 2 7 N x Q K x N 2 8 R x P chess against that master musician.
White would easily win the endgame. Mrs. Leon Rosen . . . fortunately took
26 K x R Q-KBS +
27 K-B2 and preserved the score for the benefit
Q-KS + .
* This imposing title refers merely to a
Unfortunately for Black he cannot private school of music at 1 20 Claremont
play 27 . . . Q-R7 +
28 B--N2 Avenue, NY.
-

Casual and Other Games
of posterity' - New rork Evening Post.
The moves are here given in the
correct order, as reported. This is
hardly a matter for comment but one
annotator refers to 'Black's well­
known finesse' in a position which
did not, in fact, occur.
P-K4
I P-K4
2 N-KB3
N-QB3
3 P-Q4
P-Q3
4 N-B3
N-B3
B-Q2
5 B-QNS
6 0-0
B-K2
7 R-Kl
PxP
8NxP
NxN
8 . . . 0-0 would be better.
BxB
9 Qx N
10 N x B
0-0
I I Q-B3
Reti praises this move as an example
of Capablanca's superior method of
opening the game 'instead of apply­
ing the old principle of developing
his pieces as quickly as possible'.
White's idea is to play his knight to
KBS.
II . . .
P-B3
The books commend 1 1 , . . N-K l
after which, however, White would
maintain a lead in development.
N-Q2
1 2 N-Q4
B-B3
1 3 N-BS
N-K4
1 4 Q-KN3
1 5 B-B4
Q-B2
16 QR-QI
QR-Q1 ( 102)
17 R x P! !
RxR
18 B x N
R-Q8
This clever stroke appears to get
Black out of his difficulties, but White
has seen further ahead. 18 . . . Q-R4
would be better ; White would then
come out a pawn ahead after 1 9
P-KB4 ! B x B 2 0 P x B R-N3 2 1
N-K7 + .

113

19 R x R
BxB
20 N-R6 +
K-R I
2 1 Qx B !
Qx Q
22 N x P + !
1 -0
This off-hand game bears an
affinity to the famous opera house
game won by Morphy. Both were
published all over the world, and
both, curiously, were played on
musical occasions.

124 JRC
Bonar Law and two
other Members of Parliament
London, 29 December 1 9 1 9
-

The Right Honourable Bonar Law,
who instigated the display given by
Capablanca at the House of
Commons, was at this time Leader of
the House ; he later became Prime
Mininister.
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 P-B3 P-Q4 4 Q-R4 P x P 5 N x P
Q-Q4 6 N x N P x N 7 B-B4 Q-Q2
8 P-Q3 P x P 9 0-0 B-Q3 10 B-KNS
N-K2 1 1 N-Q2 0-0 12 B x QP
P-B3 1 3 Q-QB4 + K-R l 1 4 B-K3
P-QR4 1 5 B-B2 ! N-B4 16 B x N
Qx B 1 7 Qx P B-R3 1 8 KR-K l
KR-QN I 19 N-K4 B-K4.
Here and later the allies spend time
preserving their pair of bishops,

Casual and Other Games

114

especially the KB. One is reminded of
a story of Anderssen's to the effect
that the handicap of giving the queen
• because one doesn' t
is advantageous
have the problem o f defending i t from
attack !
20 N-B5 B-N4 2 1 Q-B3 Qx Q
22 p x Q B-B3
So far, the game has been well
played by both White and Black.
Capablanca has won a pawn, but the
allies have sufficient compensation.
They might continue positionally, e.g.
22 . . . P-N4 ; instead they make a
gallant attack on the king's side, and,
indeed, this is refuted only by some
very ingenious play on the part of
their opponent.
23 P-KB4 B-Q3 24 P-N3 R-N4
25 N-K6 R-R4 26 P-B4 R-R5
27 P-QB5 ! R-N5 + .
This rook has moved many times to
get here, and must move almost as
many times in order to get out
again.
28 K-BI B-N4 + 29 R-K2 B x R +
30 K x B B-K2 31 N x BP R-QB I
32 N-Q5 B-Q l 33 R-QB I R-R5
34 P-B6 R-R4
35 R-B5 B-B2
36 P-QR4 R x P.
36 . . . P-R3 would offer more
resistance. Now Black's KB, which has
been preserved for so long, finally goes
the way of all flesh.
37 N x B R x N 38 R x P P-R4
39 R-QB5 P-N3 40 P-N4 R-R8
41 P-N5 R-QN8 42 P-R5 P-R5
43 P-N6 R x BP 44 R x R P-R6
45 P-R6 P-R7 46 P-R7 1-0.

•

125 JRC Sir George Thomas
Ramsgate, England, 30 March 1 929
-

A game of living chess

for

which the

organizers wisely chose contestants
who liked fast play : an essential
ingredient if interest is to be main­
tained. For the same reason play goes
on to the checkmate.
I P-Q4 N-KB3 2 N-KB3 P-K3
3 P-B4 P-Q4
4 B-N5 N l -Q2
5 P-K3 P-B3 6 N l -Q2 B-K2 7
B-Q3 P-KR3 8 B-R4 0-0 9 0-0
R-K l 10 Q-K2 P-QR3 ?
On one occasion an unmoved rook's
pawn had fainted at his post. Perhaps
Sir George takes this into account, or
perhaps he likes the little boy at QR2.
At all events 10 . . . P-QB4 would be
correct.
1 1 QR-B l N-R2 12 B-N3 N/Q2Bl 1 3 P-K4 P x KP 1 4 N x P N-B3
1 5 KR-QI N x N 16 Qx N B-B3
1 7 N-K5 Q-K2 18 P-B5 ! B-Q2
19 N-B4
Capablanca's play is a good
example of how to deal with passive
defence. He threatens either B-Q6
or N-Q6, and Black has no adequate
defence.
19 . . . N-N3 20 N-Q6 R/K l-N l
2 1 N x BP ! Qx N 2 2 Qx N Qx Q
23 B x Q R-KB ! 24 B-Q6 R/B l -B l
2 5 R-B3 B-Kl
26 B x B R x B
27 R-QN3 R-R2 28 P-B4 B-Q l
29 R-K l K-B2 30 P-QR3 B-B3
3 1 R-K4 R-Ql 32 R3-K3 R2-Rl
33 K-B l R-Kl 34 R-QN3 R-R2
35 K-K2 R-Ql 36 R3-K3 K-N l
37 K-Q3 R2-Rl 38 R x P R-Q2
39 R-K8 + R x R 40 R x R + K-B2
41 R-KB8 + K-N3 42 P-KN4 B-K2
43 P-B5 + K-N4 44 R-B7 B x B
45 R x R B x RP 46 R x KNP +
K-B3 47 R-N6 + K-B2 48 K-K4
B-N6 49 R x RP B-K8 50 P-N5
B-N6 5 1 R-R7 + K-B l 52 P-B6
B-K8 53 P-N6 B-N6 54 R-R8 mate.

Casual and Other Games

115

126 JRC Herman Steiner
Los Angeles, 1 1 April 1 933

1 03
w

Capablanca arrived in filmland in the
spring, and this was his first engage­
ment, a display of living chess. Later
he went on to Hollywood where he
was attached to the chess club as
instructor, teaching starlets amongst
others.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 N-B3 N-B3 4 B--NS B-NS 5 0-0
0-0 6 P-Q3 P-Q3 7 B--NS B x N
B P x B N-K2
9 N-R4 P-B3 1 0
B--QB4 B-K3 ? I I B x N P x B 1 2
B x B P x B 1 3 Q-N4 + K-B2 1 4
P-KB4 R-KN I 1 5 Q-RS + K-N2
1 6 P x P QP x P ( 103) .
17 R x P! K x R
I B R-KB I +
N-B4 19 N x N P x N 20 R x P +
K-K2 2 1 Q-B7 + K-Q3 22 R-B6 +

K-B4 23 Qx NP Q-N3 and White
mates in two.
A very pretty finish to a lightweight
game.
The game was probably pre­
arranged. It was refereed by Cecil B.
de Mille, the great film director, and
presumably he would have required
at least one rehearsal !

-

6

The Corzo Match

This chapter contains all that could
be found of Capablanca's early games
- those played up to October 1 906 ;
at that time he became a freshman at
Columbia University. The first
eighteen games form the match-series
mentioned by him in My Chess Career,
p. 3 ; two of his ten opponents played
him once only. Clocks were used and
his average rate of play was an
astonishing 1 40 moves an hour, and
his score 1 3 + 3 - 2 = . The next
thirteen games are those played
against J. Corzo, in a match which
has since become famous.
Corzo was a fine middle-game
tactician ; he was the strongest player
in Cuba, and would certainly rank
as a candidate for master class. In the
latter stages of the match considerable
crowds gathered, and attendance had
to be restricted to ticket-holders,
whilst others waited outside. Capa­
blanca's victory created a local sensa­
tion ; the Cubans were convinced that
a new Morphy had arisen.
Their enthusiasm was short-lived.
Capablanca was thoroughly trounced
in the Cuban championship a few
months later. In this double-round
event he lost both of his games to ].
Corzo.
It is not easy to explain Corzo's
defeat in the match. He was too old a

hand to be affected by crowd
sympathy or to be rushed into playing
too fast against an opponent whose
rate of play averaged ninety moves an
hour. Perhaps he lost because of poor
endplay ; at all events Capablanca
won two drawn endgames and saved
three or four lost endgames. There is
other evidence of this weakness of
Corzo's, e.g. his comment on White's
forty-third move of the 4th match
game.
The match was for the best of seven
games, draws not counting. In the
first eleven games Capablanca scored
four wins against Corzo's two, but
they agreed to play on lllltil the
seventh win was notched up. As it
happened the match ended with a
loss. The result was either 4 + 2 5 = , or 4 + 3 - 6 = . The latter version
is given in the 1 9 1 3 Havana Tourna­
ment book, written by Capablanca.
It may be assumed that Capablanca
first visited the Manhattan Chess Club
in the fall of 1 904. Boy wonders are
not rare, but when he defeated
Redding, finishing with a mate in ten
moves, the New York players began
to sit up and take notice. However,
their enthusiasm waned, as usually
happens, and it was not until he
defeated Marshall in 1 909 that he
became universally recognized.

•

T7ie Corzo

Match

117

Here is the cross-table ofthe Cuban championship tournament, which ended
in April 1 902.

1 J. Corzo

2

3

4

5

6

11

11

11

Ol

11

IO

01

11

11

6

10

11

IO

5

!I

IO

2 E. Corzo

00

3 G. Fernandez

00

01

4 Capablanca

00

IO

01

5 M. Sterling

ll

00

00

!-0

6 A. Fiol

00

00

01

01

127 JRC - Enrique Debnonte
Havana, 19 September 1 90 1
I P-K4 P-QB4 2 P-Q4 P x P 3
N-KB3 P-K4 4 P-B3 N-QB3 5
P x P B-N5 + 6 B-Q2 Q-K2 ? 7
P-Q5 ! N-Ql 8 B-Q3 B x B + 9
N I x B P-Q3 10 R-QB I P-QR3
1 1 N-B4 B-Q2 12 N-N6 R-N l 1 3
Q-B2 B-NS 1 4 P-KR3 B x N 1 5
Q-R4 + ! N-QB3 16 P x N Q-B2
17 P x P + K-B l
18 R x Q 1-0.
0.08/0.3 1 .
128 Leon Paredes JRC
Havana, 20 September 1 90 1

ll
Ot

2!

R x R R x R 23 P-B5 R-QR l 2 4
P-QN4 N-R l !
2 5 R-Ql N-B2
26 B-B7 N-R3 27 K-K2 N-B2 28
R-Q4 R-QB I 29 B-R5 B-Ql 30
K-K3 B x B 31 P x B R-QN I 32
P-QN4 R-Ql
33 R x R N x R
34 K-Q4 K-Q2 35 K-B3 N-K3
36 K-B4 N-B2 37 K-Q4 N-Q4
38 K-B4 N-K6 + 39 K-Q4 N-B8
40 P-N5 BP x P 41 K-Q5 N-K6 +
42 K-Q4 N-B5 43 K-Q5 N x RP
44 P-K6 + K-K2 45 K-K5 P-N3
0- 1 . 0.40/0 . 1 2 .

-

I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 P-B3 P-Q4 4 B-N5 Q-Q3 5 P-Q4
QP x P 6 N x P B-Q2 7 0-0 ? N x N
8 P x N Qx Q 9 R x Q B x B 1 0
N-Q2 P-KB4
1 1 N-N3 B-R5
12 B-K3 N-K2 1 3 P-KB4 P-B3
14 P-B4 P--QR3 15 B-N6 B x N 1 6
P x B N-N3 1 7 P-N3 B-K2 18 K-B2
P-KR4 1 9 P-R4 K-B2 20 R-Q7
K-K3 2 1 R x NP KR-QN I 22

129 JRC Enrique Corzo
Havana, 2 1 September 1 90 1
-

Enrique, like his more famous brother
Juan, was not too good at the end­
game : starting with a small advantage
he ends up losing.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-N5 N-B3 4 0-0 N x P 5 P-Q4
B-K2 6 P-Q5 N-Q3 7 B-R4 P-K5
8 P x N P x N 9 BP x QP + B x P
IO B x B + Qx B l l Qx P 0-0 1 2

118

The Corzo Match

N-B3 QR-QI 1 3 N-Q5 KR-Kl
I4 B-B4 P-QB3 1 5 N x B + Qx N
1 6 P-KR3 Q-K5 1 7 Qx Q R x Q
1 8 B x N R x B 1 9 KR-K l R3-K3
20 R x R R x R 2 1 R-Ql P-KB4
22 R-Q7 P-QN4 23 K-B l P-QR4
24 P-QN3 R-K4 25 R-R7 R-B4
26 R x RP R x P 27 P-QR4 R-R7
28 R-RS + K-B2 29 R-R7 + K-B I
30 P-R5 R-N7 3 1 P-R6 R x NP ?
32 R-QB7 P-N5 33 P-R7 R-R6
34 R-BS + K-K2 35 P-R8 = Q 1-0.
0. 1 0/0.45.
130 JRC - Antonio Fiol
Havana, 22 September 1 90 1
Nino Capablanca plays his head­
master, who might have made his
lesson more effective by playing
37 . . . Qx P !
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 P-Q4 P x P 4 N x P B-B4 5 N x N
NP x N 6 B-Q3 Q-B3 7 0-0 N-K2
8 Q-K2 P-Q3 9 N-B3 0-0 I O K-R I
N-N3 1 1 P-B4 Q-R5
12 N-R4
B-KN5 1 3 Q-Q2 B-N3 1 4 P-KN3
Q-R4 1 5 N x B BP x N 16 B-R6 ?
B-B6 + 1 7 K-N I B x P 1 8 Qx P
QR-QI 19 Q-R3 P-N4 20 B-K3
Q-K7 2 1 R-B2 R-Q8 + 22 R x R
Qx R/QS +
23 R-B I Qx P 24
R-B2 Q-QS +
25 R-B l Q-N5
26 B x RP R-Ql 27 Q-K3 B-Q4
28 R-K l P-R4 29 P-N3 N-R5
30 R-K2 B-B6 3 1 R-Q2 B-Q4
32 R-KB2 N-B6 + 33 K-B I Q-R6 +
34 K-K2 N x P 35 P-QR4 N-N5
36 Q-K7 R-R l 37 P x P R x B ?
38 Qx R N x R 39 Qx N P x P 40
B x P B x P 41 Q-K3 Q-N7 + 42
K-Kl Q-RS + 43 K-Q2 Q-Q8 +
44 K-B3 B-K3 45 B-Q3 Q-N6 +
46 K-Q2 Q-N7 + 47 K-K l Q-B3

48

Q-K5 Q x Q
0.20/0.25.

49 P x Q t-!-

131 Juan Corzo - JRC
Havana, 22 September 1 90 1
J. Corzo was the strongest player i n
Cuba, a s h e demonstrated b y winning
the National championship a few
months later. With fine middle-game
play he outmanoeuvres Capablanca
who is actually checkmated - a rare
indignity for him.
1 P-K4 P-Q4
2 P x P Qx P
3 N-QB3 Q-Q l 4 P-Q4 P-K3
5 N-B3 N-KB3 6 B-Q3 B-K2 7
N-K2 N-QB3 ? 8 P-B3 0-0 9 P-KR3
N-KI 10 Q-B2 P-KN3 I I B-KR6
N-N2 1 2 P-KR4 P-B4 1 3 0-0-0
R-B2 1 4 N-K5 ! N x N 1 5 P x N
Q-Q4 1 6 K-N l Qx KP 1 7 N-B4
Q-B4 18 Q-K2 Q-B3 1 9 P-B3
B-B3 20 B-B4 P-QN4 2 1 B x NP
Q-N3 22 B-B4 B x BP 23 R-QS +
R-Bl 24 R x R + K x R 25 B x P
B x B 26 N x B + K-N l 27 B x N
B x B 28 N x B K x N 29 Q-K5 +
Q-KB3 30 Qx QBP + K-R3 3 1
P-KN4 P x P 32 P x P Q-KB6 33
P-NS + K-R4 34 Qx KRP + K-N5
35 R-N l + K-R6 36 Qx NP R-Ql
37 Q-B2 R-Kl
38 P-N6 R-K7
39 Q-B l R-N7 40 R-R l + K-NS
41 Q-NS mate. 0.50/0.25.
132 Arturo Gavilan JRC
Havana, 23 September 1 90 1
-

1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 P-Q4 P x P 4 B-QB4 B-B4 5 0-0
N l -K2 6 P-B3 P x P 7 N x P O-O
8 B-KN5 ? K-R l 9 P-QR3 P-B3
1 0 B-R4 N-N3 1 1 B-KN3 P-Q3
1 2 P-R3 N/B3-K4 1 3 B-N3 N x N +

The Corzo Match
1 4 Qx N N-K4 1 5 Q-K2 Q-K I
1 6 N-Q5 Q-N3 17 K-R I Q-R3
18 B--Q l P-KN3 19 N-B4 ? P-KN4
20 N-Q3 B x KRP 2 1 P x B Qx P +
22 K-N I Qx B + 23 K-R I Q-R6 +
24 K-N I N x N 25 Q-B3 Q x Q
26 B x Q P-B4 27 P-N4 B x BP +
28 R x B N x R 29 P-K5 N-R6 +
30 K-R2 P x P 3 1 B x P QR-N I
32 B-Q5 N-B5 33 B-B4 R/N l -QI
34 R-KI R-Q7 + 35 K-N I P-K5
36 P-R4 R-B3 37 P-N5 R-KR3
38 B--B I R7-KR7 39 R-QI P-K6
0- 1 . 0.20/0. 1 2.
133 A. Ettlinger - JRC
Havana, 25 September 1 90 1
Ettlinger had already staked his own
small claim to fame, having played
matches against Steinitz and Em.
Lasker, although he lost all the
games ! At this time he was on a visit
to Havana, and he went back to New
York with tales of a new chess
prodigy. Three years later he intro­
duced Capablanca to the Manhattan
Chess Club.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 P-Q4 P x P 4 N x P B-B4 5 B--K 3
Q-B3 6 P-QB3 N l -K2 7 B-- QN5
P-QR3 8 B-R4 0-0 ? 9 0-0 ? P-QN4
I O B--N3 B--N2 l ! N x N Qx N 1 2
B x B Q x B 1 3 B--B2 P-Q4 14 N-Q2
QR-QI 15 N-N3 Q-N3 16 P-K5
N-N3 1 7 Q-Q3 KR-Kl 18 QR-K l
P-QB4 19 Q-N3 P-Q5 20 K-RI
( 104) .
20 . . . P-Q6 ! 2 1 B x P R x B !
22 Qx R B x P + ! 23 K-N l P-B5
24 Q-Q6 Q-N2 25 N-B5 Q-R l
26 P-K6 B x R 27 P x P + K x P
28 Q-Q7 + R-K2 29 R x R + N x R
3 1 Q-Q7 +
30 Q-K6 + K-K l

119

104
B

K-B2 32 Q-K6 + K-B l 33 K x B
Q-R8 +
34 K-K2 Qx P
35
N-Q7 + ? K-K l 36 N-K5 Q-R4 +
37 K-K I Q-B4 38 Q-Q6 Q-K5 +
39 K-B l Q-Q4 40 Q-B7 Q-Q l 4 1
Qx Q+ K x Q 4 2 N-B7 + K-Q2
43 K-K2 P-R3 44 N-K5 + K-K3
45 N-B3 P-N4 46 K-K3 K-Q4
47 N-Q4 P-KR4 48 P-B4 P-KN5
49 P-N3 P-R5 50 P-B5 K-K4 5 1
P-B6 N-Q4 + 52 K-B2 N x KBP
53 p x p p x p 0- 1 . 1 .42/0.26.

134 JRC - M. P. Marceau
Havana, 26 September 1 90 1
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3 3
P-Q4 P x P 4 N x P N-B3 5 N-QB3
B-N5 6 N-B5 0-0 7 B-Q3 P-Q4
8 P x P Qx P 9 Q-B3 Qx Q 10
P x Q B l x N 1 1 B x B N-Q5 1 2
B-Q3 B x N + 1 3 P x B KR-K l +
14 K-B l N x KBP 15 B--N2 N-K5
16 K-N2 N5-Q7 1 7 QR-QI R-K4 ?
1 8 P-KR4 ! R I-Kl 19 P-B4 R-KR4
20 R-R3 N-KB + 2 1 R x N ! R x R
22 B-B3 ! R-K5 23 B x N RS x RP
24 R-K3 P-KB4 25 R-K7 P-B5
26 K-B3 P-KN4 27 R x BP R-R6 +
28 K-N4 R6-R5 + 29 K-B5 P-B6
30 B x P P-KR3
3 1 K-B6 1-0.
0. 1 2/0.40.

120

The Cor.z;o Match

135 Manuel Marquez Sterling
JRC
Havana, 27 September 1 90 1

-

Sterling had quite a reputation,
having played against the world's
best players at Paris, 1 900. Capa­
blanca accords him respect ; playing
carefully he gets a fine endgame in
which he should have played 35 . . .
B-B l ! instead of 35 . . . B--K 2. He
overlooks the forks by which White
saves the game.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B--N5 P-QR3 4 B-R4 N-B3 5
P-Q3 P-Q3 6 P-B3 P-QN4 7 B-B2
B--K2 8 N l -Q2 0-0 9 N-B I P-Q4
1 0 N-N3 P x P I I P x P Qx Q+
1 2 B x Q B--Q3 1 3 0-0 B-K3 1 4
B-N3 N-Ql 1 5 B-K3 N-N5 1 6
P-KR3 N x B 1 7 P x N B x B 1 8
p x B P-N3 1 9 P-N4 N-B3 2 0 N-K2
P-QR4 2 1 P x P N x P 22 N-B l
N-B5 23 N-Q3 N x KP 24 R x R
R x R 25 R-K I N-B5 26 P-N3
N-R4 27 R-R I R-R2 28 P--N4
N-B3 29 R x R N x R 30 N/83 x P
P-KB3 3 1 N-N4 K-B2 32 P-K5
P x P 33 N4 x P + K-K3 34 N-B3
K-Q4 35 N-N2 B-K2 36 K-B2
B-B3 37 N-QI K-B5 38 N-K3 + !
K-N6 39 N-Q2 + ! K-N7 40 N-K4
B-K4 4 1 K-K2 N-B I 42 K-Q3
N-Q3 43 N x N P x N 44 P-B4
K-N6 45 P x P K x P 46 P-N6
K-N4 47 P-N7 P-Q4 48 N x P K-B3
49 N-B6 P-R4 50 P-N4 K x P t-!.
1 . 05/0. 16.

136 JRC - Jose Antonio Blanco
Havana, 29 September 1 90 1
Jose should not be confused with
Rafael Blanco, an artist by profession,

and one of the strongest players of his
country.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 P-Q4 P x P 4 N x P B--B4 5 B--K3
Q-B3 6 P-QB3 N l -K2 7 B-QN5
0-0 8 N x N NP x N 9 B x B P x B
1 0 0-0 P-Q3 1 1 B-K3 B--N2 1 2
N-Q2 Q-N3 1 3 R-K I N-B4 1 4
Q-B3 N-R5 1 5 Q-R3 Q-B3 1 6
B--Q4 Q-K2 1 7 P-K5 N x P 1 8
P x P Q-N4 1 9 N-K4 B x N 20
R x B N-B5 + 2 1 Q-N3 Q x Q+
22 BP x Q N-K3 23 P x P N x P
24 R-K7 N-K3 25 R x RP N x B
26 R x R R x R 27 P x N R-R5
28 P-Q5 R-Q5 29 R-Q8 1 K-8 1
30 R-B5 P-N5 3 1 P-QR4 P x Pep
32 P x P K-K2 33 R-R5 R-Q7
34 P-QR4 P-R4 35 P-Q6 + K x P
36 R x P R-Q4 ? 37 R x R + K x R
38 K-B2 K-B4 39 K-K3 K-N5
40 K-Q4 K x P 41 K-K5 K-N5
42 K-Q6 K-B5 43 K-K7 P-B4
44 K-K6 P-B5 45 P x P K-Q5
46 P-B5 K-K5
47 P-R4 K-B5
48 P-R5 K-N4
49 K-B7 1 -0.
0. 1 5/0.45.

..

137 Enrique Delmonte
Havana, I October 1 90 1

-

JRC

I P-Q4 P-Q4 2 P-K3 N-KB3 3
B-Q3 N l -Q2 4 P-KB4 P-K3 5
N-KB3 P-84 6 P-84 8-Q3 7 0-0
P-QN3 8 P-QN3 B-N2 9 B-N2
R-Q8 1 10 N l -Q2 P-KR4 1 1 Q-K I
Q-B2 1 2 N-K5 P-R5 1 3 N2-B3 ?
QP x p 1 4 N x Q8P P-R6 1 5 P-N3
P-QN4 1 6 N4--K5 82 x N ! 1 7 R x 8
Q-N2 1 8 R-B2 ? B x N 1 9 QP x B
N-N5 20 R-82 P-85 ! 2 1 B-KB I
Q-K5 22 R-K2 N-B4 23 B--Q4
N-Q6 24 Q-Q2 R-Ql 25 R-Ql
R x B! • 26 P x R Qx QP + 27 K-R l

The Corzo Match
N5-B7 +
28• K-N I N x R +
29
K-R I Q-Q4 + 30 K-N I Q-B4 +
3 1 K-R I N/Q8-B7 +
32 R x N
N x R + 0- 1 . 1 . 1 5/0.20.
138 JRC - Leon Paredes
Havana, 3 October 1901
I P-K4 P-K3 2 P-Q4 P-Q4 3
P-K5 P-QB4 4 P-QB3 N-QB3
5 P-KB4 P x P 6 P x P Q-N3 7
N-KB3 B-Q2 8 N-B3 R-B I 9
R-QN I B-N5 1 0 Q-Q3 P-QR3
1 1 P-QR3 B--K2 12 P-QN4 N-R3
1 4 B--B2 N-R2
1 3 B-K3 N-B4
1 5 P-N4 N-N4 ? 1 6 N-QR4 Q-B2
1 7 P x N N x RP 18 Qx N Q-B7
19 B-Q3 Qx N 20 Qx Q B x Q
2 1 K-Q2 0-0 22 P-B6 P x P 23
B-R4 K-R l
24 B x BP + B x B
25 P x B R-KN I 26 KR-N I P-R3
27 N-K5 R x R 28 N x P + K-N l
29 N x P + 1-0. 0. 1 2/0.30.
139 Enrique Corzo - JRC
Havana, 5 October 1 90 1
Enrique decides that aggressive
middle-game play would be the best
policy as, indeed, his brother had
already demonstrated. In the follow­
ing game White's offered pawn should
not have been accepted, for White
could have gained a powerful attack
by 9 B x N N x B 10 Q-N3 N-B3
1 1 N-N5 ! Capablanca could later
have tried 20 . . . K-Q2 instead of
20 . . . K-Q l . White ends prettily,
his knights forking all over the place.
1 P-K4 P-K3 2 P-Q4 P-Q4
3 N-QB3 N-KB3 4 P-K5 N3-Q2
5 B-K3 P-QB4 6 Q-N4 P x P 7
B x P N-QB3 8 0-0-0 N2 x P ? 9
Q-N3 ? N x B 1 0 Q x N N-B3 1 1

121

B-N5 B--Q2 1 2 Q-N3 Q-N I ! 1 3
P-B4 P-QR3 14 B x N P x B 1 5
N-B3 Q-N3 1 6 KR-K l R-QN I
1 7 N-QR4 Q-R4 1 8 P-B5 ! R-N2
1 9 P x P B x P 20 Q-N4 ! K-QI
2 1 R x B ! P x R 22 N-Q4 ! K-B2
23 N x KP + K-N I 24 Q-KB4 +
K-R l 25 N x B Q-N5 ? 26 Q x Q!
R x Q 27 N-Q7 ! R-Ql 28 P-B3
R-KN5
29 P-KN3 K-N2
30
N4-B5 + K-R2 3 1 N-K5 R-N4
32 N x BP + 1-0. 0.52/0.20.
140 JRC - Juan Corzo
Havana, 7 October 1 901

I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 P-Q4 P x P 4 N x P P-Q3 5 B-K3
N-B3 6 N-QB3 B-Q2 7 P-B3 B--K2
8 B-Q3 N-K4
9 N4-K2 P-B4
1 0 P-QN3 0-0 1 1 0-0 B-B3 1 2 N-B4
R-K I 1 3 Q-Q2 K-R l 1 4 QR-K l
Q-R4 15 N3-K2 Qx Q 16 B x Q
P-KN4 1 7 N-R3 N x B 1 8 P x N
P-KR3 1 9 P-B4 P-N5 20 N-B2
P-KR4 2 1 B-B3 K-R2 22 N-N3
K-N3 23 P-B5 + K-R3 24 B-Q2 +
K-N2 25 B-N5 R-R I 26 P-K5
P x P 27 R x P B-Q3 28 B x N +
K x B 29 R-K3 B-K4 ?
Both players overlook that White
could now win by 30 N x RP + !
30 K-R I ? B--Q5 3 1 R-K2 B x N
32 R I x B P-R5 33 N-K4 + B x N
34 P x B KR-Kl 35 P-KR3 P-N6
36 R-B4 QR-QI 37 R-KI K-N4
38 R-N4 + K-R4 39 K-N I R-Q7
40 P-R4 R-N7 41 K-B I R-KB7 +
42 K-N l R x BP 43 R-KB I R x R +
44 K x R P-B4 45 P x P R-KB l
46 R-N7 R x P + 4 7 K-KI R-B7
48 R x P R x P 49 R-R7 + K-N4
50 R-KN7 + K-B3 5 1 R-N4 R-KR7
52 K-B l R x P 53 K-N2 R-R7 +

The Corzo Match

122

54
56
58
60

K-N I K-K4 55 P-N4 K-B4
R-QB4 P x P 57 R x NP K-N4
R-N5 + K-N5 59 R-N4 + K-R6
R-N3 R-R7 0- 1 .

141 Antonio Fiol JRC
Havana, 9 October 1 90 1
-

I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-B4 N-B3 4 0-0 B-K2 5 P-Q3
0-0 6 N-B3 P-Q3 7 N-Kl B-K3
8 N-Q5 N-QR4 9 P-QN3 B-Q2
I O N x N + B x N I I P-QN4 N x B
1 2 P x N B-K3 1 3 Q-K2 P-QR4
1 4 P-QB3 P-B3 1 5 Q-Q3 B-K2
16 P-B4 ? KP x P 1 7 B x P P x P
1 8 P x P Q-N3 +
1 9 P-B5 P x P
20 B-K3 Qx P
2 1 N-B2 Q-B5
22 Qx Q B x Q 23 R-B4 R x P 24
R x R B x R 25 R-N4 B-K3 26
R-N3 B-Q3 27 R-N5 P-B3 28
R-R5 P-KN3 29 R-R6 P-QN4
30 P-R4 K-N2 3 1 P-R5 P-N4 ! 32
B x NP P-N5 33 N-K3 P-N6 34
N-B l P-B5 35 N-Q2 P-B6 36
N-Nl P-B7 0- 1 . 0. 1 8/0. 1 2 .

N-N3 B-K4 3 1 N-Q4 + K-B4 32
N-N3 + K-Q3 33 K-K2 P-QN5
34 P x P B x QNP 35 N-B5 K-B3
36 N x P K-N4 37 N-B7 + K x P
38 B x P B-Q5 39 P-QR3 + K-R5
40 B-B6 + K-R4 4 1 N-Q5 P-R4
42 B-K8 P-R5 43 P-N4 P-R6 44
K-B I B-K4
45 K-N I B-Q5 +
46 K-R l K-R3 47 B-B6 K-R4
48 P-R4 K-R3 49 B-N5 + K-R4
50 N-K7 K-N3 5 1 B-BI B-B4 52
N-B5 K-R4 53 B-N5 K-N5 54
N-N3 B-K6 55 N-K2 K-B4 56
N-N l K-Q5 57 N x P K-K4 58
K-N2 K-B3 59 K-B3 B-N3 60
N-B2 B-B2 61 N-K4 + K-N3 62
B-K8 + K-R3 63 N-N3 K-N2 64
K-K4 K-B3
65 N-R5 + K-K2
66 B-N5 B x P
67 K-B5 B-N8
68 K x P B-N3
69 N-B4 B-R4
70 K-B5 K-B2 7 1 N-Q5 K-N2
72 P-N5 B-Q7 73 P-N6 B-R4 74
N-B4 B-B6 75 N-K6 + K-R3 76
B-K8 B-NS 77 P-N7 K-R2 1-0.
143 JRC
Manuel Marquez
Sterling
• I
Havana, 1 7 October 1 90
-

142 JRC Arturo Gavilan
Havana, 1 1 October 1 90 1
-

I P-K4 P-K3 2 P-Q4 P-Q4 3 P x P
P x P 4 N-KB3 N-QB3 5 B-Q3
B-K3 6 0-0 N-B3 7 P-B3 B-K2
8 B-B2 P-KR3
9 Q-Q3 P-R3
I O R-KI Q-Q2 1 1 B-B4 P-KN4
1 2 B-KN3 N-K5 1 3 N-K5 N x N
1 5 P-B3 P x B
1 4 B x N P-KB3
1 6 P x N 0-0-0 1 7 KP x P Qx P
1 8 R x P Qx R
19 P x Q R x Q
20 B x R R-QI 2 1 B-K2 R-Q4
22 K-B l R x P 23 N-Q2 P-B3 24
R-Kl B-Q4 ?
25 B-N4 + K-B2
26 R x R B-Q3 27 R x B P x R 28
P-KN3 P-N4 29 B-B3 K-B3 30

I P-K4 P-K3 2 P-Q4 P-Q4 3 P x P
P x P 4 N-KB3 N-KB3 5 B-Q3
B-Q3 6 0-0 0-0 7 N-B3 N-B3
8 B-KN5 B-KN5 9 B x N Qx B
1 0 N x P Q-R3 1 1 P-KR3 B x N
1 3 Q-K4 N-K3
1 2 Qx B N x P
14 N-K3 QR-K l ? 15 N-B5 Q-R4
1 6 QR-K l Q-N3 ?
1 7 Q-KR4
P-KR3 18 N x B P x N 19 B x Q
P x B 20 Q-QB4 R-B3 2 1 R x N
R3 x R 22 R-Kl K-B2 23 P-B4
K-B3 24 Q-Q4 + K-B2 25 Q-Q5
K-B3 26 R x R + R x R 27 Qx NP
R-K7 28 Q-Q5 P-N4 29 Qx QP +
R-K3 30 Q-B8 + 1 -0. 0.09/0.20.

The Corzo Match
144 Jose Antonio Blanco - JRC
Havana, 2 1 October 1 90 1
Capablanca's middle-game plan to
block the doubled pawns does not
succeed, and he gives up the exchange
rather than withdraw, quite a masterly
decision.
l P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-B4 N-B3 4 0-0 B-B4 5 N-B3
P-Q3 6 P-Q3 B-KN5 7 B-K3 B-N3
8 P-QR3 N-K2 9 P-Q4 B x N 1 0
P x B N-N3
I I K-R l P x P 1 2
B x QP B x B 1 3 Qx B P-QR3 1 4
QR-K l N-K4 1 5 B-K2 N-R4 1 6
Q-K3 Q-R5 1 7 N-Q5 K-Q2 1 8
P-KB4 N-N3 19 B x N Qx B 20
Q-QB3 P-QB3 2 1 N-N6 + K-B2
22 N x R + R x N 23 P-K5 ? P-Q4
24 Q-KN3 Q-B4 25 R-K3 Qx KBP
26 Qx Q N x Q 27 R-KN I .
Black now makes a remarkable
series of re-groupings, his king and
knight advancing through the light­
coloured pockets in the centre.
27 . . . N-K3 28 P-KB4 P-KN3
29 R-KB3 N-Q5 30 R-B2 N-B4
3 1 R-Kl K-Q2 32 R-B3 K-K3
33 P-KR4 P-KR4 34 R-KR3 N-N2
35 K-N2 K-B4 36 R-QN3 P-QN4
37 R-QB3 R-QB l 38 K-N3 N-K3
39 R-Ql P-Q5 40 R-B3 P-B4
41 P-B3 R-Ql 42 P-N4 ? P-B5 !
43 K-B2 ? P x P 44 R x R N x R 45
K-N3 K-K5 46 R x P K-Q5 47
R-B l N-K3 48 K-B3 P-B6 49
R-Ql + K-B5 50 K-K3 P-B7 5 1
R-QB I K-B6 5 2 R-B l K-N7 53
K-K4 P-B8 = Q 54 R x Q K x R
55 P-B5 P x P + 56 K x P N-QS +
57 K-N5 N-B6 + 58 K x P N x KP
59 K-R6 P-B3 ?
A blunder ; 59 . . . N-N3 60 P-R5
N-B5 would win quickly.

123

60 P-R5 K-N7 61 K-N7 N-N5
62 K-N6 K-B6 63 K-B5 N-R3 +
64 K-N6 N-N5 65 K-B5 N-K6 +
66 K-K4 N-B5 67 P-R6.
White could draw by 67 K-Q5,
but perhaps he hoped to win.
67 . . . N-Q3 + 68 K-B4 K-Q5
70 K-B5 K-Q4
69 P-R7 N-B2
7 1 K x P N-R l ( 105).

72 K-N7 ?
White could draw by 72 K-K7. I f
Black guards h i s pawns h e cannot
free his knight, and if he frees his
knight he cannot guard his pawns.
72 . . .
K-K3
With this move Black puts White
in zugzwang : that is, White will lose
because, and only because, it is his
turn to play.
73 K-B8
Or 73 K-N8 K-K2 (zugzwang)
74 K-N7 N-B2 (z.)
75 K-N6
K-B l (z.) 76 K-B6 N-R l (z. ) , and
Black could capture the KRP and yet
defend his pawns.
K-B3
73 . . .
74 K-K8
White is again in zugzwang. If
74 K-N8 K-N3 (z. ) , winning the
KRP or mating in five after 75 K x N.
K-N2
74 . . .
N-N3
75 K-Q7

124

The Corzo Match

76 K-B6
N-K4 +
77 K-N6
N-B5 +
0- 1
1 .20/0.38.
A very interesting endgame in spite
of the errors ; and a finish of theoreti­
cal interest.
145 JRC - Juan Corzo
Havana, 1 7 November 1 90 1
1st match game
A crushing victory for Corzo; he gets
a won position after eight moves and
never gives the boy the ghost of a
chance.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 P-Q4 P x P 4 N x P N-B3 5
N-QB3 B-N5 6 N x N NP x N 7
Q-Q3 ? 0-0 8 B-Q2 ? B x N 9 B x B
N x P I O Qx N R-K l I I B-K5
12 0-0-0 P x B 1 3 B-Q3
P-B3
Q-N4 + 14 K-N l Q-R3 15 P-QB4
B-N2 1 6 Q-B5 P-Q4 1 7 P-KN4
B-B l ! 18 Q-R5 Qx Q 1 9 P x Q
B-N5 20 R-QB I P-K5 2 1 B-Bl
P-Q5 22 P-R6 P-N3 23 R-N I
B-R4 24 K-B2 R-KB I 25 R-N2
R-B4 26 R-K l R I-KB ! 27 R x P
B-B6 28 K-Q3 B x R + 29 K x B
R-B5 + 0- 1 . 0.40/0.20.
146 Juan Corzo - JRC
Havana, 19 November 1 90 1
2nd match game
Capablanca gets another thrashing for a thirteenth birthday present.
Again he comes badly out of the
opening, and he is quite unable to
withstand Corzo's powerful attacking
play.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-B4 B-B4 4 P-QN4 B x NP 5

P-B3 B-R4 6 P-Q4 P x P 7 0-0
P-Q3 8 Q-N3 Q-K2 ? 9 P-K5 !
P x P IO B-R3 Q-B3 I I N l -Q2
B-N3 1 2 QR-K l N l -K2 1 3 N-K4
Q-N3 1 4 B x N ! K x B 1 5 N4-N5
P-B3 1 6 Q-R3 + N-N5 1 7 Qx N +
P-QB4 18 Q-N3 P-KR3 19 N-B7
B-R6 20 P-N3 B x R 2 1 N x R R x N
22 B x B Q-B2 23 N x KP ! P x N
24 R x P + K-B l 25 B-B4 Q-B2
26 P x P P x P 27 Q-KB3 + 1 -0.
0. 1 7/0. 1 7.
147 JRC - Juan Corzo
Havana, 2 1 November 1901
3rd match game
Given an edge in the open game
Corzo is evidently a very dangerous
opponent. In order not to give him
such chances Capablanca opens with
the queen's pawn for the rest of the
match. Here and in two other games
he adopts a system of development
which was popular some twenty years
before.
P-KB4
I P-Q4
N-KB3
2 P-K3
P-K3
3 N-KB3
P-QN3
4 B-Q3
B-N2
5 P-QN3
6 N l-Q2
A mistake, says Corzo.
B-N5
6...
7 B-N2
N-K5
PxB
8BxN
�
9 N-K5
9 . . . B x N + would give Black a
satisfactory game, but he wants to
keep his two bishops.
B-K2
I O P-QB3
R-B4
I I Q-N4
1 2 P-B3 !
With good judgment Capablanca

125

The Corzo Match
contests the centre although he must
give up castling.
PxP
12 . . .
B-R5 +
13 P x P
Q-B3
1 4 K-K2
P-Q3
1 5 Q-R3
Q-K2
1 6 N-N4
1 7 KR-KN I
1 7 QR-KN ! would be more
promising.
K-RI ( 106)
17 . . .

1 8 P-Q5 !
P-K4
The chances would also remain even
after 1 8 . . . R x QP
19 P-QB4
R-KR4 20 N-BI Q-B2 2 1 N-R6 !
R x N 22 B x P + Qx B 23 R x Q
K x R 24 Q-N4 + K-R I 25 Q-B4
K-N2.
R-R4
19 N-R6 !
B-B l
20 N-B5
2 1 Qx B !
Qx Q
RxN
22 N x Q
23 R-N2
B-R6
N-Q2
24 R-B2
25 P-QB4
P-QR4
26 N-K4
P-R3
Corzo later suggested 26 . . . P-R5 ;
after the text-move his rook gets tied
to the defence of his QBP, but to no
great harm.
N-B4
27 N-B3 !
R-QB I
28 N-N5

P-K5 !
29 B-R3
P x P+ !
30 B x N
3 1 R x P?
A decisive mistake. Capablanca is
introduced to the Zwischenzug, a
tactic at which he himself became
expert later on.
B-N5
31 . . .
32 K-B2
BxR
NP x B
33 K x B
34 K-N3
R-K5
35 R-KI
R-K2
36 P-K4
R-B I
37 N-R7
P-KN4
38 N-B6
R2-Kl
39 P-K5 !
White breaks up the enemy pawns ;
he also has another and less obvious
idea : a remarkable march of the king
across the board.
39 . . .
PxP
40 R x P
RxR
R-K I
41 N x R
42 N-Q7
R-K7
43 P-QR4
R-K6 +
44 K-N4 !
RxP
45 K-B5 !
R-N5
46 N-K5
R x RP
47 K-K6 !
R-N5
48 K-Q7 !
R-N2
49 N-Q3
P-R5
50 K-88 !
R-N8
51 K x P
R-Q8
52 N x P
P-R6
53 P-Q6 ( 107)
53 . . .
P-R7 ?
Corzo has not chosen the easiest
way to win, and he misses his last
chance, 53 . . . P-N5 54 P-Q7 P-R4
55 P-Q8 Q+ R x Q 56 K x R
P-R5 57 N-N3 P-N6 58 P x P P x P
59 P-B5 P-N7 60 P-B6 P-N8 Q
61 P-B7 Q-N I + 62 K-Q7 Q-B2 +
63 K-Q8 Q-Q4 + 64 K-K7 Q-B3
=

=

126

The Cor;;o Match

107
B

65 K-Q8 Q-Q3 + 66 K-B8 P-R7
67 N-R l K-N2
54 N-N3
P-N5
P-R4
55 P-Q7
56 P-Q8 = Q+
RxQ
P-R5
57 K x R
58 P-B5
P-N6
PxP
59 P x P
60 P-B6
P-N7
6 1 P-B7
t-!
0.38/ 1 . 1 5.
This game was a revelation
to Capablanca. After being out­
manoeuvred once again in the middle­
game he discovers that Corzo appears
to have little understanding of the
endgame.

leading to an unfavourable endgame.
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 N-B3 N-B3 4 B-N5 B-N5 5 0-0
0-0 6 P-Q3 P-Q3 7 B-N5 N-K2
8 N-K2 N-N3 9 P-B3 B-R4 1 0
N-N3 P-KR3 I I B x N Qx B 1 2
1 3 P-KR3 P-QB3
N-R5 Q-K2
1 5 N-Q2 Q-N4
1 4 B-B4 B-K3
16 B x B P x B 1 7 Q-N4 Qx Q 1 8
P x Q B-B2 19 N-B3 QR-K l 20
P-N5 P x P 2 1 N3 x NP N-B5 22
N x N P x N 23 P-B3 P-K4 24
KR-QI P-B4 25 K-B2 B-Ql 26
N-R3 P-QN4 27 K-K2 B-N3 28
R-KRI R-B3 29 R-R2 R-R3 30
R I -KR ! R l-K3 3 1 N-B2 R x R 32
R x R R-R3 33 R x R P x R 34
N-R3 K-N2 35 P-B4 P x P 36 P x P
K-N3 37 K-B2 B-R4 38 K-K2
K-R4 39 N-B2 K-N4 40 P-R3
P-R4 41 N-Q3 K-R5 42 P-QN4
B-N3 (108).
1 08
w

148 Juan Corzo - JRC
Havana, 23 November 1 90 1
4th match game

Capablanca wrote that he feared his
opponent's knowledge of the book ;
but Corzo varies his openings as if he,
too, were apprehensive of a prepared
line ! Indeed, as the 8th game shows,
his fears were not unfounded.
Here Capablanca comes out of the
opening well, but rather than play
15 . . . P-Q4 with a prommng
middlegame he plays 1 5 . . . Q-N4

43 N-N2 ?
This should lose. Thirty-two years
later Corzo wrote that 43 P x P B x P
44 N x B would draw. In fact, Black
would win the pawn ending, which is
quite a study : 44 . . . P x N 45 K-B2
P-R3 ! (a tempo-move) 46 P-R4
P-R4 (zugzwang) 47 K-B l K-N6
48 K-N l P-R5 49 K-R l K-B7
50 K-R2 K-K7 ! (triangulating)

The Corzo Match
5 1 K-N l K-K8 52 K-R l K-B8
53 K-R2 K-87 54 K-R I P-R6 !
43 P-N5 would be correct, making
the bad bishop worse.
K-N6
43 . . .
P-RS
44 K-B l
PxP
45 N-R4
P-R6
46 P x P
K x BP
47 P x P
PxP
48 P-BS
K-N6
49 N x P
50 N-Q3
B-QS
KxP
5 1 P-NS
5 1 . . . P-B6 would win easily.
52 K-K2
K-N6
53 N-K l
K-NS
Black could win by 53 . . . P-86 +
54 N x P K-85 55 N x B P x N 56
K-Q3 K-K4 ( zugzwang ) .
B-B6 ?
54 N-83
B-QS +
55 K-B2
56 K-K2 ?
56 K-N2 would best maintain the
blockade ; it is not certain whether
Black could then win.
After the text-move Black at last
finds the right way : 56 . . . K-N6
58 N-B3 B-B6
57 N-K l B-R8
59 N-NS P-B6 + ! 60 N x P K-BS
6 1 K-B2 K x P 62 N-NS + K-Q6
63 K-B3 K-BS 64 N-K4 B-QS
65 N-Q6 + K-B4 66 N-B8 K x P
67 K-K4 P-R4 68 N-Q6 + K-NS
0-1 .
149 JRC - Juan Corzo
Havana, 27 November 1 90 1
5th match game

..

As in the 3rd game Capablanca gets a
fair opening, fails to make the most of
the middlegame, and redeems him­
self in the endgame.
P-Q4
1 P-Q4

127

2 P-K3
N-KB3
3 B-Q3
P-B4
4 P-QN3
N-B3
5 B-N2
P-K3
6 N-KB3
Q-N3
The beginning of a poor idea which
leads to White's gaining a prepon­
derance of pawns in the centre.
7 N I-Q2
P-B5
PxP
8 B-K2
B-Q3
9 RP x P
a-o
10 a-o
I I P-B4
B-N5
B-Q2
1 2 B-Q3
1 3 Q-B2
QR-B l
BxN
1 4 N-K5 !
15 Qx B
Qx NP
Black riskily grabs a pawn.
16 P-BS
1 6 B-R3 could be considered.
KR-QI
16 . . .
1 7 B-B2
If 1 7 R-R3 Q-NS, whilst if 1 7
N x N P x N ; but 1 7 P-B3 ! would set
Black harder problems.
N-KS !
17 . . .
18 Q-B l
Q-NS
19 P-B3
NxN
20 B-R3
Q-Q7
Qx Q
2 1 BP x N
22 B x Q
N-B3
23 P x P
PxP
24 B-R4
For his pawn White has two bishops
and some pressure on the queen's side,
where he now forces a slight weakness.
24 . . .
P-QR3
25 B-Q2
N-N I
BxB
26 KR-N l
27 R x B
R-Q2
R l -B2
28 R4-N4
29 R-N6
N-B3
30 K-B2
P-B4
3 1 P-R4
R-B2

128

The Corzo Match

P-B5
32 K-B3
P x P+
33 B--B3
34 K x P
N-K2
35 B--R5 !
Black under-estimates this move,
but a good plan is hard to find.
N-B4 +
35 . . .
N x RP ( 1 09)
36 K-Q3

37 R x RP !
Very fine ! White gets a protected
passed pawn which compensates him
for the pawn minus.
R-QBl
37 . . .
I f 37 . . . P x R 38 R-N8 + R-KBI
39 B x R, and now 39 . . . R x R 40
B x R K-B2 41 P-N3, or 39 . . . N x P
40 P-B6 K-B2 41 B-Q8 !
38 R-R7
NxP
N-B5 +
39 R l x P
The game ended 40 K-K3 R-K l +
41 K-B3 R x R 42 R x R N-K3
43 B--B 3 R-QB l 44 R-Q7 R-Ql
45 R-K7 N-N4 + 46 K-N4 K-B l
47 R-N7 N-K5 48 B-N4 R-B l
49 P-B6 + !-!· 0.45/ 1 . 1 0.
150 Juan Corzo - JRC
Havana, 29 November 190 1
6th match game
Corzo tries yet another opening, an
unsound gambit. Capablanca evi-

dently improved his openings know­
ledge as the match progressed ; here,
as is shown by his 8th and 9th moves,
he follows the book.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-QB3 N-QB3
3 P-B4 P x P 4 N-B3 P-KN4 5
P-KR4 P-NS 6 N-KN5 P-KR3
7 N x P K x N 8 P-Q4 P-Q4 9 P x P
Q-K2 + 1 0 B--K2 .
The book move was 10 K-B2, as
Corzo discovered after the game.
10 . . . P-B6 l l P x P P x P 12 0--0
Qx P 1 3 B x BP N-B3 1 4 B--R S +
K-K2 ?
1 5 Q-K2 + K-Ql
16
R x N ! R-KN I + .
This is good enough for a draw.
With 16 . . . B--N2 Black could still
try for a win.
1 7 R-N6 R x R +
18 B x R
Q-N6 + 1 9 Q-N2 Q-K8 + 20 Q-B l
t-!. 0.2 1 /0. 1 0.
151 JRC - Juan Corzo
Havana, 3 December 1901
7th match game
1 P-Q4
P-KB4
2 P-K4
PxP
3 N-QB3
N-KB3
4 B--KN5
If White is to make anything of this
variation he should play P-KB3 here
or on the next move.
4...
P-B3
5 BxN
KP x B
6NxP
P-Q4
7 N-N3
B-Q3
7 . . . Q-N3 would somewhat
favour Black.
B-K3
8 B-- Q3
Now Black gets into difficulties on
the open file.
9 Q-K2
K-Q2
1 0 0-0-0
P-KN3

The Corzo Match
P-KB4
1 1 P-KR4
P-B5
1 2 P-R5
PxN
1 3 R-K l !
If 1 3 . . . R-K l or 1 3 . . . Q-K l ,
then 1 4 P x P !
K-B2
14 Q x B +
1 5 BP x P
N-Q2
PxP
16 p x p
17 R x R
Capablanca is again caught by a
Zwischenzug. 1 7 N-N3 would main­
tain his advantage.
Q-N4 + !
17 . . .
This leads to an endgame in which
the extra pawn is of little value to
White. The game ended 18 Q-K3
Q x Q+ 19 R x Q R x R 20 N-R3
N-B l 2 1 K-Q2 R-Nl 22 N-N5
K-Q2 23 K-K2 R-N2 24 R-B3
N-K3 25 N x N K x N 26 P-KN4
B-K2 27 R-K3 + K-Q3 28 P-B3
t-t· 0.20/0.40.
152 Juan Corzo - JRC
Havana, 6 December 1901
8th match game
Capablanca comes to the table with a
prepared variation, and takes five
minutes to win brilliantly.
P-K4
l P-K4
2 N-QB3
N-QB3
3 P-B4
PxP
P-KN4
4 N-B3
5 P-KR4
P-N5
P-KR3
6 N-KN5
KxN
7 Nx P
P-Q4
8 P-Q4
9PxP
Q-K2 +
P-N6 +
1 0 K-B2
1 1 K-N l
N x P!
Q-B4
1 2 Qx N
1 3 N-K2 ( 110)
Q-N3 !
13 . . .

129

This is Capablanca's new move,
which has held the field ever since.
The old line was 1 3 . . . B-N5 1 4
B-K3 P x B.
1 4 Qx Q
In answer to 1 4 B-K3 Black has
prepared a trap for White's queen :
1 4 . . . P x B 1 5 Qx R B-N2 1 6
Q-R7 Qx P 1 7 R-Ql Q-B3 ! 1 8
R-R3 B-B4 !
RP x Q
14 . . .
B-QB4
1 5 N-Q4
R-R5 !
1 6 P-B3
B x N+
1 7 B-K2
R x QP
18 P x B
1 9 P-N3
1 9 B-R5 + K-N2 20 P-N3 would
offer more resistance.
N-B3
19 . . .
R-Q7
20 B-N2
2 1 B-R5 +
White has played his moves in the
wrong order, giving Black the chance
of a fine sacrifice.
N x B!
21 . . .
P-B6 !
22 B x R
23 P x P
After 23 B-B3 Black mates in four.
N-B5
23 . . .
24 B-K5
If 24 R-K l B-R6 25 B-K5 Black
mates in three.
R-KN 7 +
24 . . .

130

The Corzo Match

R-KB7 +
25 K-B l
26 K-Kl
Or 26 K-N l N-K7 mate.
N-Q6 +
26 . . .
0- 1
0.40/0.05
153 JRC - Juan Corzo
Havana, 1 1 December 1 90 1
9th match game
Capablanca reaches the endgame in
nineteen moves ! He is not concerned
that it is theoretically drawn.
1 P-Q4 P-KB4 2 P-K4 P x P 3
N-QB3 N-KB3
4 B-KN5 P-B3
5 B x N KP x B 6 N x P P-Q4 7
N-N3 Q-K2 + 8 Q-K2 Qx Q+
9 B x Q B-Q3 I O N-B3 0-0 I I 0-0
B-KNS 1 2 P-KR3 B5 x N 1 3 B x B
B x N 1 4 P x B N-Q2 1 5 KR-K l
QR-Kl 16 K-B l P-KB4 1 7 R x R
R x R 18 R-Kl R x R + 1 9 K x R
N-B3 20 K-Q2 ! N-K5 + 2 1 K-K3
N-Q3 22 B-K2 K-B2 23 K-B4
K-B3 24 P-KR4 P-KN3 25 P-KN4
P-KR3 26 P-N5 + P x P +
27
P x P + K-K2 28 P-KN4 P x P 29
B-Q3 ! ( 1 1 1) .
111
B

N-B4 ?
29 . . .
Conceding White a passed pawn.
After 29 . . . K-B2 30 K x P N-N4

3 1 P-B3 N-B2 the game should be
drawn.
30 K x P
NxP
After 30 . . . K-K3 3 1 B x N +
P x B + 32 K-B4 Black would lose the
tempo-struggle, and then his KBP
would fall.
P-B4
31 B x P
The first part of White's winning
plan is as follows : moves 32-34,
Black's pieces are forced to the
king's side in order to stop the pass­
ed pawn ; moves 35-38, the Black
pawns are weakened, and fixed
on dark-coloured squares ; moves
39-47 White's king is brought to the
centre.
32 K-R5 N-K3 33 K-R6 K-B l
34 B-B5 N-N2 35 B-B8 P-N3 36
P-N6 P-Q5 37 P-N3 K-Nl 38
P-R4 K-B l 39 B-N4 N-K l 40
K-R7 N-N2 4 1 K-R6 N-Kl 42
B-K2 N-N2 43 B-B4 N-K l 44
K-N5 K-K2
45 K-B5 N-N2 +
46 K-K5 N-R4
47 B-K2 N-N2
48 K-Q5 N-Kl .
After 48 . . . K-Q2 49 B-N4 +
Black would be in the same dilemma :
either he plays 49 . . . K-K2 losing a
pawn or more on the queen's side, or
he plays 49 . . . K-B2 losing his knight
which cannot alone hold up the passed
pawn.
The game continued : 49 K-B6
N-N2 50 K-N7 K-Q3 5 1 K x RP
K-B2 52 K-R6 N-K l 53 B-B3
N-N2 54 B-Q5 N-Kl 55 B-B7
N-N2 56 K-NS N-B4 57 P-RS
N-Q3 + 58 K-R6 P x P 59 P-N7
1-0. 0.24/0.43.
An endgame of master class, apart
from a few hesitations ; but even a
master would hardly play it as fast a rate of 1 47 moves an hour !

The Corzo Match
154 Juan Corzo - JRC
Havana, 1 3 December 1901
1 0th match game
I P-K4
P-K4
N-KB3
2 N-KB3
P-Q3
3 Nx P
NxP
4 N-KB3
P-Q4
5 P-Q4
6 B-Q3
B-Q3
7 0--0
0-0
8 P-B4
P-QB3
9 Bx N
PxB
B-KB4
I O N-NS
1 1 N-QB3
N-Q2
1 2 R-Kl
R-K I ?
Black should play 1 2 . . N-B3, and
if 1 3 NS x KP N x N
14 N x N
B x P + . After the text-move Corzo at
once spots the weakness of Black's
KBP.
1 3 P-BS !
B-B2
R-K2
1 4 Q-N3
lS NS x KP
Not I S Qx NP ? N x P !
IS . . .
R-K3
16 B-NS
Q-N l
1 7 N-N3
BxN
Most players would keep their two
bishops in the hope of middlegame
complications ; but Capablanca seeks
positional objectives with a view to
the endgame. He doubles a pawn and
gets bishops of opposite colour ; next
he assails White's queen's side
majority and creates holes on the
light-coloured squares.
P-QN4 !
18 RP x B
BxR
19 R x R
P-N5
20 Q-B2
P-N6 !
2 1 N-K4
Qx QNP
22 P x P
23 Qx Q
BxQ
24 R-R6
N-N l

131

2S R-R3
B-B7
Black wants to occupy the pockets
at his Q4 and QN4, but he runs into
tactical difficulties on the way.
26 N-Q6
P-KR3
27 B-Q8
N-Q2
28 B-N6
P-R3
29 P-QN4 (112)

.

P-N3 ?
29 . . .
Black falters ; perhaps he was
worried about the further advance of
the QNP.
The i ntended 29 . . . N-B3 would
be correct, with two variations :
30 P-B3 N-Q4 3 1 P-NS BP x P
32 N x NP R-N l 33 R x P B-Q6
34 R-RS N x B 3S P x N R x P with
some drawing chances, or 30 P-NS ?
BP x P 3 1 N x NP R-K l 32 N-Q6
and Black would mate by 32 . . .
R-K8 + , the doubled pawns pre­
venting White's escape.
30 P-B3 !
N-B3
Black cannot simply await events.
3 1 N-B4 ?
White should play 3 1 P-NS,
gaining a pair of united passed pawns.
N-Q4
31 . . .
32 B-RS
R-Kl
R-K3
33 N-KS
34 R-R2
B-N6
B-B7
3S R-R l

t-t

P-Q4
1 P-Q4
P-QB4
2 N-KB3
3 P-K3
N-QB3
4 P-QN3
P-K3
N-B3
5 B-N2
6 N l -Q2
PxP
This pawn exchange is premature.
B-Q3
7 PxP
8 B-Q3
0--0
Black could here play 8 . . . Q-K2,
and if 9 N-K5 B-R6 or if 9 P-QR3
P-K4. In this last variation Black
would be left with an isolated QP
as a consequence of his 6th move.
9 0-0
9 P-QR3 would be more precise.
9...
N-KR4
A rather time-wasting manoeuvre.
10 P-N3
Black's threat to play N-KB5
should be met by JO R-Kl making a
space for White's KB at KB l .
JO . . .
P-B4
N-B3
I I N-K5
BxN
1 2 P-KB4
N-KN5
1 3 BP x B
Q-N3
1 4 Q-K2
B-Q2
1 5 N-B3

155 JRC - Juan Corzo
Havana, 15 December 190 1
1 1 th match game

0.55/0.35.

Black misses his last opportunity to
play N-QN5. Now White stands
somewhat better because he has long­
term prospects of attacking Black's
central pawns by P-QB4 or P-KN4.
It eventually happens this way.
1 6 P-QR3
K-R l
N-R3
1 7 P-R3
N-B2
18 Q-B2
Apparently Black seeks a king's
side attack, but his next move
seriously weakens his game.
19 K-N2
P-KN4 ?
20 P-KN4 !
\Vhite begins his assault on the
Black centre pawns. Black cannot
reply P x KNP or P-KB5 because
White would open the KR file and
gain the attack for himself.
20 . . .
N-K2
2 1 Q-K3
R-KN I
22 QR-K l
N-N3
Now Black's centre is demolished
by White's advancing pawns ; 22 . . .
QR-K 1 would be better.
23 P x P
Possibly White could win a pawn
by N x P, but he sees a much more
effective plan.
N-B5 +
23 . . .
NxB
24 K-R2
Px P
25 Qx N
26 P-B4 !
Q-K3
Black could try 26 . . . Q-KR3 or
26 . . . P-N5, but neither would save
the game.
27 P x P
Qx QP
28 P-K6 !
B-N4
29 Qx B ! !
A brilliant queen sacrifice (who
could resist it ?), notwithstanding that
29 Q-Q2 also wins, in a more prosaic
way.
Qx Q
29 . . .

The Corzo Match

P-B3
36 K-B2
B-Q6
37 N-Q7
RxR
38 R-K l
B-N4
39 K x R
Black's plan is completed : White's
pawn majority is blocked, and there is
nothing he can do.
40 K-Q2
K-B2
K-K3
41 N-N6

132

133

The Corzo Match
30 P-Q5 +
3 1 P x N ( 1 13)

R-N2

P-N4
45 B x R
46 K-B2
White does not win the quickest
way (46 K-N3 K-B4 47 P-N4) ;
whilst Black struggles on to save the
match, perhaps hoping for stalemate,
or an ending with RP + B of the wrong
colour.
46
. K-B4 47 K-K3 K-K4
48 K-Q3 K-Q4 49 K-B3 P-N6
50 B-R4 P-N7 5 1 B--B2 P-R4 52
P-N4 K-K5 53 B--N6 K-Q4 54
K-Q3 K-B3 55 B--N l K-Q4 56
B-R2 K-B3 57 K-Q4 P-RS 58
K-K5 K-N3 59 K-QS K-R3 60
K-BS ! 1 -0. 0.42/1 .35.
With this splendid victory Capa­
blanca won the match.
.

P-KR3
31 . . .
This is as good as anything.
If 3 1 . . . R-KBl 32 N-Q4 Qx QP
33 R x P, and now 33 . . . Q-Q2
34 R-K8 ! R x R and White mates in
four, or 33 . . . Q-Q3 + 34 K-N I
P-N5 35 P-KR4 Q-Q l 36 N-K6,
or 33 . . . Q-Q l 34 K-R l ! and the
threat of N-K6 will be decisive.
32 N-Q4
Qx R
Or 32 . . . Q-Q2 33 N x P K-R2
34 B x R Qx BP 35 R-K7, and if
35 . . . Qx P White mates in five.
33 R x Q
RxP
34 R x P
RxR
K-R2
35 N x R +
R-KB I
36 N-K7
P-KR4
37 K-N2
Black must lose at least the
exchange because his king cannot
escape. H 37 . . . R-QI 38 B-K5
R-Q2 39 P-Q6, and White will
bring his king to the aid of his pawn.
P-N5
38 P-Q6
px p
39 p x p
40 B--K5
K-R3
R-Ql
4 1 P-Q7
RxN
42 N-N8 +
K-N3
43 B-B6
44 P-Q8 = Q
RxQ

.

156 Juan Corzo - JRC
Havana, 1 7 December 1901
1 2th match game
Corzo makes a determined effort to
win, but once again he blunders in the
endgame.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-N5 N-B3 4 0-0 N x P 5 P-Q4
N-Q3 6 B x N NP x B ? 7 B-NS
B--K2 8 B x B Qx B 9 N x P 0-0
10 R-K I R-Kl
1 1 R-K3 Q-B3
12 N-QB3 N-B4 1 3 N-K4 Q-K2
14 R-K l P-Q4.
Black leaves a nasty hole at his
QB4·, but he cannot play as he may
15
have intended 14 . . . N x P ?
Qx N Qx N because o f 1 6 N-B6 + !
1 5 N-BS Q-Q3 1 6 P-QB3 P-B3
1 7 Q-R5 ! P-N3 1 8 N x NP ! R x R +
1 9 R x R N-N2 20 N-K7 + ! Qx N
2 1 Qx RP + K x Q 22 R x Q B-KB4
23 R x P K-N3 24 P-B3 N-K3.
Black challenges the dominating
\Vhite knight and afterwards gives up

134

The Corzo Match

two pawns in order to get his pieces
actively placed. This is good strategy
although, in all, he loses five pawns
for his piece.
25 N x N B x N 26 R x BP R-K l
27 R-B7 P-R3 ! 28 R-B6 B-Q2
29 R x RP B-N4 ! 30 R-N6 R-K8 +
31 K-B2 R-K7 + 32 K-N3 B-B5.
Black realizes that sooner or later
he will have to give up his bishop and
that he will not get back all his five
pawns. His defensive plan consists of
trying to break up White's united
pawns on one or both sides of the
board ; for it will be harder for White
to win a rook ending if his extra pawns
are isolated.
33 P-N3 B-Q6 34 P-QR4 R-QB7
35 P-RS R x BP 36 P-R6 R-B7
37 P-R7 R-R7 38 R-N7 B-B8 !
39 K-B4 B x P 40 R-N8 ? R x P t-!·
1 .02/0. 19.
White overlooked that 4 1 R-N8 +
could be answered by 4 1 . . . R-N2.
On his 40th move he could have won
by 40 P-R4 and now, 40 . . . B-R6
41 P-N4 B-B8 42 P-N5 B x P 43
R x B R x P 44 P-R5 + ! or 40 . . .
R-R6 4 1 P-R5 + , or 40 . . R-R3
41 P-N4 R-R6 42 P-R5 + , in all
cases bringing his king into play via
KB5.
.

factory; and on his next move, instead
of 1 2 Q-K2, he could play 1 2 B-NS.
1 I . . . B-Q3 1 2 Q-K2 N-K5
1 3 N x N Qx N 1 4 N-KS.
White makes the king's side safe :
if, for instance, 1 4 N-Q2 R-B3 1 5
P-KB3 R-R3 ; but h e gets a very poor
game on the queen's side.
14 . . . B x N 15 P x B N-B4 ! 1 6
P-KB4 N x B I 7 P x N P-B4 1 8
KR-B I
KR-B l 1 9 P-Q4 B-R3
20 Q-K l P-B5 2 1 P x P ?
White should seek a blockade by
2 1 P-QN4.
2 1 . . . B x P 22 B-B3 Q-R5 ! 23
Q-Q2 R-B3 24 P-R3 R I -QB ! 25
K-R2 B-R3 26 Q-N2 B-Q6 27
B-Q2 B-B7 ! 28 K-N3 Q-B5 29
K-B2 Q-Q6 30 K-K l P-R4 3 1
P-QR4 B x P 32 R x R R x R 33
R-R3 R-B7 !
Very fine play by Corzo, who now
wins the endgame.
34 R x Q R x Q 35 R-R3 B-N6
36 P-N3 P-QR5 37 R-R l P-QN4
38 P-R4 B-B7
39 B-B l R-N6
40 K-Q2 B-K5 41 R-R3 R-N8
42 R-R2 K-B2 43 R-R3 K-Kl 44
R-R2 K-Q2 45 R-R3 K-B3 46
R-R2 K-N3 0- 1 . 0.28/0.40.
158 Ra.m.on Iglesias JRC
Havana, 1 7 September 1 893
(remove White's queen)
-

157 JRC - Juan Corzo
Havana, 1 8 December 1 90 1
1 3th match game
1 P-Q4 P-KB4 2 P-K3 N-KB3 3
N-KB3 P-QN3 4 P-QN3 B-N2
5 N l -Q2 P-K3 6 B-N2 P-QR4
7 P-QR3 B-K2 8 B-Q3 0-0 9 0-0
P-Q4 1 0 N-K5 N l -Q2 1 1 N2-B3.
Hereabouts White loses the opening
struggle. 1 1 P-K.B4 would be satis-

..

This is Capablanca's earliest recorded
game ; he was four years and ten
months old and too good, even then,
to receive odds of the queen. From
moves 1 2-23 he exploits the weak­
nesses ofv\lhite's pawn structure - is it
possible that he already had a grasp
of position play ?
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-K.B3

The Corzo Match
3 N x P N x P 4 P-Q4 P-Q3 5
N-KB3 B-K2 6 B-Q3 N-KB3 7
P-B4 0-0 8 N-B3 N-B3 9 P-QR3
P-QR3 10 B-Q2 P-QN3 1 1 0--0--0
B-Q2 1 2 K-N l N-QR4 1 3 R-QBI
N-N6 14 R-B2 P-B4 1 5 P-Q5
R-K l 1 6 P-KR4 P-QN4 ! 1 7 P-N4
N-Q5 1 8 N x N P x N 1 9 N-K4
P x P 20 N x N + B x N 2 1 B x BP
B x NP 22 B-Q3 B-B6 23 R-R3
B x QP 24 P-R5 B-K3 25 R-N3
P-N3 26 P-B4 B-R5 27 R-Nl K-R l
28 P-B5 B x P 29 B x B P x B 30
B-R6 R-KN I 3 1 R2-N2 R x R 32
R x R Q-B3 33 B-N7 + Qx B 34
R x Q K x R 35 K-B2 K-B3 36
K-Q3 K-K4 37 P-R6 P-B5 38
K-K2 K-K5 0-1 .

..

159 JRC - Enrique Corzo
Havana, 20 October 1 90 1
Capablanca played two friendly
games in order to test a variation
(3 . . . N-QB3) of the Greco Counter­
gambit. He goes his own way and
finds a sufficient refutation. In the
other game he falls victim to a book
line already well known.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 P-KB4
3 N x P N-QB3 ? 4 N x N QP x N
5 P-KS D-K3 6 P-Q4 Q-Q2 7
B-K3 0-0-0 8 Q-Q2 N-K2 9 Q-RS
K-N I 10 N-B3 N-Q4 1 1 N x N
B x N 1 2 0-0-0 Q-K3 ? 13 P-QB4 !
P-QN3 14 P x B R x P IS Q-B3
R-R4 16 B-QB4 Q-K2 17 P-QR3
P-KN4 18 B-Q2 B-N2 19 Q-QN3
K-R I 20 B x R P x B 2 1 Q-R4
Q-Q2 22 P-QS B x P 23 Qx BP +
Qx Q 24 P x Q R-QNI 25 B-N3 !
P-RS 26 B x P B x NP + 27 K-B2
B x P 28 R-QN I R-Kl 29 KR-Kl
R-Ql 30 R-N7 B-Q3 3 1 B-NS

135

R-QB I 32 B-R6 R-Ql 33 K-N3
P-R4 34 K-R4 P-N5 3S P-R3
P-R5 36 R l -QN I B-B4 37 R-N8 +
R x R 38 B-N7 + R x B 39 P x R +
K-N l 40 K-R5 B x P 4 1 K-R6
P x P 42 R-Ql 1 --0.
160 JRC - Enrique Corzo
Havana, 20 October 1 90 1
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 P-KB4
3 N x P N-QB3 ? 4 Q-RS + P-KN3
5 N x NP N-B3 6 Q-R4 ? R-KN I
7 N x B R-NS ! 8 Q-R6 R x KP +
9 K-Ql N-KN5 10 Q-R5 + K x N
1 1 Qx B P + K-N l 12 P-Q3 P-Q4
1 3 Q-B3 N x BP + ! 1 4 Q x N B-NS +
16 Qx B R x Q
15 B-K2 B x B +
1 7 K x R Q-K l + 1 8 K-Q2 Q-N3
19 K-B3 P-QS + 20 K-N3 N-R4 +
2 1 K-R3 Q-Q3 +
22 P-QN4
N-B3 23 B-Q2 P-QR4 24 K-N2
N x P 25 N-R3 R-R3 26 QR-K l
"
N x QP +
27 P x N R-N3 +
28
K-R l Q x N 29 R-QN I R x R +
30 R x R Qx QP 0- 1 .
161 JRC - C . Echevarria
Havana, 26 October 1 90 1
Twenty opponents were expected for
Capablanca's first simultaneous dis­
play, but only eight turned up. This
is one of the games. The pace reported as 320 moves in the first
hour - was too hot for Black in the
endgame.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 P-Q4 P-Q4 4 KP x P Qx P S
N-B3 B-- QN5 6 B-Q2 B x N 7 P x B
B-N5 8 B-K2 P-K5 9 N-N l B x B
1 0 N x B N-B3 1 1 0-0 0-0 12 N-B4
Q-KB4 1 3 B-K3 Q-NS 14 Qx Q
N x Q I S P-KR3 N x B 1 6 P x N

Th£ Corzo Match

136

P-B4 1 7 N-K6 R-B2 1 8 P-N4 P x P
19 R x R K x R 20 N x BP R-Ql
2 1 P x P N-R4 22 R-KBI + K-N l
23 N-K6 R-K I 24 N-B5 P-QN3
25 N-Q7 N-B5 26 K-B2 R-K2
27 N-K5 N x N 28 P x N R x P 29
R-Ql R-K2 30 R-Q4 K-B2 3 1
K-N3 P-KN4 32 P-B4 K-B3 33
R-Q6 + R-K3 34 R-Q7 R-K2 35
R-Q5 P-KR3 36 P-B5 R-K3 37
P x P R x P 38 P-R4 R-R3 39 R-Q4
K-K4 40 R-N4 K-Q4 4 1 R-Q4 +
K-K4 42 K-B2 R-QB3 43 P-B4
R-Q3 44 P-B5 R x R 45 P x R +
K-Q4 46 K-K3 P-QR4 47 K-B2
K-B3 48 K-K2 K-Q4 49 K-K3 1 -0.
162 Rafael Blanco - JRC
Havana, 1 902
Instead of playing 8 P-Q4 with
advantage White makes a speculative
attack, sacrificing two pawns. Capa­
blanca defends with great coolness.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-B4 N-B3 4 P-Q3 P-Q4 ? 5
P x P N x P 6 0-0 B-K2 7 R-Kl
P-B3 8 N-R4 ! ? B-K3 9 P-B4 N x P
10 B x B N x B I I Q-R5 + K-Q2
1 2 P-B3 P-KN3 1 3 Q-B3 K-B I 1 4
P-Q4 P-KB4 1 5 N x BP P x N 1 6
P-Q5 N/K3-Q5 1 7 BP x N N x P
1 8 Q-Q3 B-B4
19 K-R I Qx P
20 N-B3 Q-K3 2 1 B-B4 P-K5 22
Q-R3 P-N3 23 QR-B I K-N2 24
P-QN4 B x P 25 N x P P x N 26
R x BP + K-R3 27 P-N4 B x R 28
Q-B I + P-N4 29 Qx B Qx NP 30
Q-B2 Q-B6 + 31 Qx Q N x Q0- 1 .
163 Juan Corzo - JRC
Havana, 3 February 1 902
I P-K4
2 P-Q4

P-K3
P-Q4

3 N-QB3
PxP
4NxP
B-Q2
Capablanca springs a new move
one suggested by Tarrasch.
B-B3
5 N-KB3
N-Q2 !
6 B-Q3
7 0--0
White could well try 7 Q-K2, with
the idea of castling on the queen's
side.
7 ...
N l -B3
8 B-KN5
B-K2
9 N x N+
B2 x N
I O B-K3
0-0
1 1 P-B3
P-QN3
1 2 Q-B2
K-R I
R-K I
1 3 N-Q2
14 B x P
Not a profitable transaction ; 1 4
B-K4 would suffice.
14 . . .
P-N3
15 B x P
PxB
1 6 Qx P
Q-K2
1 7 P-KB4
Q-R2
I 7 . . . R-KN I would gain a useful
tempo.
KxQ
1 8 Q x Q+
19 N-B3
Corzo plans to attack the isolated
king's pawn . He would do better to
advance his king's side pawns, e.g.
19 P-KN4, although they cannot get
far; but Black would have to contend
with them, and they would hinder
his plans.
Corzo's plan, however, seems emi­
nently reasonable, and it fails only
because of some very fine manoeuvr­
ing by Black. It is easy enough,
in hindsight, to suggest better
lines.
R-KN I
19 . . .
R-N3
20 QR-K I
B-Q4
2 1 B-Q2

-

137

The Corzo Match
R-KB!
22 P-QN3
23 K-R l
Preparing for P-B4.
P-B4 !
23 . . .
NxP
24 P x P
B--QR ! !
25 P-B4
R I -KN !
26 B-N4
27 B x N
27 R-K2 would avoid immediate
disaster ; even so, White's idea of
giving up his bishop for a knight is not
good : his knight and three pawns
would be no match for Black's two
bishops.
27 . . .
R x P! !
An amusing tit for tat. After just
such a capture on Black's QB4
Corzo had played a fine Z,wischen;:ug
in his 3rd match game against
Capablanca !
B--RS !
28 B--K3
2 9 R-Ql
If 29 N x B R-N8 mate - with the
longest check on the board.
B--B 7 ! ! ( 1 14)
29 . . .
An astonishing move.

30 R-Q7 +
The point of Black's combination,
evidently foreseen on his 25th move,
is as follows : 30 R x B R x R 3 1
R-Q7 + ! K-R3 32 P-KBS + K-R4
33 R-R7 + K-NS 34 B x R K x N !

35 B-N3 R-Ql ! 36 B--K l R-Q8
37 P-KR4 R x B + 38 K-R2 K-B7
39 K-R3 P x P and 40 .
R-KR8
mate.
30 . . .
K-R3
3 1 R-QS
Now if 3 1 R x B R-N8 mate.
BxB
31 . . .
R7 x N
32 N-N5
33 P x R +
RxP
34 R-B6 +
K-R4
35 R x P
B x R+
36 P x R
R-N8 mate.
Capablanca here gives a fine
demonstration of his skill with pieces
against pawns. One might compare
his game with Nimzowitsch at San
Sebastian 1 9 1 1 , which also ended in
mate.
.

.

164 Enrique Corzo - JRC
Havana, March 1 902
A casual game, presumably played
fast ; Black, for instance, overlooks
mate in three on his 22nd move.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 P-KB4 P x P
3 N-KB3 P-KN4 4 P-KR4 P-NS
5 N-KS B-N2 6 N x NP P-Q4 7
P-Q3 ? P x P 8 B x P ? P x P 9 P x P
Q-K2 + 10 K-B2 B--QS + 1 1 N-K3
N-KB3 1 2 Q-R4 + N-B3 1 3 N-B3
N-KNS + 1 4 K-B3 N x N 1 5 N-NS
B--N3 1 6 N x P + B x N 1 7 B x N
B-NS + 1 8 Qx B N-K4 + 1 9 K-N3
N x Q+ 20 K x N R-KN l + 2 1
B--NS Q-K3 +
22 K-RS P-KR3
23 P-Q4 Q-KN3 +
24 K-N4
P-B4 + 25 K-R3 P x B 26 B-NS +
K-B2 27 B-B4 + K-B3 28 P-KN4
NP x P 29 K-N2 Qx P + 30 K-Bl
Q-B6 +
3 1 K-K l R/N l -K l +
32 K-Q2 Q-B7 + 33 K-B3 R-K6 +
34 B-Q3 B-R4 + 35 P-N4 R-QB 1 +

138
36 K-N3 Q-B7 +
mate.

The Corzo Match
37 K-R3 R-B6

165 JRC and Enrique Corzo Rensoli and Navarrete
Havana, 28 March 1 902
(remove White's queen's knight)
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 P-KB4 P x P 3
N-KB3 B-K2 4 B-B4 N-KR3 5 0-0
0-0 6 P-Q4 P-KN4 7 N-K l B--B 3
8 P-K5 B--N2
9 P-KR4 P-Q4
10 RP x P P x B 1 1 P x N B x KP
1 2 Q-R5 ! B x P + 1 3 K-Rl B--K6
1 4 B x B P x B 1 5 R-Ql ! ( 1 15) .

The game ended 1 5 . . . Q-K2
1 6 R-B3 K-R l
1 7 R-N3 Q-B3
18 R-B3 Q-KN3 ? 1 9 Q-K5 + 1 -0.
If 19 . . . P-KB3 20 R x BP ! or if 19
. . . K-N l 20 R-B6 Q-N5 2 1 R-Q4.
If, in the diagram position, Black
were to play 15 . . . P-K7 then White
would have a brilliant mate in three,
commencing 16 Qx BP + !
166 JRC, R. Blanco, E. Corzo, J.
Corzo, E. Delmonte, and A. Fiol E. Delmar, J. Finn, E. Hymes, S.
Lipschutz, H. M. Phillips, and
0. Roething
Cable game, 25 and 26 April 1 903
The Havana players had the temerity

to challenge the strongest chess club
outside
Europe.
In
selecting
Lipschutz, a player of grandmaster
class, to lead its team Manhattan
took a sledge-hammer to crack a nut :
the Havana team was duly crushed.
The Black players develop fast,
gain time by exchanges, and before
the 20th move they have a won end­
game, which they play very well.
I P-Q4 P-Q4 2 P-QB4 P-K3
3 N-QB3 N-KB3 4 N-B3 P-QR3
5 P-K3 P x P 6 B x P P-QN4 7
B-Q3 P-B4 8 P x P B x P 9 Q-B2
0-0 10 0--0 B-N2 1 1 N-K4 N x N
12 B x N B x B 1 3 Qx B/K4 N-Q2
1 4 R-Ql N-B3 ! 1 5 R x Q N x Q
1 6 R x R/R8 R x R 1 7 B-Q2 R-Ql
18 B-R5 R-Q4 1 9 P-QR3 P-N4 !
20 P-R3 P-R4 2 1 B--K l P-KN5
22 P x P P x P
23 N-R2 P-N6 !
24 N-B l P x P +
25 B x P P-R4
26 R-B l P-B4 27 P-KN3 K-B2
28 K-N2 K-K2 29 B-Kl P-R5
30 K-B3 B--Q3 3 1 R-B2 B--K4 32
K-K2 K-B2 33 B--B2 R-B4 34
R x R N x R 35 N-Q2 B x QNP
36 N-N l N-K5 37 B-K l B-K4
38 K-B3 K-K2 39 K-N2 K-Q3
40 N-Q2 N x N 4 1 B x N K-Q4
42 K-B3 B-Q3 43 B--B l K-B5 0-- 1 .
167 JRC - Joseph D. Redding
New York, 5 January 1 905
A friendly game in which Black gets
a satisfactory opening and then tries
to demolish his young opponent with
a king's side attack. 23 . . . Q-B4,
however, would have been better than
23 . . . Q-R2, after which White neatly
combines attack and defence, breaking
through in the centre whilst Black's
pieces are huddled in the corner.

The Corzo Match
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-KB3
3 P-Q4 N x P 4 B-Q3 P-Q4 5 B x N
P x B 6 N x P B-Q3 7 Q-K2 B x N
8 P x B B-84 9 N-B3 0-'-0 I O N x P
N-B3
1 1 0-0 R-K l
1 2 P-KB4
N-Q5 1 3 Q-Q3 N x P ! 1 4 Qx N
Q-Q5 + 15 Q-B2 Q x N 16 B-K3
R-K3 1 7 QR-B I R-KN3 18 KR­
Ql P-KR4 1 9 R x P B-R6 20
P-KN3 P-R5 2 1 P-N3 P x P 22
P x P R-KR3 23 R-Q4 Q--R2 24
Q-B2 P-KN3 25 R-Q6 B-B4 26
Q-KN2 B-R6 27 Qx P R-K I 28
P-K6 ! B x P 29 R x B ! ( 1 16) 1 -0.
1 16
B

139

sealed in White's king he threatens
N-KN5, which would be the answer
to 14 Q-Q2, or to 16 B x P.
I P-K4 & Q-R5 + P-KN3 2
Q-Q l N-QB3 3 P-KR4 N-B3 4
P-Q3 P-K4 5 B-K2 B-B4 6 P-R5
P-KN4 7 N-KR3 ? P-KR3 8 P-QB3
0-0 9 N-Q2 P-Q3 J O N3-N l P-N5
1 1 P-B3 P-N6 1 2 N-N3 B-B7 +
1 3 K-B l K-R2 1 4 B-Q2 Q-K2
16 R-R4 Q-K2
15 Q-B J Q-B2
1 7 B x P N-KN5 1 8 R x N.
White should play B x R first,
but . . . fearing N-R7 + he played the
text-move which proves fatal - JRC.
18 . . . B x R 19 B x R R x B 20
N-R3 B x N 2 1 P x B Q-R5 22
K-N2 ( 117) .
117
B

Capablanca, asked what he would
do if Black should play 29 . . . R x R,
astonished the audience by at once
replying that he would force check­
mate in ten moves, commencing 30
Q-N8 + K-N2 3 1 B-Q4 + R-KB3
32 B x R + .
168 A. N. Other - JRC
New York, 14 January 1 906
(remove Black's KBP)
Capablanca kept the score of this
game, played at odds of pawn and
two moves. He was especially pleased
with his 22nd move, after which
White is curiously helpless.
White should capture the KNP on
his 7th move. Later, when Black has

mate.
169 JRC - Robert Raubitschek
New York, 24 September 1 906
One of two friendly games against a
strong contemporary. On his 7th
move Capablanca could have won
quickly by N x P ! and on his I 0th
move he says he would have done
better by IO B x N P x B 1 1 Q-R5 +
Q-B2 1 2 Qx Q+ K x Q 1 3 P-KB3.
As the game goes he gets no advan-

140

The Corzo Match

tage, and seeing no further prospects
on the queen's side by sound means
he makes a hazardous sacrifice on his
20th move, which, in the event,
succeeds.
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-NS N-B3 4 0-0 N x P 5 P-Q4
P-Q4 ? 6 N x P B-Q2 7 N x B ?
Qx N 8 N-B3 P-B4 9 N x N BP x N
1 0 P-QB4 0-0-0 1 1 B-NS B-K2
1 2 B x B Qx B 1 3 B x N P x B 1 4
16
P-BS Q-B3 I S Q-R4 K-N l
QR-B l K--R l 1 7 P-QN4 R-QN I
1 8 P-QR3 KR-K l 19 Q-R6 R-K3
20 P-QR4 ! ? Qx QP 2 1 P-NS Q-B3
22 R-B2 P x P 23 P-B6 P-NS 24
R-BS Q-QS 25 R-NS R3-K l 26
R-N7 Q-B4 27 P-R3 P-QS 28
K-R2 P-Q6 29 R-B l ! (118) .

170 Robert Raubitschek JRC
New York, 24 September 1 906
-

Capablanca writes that he gets a fine
attack for his pawn after 9 . . . N-Q l .
The books do not agree which, of
course, hardly matters at all.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 P-KB4 P x P
3 N-KB3 P-KN4 4 B-B4 B-N2
5 P-KR4 P-KR3 6 P-Q4 N-QB3
7 P-B3 P-Q3 8 0--0 Q-K2 9 Q-N3
N-Ql 10 P x P P x P I I Q-NS +
B-Q2 12 Qx KNP B-KB3 1 3 Qx P
N-K3 1 4 B x N B x B I S P-KS P x P
1 6 N x P ? 0-0-0 1 7 N-R3 R-RS
18 Q-N3 B x N 1 9 Qx B R-Q4
20 Q-N7 R-NS 2 1 Q-R7 ( 1 19).
1 19
B

1 18
B

Q x KBP ? ?
29 . . .
This allows White a charming
finish. The error is understandable,
for the right line is not easy to find:
29 . . . Q-QS 30 R-B4 Q-N3 ! 3 1
R x Q R x R 32 R x KP ! R x R 33
Q-B8 + R-N l 34 Qx P P-N6 ! and
Black wins.
30 R-B l !
Q-QS
3 1 R-BS !
P-K6
White mates in three, commencing
R x RP + ! !

N-B3 !
21 . . .
A brilliant finish. Black gives up a
knight, and later offers his queen.
R-Ql
22 Q-R8 +
23 Q x N
R I -N I !
24 R-B2
If 24 Qx Q R x N P + 25 K-R l
B-Q4 ! Or if24 Q-B3 R-N6 25 Q-K2
B-Q4 ! (another queen offer)
26
R-B2 Q-RS
2 7 Q-Q2 B x N P !
28 R x B Q-R6.
24 . . .
R x NP + !
25 K-B l
B-BS +
26 N x B
R-N8 mate.

7

Simultaneous Games

No one has ever doubted that
Capablanca was the greatest simul­
taneous player of his time, perhaps of
all time. In 1 906, at the age of seven­
teen, he gave his second display (his
• rst in USA). The world champion,
fi
Em. Lasker, was a spectator, and he
notes that it was 'the quickest-ever
display at the Manhattan Chess Club' ;
at the same club in 1 907 he defeated
all twenty-two opponents in two
hours. In 1 908 Helms, the editor of
the American Chess Bulletin, writes 'his
particular forte is an extra-ordinarily
quick sight of the board . . . Unsur­
passed as a quick player he seems to
make his combinations on sight.'
•
Helms agreed
to organize a tour
hoping it would promote the sale of
his magazine. Capablanca began on
the 12th of January 1 909 with a
record series of 1 32 consecutive wins,
visited in all twenty-seven cities,
played 602 games, and scored 96.4% .
This was a great advance on previous
tours, e.g. Maroczy's 88% or Mar­
shall's 86% in 1 906. As a consequence
he obtained backing for his match
with Marshall, and winning this his
career began and his fortune pros­
pered. The American Chess Bulletin
gained four new subscribers.
Now famous, he met stronger
opposition. Local and State cham-

·-

pions, even masters, would oppose
him. Clubs would vie with one
another, putting out their strongest
teams in order to get the best score.
In 1 9 1 1 the Dutch went out of their
way to muster the very strongest
players in their country, yet in six
exhibitions on consecutive days he
scored 1 34 + 6 - 1 0 . At the City
of London club in the same year he
met several masters and one grand­
master.
'His rapidity of play is combined
with a depth and correctness that is
almost marvellous . . . he seizes oppor­
tunities and grasps positional advan­
tage with a rapidity born of intuition
that marks the genius' New Orleans
Times-Democrat. At the end of a dis­
play, 'Capablanca went round so
rapidly that part of the time Black
found it impossible to write down the
moves'
Philadelphia Ledger. Black
need not have bothered : after a dis­
play Capablanca could remember all
the moves of every game.
In February 1 9 1 5 he made a new
US record, playing sixty-five boards
at Brooklyn and scoring 48 + 5 12 in under seven hours. ' . . . at ten
o'clock exactly he finished his last
adversary, and, apparently quite
unfatigued . . . Capablanca was enter­
tained at Supper at the Clarendon,
=

-

-

=

142

Simultaneous Games

and at midnight, when he started
home, he seemed his old care-free
self again, and nobody would have
supposed that he had undeTgone such
a severe strain.' He was proud of this
display on account of the strength of
the opposition, consisting of many
seasoned experts from the chess
capital of the States.
Later in 1 9 1 5 he made his fifth
US tour scoring a record 97. 7 % for
400 games.
In 1 920 he completed the longest­
ever tour. In England, France, and
Spain he gave forty-five displays,
playing 1 645 games in all. At ten
guineas (about $50) for each display,
plus expenses, the tour was successful
in more ways than one. After 1 92 1 his
normal fee in Europe was, apparently,
$ 1 00. When asked by Vukovic to tour
Yugoslavia he requested $ 1 00 and
'hotel accommodation with a private
bathroom'. The fee was agreed but
there were too few suitable hotels.
Alekhine later did the tour for a fee of
$90 - and no bathrooms.
One of the most outstanding records
in the realm of chess was made in
Cleveland, Ohio, on the 4th of
February 1 922. After fourteen months
during which Capablanca had played
no chess of any kind he met simul­
taneously 1 03 opponents, including
the State champion and some other
strong players. Playing uninterrupted­
ly for seven hours he ended with a
score of 1 02 + 1 = .
On several occasions there was a
little rivalry between him and Alek­
hine, but Alekhine came ahead only
once. In February 1 9 3 1 Capablanca
scored 28 + 6 - 1 6 = in eight and a
half hours against some very powerful

..

teams of players. A year later Alek­
hine, against similar oppos1t1on,
scored 30 + 6 - 1 4 = , a task which
took him a gruelling twelve and a half
hours - a Pyrrhic victory indeed.
Capablanca retained his supremacy
for a very long time. It was put to the
test in 1 935 when Flohr was his
nearest rival. At Prague both players
scored 25 + 3 - 5
against similar
opposition ; Capablanca completed
the task in 6.05 hours, Flohr in 6.45
hours. At Leningrad, against a team
of first-category players, Capablanca
scored 7 + 14 - 9 , and Flohr 5 +
13- 12 = .
The games, as they say, speak for
themselves, but this chapter contains
at least a dozen minor masterpieces.
=

=

171 Irving j. Sheffer - JRC
Troy, NY, 1 2 January 1 909
The occasion was the first display of
Capablanca's first simultaneous tour.
He won every game, and the result
was head-lined CUBAN WONDER MAKES
CLEAN SWEEP AT TROY. Even Cas­
sandra would hardly have called this
a bad omen, and, indeed, he won
every game from his next six displays.
l P-K4 P-K3 2 P-Q4 P-Q4
3 P x P P x P 4 N-KB3 B-Q3 5
B-K2 N-K2 6 0-0 0-0 7 N-B3
P-QB3 8 B-K3 P-KB4 9 B-KN5
P-KR3 10 B x N Qx B I I P-KR3
N-Q2 12 N-J%. N-B3 13 P-B4
Q-K6 + 14 R-B2 ( 120) .
In order to keep, or gain, the initia­
tive Black now makes a positional
queen sacrifice.
14 . . . B x P ! 1 5 N-B l N-K5 !
1 6 N x Q B x N 1 7 N x N BP x N
1 8 B-B3 P x B 1 9 P x P B x RP 20

143

Simultaneous GaTT111s

wants his rook to back up the advance
of his queen's side pawns.
1 5 B--Q3 P-BS 1 6 B-- K2 N-Q2
1 7 0-0 NS-N3 1 8 N-NS !
Provoking Black to advance on the
wrong side of the board.
18 . . . P-R3 19 N-B3 P-N4 ? 20
P-KN3 Q-N2 2 1 K-RI Q-N3 22
B-- Q l ! R-B2 23 B--B 2 N-B l 24
P x P P x P ( 121) .
K-R2 B x R 2 1 K x B R-BS 22
K-N2 ?
Instead White should play 22 P-B3
R l-KB I 23 K-N2 R x BP 24 Qx R
R x Q 25 K x R, with a drawn end­
game. Either he fears to give his
opponent two passed pawns or he yet
hopes to win.
22 . . . B x P 23 P-B3 B--N3 24
Q-K2 R I-KB ! 25 R-KB I R l -B4
26 K-N3 P-KR4 27 Q-K6 + K-R2
28 Q-K2 P-RS + 29 K-R3 R-N4
30 Q-Q3 + P-N3 3 1 Q-K2 B--N8 !
A typical Capablanca combination,
made with hardly any pieces on the
board. White must give up the ex­
change in order to avoid mate.
32 R x B R x R (0- 1 , 60).

2 5 N x KBP ! P x N 2 6 N x P R-N2
27 R x P Q-R3 28 R I-KB ! N3-Q2
29 P-KR4 N-K3 30 R-B6 ! N x R
3 1 R x N Q-R4 32 B-Ql Q-K l
3 3 R x N 1 -0.
173 JRC Edward B. Schrader
St. Louis, Mo. , USA, 8 February 1 909
-

172 JRC Charles E. Watson
Schenectady, N.Y., 1 3 January 1 909
-

I P-K4 P-K3 2 P-Q4 P-Q4 3
N-QB3 N-KB3 4 B-KNS B-K2
6 B x B Qx B
5 P-KS N3-Q2
7 N-NS N-N3 8 P-QB3 P-QR3
9 N-QR3 P-QB4 10 N-B2 0-0 1 1
Q-Q2 N-RS
1 2 N-K3 P-QN4
1 3 P-KB4 P-B4 14 N-B3 B-N2.
This bishop should go to Q2 where
it defends the king's side (see White's
25th move) , and where it does not
obstruct the QN-file, for there he

A champion of the West bites the
dust. A curious feature is that Capa­
blanca allows both of his bishops to be
trapped in much the same way on
opposite sides of the board.
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 N-B3 N-B3 4 B-NS B-NS 5 0-0
0-0 6 P-Q3 N-QS ? 7 N x N P x N
8 N-K2 P-B3
9 B-R4 P-QN4
1 0 B-N3 Q-N3 1 1 B-NS N-K l ?
12 N-N3 P-KR3 1 3 B-KR4! P-N4
1 4 N-B5 P x B 1 5 N x P/R6 + K-R2
16 Q-RS N-N2 1 7 Qx RP Q-Q l

Simultaneous Games

144

It seems that Black has escaped,
1 8 Q-R3 Q-N4 1 9 N-N4 + K-N l
29
20 P-KB4 Q-N3 2 1 P-B5 Q-N4 but . . . 28 Q-N7 + ! R x Q
22 P-K5 N-R4 23 Qx N ! Qx Q P x R + K-N l 30 R-RB mate !
24 N-B6 + K-N2 25 N x Q+ K-R3
26 N-B6 P-R4 27 R-B3 P-R5.
JRC E. Michelson
Now checkmate cannot be avoided : �--l7S
New York, 5 November 1 9 1 0
28 R-R 3 + K-N4 29 R-KBl l-0.
1 P-K4
P-QB4
2 P-QN4
174 JRC T . A . Carter
At the time Capablanca often
St. Louis, Mo., USA, 8 December played this gambit, which has never
1 909
been considered sound. Two months
later in a small tournament in New
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 P-KB4 B-B4 3
York his opponent, Roy Black, came
N-KB3 P-Q3 4 P-B3 B-KN5 5
to the board fully prepared and
P x P B x N 6 Qx B P x P 7 B-B4
scored a fine victory, accepting and
N-KB3 8 P-Q3 0-0 9 B-KN5
holding the gambit paw n ; as a conse­
N l -Q2 1 0 N-Q2 P-B3 1 1 0-0-0
quence Capablanca came second to
P-N4 1 2 B-N3 B-K2 1 3 P-KR4
Marshall at the end of the tourna­
N-B4 14 B-B2 N-K3 15 P-KN4
ment. Capablanca gave up the
P-N3 1 6 B x N B x B 1 7 P-N5 B-N2
gambit, but he never forgot this loss.
18 QR-N I N-B5 19 N-B l K-R l
He took especial pains against Roy
20 N-K3 Q-B2 ?
Black in their subsequent encounters,
20 . . . P-B3 is the proper move conceding only one draw.
JRC.
2...
PxP
2 1 P-R5 ! P x P? ( 122).
P-K3
3 P-QR3
This gives White the chance of an
4PxP
BxP
attacking finish. Instead Black should
B-K2
5 P-QB3
play 20 . . . KR-Q I .
6 N-B3
Typically Capablanca develops his
pieces although this gives him fewer
options than the usual 6 P-KB4.
Black should now reply 6 . . . P-Q3.
N-KB3 ?
6...
7 P-K5
N-Q4
8 P-B4
N-B5 ?
Black attacks with too few pieces ;
he forces exchanges but never gets a
chance to complete his development.
9 P-Q4
B-N5 +
Q-K2
1 0 B-Q2
1 1 B x B!
2 2 R x P ! N x R 2 3 Qx N QR-K l
Qx B +
Q-B6 ?
24 N-85 R-K3 25 R-R l P-KR3
1 2 N l -Q2
N-Q6 +
26 P x P B-B3 27 Q-N4 R-KN ! .
1 3 R-QN l
-

-

Simultaneous Games
14 B x N
Qx B
Q-N3
1 5 R-N3
P-B4
1 6 0-0
There is no good defence; White's
gain of seven tempi is worth much
more than a pawn.
PxP
1 7 P x Pep
Q-R3
18 N-R4
R-N I
1 9 R-KR3
P-Q4
20 N-K4
PxP
21 Px P
K-Q2
22 N-Q6 +
Q-B I
23 N6-B5
N-B3 ( 123)
24 Q-B3

25 N-N6 !
Q-B2
If 25 . . . P x N 26 Qx P+ K-B2
27 R-R7 + .
26 R x P !
Qx R
2 7 Qx P +
K-B2
White now has a forced mate in six,
beginning 28 Q-Q6 + K-N3 29
R-N I + K-R3 30 Q-R 3 + N-R4
3 1 Q-Q3 + .
176 E. Geisser - JRC
Stuttgart, 25 October 1 9 1 1
I P-QB4 P-QN3 2 N-QB3 B-N2
3 P-Q4 N-KB3 4 P-K3 P-K3 5
N-B3 B-K2 6 B-Q3 P-Q4 7 0-0
0-0 8 P-QN3 N l -Q2 9 B-N2 N-K5
1 0 Q-K2 P-KB4 1 1 QR-Bl B-KB3

145

1 2 P x P P x P 1 3 KR-QI Q-K2
14 N-QN5 P-B4 15 P x P P x P 16
BxB RxB
17 B-N I Q-B2
18
19 N-R3 R-K l
P-QR4 P-QR3
20 Q-N2 P-KB5 2 1 P x P R x P
22 B x N P x B 23 N-KN5 Q-B4
24 P-N3 R-N5 25 N-B4 ( 1 24).
124

w

A complicated position. If you are
Capablanca, of course, you ignore the
threatened fork, select the right
sequence of moves, and exchange the
pieces in order to get a won endgame.
25 . . . P-K6 ! 26 N-Q6 P x P +
2 7 Qx P Qx Q+
28 K x Q
R-KB I + 29 K-N l B-B3 30 N-K6
R-B3 3 1 N x BP N-K4 32 N x P
N-B6 + 33 K-R l R-R3 ! 34 R-Q2
R x NP ! 35 N-KB5.
White forks again, but his knights
have wandered too far. Black has
prepared a surprise finish :
35 . . . R-N8 + !
36 R x R
N x R/Q7 + 37 R-N2 B x R + 38
K x B R x N 0-1 .
177 J. Podhajsky - JRC
Prague, 9 October 1 9 1 1
Two days previously Capablanca had
lost eight games in a display against a
strong team of Prague players. He is
determined to do better, and he

146

Simultaneous Games

succeeds - even with the Black pieces.
I P-Q4
P-KB4
2 P-QB4
P-K3
3 N-QB3
N-KB3
4 B-B4
This bishop IS awkwardly placed
here.
4. . .
B-N5
5 P-K3
0-0
6 B-K2
N-B3
7 N-B3
P-QN3
8 P-KR3
B-N2
9 0-0
N-K5 !
IO N x N
PxN
I I N-N5
N-K2
1 2 P-R3
The natural 12 Q-B2 could be
answered by 12 . . . N-N3 1 3 P-KN3
B-K2 14 N x P/K4 P-Q3. ,,:-,danger­
ing White's QB.
12 . . .
B-Q3
13 B x B
PxB
14 P-KR4
N-B4
15 P-KN3
P-KR3
16 N-R3 ( 1 25)

tion is not clear. He probably feared
for his pinned knight, but if 1 8 . . .
P-KN4 1 9 Q-K l P-N5 20 B x P l
18 . . .
R-B4
R-KN4 +
1 9 N-R5
20 N-N3
R-KB I
2 1 Q-K I
R-B6 !
A necessary sacrifice, for otherwise
White frees his king's side. If White
were to take the rook at once, he
would soon be checkmated.
22 K-N2
Q-N5
P-KR4
23 R-R l
P-RS
24 R-R3
P x B+
25 B x R
P x N+
26 K-R2
27 P x P
Or 2 7 R x P R-R4 + 28 K-N l
Q-RS.
27 . . .
P-B7 !
The forgotten bishop comes into
play.
28 Q x P
R-KB4
29 Q-Q2
\Vhite could prolong but not save
the game by 29 Q-K I R-KR4 30
Q-KB l !
29 . . .
R-KR4 !
30 R-R4
R x R+
31 P x R
Qx R P +
0-1
White will lose h i s rook.
178 JRC - R. J. Loman
London, 15 November 1 9 1 1

16
N x RP !
The success of this knight sacrifice
depends upon a rook sacrifice later on.
Qx P
17 P x N
1 8 N-B4
It would be better for White to
play 18 K-R2, after which the posi.

.

.

This was the occasion of Capablanca's
first simultaneous display in England.
He takes on the City of London Chess
Club, the strongest in the world.
Besides Loman several other masters,
and one grandmaster, H. E. Atkins,
were amongst his opponents. The
leading clubs of Europe competed to

Simultaneous Games
make a good score against the new
star, the winner of the great San
Sebastian tournament. The London
club won nine games, a record which
stood for twenty-four years.
Capablanca's poor score was partly
due to his habit of arriving at the last
minute, giving himself no time for
rest. Travelling from the continent
during the day he played the same
evening, and a contemporary notes,
'after one and a half hours' play
Capablanca was overcome by a
sudden lassitude, and then the
indifferent moves occurred in those
games he subsequently lost. This
passed quickly, and he felt quite
fresh again.' Even so, he completed
the whole display in under four hours.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 N-B3 N-B3 4 B-N5 B-N5 5 0-0
0-0 6 P-Q3 P-Q3 7 B-N5 N-K2
8 N-KR4 P-B3 9 B-QB4 N-K l ?
1 0 P-B4 B-QB4 + .
This move has point only iffollowed
by 1 1 . . . B-K6. At San Sebastian a
few months earlier a game Schlechter­
Duras had continued 1 0 . . . B x N
1 1 P x B P-Q4 1 2 B-N3 P-B3 1 3
P x KP ! P x B 1 4 R x R + K x R
1 5 Q-B3 + K-N l 16 R-KBI , and
White won.
I I K-R l P x P 1 2 R x P ! B-K3
1 3 B x B P x B 14 R x R + K x R
1 5 Q-N4 Q-Q2 1 6 R-KB l + K-N l
1 7 Q-B3 1-0.
A similar position arose in a game
Marshall-Capablanca ( 1 7th match
game, 1 909) . Black found the re­
source 1 7 . . . N-B3 !
18 B x N
R-KBI ! In this way Loman could
have offered further resistance, but
evidently he was not up to date with
his studies.

.

147

179 JRC A. H. Privonitz
London, 1 3 October 1 9 1 3
-

For Capablanca's second display at
the City of London club there was a
large audience ; and it says much for
Capablanca's prowess that even the
world champion, Em. Lasker, came
to watch.
The Chess Amateur reports, 'smooth­
cheeked and youthful, in evening
dress with a soft-shirted front, quietly
and without ostentation he walked
round. There was no shower of quips
and cracks from Capa - the play's the
thing. Tricks and mannerisms are
few but characteristic. Confronted
with complications he gathers up his
lower lip between thumb and finger,
pensively rubs the tip of his nose, and,
last resort of all, ruffles his hair.'
Questioned after the game, 'Tired ?
No, but an ache in the back of my
neck from so much bending. I have
done better than last time, yes ? And
next time will be better still.'
I P-Q4 P-Q4 2 P-QB4 P-K3
3 N-KB3 N-KB3 4 B-N5 B-K2
5 N-B3 0-0 6 P-K3 N l -Q2 7 R-B l
P-QN3 8 P x P P x P 9 B-Q3 B-N2
1 0 0-0 N-K5 1 1 B x B.
White gets a poor game by
exchanging, and here 1 1 B-KB4
would be better. His next move is also
unprofitable.
1 1 . . Qx B 12 B x N P x B 1 3
N-Q2 P-QB4 1 4 R-Kl KR-Kl
15 Q-N3 QR-B l
16 N-B4 P x P
1 7 P x P Q-K3 18 N-N5 ! ? B-Q4
1 9 N5-Q6 ( 126).
19 . . .
R-B3 ?
White's swindle comes off ! Black
overlooks White's 2 lst move, a fine
Zwischenzug, after which Capablanca
.

148

-

Simultaneous Games

.E

126

B

�

·�

ii'-

■...��-H
�

�

��
'
'

�

-�

····" ,, ,,
�

finishes with his usual efficiency.
19 . . . R x N ! 20 N x R/84 R-QB l
would be correct.
20 N x R B x N 2 1 P-Q5 ! Qx P
22 Q-QB3 Q-KN4
23 P-KR4 !
Q-N3 24 Q-Q4 B-N4 25 R x R
B x R 26 Q-Q6 P-B4 27 R-QB l
N-B4 28 Qx Q P x Q 29 P-QN4
B x N 30 P x N P x P 3 1 R x P 1 -0.
180 JRC F. S. Dunkelsbuhler
London, 1 7 October 1 9 1 3
-

An amusing brevity, finishing with a
queen offer ; Black resigns because he
must lose the exchange.
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-KB3
3 N x P P-Q3 4 N-KB3 N x P 5
P-Q4 P-Q4 6 B-Q3 B-K2 7 0-0
0-0 8 P-B4 P-QB3 9 N-B3 P-KB4 ?
10 P x P P x P
I I Q-N3 N x N
1 2 P x N N-B3 1 3 R-K I B-B3 ?
1 4 B-R3 R-B2 1 5 Qx QP ! ! 1 -0.

pawn ending. It is, of course, a nice
compliment to Capablanca that even
his simultaneous games were taken
seriously by grandmasters.
The queen sacrifice is pretty, and
good enough for a fast game - the
whole display took less than an hour.
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-N5 P-QR3 4 B-R4 N-B3 5 0-0
B-K2 6 R-K I P-QN4 7 B-N3 P-Q3
8 P-B3 0-0 9 P-Q4 B-N5 J O B-K3
N x KP 1 1 B-Q5 Q-Q2 1 2 P x P
N-N4 ? 1 3 B3 x N B x B 1 4 N x B ! ?
B x Q 1 5 P-K6 P x P ? 16 B x P +
Qx B 1 7 N x Q QR-K I 1 8 N-Q2
R-B3 1 9 QR x B R3 x N 20 K-B I
N-K4 2 1 R-K3 K-B2 22 R I-K l
P-Q4 (not best) 23 P-QN4 ! N-N5
24 R x R R x R 25 R x R K x R
26 P-KR3 N-B3 27 P-B3 N-Q2
28 K-K2 K-Q3 29 N-N3 P-B4
30 P x P + N x P 3 1 N x N K x N
32 K-Q3 P-N5 33 P-KB4 P x P
34 K x P P-Q5 + 35 K-Q3 K-Q4 ?
After sixty years it is time to point
out the errors in this endgame. Black
should here play 35 . . . P-KR4
reducing the width of the front after
36 P-N4 P x P.
36 P-N4 P-N3 37 P-KR4 K-B4
38 P-N5 K-Q4 (127) .
127
w

181 JRC Edward Lasker
Divan Cafe, London, 1 7 October 1 9 1 3
-

This game, which has been called
famous, has been included in several
anthologies. Alekhine noted that
14 P-KR3 would be very good for
White ; Spielmann analysed 1 5 . . .
Q-Q I which he said would win for
Black ; Euwe and Prins praised the

39 P-B5 ?

Simultaneous Games
Capablanca does not find the
correct way to win. He should play
39 P-R3 ! ! P-QR4 40 P-R4, and
Black is in zugzwang ; e.g. 40 . . .
K-B4 4 1 P-B5 P x P 42 P-R5, or 40
. . . K-K3 4 1 K x P K-B4 42 K-B5.
PxP
39 . . .
40 P-R5
K-K4 ?
Black could draw by 40 . . . K-K3
4 1 K x P P-B5.
41 P-R6 !
1 -0
A picquant finish : White's threat­
ened 42 P-N6 is unanswerable.
182 JRC Masyutin
Kiev, 2 March 1 9 1 4
-

l P-Q4 P-KB4 2 P-K4 P x P 3
N-QB3 N-KB3
4 B-KN5 P-B3
5 P-B3 P x P 6 N x P P-K3 7 B-Q3
P-Q4 8 0-0 N l -Q2 9 N-K5 B-K2
I O B x N B x B 1 1 Q-R5 + K-K2
1 2 B x P N-B l ? ( 128) .
1 28

w

1 3 Q-B7 + K-Q3 1 4 N-B4 + !
P x N 15 N-K4 + K-Q4 1 6 R-B5 + !
K x N 1 7 R-K l + K x P 1 8 P-B3 +
K-Q6 19 R-Q5 mate !
183 JRC E. Michelsen
Brooklyn, 1 2 February 1 9 1 5
-

' . . . i n the presence of approximately
500 persons the Cuban Champion
played at sixty-five boards. It . . .

149

taxed the endurance of . . . the youth­
ful master who is now in line for the
world's championship. He was on his
feet fully seven hours without rest and
in all that time he had no refresh­
ment, except an occasional sip of cold
water . . . the hall was not merely
crowded ; at times it was actually
mobbed. People who came early and
were once inside were unable to get
out until the crowd thinned away
around supper time . . . a gem of the
first water was produced by Capa­
blanca in his game against E. Michel­
sen, former Western champion.' American Chess Bulletin.
The notes are by Capablanca, who
makes a fine positional sacrifice in the
endgame. His comment on his 1 7th
move shows an uncommon insight :
he could see chances where others saw
none.
1 P-K4
P-QB4
2 P-Q4
N-QB3
3 N-KB3
PxP
4NxP
P-KN3
5 P-QB4
N-B3
6 N-QB3
B-N2
7 B-K3
P-Q3
8 B-K2
0-0
9 0-0
B-Q2
1 0 P-B3
P-QR3
1 1 Q-Q2
R-B l
1 2 QR-B l
R-K l
1 3 P-QN3
Q-R4
1 4 KR-Ql
N-R4
15 P-N3
In order to prepare N-Q5 which
could not be done now on account of
15 . . . Qx Q 16 R x Q N x N 1 7
B x N B-R3 winning the exchange.
15 . . .
P-B4
16 P x P
PxP
1 7 N-Q5

Simultaneous Games

150

The pos1t1on resulting from the
exchanges seems to me advantageous
to White ; hence this simple continuation.
Qx Q
17 . .
NxN
18 R x Q
19 B x N
B-QB3
BxN
20 P-B4
NxB
21BxB
K-B2
22 R x B
K-B3
23 R I -QI
24 P-KR3
R-KNI
N-K l
25 K-B2
P-K3
26 P-KN4
27 R5-Q3
Purposely done to induce the
advance of the QNP.
P-N4 (129)
27 . . .
.

28 R x P !
The sacrifice looks sound.
NxR
28 . . .
P-N5
29 R x N
P-QR4
30 B-B3
P-R4
3 1 K-K3
To prevent White's threat of P x P
followed by B-N4 + .
K-K2
32 P-NS +
R-B4
33 R-R6
Played with the idea of bringing
the White king into the open file in
order to win a move when driving it
away with a check later on by R-Q l .

He overlooks, however, White's con­
tinuation of R x P + .
34 K-Q4
R-82
35 R x KP + !
KxR
36 B-Q5 +
K-Q3
37 B x R
R-K2
38 P-B5 +
K-B3
39 B-Q5 +
K-N4
40 P-N6
1 -0
184 JRC John M. Stahr
Chicago, 26 March 1 9 1 5
-

I P-Q4
P-Q4
2 N-KB3
N-KB3
3 P-K3
P-K3
4 B-Q3
P-B4
5 P-B3
For his less serious encounters
Capablanca often played this open­
ing. It was later invented by Colle.
P-BS ?
5...
B-Q3
6 B-B2
N l -Q2
7 N l -Q2
8 Q-K.2
Q-B2
9 P-K4
PxP
l O N x KP
NxN
1 1 Qx N
N-B3
1 2 Q-R4
P-KR3
Not 1 2 . . . 0-0 1 3 B-NS.
1 3 0-0
P-QN4
If 1 3 . . 0-0 1 4 B x P !
1 4 P-R4
P-NS
15 P x P
B x NP
1 6 B-B4
B-Q3
1 7 B-K5
B-N2 !
The best policy against a simul­
taneous player is counter-attack, and
here Black nearly gets away with it !
PxB
lB B x N
R-KNl
1 9 Qx BP
B xP+
20 P-R5 !
2 1 K-R l
B-Q3
22 KR-Kl
B x N?
.

151

Simultaneous Games
Instead of giving up his bishop-pair
Black should play 22 . . . Q-K2 ; but
not 22 . . . R-N3 nor 22 . . . Q-Q l
which would be answered b y 2 3
R x P+ !
Now White begins a long and sus­
tained attack, which he handles in
masterly style. He has the task of
breaking through in the centre in
order to get at Black's king, and all
the time he must watch for dangers on
the KN-file.
Q-Q l
23 Qx B
24 K-N l
R-QB l
K-K2
25 B-R4 +
26 P-Q5
R-N3
PxP
27 P x P
Or 27 . . . R x KP 28 R x R +
P x R 29 R-Kl R-B4 30 Q-N4.
Qx P
28 QR-QI
29 Q-K4
R l -KN I
B-B2
30 Q-N7 +
3 1 R-Q7 +
K-B3
Q-KB4 ( 130)
32 Q-B3 +
130
w

K-K4
34 Q-B6 +
1-0
35 R-Q5 +
There follows 35 . . . K-B5 36
Qx P + Q-K5 37 Q-QB l + K-N5
38 B-Ql + ! K-R5 39 R-KR5 mate.
185 JRC L. L. Labatt
New Orleans, 6 April 1 9 1 5
-

O n his record-breaking fifth tour of
the United States Capablanca lost
only two games, one of them to Judge
Labatt. In this game, played three
days later, Capablanca seeks revenge.
He considered this win the best of the
tour, and the annotations are his.
1 P-QB4 P-KB4 2 N-QB3 N-KB3
3 P-KN3 P-K4 4 B-N2 B-B4 5
P-Q3 N-B3 6 P-K3 P-QR3 7
N l -K2 B-R2 8 0-0 P-Q3 9 N-Q5
0-0 1 0 P-N3 N-K2 1 1 B-N2 P-B3
1 2 N x N/B6 + P x N 1 3 P-Q4 N-N3
1 5 N-B3 P-Q4
1 4 P-B4 ! P-K5
1 6 Q-R5 B-K3 1 7 B-KR3 Q-Q2
1 8 P x P P x P 1 9 QR-B l P-N4
20 R-KB2 QR-B l 2 1 R2-B2 K-N2
( 131) .
131
w

Black has shown himself an oppo­
nent worthy of Capablanca's steel.
Now 33 Qx Q+ P x Q 34 R x B
R x P + , or 33 Q-B3 + B-K4 34
R x B ! R x P+ ! would lead to a draw ;
but Capablanca has a surprise m
store.
33 R x P + ! !
KxR

22 B-Bl !
Threatening P-QR4 in due time,
and to obtain control of the open file.
Q-N2
22 . . .
To prevent P-QR4, but not the

Simultaneous Garnes

152

best move since it permits White to
play P-KN4. Black, to be sure, did
not think that his position was quite
so delicate that even the best move
might not avail.
23 P-KN4
The beginning of a very fine and
effective combination of which one
might be proud even if played in a
single-handed contest.
23 . . .
Q-Q2
23 . . . N-K2 would have been
better.
24 P x P
B x BP
2S N x QP !
RxR
If 2S . . . B-NS 26 B-R3.
26 R x R
Qx N
R-B2
27 R-B7 +
KxR
28 R x R +
K-K3
29 Qx P +
K-Q3
30 Q-N8 +
3 1 B-QR 3 +
K-B3
32 Q-QR8 +
1-0
186 JRC A. N. Other
New York, 1 1 January 1 9 1 6

An original idea, consistent with
Capablanca's preference for piece­
play, but 1 5 P-B4 would probably be
better.
NxN
14 . . .
1S P x N
N-Q4
16 N x N
KP x N
1 7 P-K6 ! ?
The beginning of an ingenious
attack, involving, indeed necessi­
tating, the sacrifice of a rook later on.
P-KB4
17 . . .
PxB
IS B x P! !
B-B3
1 9 Q x KBP
Q-K2
20 P-K4 !
P x P?
21 px p
Black can hardly be blamed for
overlooking the next bombshell - he
was already reeling ; but 2 1 . . . QR­
B l would be better.
Qx R
22 R-B7 ! !
23 Qx B ( 132)
For his rook White has only two
pawns, and one of these would seem
to be in danger.

-

I P-Q4
P-Q4
N-KB3
2 N-KB3
3 P-B4
P-K3
B-Q3
4 N-B3
P-B3
S B-NS
0-0
6 P-K3
PxP
7 R-B l
N l -Q2
8BxP
B-K2
9 B-Q3
A loss of time which gives White a
good initiative, but if 9 . . . P-K4
1 0 N-K4.
P-QN3
10 0-0
B-N2
I I Q-B2
P-N3
12 N-K5
R-Kl
1 3 B-KR6
14 KR-QI

Q-K2
23 . . .
The natural move. If 23 . . . R-K2
24 R-Q3 R-N2 2S R-QB3 R x P + !
26 K x R P-QS + 27 P-B3 ! P x R
28 P-K7 and wins.
Tarrasch published this game i n
order to show that White's sacrifices

Simultaneous Games
were unsound, and he advised 23 . . .
QR-B l . White replies 24 Q-N5 +
K-R I 2 5 R-KI ! There might follow
25 . . . R-K2 26 Q-B6 + K-N I
27 B-B4, or 25 . . . Q-K2 26 Q-K5 +
K-N I 27 P-B4, and in either case
White maintains a strong attack.
R-KB I
24 Q-K5
Q-B3
25 R-Q3
K-R I
26 R-KN3 +
1-0
27 B-N7 +
A really brilliant victory, especially
when it is considered that Capablanca
was playing thirty-two other players
at the same time.
187 JRC H. Borochow
New York, 2 1 September 1 9 1 8
-

I P-Q4 P-Q4
2 N-KB3 N-KB3
3 P-B4 P-K3 4 B-N5 N l -Q2 5
N-B3 B-K2 6 P-K3 0--0 7 R-B I
P-QN3 8 P x P N x P 9 B x B N x B
1 0 B-Q3 B-N2 1 1 0-0 P-QB4 1 2
P x P N x P (133).

One could hardly pass up the
chance to make the following sacri­
fice. It may be sound, but Black could
better have put this to the test by
1 4 . . . K-R3 instead of 1 4 . . . K-N3.
1 3 B x P + ! K x B 1 4 N-KN5 +
K-N3 1 5 Q-N4 P-B4 1 6 Q-N3

153

K-B3 1 7 P-N4 N-Q2 1 8 QR-Qi
N-N3 19 R-Q6 R-Kl 20 R I -QI
N3-B I 2 1 P-K4 P-N3 22 Q-R4
K-N2 23 R x N + ! N x R 24 Q-R7 +
K-B3 25 P-B4 1-0.
If 25 . . . R-K2 White would again
sacrifice the exchange, 26 R x N !
B x P 27 Q-B7 + ! R x Q 28 R x R
mate.

188 JRC - C. F. Haussmann
Philadelphia, 28 September 1 9 1 8
I P-KB4 P-Q4 2 N-KB3 P-K3
3 P-K3 P-QB4 4 P-QN3 N-KB3
5 B-N2 B-K2 6 B-N5 + N-B3 ?
7 P-B4 0-0 8 0-0 P-QR3 ? 9 BS x N
P x B 10 N-K5 B-N2 1 1 P-Q3
N-K I
12 N-Q2 P-B3 1 3 N-N4
Q-B2 1 4 P-K4 P-Q5 ( 134) .
134

w

Black's doubled pawns (the Wyvill
formation) are a permanent weakness.
Capablanca's strategy is instructive :
he makes no immediate plans to
attack the weak pawns but commences
operations on the king's side ; and
meanwhile Black's weak pawns pre­
vent his gaining counter-play on the
queen's side.
This game should be compared
with game 1 85 in which the unusual

154

Simultaneous Games

situation arises of a Wyvill formation
on the king's side. Capablanca's
strategy is just the same : he operates
on both sides of the board, draws
away the defenders pieces, and, at a
suitable moment, he strikes at the
doubled pawns.
1 5 Q-B3 R-Ql 16 Q-N3 P-B4
1 7 N-B2 P-N3 18 P-K5 N-N2 1 9
N-R3 N-R4 2 0 Q-B3 P-R3 2 1
K-R l K-R2 2 2 R-KN I R-KN I
23 P-KN4 P x P 24 R x P R-N2
25 R l -KN l Q-Q2 26 N-K4 Q-K I
2 7 B-R 3 !
Suddenly Black i s called upon to
defend his almost forgotton double
pawns. The defence is disturbed, and
White breaks through with a nice
sacrificial combination.
27 . . . Q-B l 28 R x P ! R x R 29
R x R K x R 30 Q-N4 + K-R2 3 1
32 N3-N5 + B x N
Q x N Q-N2
33 N x B + K-N l 34 N x P Q-Q2
35 Q-N6 + 1 -0.

-

189 JRC j. ff. White
London, 6 August 1 9 1 9
-

I n h i s third and last display a t the
City of London Chess Club Capa­
blanca did better than before as he
had promised ; but the club had lost
its former strength. The secretary, J.
Walter Russell, was a sick man,
suffering from xenophobia ; he had
expelled many talented players and
not until 1927 were foreigners again
permitted to join. A few years later
this famous club faded away.
In this game J. H. White, one of
the authors of Modern Chess Openings,
plays the newly invented Budapest
Gambit. Both players go all out to win,
and a fine struggle follows Capa-

blanca's loss - or sacrifice - of the
queen.
N-KB3
I P-Q4
P-K4
2 P-QB4
N-N5
3 PxP
4 N-KB3
Capablanca goes his own way,
avoiding book lines in so far as they
existed.
B-B4
4...
N-QB3
5 P-K3
0-0
6 B-Q2
R-KI
7 B-B3
P-Q3
8 B-K2
Very enterprising. 8 . . . NS x P/K4
9 N x N N x N 1 0 0-0 would not be
altogether satisfactory for Black ; if,
for instance, I O . . . P-Q3 1 1 P-QN4 !
9 Px P
B x KP!
10 P x B
Capablanca was not one to refuse a
challenge. Hecouldcastle instead, with
a defensible game but not much more.
10 . . .
N x KP
N x BP
1 1 Q-Q2 !
P-B3 !
1 2 Q-N5
B-K3
1 3 Q-Q5 +
14 Q-Q3
N x QP
1 5 0-0!
If 15 N l -Q2 B-B4 ! Instead White
gives up his queen in order to stem
the attack.
B-B5
15 . . .
NxQ
1 6 Qx B +
K-R l
17 B x N+
Q-Q3
1 8 N l -Q2
Black has a small material advan­
tage, but his game is not easy because
he will be much harassed by White's
extra pieces.
QR-QI
19 K-R l
Q-B4
20 QR-K I
RxR
2 1 R x R+
P-QN4
22 P-QR3

...

Simultaneous Games
Black correctly advances his pawn
majority. It would be absurd, for
instance, to attempt a king's side
attack against White's many pieces.
23 B-R2
P-QR4
Q-B5
24 N-N3
Q-K7
25 N/B3-Q2
26 N-B l
Q-K6
27 N-B3
R-Ql
Q-B4
28 R-Kl
Q-N3
29 N-N3
NxN
30 N/N3-Q4
P-QB4
31 B x N
Q-B3
32 B-KN l
33 P-KR4
P-R4
White makes room for his king, and
Black does the same. This was the
kind of chance that White was waiting
for, because he now has chances of a
king's side attack. From his point of
view the disparity of four pieces
against two is at an optimum : had he
not exchanged some pieces the ratio
would have been less favourable,
whilst if he were now to exchange
rooks he would hardly have a suffi­
cient attacking force.
Burn recommended 33 . . . P-R5,
with the idea of creating a tangible
threat on the queen's side.
34 B-B7
P-B4
Black sets a trap but opens more
pockets for White's pieces. Afterwards
Black suggested 34 . . . Q-B2, simply
giving up the KRP. The chances
would be about even.
35 N-N5
Q-B2
36 B x RP
Q-N6
37 N-B3 ( 135)
Q-Q3 ?
37 . . .
At the critical point of the game
Black changes plan. He intended
37 . . . P-N3
38 B-R2 Qx R +
39 N x R P x B, but apparently fears

155

the endgame after 40 B-K5 + K-N I
4 1 N-B3. In fact, it would be drawn.
Or perhaps, in reply to 37 . . . P-N3,
White could reply 38 R-K5 with the
idea of mopping up some pawns for
his piece.
If, however, Black withdraws his
queen in the hope of winning then he
misjudges the position.
38 N-K5
Q-KB3
R-Q7
39 P-KN3
Now Black's only advantage, the
queen's side pawn majority, dis­
appears ; and White winds up with a
splendid finish, the minor pieces
crowding out the queen :
40 B x P R-QB7 4 1 B-Q4 Q-QR3
42 N-B7 + K-R2 43 N-N5 + K-R3
44 B-KB3 Q-B l 45 R-K6 + P-N3
46 R-K7 R-B8 + 47 K-R2 R-B7 +
48 K-R3 P-B5 + 49 P-KN4 Q-KN l
50 N-B7 + K-R2 5 1 N-K5 + 1-0.
When we see a game of this quality,
against a high-ranking national
player, we have to rub our eyes and
to remember that it was played
simultaneously alongside twenty­
seven other games. Capablanca is
reported to have played 240 moves in
the first half-hour, and in the later
stages of this game Black had some
difficulty contending against Capa­
blanca's fantastic speed of play.

156

Simultaneous Games

190 JRC T. Bray
Birmingham, 9 October 1 9 1 9
-

This miniature was played during
Capablanca's gigantic tour of Eng­
land in the fall of 1 9 19. In the month
of October alone he gave seventeen
displays, playing 656 games !
I P-Q4 P-Q4 2 N-KB3 N-KB3
3 P-K3 P-K3 4 B-Q3 B-Q3 5
N l -Q2 N l-Q2 6 0-0 0-0 7 Q-K2
P-QN3 8 P-K4 P x P 9 N x P B-K2
1 0 R-K I R-K l ? 1 1 N4-N5 B-N2
1 2 N x BP ! B x N 1 3 P x B K x N
1 4 Qx P + K-B l 1 5 B-QB4 1 -0.

advancing in the centre, 1 8 . . . P-K4,
o r even 2 0 . . . P-K4. \Vhen h e attacks
with his bishop on the 1 9th and 20th
moves he thinks he is racing ahead,
but he is brought up short by an
unexpected queen sacrifice.
I P-Q4 P-Q4 2 N-KB3 P-K3
3 P-B4 N-KB3 4 B-N5 N l-Q2
5 P-K3 B-K2 6 N l -Q2 0-0 7 R-B I
9 B--B4
P-B3 ? 8 B-Q3 N-KI
P-KB4 10 P-B5 N2-B3 1 1 N-K5
N-K5 1 2 P-B3 N x N 1 3 Qx N
N-B3 1 4 P-KR4 N-Q2 1 5 Q-KB2
B-B3 1 6 N x N Qx N 1 7 P-KN4
P x P 18 P x P Q-KB2 19 P-N5
B x QP 20 P-R5 B-K4 ( 136) .

191 JRC E. Reeve
Dudley, 24 November 1 9 1 9
-

There is a touch of humour here.
Black spends four moves trapping a
rook, discovers he cannot take it, and
spends several moves unwinding the
trap ; and the rook he would have
trapped delivers the final blow.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 B-N5 P-QR3 4 B-R4 N-B3 5 0-0
P-QN4 6 B-N3 B-K2 7 P-Q4 P-Q3
8 P-B3 B-N2 9 R-KI Q-Q2 1 0
N l-Q2 R-Ql ?
1 1 P-QR4 ! 0-0
1 2 RP x P RP x P 1 3 P-Q5 N-N l
1 4 R-R7 B-R3 ? 1 5 N-B l Q-B l
1 6 N-N3 N l -Q2 1 7 N-B5 KR-K l
1 8 B-N5 N-B4 1 9 N3-R4 R-Q2
20 N x B + R2 x N 2 1 N-B5 N4-Q2
22 Q-B3 N-B l 23 N x NP ! K x N
24 Qx N + K-N I 25 B-R6 Q-N5
26 R-K3 N-Q2 27 Qx R ! 1 -0.

192 JRC G. H. Hadland
Thornton Heath, 1 8 October 1 9 1 9
-

White's 1 7th move i s somewhat
speculative. Black should defend by

2 1 B x P + ! K-R l 22 B-N6 Q-K2
23 B x B ! R x Q 24 P-R6 Qx NP
25 P x P + K-N l 26 R-R8 mate.
193 JRC
Major Richard Bar­
nett
House of Commons, 2 December 1 9 1 9
-

Capablanca i s the only chess master
to have given a display in the Palace
of Westminster. ' I n Committee Room
14 he will find his opponents ranged
in two files down its length, and the
gangway between them will be his
undisputed territory. Rising in tiers
above the boards on either side are

Simultaneous Games
seats for a large number of spectators.
This committee room has historic
associations, as it was here that
Kitchener made his last speech. Senor
Capablanca, too, will be interested in
a picture on its walls showing the
English fleet pursuing the Spanish
against Fowey : the tables will no
doubt be turned today' - The Times.
This article, honoured by its
appearance on the centre pages, was
headlined COMMONS v. CAPABLANCA.
Next day under the headline COM­
MONS DEFEATED AT CHESS the political
correspondent wrote : 'Mr Capa­
blanca won thirty-six games ; the
Commons won none and drew only
two. The conclusion is forced upon us
that this House is better at politics
than at chess, and would do well to
stick to its last.' The Imperial
Parliament preferred to watch the
chess, and only a few who 'could not
find room to see the boards' remained
to debate. Hansard records the
following :
MR HOGGE (MP for Edinburgh) : Who
was responsible for authorizing a chess
tournament in which a professional
chess player was to take part during
a discussion on an important land
measure for Scotland ?
MR BONAR LAW : The Serjeant-at­
Arms, at the request of a committee
of members.
MR HOGGE : Is he prepared to say that
this is not to be a precedent ? Would
permission be granted for a prize
figh t ?
MR BONAR L Aw : I f m y honourable
friend wishes to take part in a prize
fight and makes application in the
usual way I am sure it will be con­
sidered.

157

The attack was parried ; after all,
Mr. Bonar Law was the best chess­
player in the House.
During the display one member
tried to put in an extra move, as
is the way with politicians ; but the
Cuban, who had spent six years
in his country's diplomatic service,
was not outwitted. No international
incident followed his tactful correc­
tion.
I P-Q4 P-Q4 2 N-KB3 N-KB3
3 P-B4 P-K3
4 B-N5 N l -Q2
5 P-K3 P-B3 6 N I -Q2 B-K2 7
B-Q3 P � P 8 N x P P-QN3 9 0--0
B-N2 IO Q-K2 0--0 1 1 KR-Ql
R-B l 1 2 N4-K5 N-Kl 1 3 N x N
Qx N 1 4 N-K5 Q-Q l 1 5 Q-R5
P-N3 16 B x B P x Q?
Had the Major - a royalist no
doubt - shown more respect for his
queen ( 1 6 . . . Qx B) he would have
been at hardly any disadvantage.
1 7 B x Q R x B 1 8 B-K4.
Capablanca wins his pawn. For the
rest he displays his infallible technique
notwithstanding the need to watch
thirty-seven other politicians at the
same time.
1 9 N x P R-Q2
18 . . . P-B3
20 B-B3 R-N2 2 1 QR-B l P-R5
22 P-KR3 K-R l 23 K-B l R l-N l
24 P-QN4 P-N4 25 R-B5 P-QR3
26 R l-B l N-Q3 27 P-Q5 P-K4
28 P-K4 N-B5 29 K-K2 R-QB2
30 P-R4 R l-QB l 3 1 P x P P x P
32 R x P B-R3.
The worthy major sees a gap in the
enemy lines ; has his opponent over­
looked the discovered check ?
33 R-B5 N-N7 + .
He discovers nothing at all, and
beats a disordered retreat.
34 P-N5 B-N2 35 R-QR l R-R l

158

Simultaneous Games

36 R x R + B x R 37 P-Q6 R-Q2
38 N-N4 1-0.
194 JRC Erik Anderson
Cleveland, 4 February 1 922
-

N-B2 2 7 R-Ql P-N3 28 R-Q8 +
K-N2 29 R-Q7 + R-B2 30 R x R +
K x R 3 1 P-KB4 K-K3 32 K-B2
K-Q3 33 B-K4 N-N4 34 P-B4
N-B6 35 K-B3 N x P 36 P-B5 P x P
37 B x P P-KR3 38 P-R4 N-B6
39 P-N5 P x P 40 P x P K-K4 4 1
B-B2 P-R4 42 K-K3 N-R7 43
K-Q2 N-N5 44 B-R7 N-B3 45
K-B3 N-Q5 46 K-N2 N-K3 47
P-N6 K-B3 48 K-R3 K-K4 49
K-R4 K-Q5 50 B-N8 ? N-B5 5 1
B-R7 N x P 52 B x N K x P t-t.

Nine months after winning the world
title Capablanca returned to USA.
During this time he had played no
chess at all, yet his very first engage­
ment turned out to be an all-time
record simultaneous display.
' 1 03 opponents were in line when
Capablanca began his round at nine
o'clock. Playing through without 195 JRC A. Chase
stopping until 4 a.m. the champion New York, 23 February 1 922
finished with the incredible score of
P-K4
I P-K4
1 02 wins and one draw ! Mr. Clough,
PxP
2 P-KB4
through whose efforts Capablanca
3 Q-B3
N-QB3
was engaged, writes : "I saw him
N-B3
4 P-B3
frequently playing two boards at one
5 P-Q4
P-Q4
time with his right and left hand ; he
N-K5
6 P-K5
was in difficulty at no time" ' P-KN4
7 Bx P
American Chess Bulletin. He averaged
7 . . . P-B3 somewhat favours
under ten seconds a move, without
Black. Instead he seeks bigger game.
pause, for seven hours, taking no
P-KR4 (137)
8 B-K3
refreshment except half a glass of
water every hour.
This is the game that spoilt his
score; that he overlooked 50 K x P
K x P 5 1 B-N8 must be attributed to
carelessness.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 P-Q3
3 P-Q4 P x P 4 N x P B-K2 5
N-QB3 N-KB3 6 B-K2 N l -Q2
7 0-0 N-B4 8 P-B3 P-B3 9 B-K3
0--0 1 0 Q-Q2 N-K l 1 1 QR-QI
P-B4 1 2 P x P B x P 1 3 N x B R x N
9 N-Q2 ! !
1 4 P-KN4 R-KB I 15 B x N P x B
A fine positional queen sacrifice
1 6 B-B4 + K-R l 1 7 Qx Q R x Q
1 8 R x R B x R 1 9 N-K4 P-QN4 which should rank amongst the best
20 B-K6 B-B3 2 1 P-B3 P-N5 22 ever made. Irving Chernev asked
B-Q7 N-B2 2 3 B x P N-K3 24 Capablanca if it were sound, and was
N x B R x N 25 R-Kl P x P 26 P x P told to wait and see. This was the
-

Simultaneous Games
wrong question, for White simply
plays the best of the available moves,
and the rest is in the lap of the gods. Or
is i t ? Capablanca probably knew of a
similar sacrifice made by Spielmann
against Moller, at Goteborg, 1 920.
B-KN5
9...
BxQ
IO N x N
K-K2
1 1 N-B6 +
12 N x B
B-R3
1 3 N x NP
B-N2
1 3 . . . P-R5 ! would lessen White's
grip on his KN5 square.
BxN
1 4 B-Q3
1 5 0-0 !
An astonishing reply. Is it possible
for ordinary mortals to foresee such
moves ? Ifnow l 5 . . . B x P 1 6 N x P,
or 1 5 . . . N x KP 16 P x N B x P
1 7 N x P, with a winning attack in
either case.
Q-KN I
15 . . .
16 R x B
R-KB I
1 7 R l -KB l
N-QI
Black has safeguarded his king's
side, and his pieces are, in a manner of
speaking, developed; or perhaps one
should say entombed. Nothing can
now prevent White's breaking through
on the queen's side, which is wholly
undefended.
Q-N2
18 P-QN4
1 9 P-KR4
K-K l
P-N3
20 P-N5
N-K3
2 1 B-K2
NxN
22 B-B3
Q-R2
23 B x N
24 B x QP
Q-Q6
25 B-B6 +
1 -0

159

forty games, sacrificing his queen in
three of them. Here Black gets a fair
opening, but he should exchange
knights on his 1 8th move instead of
attempting a queen's side attack.
I P-K4 P-K4 2 P-KB4 P x P
3 Q-B3 P-KN4 ? 4 P-KR4 B-N2
5 P-B3 P-QB4 6 P-Q3 P-KR3
7 P-KN3 N-QB3 8 NP x P P x BP
9 B x P P-Q3 IO N-Q2 N-B3 I I
B-K2 B-K3 12 N-R3 Q-Q2 1 3
N-B2 0-0-0 1 4 0-0-0 N-QR4 1 5
P-N3 N-Kl
I6 K-B2 N-B2 I 7
KR-N I ! KR-N I 1 8 N-B4 N-N4 ?
I 9 R x B ! R x R 20 N x N R-N3
2 1 P-R4 N-B2 22 P-R5 R-B3 2 3
P-K5 ! B-Q4 2 4 N-K4 P x P ( 138) .
138
w

25 N x R ! B x Q 26 B x B ! Q-Q3
27 B x KP ! Q-N3 28 N x P P-B5 !
29 N x R Q-B7 + 30 R-Q2 P x NP +
3 I K x P Qx R 32 N x P Qx QP
33 B-N4 + K-N2 34 N-Q6 + K-B3
35 B-Q7 + K-B4 36 N/Q6-K4 +
K-N3 37 P-R5 + 1-0.
The mating finish is amusing ; if
37 . . . K x P
38 B x N + K-R3
39 N-B5 mate.
197 JRC A. E. Santasiere
New York, 29 November 1 922
-

196 JRC E. S. Maddock
New York, 23 February 1 922
-

On this occasion Capablanca played

Santasiere, who later became one of
the foremost players of USA, was at

Simultaneous Games

160

this time seventeen years old, and
already showing considerable promise.
Up to a point he defends very well
against Capablanca's new move,
6 N4--N5 ; a move which is now
credited to Najdorf, who first played
it in 1 953 !
I P-Q4 N-KB3 2 N-KB3 P-K3
3 P-B4 P-B4 4 N-B3 P x P 5 N x P
N-B3 6 N4-N5 ! B--N5 7 B--B4 0-0
8 B--Q6 B x B 9 N x B N-Kl I O
P-K4 N x N I I Qx N Q-K2 1 2
0-0-0 P-B4 1 3 P-B3 Q x Q 1 4
R x Q P-QN3 1 5 B--K2 N-K4 1 6
R I-QI P-B5.
Black's counter-attack is too slow;
16 . . . P x P would be better.
1 7 P-QN4 B-R3 18 P-N5 B--N2
1 9 K-N2 QR-B l . 20 K-N3 R-KB3
2 1 P-QR4 R-R3 ? 22 P-R3 K-B l
23 P-R5 ! P x P ( 139) .
White now makes a double ex­
change sacrifice which forces the game.
139
w

26
28
30
32

24 R x QP ! N x R 25 R x N R-N l
P-B5 R-B3 27 B--B4 P-QR3
P-N6 B-B l 29 R-QB7 R-B2
R x B + ! R x R 3 1 B x KP R-N l
B x R K x B 33 N-Q5 1-0.

198 JRC E. Tholfsen
Brooklyn, 7 March 1 923
-

Tholfsen, holder of the Marshall

Chess Club championship, was no
mean antagonist. Capablanca gives
special attention to this board, and
plays a brilliant game which is also of
some theoretical importance.
P-K4
I P-K4
2 N-KB3
N-QB3
3 B--N5
N-B3
4 0-0
P-Q3
5 P-Q4
B--Q2
6 N-B3
B--K2
7BxN
BxB
PxP
8 Q-Q3
9 NxP
B--Q2
0-0
I O B--N 5
I I KR-K l !
The position affords a comparison
between the styles of Capablanca and
Lasker. In their 1 4th match game
Lasker played 1 1 QR-Kl , com­
mitting himself to a tactical course,
pre-supposi�g an early advance of the
KBP. Capablanca follows a posi­
tional course, maintaining pressure
on the Q-file with his QR, and with­
holding the advance of his KBP until
he has secured the centre.
R-Kl
II . . .
P-KR3
12 QR-QI
N-R2
1 3 B--R 4
14 B x B
RxB
1 5 N-Q5
R-KI
1 6 Q-KN3
N-B3
1 6 . . . B--K3 could be considered.
1 7 N-QB3 !
Capablanca did not always seek
exchanges, as many suppose.
R-K2
17 . . .
1 8 P-B4
The beginning of a far-sighted
combination.
18 . . .
Q-K l
1 9 P-K5 !
PxP
20 P x P
N-R4

Simultaneous Games
2 1 Q-K3
22 N-B5
23 P-KN4
24 P x N ! !
25 R x R
26 P x P

B-B3
R-K3
N-B3
RxQ
Q-KB l
Q-Il4 ( 140)

White has enough for his queen,
but his king is exposed and his KR is
pinned : indeed, his game looks
almost lost.
2 7 R-Q4 !
One of the most beautiful moves
ever seen in a game of chess. White
half-pins his rooks so that either is
free.
27 . . .
R-Kl
If 27 . . . K-R2 28 R-R3 K-N3
29 R x P + K-N4 30 P-KR4 mate!
BxR
28 R x R +
1 -0
29 N-Q5
199 JRC W. P. Shipley
Philadelphia, 1 1 October 1 924
-

1 P-K4
2 P-Q4
3 N-QB3
4 B-KN5
5PxP
6BxN
7 Px B
8 Q-Q2

P-K3
P-Q4
N-KB3
B-N5
Qx P
B x N+
PxB

161

The new move which Capablanca
introduced in his game against
Alekhine at New York, 1 924.
P-QB4
8...
Alekhine did not get too good a
game after 8 . . . N-Q2, and he
recommended 8 . . . P-QB4 9 Q-K3
P x P 10 P x P N-B3 1 1 P-QB3.
Against this Capablanca also has an
improvement for White.
9 N-B3
N-B3
PxP
1 0 Q-K3
B-Q2
11 PxP
1 2 B-Q3
Q-QR4 +
0-0-0
1 3 K-K2 !
P-K4
1 4 KR-QN l
Judging the middle-game to be
unfavourable Black simplifies, and
before he realizes what is happening
Capablanca spies out a favourable
endgame : in just eight moves he
exchanges off all the pieces !
15 P x P
NxP
Qx N
16 N x N
PxQ
1 7 Qx Q
B-B3
1 8 B-K4
19 B x B
PxB
K-B2
20 R-N3
2 1 R l -QNl
R-QN l
22 R x R
RxR
23 R x R
KxR
This is one of the many games won
by Capablanca in which the end
seems inevitable, not to say pre­
destined, without his opponent's
having made any apparent error.
One is reminded of a remark made
by Sir George Thomas, 'Against
Alekhine,' he said, 'you never knew
what to expect; against Capablanca
you knew what to expect, but you
couldn't prevent it ! '
The pawn ending is lost for Black :
24 K-Q3 K-B2 25 K-K4 K-Q3

162

Simultaneous Games

26 P-N4 K-K3 27 P-KR4 P-B3
28 P-KB4 P x P 29 K x P P-KR3
30 P-B3 ! P-R3 31 P-R3 ! P-QR4
33 K-B5 P-B4
32 P-R4 K-K2
34 P-B4 1-0.
Black finally loses the tempo­
struggle. If 34 . . . K-B2 35 P-R5
and he is in zugzwang.
200 JRC M. M. Botvinnik
Leningrad, 20 November 1 925
-

On a free day during the Moscow 1 925
tournament Capablanca travelled all
the way to Leningrad to give a display
against thirty first-category players ;
after a gruelling five and a half hours
play he scored 18 + 4 - 8 = , and then
he travelled back. On the next day he
played the worst game of his career,
when he lost to Verlinski.
Here he loses to a fourteen-year-old
schoolboy whom - so the tale runs he predicted would one day become a
champion.
P-Q4
I P-Q4
P-K3
2 P-QB4
N-KB3
3 N-QB3
N l -Q2
4 B-N5
B-N5
5 P-K3
' I preferred this less well-known
variation', writes Botvinnik, naively.
The line was not new to Capablanca,
but in any case the young boy
probably had the greater book­
knowledge, for what that is worth.
6 Px P
PxP
P-B4
7 Q-N3
Q-R4
8 Px P
NxB
9BxN
IO 0-0-0 ?
A classic case of under-rating your
opponent.
10 . . .
0-0

I I N-B3
B-K3
1 2 N-Q4
QR-Bl
13 P-B6
BxN
14 Qx B
Qx RP
1 5 B-Q3
PxP
16 K-B2
P-B4
17 N x B
Q-R5 + !
Black had foreseen this resource ;
otherwise his advantage would have
disappeared, for White threatened
R-R I .
1 8 P-QN3
Q-R7 +
1 9 Q-N2
Qx Q+
20 K x Q
PxN
2 1 P-B3
R-QB2 !
If Capablanca hoped to save him­
self in the endgame he is soon
undeceived. Black plays this phase
well, and evidently with confidence.
22 R-R I
P-B5
23 P x P
PxP
24 B-B2
R-N I +
25 K-B I
N-Q4
26 R-KI
P-B6 !
27 R-R3
N-N5
28 R-K2
R-QI
29 P-K4
R-B3 !
Black avoids the trap : 29 . . . R-Q7
30 R x BP.
30 R-K3
R-Q7
3 1 R/K3 x P
R x B+
32 R x R
R x R+
0-1
201 JRC J. A. Gelabert
Havana, 3 May 1926
-

..

Capablanca plays his biographer, the
author of the first collection of his
games, Glorias del Tablero "Capa­
blanca", 1 923.
I P-K4 P-QB3 2 P-Q4 P-Q4
3 P x P P x P 4 B-Q3 N-KB3 5
P-KR3 N-B3 6 P-QB3 P-KN3 7

Simultaneous Games
N-B3 B-N2 8 0-0 Q-B2 9 B-KN5
0-0 IO R-KI N-KR4 1 1 Q-Q2
P-K3 1 2 N-R3 P-QR3 1 3 N-B2
P-N4 14 P-QR4 N-R4 ( 14 1 ) .

15 P x P! ?
White enterprisingly sacrifices the
exchange for a pawn, hoping to get his
queen's side pawns on the move.
15 . . .
N-QN6
16 Q-K2
Nx R
17 R x N
P-R4
1 7 . . . R-N l would be better, e.g.
18 Q-Q2 P-B3 ! with complex play,
which, presumably, Black wishes to
avoid.
B-Q2
1 8 Q-Q2
The central attack, 1 8 . . . P-B3,
would be more promising.
19 P-KN4
N-B3
20 N-K5
N-K5
Permitting White's pawns to roll
forward, but Black must do some­
thing about White's threat to play
Q-KB4.
21 B x N
PxB
22 N x B
Qx N
23 P-QB4
KR-B l
24 Q-B3
P-B4
In the hope of gaining play on the
king's side.
25 P x P
NP x P
26 B-B4
P-K4

163

Instead Black decides to make for
the endgame. If 26 . . . R-QI 2 7
P-N6 B x P 2 8 N x B Q x N 2 9 P-N7
Qx Q 30 P x R Q!
27 P x P
Q-Q6
28 Qx Q
PxQ
R-B4
29 N-K3
30 P-N4 !
BxP
31 P x R
BxR
32 P-N6
B-Q5
33 P-N7
R-Ql
34 P-B6 !
1 --0
A last trap : not 3 4 P-N8 = Q R x Q
35 B x R B x N 36 P x B P-Q7.
=

202 JRC A. Souza Campos
Sao Paulo, 16 August 1927
-

Black's opening play defies comment,
but it provides the opportunity for a
really brilliant mating attack i n
which White sacrifices a queen, offers
a knight, and then gives up a rook.
I P-K4 P-QN3 2 P-Q4 B-N2
3 B-Q3 P-K3 4 N-KB3 P-QB4
5 0-0 P x P 6 N x P N-K2 7 N-QB3
N-N3 8 B-K3 B-B4 9 Q-R5 0-0
I O QR-Q I B x N I I B x B N-B3
1 2 B-K3 P-K4 1 3 B-QB4 K-RI
1 4 R-Q6 Q-K2 I 5 R I-QI QR-QI
( 142) .
142
w

Black could try an insertion bid,

164

Simultaneous Games

1 5 . . . N-Q5, after which White
would win by R6 x N/Q4.
1 6 B-KN5 P-B3 1 7 Qx N ! ! P x Q
1 8 R6-Q3 R-B2 19 N-Q5 Q-B4
20 R-KR3 + K-N l 2 1 N x BP + !
K-B l 22 R-R8 + K-K2 23 R-K8 +
R x R 24 R x P + K-B l 25 R x R
mate. A very beautiful finish.

long ; but now comes the point of
White's fine combination :
K-N l
23 Q-QN4 +
K-N2
24 N-K7 +
25 R x RP + !
RxR
26 R x R +
KxR
1-0
2 7 Q-KR4+
I t is mate next move.

203 JRC - Alcides Prestes
Sao Paulo, 27 August, 1 92 7

204 JRC
S. Bruezza, P. Leu,
G. C. Dietz, and R. M. Varnum
New York, 1 2 February 1 93 1

Keres remarks that Black's 4th move
(N-KB3) is worth consideration. This
game hardly supports that view.
1 P-K4 P-K3 2 P-Q4 P-Q4
3 N-QB3 B-N5 4 B-Q3 N-KB3
5 P-K5 N3-Q2 6 Q-N4! P-KN3
7 B-KN5 B-K2 8 P-KR4 P-KB4
9 Q-B4 P-B4 1 0 N-N5 ! B x B 1 1
N-Q6 + K-B l 1 2 P x B P x P 1 3
P-KN4 !
White prepares to break the blocked
position on the king's side.
13 . . . N-N3
14 P x P KP x P
1 5 N-B3 N-B3 1 6 N x QP Q-K2
1 8 0-0-0 B-K3
17 N x N PxN
1 9 R-R6 R-Ql 20 R I-R I Q-KN2
(143).
143
w

21 B x P!
BxB
Q-KB2
22 N x B
After 22
P x N 23 Qx P +
K-N l 24 P-N6 Black cannot last

-

Chess, like many other things, was in
the doldrums for some time after the
Wall Street crash. Helms, the editor
of the American Chess Bulletin, wanted
a publicity stunt, and he arranged a
monster simultaneous display to take
place in the 7th Regiment Armoury
in New York.
There were 200 players on fifty
boards in teams of four ; Marshall,
Ed. Lasker, Horowitz, Fine, Reinfeld,
Kupchik, and other leading U S
masters were there, a s officials, spec­
tators, or contestants ; addresses were
made by State Governor Whitman,
G. E. Roosevelt, and the Cuban
Consul-General ; the regimental band
opened the proceedings with a ren­
dering of the Star-Spangled Banner;
and two and a half thousand people
came to watch.
Capablanca finished all the games
in eight and a half hours, having
walked about seven miles. He scored
28 + 6 - 1 6 = .
This was one of the best endgames :
1 P-Q4 N-KB3 2 P-QB4 P-K3
3 N-QB3 P-Q4 4 B-N5 B-K2 5
P-K3 P-B3 6 N-B3 N l -Q2 7 B-Q3
0-0 8 0-0 P x P 9 B x BP N-Q4
1 0 B x B Q x B I I N-K4 P-QR3

Simultaneous Games
1 2 R-Bl N4-B3 1 3 N-N3 P-QN4
1 4 B-K2 B-N2 1 5 P-QR4 Q-N5
16 Q-B2 P-B4 1 7 RP x P RP x P
1 8 P x P KR-Bl 1 9 Q-Q2 Qx Q
20 N x Q R-R7 2 1 B x P R x BP
23 R x R N x R
22 B x N N x B
24 N-B4 B-Q4 25 N-N6 B-N2 26
P-N4 N-Q6 27 R-Ql B-R3 28
N-K4 P-R3 2 9 P-R4 N x NP 30
R-QB + K-R2 31 N-Q7 ( 144) .
The allies have regained their
pawn, but all their pieces have been
decoyed away from their king's side.

144
B

.

165

astonishing how Capablanca finds a
mating attack of such variety with so
few pieces on the board.

205 JRC Glicco
Mexico City, 4 May 1 933
-

l P-Q4 N-KB3 2 P-QB4 P-K3
3 N-QB3 P-Q4 4 B-NS N l -Q2 5
P-K3 P-B3 6 R-B l B-K2 7 N-B3
0-0 8 B-Q3 P x P 9 B x BP N-Q4
1 0 B x B Qx B 1 1 0-0 R-Ql 1 2
N-K4 N4-B3 ? 1 3 N-N3 P-KR3 ?
1 5 N-B5 Q-B l
14 P-K4 P-K4
1 6 R-Kl P-KN3 ( 145).

_,..,.._

!li1

�

-�. m"Z-l�
�-� �
• �ft�
� �
u �
•

.

�

■ • ;.

iii

The game continued 31 . . . K-N3
32 P-N4 P-B4 33 N-K5 + K-R2
34 P-N5 ! and Black could not avoid
being checkmated.
Here are some other lines :
3 1 . . . B-N4 32 N-BB + K-N I
33 P-R5 P-N4 and White mates in
three.
3 1 . . . P-B4 32 P-R5 ! P x N 33
N-BB + K-N I 34 N-N6 + K-B2
35 R-KB8 mate.
3 1 . . . P-R4 32 N-BB + K-N I
33 N-N5 P-N3 34 NB x KP mate.
3 1 . . . P-R4 32 N-BS + K-R3
33 N-N5 P-N3 34 N x KP P x N
35 R-Q7, mating at KR7.
31 . . . B-Q6 32 P-R5 ! and mate
follows.
A very beautiful finish. Ii is

17 B x P+ !
A most original combination. If
1 7 . . . Qx B 18 N x RP + , or if
1 7 . . . K x B 18 Q-N3 + K-K l 1 9
Q-K6 + .
K-R2
17 . . .
KxB
18 B x P+ !
N-KN l
19 P x P
20 R-B3 !
White plans a long way ahead. The
game now ended 20 . . . N2-B3 2 1
Q-K2 N-Kl 2 2 N3-R4 + K-R2
23 Q-RS B x N 24 P x B R-Q2 25
P-B6 N/Kl x P 26 Q-BS + K-N2
2 7 P x N + N x P 28 R-KN3 + K-B2
29 Q-K6 mate.

166

Simultaneous Games

206 JRC - A. Rivera
Madrid, 3 December 1 935
1 P-K4 P-K3 2 P-Q4 P-Q4 3
B-Q3 P x P 4 B x P N-KB3 5 B-B3
P-B3.
Black could level up the chances by
5 . . . P-B4, or later on by P-K4.
Instead he chooses a close defence, an
idea which is not incorrect in prin­
ciple.
6 N-K2 B-K2 7 0-0 0-0 8 N l -B3
N l -Q2 9 N-N3 Q-B2 IO R-Kl
R-Kl 1 1 B--N5 P-QN3 ? ( 146) .
Black could here play I O . . . N-B l
with a solid if rather cramped posi­
tion. Instead he makes a natural
developing move which, rather sur­
prisingly, turns out to be the losing
move.
White now makes a very long com­
bination, continually harassing the
Black queen, and eventually gaining
two pawns. When the tables are
turned and White's queen is attacked,
he simply lets it go !

24 R6 x P R x R 25 R x R R-B6
26 P-N6 ! 1--0. A charming finish.
207 JRC - John C . Rather
New York, 14 December 1 936
A miniature with an amusing finish :
the rook sacrifice is echoed in the
variations. Black thinks to trap his
opponent ( 1 2 . . . B x P), but finds he
has entrapped himself.
1 P-K4 P-QB4 2 N-K2 N-QB3
3 N l -B3 P-Q3 4 P-KN3 P-KN3
5 B-N2 B--N2 6 P-Q3 N-B3 7 B-K3
0-0 8 P-KR3 B-Q2 9 Q-Q2 P-QR3
1 0 B-R6 N-Q5 l l B x B K x B 1 2
14
0-0 ! B x P
13 N x N B x B
N-B5 + ! P x N
15 K x B P x P ?
16 R-R l ( 147) .
147

B

.. • t •
.

12 N-N5 ! Q-N2 1 3 B-B4 R-B l
14 N-BS ! KP x N 1 5 R x B N-Q4
1 6 N-Q6 Q-R3 1 7 B x N P x B 1 8
P-QR4 ! N-B3 19 P-QN4 ! P-QN4
20 P x P Q-N3 2 1 Q-Q3 N-K5
22 N x B R/B l x N 23 R-R6 Q-Q l

P-Q4
16 . . .
lf l 6 . . . K-R l 1 7 N x P N x N
18 R x P+ !
K-R l
1 7 Q-NS +
Qx N
1 8 N x QP !
Now if 18 . . . R-KN l 1 9 N x N !
P x N 20 Rx P+ !
NxR
19 R x P + !
20 Qx Q
1 -0
208 JRC - H. Forsberg
New York, 6 November 1 94 1
In

his last display Capablanca plays

Simultaneous Games

against the team captain of the
Marshall Chess Club.
1 P-K3 P-KN3 2 P-Q4 B--N2
3 N-KB3 P-Q4 4 P-B4 P-K3 5
N-B3 N-KB3 6 B--K2 0-0 7 0-0
P-N3 8 P x P P x P 9 N-K5 P-B4
1 0 P-QN3 B--QR3 1 1 B--R 3 R-Kl
12 B x B N x B 13 P-B4 P x P 1 4
P x P N-B2 1 5 R-B 1 P-QR3.
Part of an ingenious plan to break
White's centre.
1 6 P-B5 N-N4! 1 7 P x P RP x P
1 8 B--N4 N x P ! 1 9 Q x N N-Q2
20 N x QP R x N ? ( 148).
20 . . . N x N would maintain the
balance of position. Black makes one
slip, and that is enough for Capa­
blanca.
For the last time he makes one of
those combinative finishes that were
so characteristic of his style : clean,
direct, and apparently simple. All his
pieces take part, some are exchanged
in the course of play, and just enough
of them are retained to make the final
combination in its purest and most
economical form.
P-B4
2 1 Q-B2
R-K5
22 KR-QI
23 B--B3
In accordance with his own pre­
cept Capablanca exchanges pieces

167

which do not contribute to the
advantage of his position.
23 . . .
R-B l
24 B x B
RxR
25 R x R
KxB
26 R-B7 !
K-B l
27 Q-Q2
White threatens 28 Q-R6 + K-B2
29 N-B4 !
Q-K l
27 . . .
28 N-B6 ! !
The final point : if the knight is
captured White mates i n two.
28 . . .
R-K8 +
Desperation. The rest is easy, 29
K-B2 R-K7 + 30 Q x R Q x Q+
31 K x Q N x N 32 R-B6 N-Q4
33 R-Q6 1-0.
As Alekhine wrote of Capablanca,
'until the end he could still evolve
true pearls of chess art'.

Studies

210

209

Position no. 209. This study was
first published in Lasker's Chess
Magazine, August 1 908, p. 1 23. White
is to play and win. The position is
fully discussed in Test Tube Chess.
The solution begins I K-B4 K-R4
2 K x P K-R3 3 K x P K-R2 4
N-QS R-R7 5 N-B3 P-B4. Capa­
blanca's intention was 6 R-N7 +
K-R3 7 R-N6 + K-R4 8 R-NS +
K-R3 9 R-N4 K-R2 I O N-NS +
K-N l 1 1 N-Q6 + K-R l 1 2 N-B4
R-QR7
1 3 K-B7 R-R2 + ?
14
K-BB R-R3
1 5 R-NB + K-R2
1 6 R-N7 + K-R l
1 7 N-N6 +
followed by a neat finish in which
White's rook defeats five passed
pawns ; but there is a cook : 1 3 .
P-N7 would draw.
An amended solution runs 6
N-NS + K-N l 7 N-Q6 + K-R l 8
10
R-Kl R-R l 9 N-KB K-N l
R-N l + K-B l I I N-Q6 + K-Ql
12 R-N7 followed by mate in two ;
but the study has lost most of its point.
.

.

Position no. 2 1 0 : A joint composi·
tion by Capablanca and Lasker whid
was first published in Lasker's ches1
column in the Berlin newspape1
Vossische .(eilung, on the 26th of Jul)
1 9 1 4. White plays and wins : 1 N x l\
N x N 2 R-RB + ! N x R 3 K-BB.
A week or so earlier these twc
masters had met in Berlin, where the)
played a rapid-transit match of ten
games. Capablanca won 6! : 3!, and
afterwards Lasker is alleged to havf
said ' I t is remarkable : you make nc
mistakes'. The study did not occur in
these games, but a position from om
of them suggested the idea.

The Chess Record of
Jose R_aul Capablanca y Graupera
• 1888 - 8 March 1942)
( 19 November

In 1 909 Capablanca astonished the
chess world by decisively winning a
match against F. J. Marshall ; before
this he had played a mere handful of
1erious games. At San Sebastian 1 9 1 1
he won his first international tourna­
ment ahead of all the world's best
players except Lasker. At St. Peters­
burg 1 9 1 4 he came second to Lasker
by half a point, and ahead of the
third prize-winner, Alekhine, by three
points.
Lasker had long claimed to be the
world champion,* a title he conceded
to Capablanca without a fight, by
letter dated the 1 8th ofJune, 1 920. In
1 92 1 they played a match which
Capablanca won without losing a
5ame. Lasker inserted a clause in the
:onditions of the match beginning
'Senor Capablanca is champion of

• contests
* Official world championship
began in 1948.

the world . . .'. Presumably he con­
sidered himself the challenger. I n
1 92 7 Capablanca lost this title to
"
Alekhine.
In 1 936 Capablanca again proved
his great strength by winning the two
major tournaments of the year, at
Moscow and Nottingham. After this
his health declined ; he suffered from
high blood pressure, which eventually
caused his death.
In these records we have defined
team events, exhibition play, and
consultation games as those played
over-the-board, in public, with clocks,
and as arranged rather than
impromptu events. This definition is,
of course, arbitrary.
The dates are in accordance with
the Gregorian calendar, here and
throughout this book.
The authors would be pleased to
have information regarding any errors
or omissions.

Tournaments

WINS

1 9 10
191 1
191 1
1913
1913
1913
1914
1915
1916
1918
1 9 19
1 92 2
1 924
1 925
1 926
1 92 7
1 928
1 928
1 928

New York State Championship
New York
San Sebastian
New York
Havana
New York<a>
St. Petersburg
New York
New York
New York
Hastings
London
New York
Moscow
Lake Hopatcong
New York
Bad Kissingen
Budapest
Berlin

6
8
6
10
8
12
10
12
12
9
10
II
10
9
4
8
4
5
5

1 929
1 929
1 929
1 929/30
1 930/3 1
1 93 1
1 934/35
1 935
1 935
1 936
1 936
1 936
1 937
1 938

Carlsbad
Budapest
Barcelona
Hastings
Hastings
New York
Hastings
Moscow
Margate
Margate
Moscow
Nottingham
Semmering-Baden
Paris

10
8
13
4
5
9
4
7
6
5
8
7
2
6

LOSSES

I
2
2

1
2

}Cb)

2

2
2

DRAWS

3
7
2
4
6
2
4
3
4
9
9
4
12
6
4
7
9
5
1
5
3
2
3
10
2
4
10
6
11
4

PLACE

l
2
I
I
2
1
2

I
I
I
2
3
1
I
2

2
1
I
I
2
I
4
4
2
2
I=
3

Tournamenls

171
WINS

1 938
1 939
Total

Holland (AVRO)
Margate

LOSSES

DRAWS

PLACE

4
8
7
2
4
5
2
260 wins 26 losses 1 76 draws

In March 1 909 Capablanca won a handicap tournament at the Manhattan
Chess Club ; he lost to Beihoff, drew with Morgan and Roething, and won
eleven other games.
(a) In addition to the twelve games he won over the board Capablanca was
awarded a win by default against Stapfer.
(b) This represents a win against Tarrasch, who later withdrew, and his
score was annulled.
This book does not contain any of the games from these tournaments.

Team Events

WINS

For Columbia Uniuersity
1 0 Nov 1 906
A. W. Fox (Manhattan CC) - JRC
24 Nov 1 906
JRC - Helms (Brooklyn CC)
1 Dec 1 906
v. Burgess (Yale)
20 Dec 1 906
]RC - Brackett (Harvard)
2 1 Dec 1 906
Burgess (Yale) - JRC
22 Dec 1 906
JRC - Ward (Princeton)
For the Manhattan Chess Club
2 1 Apr 1 9 1 0
JRC - 0. W . Field (New Jersey)
30 May 1 9 1 0
]RC - Shipley (Franklin CC)
1 9 Feb 1 9 1 6
Schroeder (Brooklyn CC) - JRC
30 May 1 9 16
Sharp (Franklin CC) - JRC
For foreign masters vs. natiues (Ramsgate)
JRC - R. P. Mitchell
30 Mar 1 929
H. E. Price - JRC
I Apr 1 929
2 Apr 1 929
JRC - E. G. Sergeant
G. A. Thomas - JRC
3 Apr 1 929
JRC - T. H. Tylor
4 Apr 1 929
W. Winter - JRC
5 Apr 1 929
F. D. Yates - JRC
6 Apr 1 929
For Cuba, 8th Olympiad, Buenos Aires
24 Aug 1 939
M. Czerniak (Palestine) - JRC
26 Aug 1 939
JRC - G. Vassaux (Guatemala)
27 Aug 1 939
Keres (Estonia) - JRC
JRC - Stahlberg (Sweden)
29 Aug 1 939
E. Rojahn (Norway) - JRC
30 Aug 1 939
JRC - Tartakower (Poland)
I Sept 1 939
2 Sept ·1 939
R. Flores (Chile) - JRC
4 Sept 1 939
JRC - M. Czerniak (Palestine)
5 Sept 1 939
Stahlberg (Sweden) - JRC
6 Sept 1939
JRC - T. D. van Scheltinga

l*
1

l*
1
I

DRAWS

Team Events

173
WINS

8 Sept
9 Sept
10 Sept
13 Sept
1 6 Sept
18 Sept
Total

1 939
1 939
1 939
1 939
1 939
1 939

DRAWS

JRC - Mikenas (Lithuania)
K. Opocensky (Czechoslovakia) - JRC
]RC - R. G. Grau (Argentina)
JRC - V. Petrov (Latvia)
J. Enevoldsen (Denmark) - JRC
JRC - 0. Trompovsky (Brazil)
20 wins 1 3 draws

This book does not contain any of the games played at Ramsgate or Buenos
Aires. Capablanca played one individual cable game, drawing with H.J. Rose
on the 23rd of March 1 907.
*

Game-score has not been found.

Individual Matches

WINS

1 909
1912
1912
1913
1913
1913
1913
1913
1914
1914
1914
1 9 19
1 92 1
1 92 7
1 93 1
Total

Marshall
Jaffe
Chajes<a>
Teichmann
Mieses
Znosko Borovsky
Alekhine
Duz Hotimirsky
Bernstein
Tartakower
Aurbach
Kostic
Lasker
Alekhine
Euwe

LOSSES

DRAWS

14

8
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
5
4
3
2
38

10
25
10
62

6
8

(a) A match for the best of three games. Chajes retired after the first game.
All the games are in this book except those played in the matches against
Marshall, Kostic, Lasker, Alekhine ( 1 927), and Euwe.
Capablanca's total score for tournaments, team matches, and individual
matches, from October 1906 until his death, is 3 1 8 + 34 - 2 5 1 , a total of 603
games. It remains to be discovered whether Capablanca played in a further
two or three university matches ; if he did, then it is almost certain that he did
not lose.
His ratio of losses, 5. 7%, is the best achievement by any master in the history
of chess.
=

Exhibition Games

WINS

1 4 Mar
Apr
1 6 Apr
2 1 Jul
31 Jul
2 1 Oct
1 2 May
1 5 May
1 9 May
22 May
26 May
29 May
2 Jun
5 Jun
7 Jun
9 Jun
12 Jun
23 Jun
26 Jun
7 Jul
I O Jul
1 3 Jul
14 Jul
24 Oct
30 Dec
15 Mar
1 9 Aug
20 Aug
22 Aug
25 Aug
27 Aug
28 Aug
1 Sept
3 Sept

1 909
1 909
1 909
1 909
1 909
1910
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
1913
1913
1914
1914
1914
1914
1914
1914
1914
1 9 14
1914

]RC - Roething
]. C. Rosenthal - JRC (New York)
]RC - Jaffe (New York)
]. Corzo - JRC
]. Corzo - JRC
]RC - Voigt
]RC - Gelly
]RC - Portela
Leopoldo Carranza - ]RC
Emilio Carranza - JRC
]RC - L. Molina Carranza
]RC - Nollman
]RC - Villegas
Villegas - ]RC
]RC - Lynch
]RC - Illa
Illa - JRC
Nollman - ]RC
]RC - Illa
]RC - Anaya
Berasain - ]RC
Anaya - JRC
JRC-Berasain
]RC - Aurbach
Nimzowitsch - ]RC
]RC - Reti
]RC - Villegas
Coria - JRC
]RC - Martinez
Villegas - ]RC
Lynch - JRC
Ruiz - JRC
]RC - Israel
Illa - JRC

DRAWS

1•
1•

176
Sept
8 Sept
1 9 Nov
1 2 Apr
1 0 Nov
29 May
8 Oct
Total

Exhibition Gaws

1914
1914
1915
1916
1916
1 926
1 934

v. A. N. Other (Buenos Aires)
Molina Carranza - JRC
Shipley - JRC
W. R . Lovegrove - JRC (San Francisco)
Shipley - ]RC
Stewart - JRC
JRC - Cintron

WINS
1•
I

DRAWS

37 wins 4 draws

* Game-scores have not been discovered. The rest of the games are in this
book.
Capablanca's 95% score has never been equalled, or even approached.

Consultation Games

WINS

1 1 Nov 1 909
1 5 Dec 1 909
1 6 Jan 1 9 1 1
1 7 May 1 9 1 1
24 May 1 9 1 1
3 1 May 1 9 1 1
1 4 Jun 1 9 1 1
2 1 Jun 1 9 1 1
1 8 Oct 1 9 1 1
27 Nov 1 9 1 3
1 Feb 1 9 1 4
8 Feb 1 9 1 4
5 Mar 1 9 1 4
1 1 and
1 2 Mar 1 9 1 4
1 0 Sept
Sept
1 7 Sept
1 8 Sept
2 2 Sept
28 Sept
2 Apr

1914
1914
1914
1914
1914
1914
1915

4 Dec 1 9 1 8
Feb 1 920
25 Feb 1 922

JRC - Kirkham, Pease, Ring, and
Raymond (Hartford, Conn. , USA)
Labatt, Rosen, and Wilcox - JRC
(New Orleans)
JRC - Labatt and Moise
Israel and Portela - JRC
Martinez and Coria - JRC and
Emilio Carranza
Leo Carranza and Molina Carranza
- JRC and Portela
JRC - Villegas and Emilio Carranza
Illa and Gelly - JRC
Fahndrich and Kaufmann - JRC
and Tartakower
JRC - Aronson, Goldfarb, Gottesdiener, Rosenbaum, and Salwe
Blumenfeld and D. N. Pavlov - JRC
N. M. Pavlov and Selesniev - JRC
Bogoljubow, Bogatirchuk, and
Evenssohn - JRC
Fahndrich and Kaufman - JRC and
Reti
JRC - Lynch and Villegas
v. A. N. Others (Buenos Aires)
JRC - Molina Carranza and Ruiz
v. Villegas and Illa (Buenos Aires)
Portela and Martinez - JRC
JRC - Illa and Gelly
Gehl, Labatt, and Rosen - JRC
(New Orleans)
Shipley and Neill - JRC
Puig, Ardevol, and Puntas - JRC
Sharp and Shipley - JRC

l*
l*
1

l*
l

l*
l

l*
l

DRAWS

Consultation Games

178

WINS

8 Mar 1 924
1 1 Oct 1 924
2 1 Jan 1928
19 May 1 928
1 6 Jan

1 935

1 3 Jun 1 936

DRAWS

Sharp and Stewart - ]RC
Sharp, Shipley, and Stewart - JRC
Cruz, Mendes, and Pulcherio - ]RC
and L. Vianna
R. Blanco, J. Corzo, and Gelabert ]RC
]RC and Kmoch - Euwe and Lilien­
thal
llyin Zhenevsky and Rabinovich ]RC

Total
* Game-scores have not been found.

2 1 wins 9 draws

Simultaneous Displays with Clocks

WINS

6 Jan 1 9 1 0
Philadelphia
1 6 or
1 7 Apr 1 9 1 2
New Orleans
7 Sept 1 9 1 3
Havana
8 Sept 1 9 1 3
Havana
9 Sept 1 9 1 3
Havana
1 8 Oct 1 9 1 3
Paris
22 Mar 1 9 1 4
Paris
San Francisco
1 2 Apr 1 9 1 6
New Orleans
27 Apr 1 9 1 6
3 1 Jan 1 9 1 9
New Orleans
6 Sep 1 9 1 9
Paris
25 Sep 1 9 1 9
Glasgow
6 Oct 1 9 1 9
Bradford, England
1 6 Jan 1 9 1 9
London
2 Nov 1 928
Copenhagen
4 Nov 1 928
Stockholm
5 Mar 1 933
Havana
8 Jan 1 935
Manchester
24 Mar 1.935
Leningrad
29 Nov 1 935
Bilbao, Spain
14 Dec 1 935
Barcelona
1 7 Jun 1 936
Kiev
25 Jun 1 936
Odessa
1 2 Dec 1 936
Manhattan
Havana
2 Apr 1 941
Total for 25 displays

2
3
3
3
I
2
2
2
2
2
I
2
2
7
5
7
4
3
7
9

LOSSES

2
2

4

3
6
80 wins

DRAWS

1 3 losses

3

4
6
2
2
22 draws

Simultaneous Displays

The list is probably not complete.
There is, for instance, no means of
knowing how many displays Capa­
b!anca gave in the years 1 905-1 908
before he became well known. The
total for the 4th US tour was said by
Rosebault - a notoriously inaccurate
reporter - to consist of 430 games,
and the 8th US tour is reported more reliably - to have consisted of
nearly 450 games ; for these two tours
there might be a further four or five
missing displays other than those
noted in the list. From Cuba, the land
of his birth, we received no help at all,
official or otherwise, and there might
be a few gaps here. The most intri­
guing unconfirmed report is one to
the effect that Capablanca entered
the Kremlin in 1 925 and played
against the Soviet leaders !
For the rest, however, the list
should be fairly complete ; we should
be surprised if, after 1 908, there were

as many as a dozen missing displays
other than those indicated on the list.
The 49 1 scores here given make a
total of 1 3,545 games, with a score of
1 1 ,912 wins, 570 losses, and 1 ,063
draws, or 92% .
For some displays reports conflict,
and for these we have selected what
seemed to us the most reliable
sources. A few displays were played in
series : those at Lincoln and Topeka
in December 1 909 were played on
fourteen boards, and the display at
Syracuse 1 9 1 9 was on twenty-two
boards. Otherwise we discovered a
mere handful of series displays
involving only one or two boards. All
his monster displays, of forty-eight
boards or more (except the Topeka
event referred to) were parallel
displays.
The footnotes indicate sources
which led us to suppose that these
missing displays took place.
WINS

26 Oct 190 1
1 1 Jan 1 906
28 Mar 1 907
1 907
9 May 1 907
18 May 1 907
25 Jan 1908
I Feb 1 908

Havana
New York Cy.
New York Cy.
WashingtonCal
New York Cy.
Queen's Co. CC, N.Y. Cb>
Phildadelphia
Brooklyn

7
16
17

LOSSES

2

22
16
24

DRAWS

1

2

I
2

181

Simultaneous Displays
WINS

4 Dec 1 908

5 Jan
6 Jan

1 909
1 909

New York Cy.
Brooklyn<0>
New York Cy.<0>
Another<c>
Philadelphia
New York Cy.
Washington

LOSSES

20
20
18

DRAWS

2

15

1
4

4
l

l sT US TOUR

Troy, N.Y.
1 2 Jan 1 909
Schenectady, N.Y.
1 3 Jan 1 909
Utica, N.Y.
15 Jan 1 909
Rochester, N.Y.
1 6 Jan 1 909
Buffalo, N.Y.
1 7 Jan 1 909
Buffalo, N.Y.
1 8 Jan 1 909
Toronto
1 9 Jan 1 909
Cleveland, 0.
20 Jan 1 909
Detroit
2 1 Jan 1 909
Milwaukee, Wis.
23 Jan 1 909
Minneapolis, Minn.
25 Jan 1 909
St. Paul, Minn.
26 Jan 1 909
Forest Cy., la.
27 Jan 1 909
Sioux Cy., la.
28 Jan 1909
Lincoln, Neb.
29 Jan 1 909
Lincoln, Neb.
30 Jan 1909
Lincoln, Neb.
30 Jan 1 909
Des Moines, la.
2 Feb 1 909
Newton Tn. , la.
3 Feb 1909
Kansas Cy.
4 Feb 1909
Humboldt, Kans.
5 Feb 1 909
St. Louis, Mo.
8 Feb 1 909
St. Louis, Mo.
9 Feb 1 909
Memphis, Tenn.
I I Feb 1 909
New Orleans
1 9 Feb 1909
Indianola, Miss.
2 2 Feb 1 909
Indianapolis
25 Feb 1 909
Cincinnati, 0.
2 6 Feb 1 909
Lexington, Ky.
2 7 Feb 1 909
Gambier, 0.
I Mar 1 909
Pittsburg
2 Mar 1 909
(total for tour : 5 7 1 + 1 3 - 1 8 )

25
30
11
13
20
10
23
20
15
15
19
6
25
16
13
25
15
25
17
15
28
16
17
13
16
10
12
14
23
23
41

I

2

4

4
I

4

2

5

=

I Apr 1 909

New York Cy.

25

4

Simultaneous Displays

182

WINS
2 Apr
29 June
30 June
1 2 Oct
1 4 Oct
4 Nov
5 Nov
6 Nov
1 1 Nov
1 3 Nov

1 909
1 909
1 909
1 909
1 909
1 909
1 909
1 909
1 909
1909

Philadelphia
Montreal
Montreal
Hackensack, N.J.
Washington
New York Cy.
Hoboken, N.J.
New York Cy.
Hartford, Conn.
Brooklyn

LOSSES

16
12
15
25
13

2

25

2

DRAWS

4
3
2

1

21

1

22

3

5
1
2
3
1
2

10
27

2ND US TOUR

Montreal
1 7 Nov 1 909
Schenectady, N.Y.
1 9 Nov 1 909
Utica, N.Y.
20 Nov 1 909
Buffalo, N.Y.
22 Nov 1 909
Detroit
23 Nov 1 909
Chicago
24 Nov 1 909
Milwaukee, Wis.
25 Nov 1 909
Minneapolis
26 Nov 1 909
St. Paul, Minn.
27 Nov 1 909
Glencoe, Minn.
29 Nov 1 909
Sioux, Cy., Ia.
1 Dec 1 909
Lincoln, Neb.
2 Dec 1 909
Lincoln, Neb.
3 Dec 1 909
Lincoln, Neb.
3 Dec 1 909
Kansas Cy.
4 Dec 1 909
Topeka, Kans.
6 Dec 1 909
St. Louis, Mo.
8 Dec 1 909
St. Louis, Mo.
9 Dec 1 909
Memphis, Tenn.
1 1 Dec 1 909
New Orleans
1 4 Dec 1 909
New Orleans
1 6 Dec 1 909
New Orleans
1 8 Dec 1 909
Indianapolis
22 Dec 1 909
Cleveland, 0.
23 Dec 1 909
Philadelphia
6 Jan 1 9 1 0
(total for tour 469 + 1 7 - 23 = )
1 7 Feb
26 Mar
1 7 May
22 Oct

1910
1910
1910
1910

New York Cy.
Brooklyn
Richmond Hill, N.Y.
Philadelphia

2
1

22
28

I

7
28

10
25
13
13
12
25
16

l

4

2

3

1

21

3

13
18
10
50
21
19
10
11
11
19

l

1
2

2

1
3

1
2

2
2

27

25
15

3

25
27

17
15

1
2

2

183

Simultaneous Displays
WINS

5 Nov 1 9 1 0
6 Nov 1 9 1 0

New York Cy.
New York Cy.

23
25

LOSSES

2
3

DRAWS

3
2

3RD US TOUR

Schenectady, N.Y.
25 Nov 1 9 1 0
Buffalo N .Y.
26 Nov 1 9 1 0
Detroit
2 7 Nov 1 9 1 0
Chicago
28 Nov 1 9 1 0
Milwaukee, Wis.
30 Nov 1 9 1 0
Minneapolis
5 Dec 1 9 1 0
Lincoln, Neb.
6 Dec 1 9 1 0
Lincoln, Neb.
7 Dec 1 9 1 0
Kansas Cy.
8 Dec 1 9 1 0
Joplin, Mo.
9 Dec 1 9 1 0
S t . Louis, Mo.
10 Dec 1 9 1 0
Memphis, Tenn.
1 2 Dec 1 9 1 0
New Orleans
14 Jan 19 1 1
New Orleans
1 7 Jan 1 9 1 1
Indianapolis
2 1 Jan 1 9 1 1
(total for tour 234 + 8 - 1 2 = )

16
17
16
22
12
15
6
9
14
25
20
13
11
14
24

I

3

3

1
2
2
1
2

J sT EUROPE TOUR

Paris
25 Mar 1 9 1 1
Frankfurt
27 Mar 1 9 1 1
Nuremberg
28 Mar 1 9 1 1
Munich
29 Mar 1 9 1 1
Berlin
I Apr 1 9 1 1
Hamburg
4 Apr 1 9 1 1
Berlin
8 Apr 1 9 1 1
Berlin
1 0 Apr 1 9 1 1
Cologne
1 1 Apr 1 9 1 1
Paris
1 3 Apr 1 9 1 1
(total for tour 234 + 1 9 - 33 = )

7
19
27
26
36
26
22
26
27
18

l sT SOUTH•AMERICAN TOUR

7 May
29 June
2 July
6 July
l l July
1 2 July
15 July
1 7 July

191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1
191 1

Aires
Buenos Aires
Bahia Blanca
Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo
La Plata

Buenos

25
36
19
31
14
25
22
12

3
3
4
2
3

l

2

3
5
9
4
4
1
3
3

4
2
1

Simultaneous Displays

184

La Plata
1 9 July 1 9 1 1
Montevideo
2 Aug 1 9 1 1
(total for tour 223 + 4 - 1 5 = )

2ND EUROPE TOUR
Rotterdam
4 Sept 1 9 1 1
Leiden
5 Sept 1 9 1 1
Rotterdam
6 Sept 1 9 1 1
Middleburg
7 Sept 1 9 1 1
Hague
8 Sept 1 9 1 1
Amsterdam
9 Sept 1 9 1 1
Copenhagen
23 Sept 1 9 1 1
Hamburg
26 Sept 1 9 1 1
Berlin
2 Oct 1 9 1 1
Breslau
4 Oct 1 9 1 1
Allenstein
6 Oct 1 9 1 1
Prague
7 Oct 1 9 1 1
Prague
9 Oct 1 9 1 1
Budapest
1 3 Oct 1 9 1 1
Budapest
14 Oct 1 9 1 1
Vienna
1 9 Oct 1 9 1 1
Vienna
2 1 Oct 1 9 1 1
Stuttgart
25 Oct 1 9 1 l
Mannheim
29 Oct 1 9 1 1
Frankfurt
30 Oct 1 9 1 1
Paris
1 2 Nov 1 9 1 1
City of London CC
15 Nov 1 9 1 1
London
1 7 Nov 1 9 1 1
Birmingham
24 Nov 1 9 1 l
(total for tour 532 + 54 - 66 = )
5
7
ll
12

Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec

191 l
191 1
191 1
191 1

4TH US TOUR
1 5 Apr 1 9 1 2
l 8 Apr 1 9 1 2
20 Apr 1 9 1 2
26 Apr 1 9 1 2
l May 1 9 1 2
3 May 1 9 1 2

WINS
20
19

LOSSES

DRAWS
2
4

2
2
l

22
23
23
25
20
21
15
27
12
34
21
17
27
8
13
28
22
20
31
21
37
16
25
24

2

New York Cy.
New York Cy.
Newark, N.J.
Philadelphia

18
24
20
16

2
1
2
3

New Orleans
New Orleans
New Orleans
D e Queen, Ark.
St. Louis, Mo.
Joplin, Mo.

21
17
21
30
17
21

3
l

3
2

8
7
2
2
3
5

9

2
3
4
l
2

11
6
6
3
8
3
l
2
3
1
2

2

185

Simultaneous Displays
WINS

Lincoln, Neb.
6 May 1 9 1 2
Bloomfield, Neb.
8 May 1 9 1 2
Sioux City., la.
9 May 1 9 1 2
Minneapolis
I I May 1 9 1 2
Minneapolis
1 1 May 1 9 1 2
Winnipeg
1 4 May 1 9 1 2
Winnipeg
1 5 May 1 9 1 2
Chicago
25 May 1 9 1 2
Chicago
30 May 1 9 1 2
Chicago<d>
3 1 May 1 9 1 2
Columbus, Ind.
I Jwie 1 9 1 2
Louisville, Ky.
3 June 1 9 1 2
Detroit
8 June 1 9 1 2
(total fo r tour 3 1 6 + 1 0 - 3 = )
23 Nov
1 July
6 Sep
I I Sep

1912
1913
1913
1913

Brooklyn
New York Cy.
Havana
Havana

3RD EUROPE TOUR
City of London CC
1 3 Oct 1 9 1 3
London
1 7 Oct 1 9 1 3
Paris
1 8 Oct 1 9 1 3
Paris
25 Oct 1 9 13
Frankfurt
7 Nov 1 9 1 3
Berlin
9 Nov 1 9 1 3
Berlin
14 Nov 1 9 1 3
Berlin
2 1 Nov 1 9 1 3
Warsaw
24 Nov 1 9 1 3
Warsaw
25 Nov 1 9 1 3
Lodz
26 Nov 1 9 1 3
S t . Petersburg
7 Dec 1 9 1 3
St. Petersburg
1 9 Dec 1 9 1 3
Riga
25 Dec 1 9 1 3
Riga
26 Dec 1 9 1 3
Libau (Liepaja)
28 Dec 1 9 1 3
Dorpat (Yuriev)
I Jan 1 9 1 4
Pskov
1 6 Jan 1 9 1 4
St. Petersburg
20 Jan 1 9 1 4
Moscow
30 Jan 1 9 1 4
Serpuchov
3 1 Jan 1 9 1 4
Moscow
2 Feb 1 9 1 4

19
25
17
12
10
20
20
14
7

LOSSES

DRAWS

3

2
1

17
14
14

3

21
25
12
7

18
7
24
28
23
21
23
31
25
24
23
24
26
21
18
24
19
31
17
21
28
23

2

7

3

l
2
1
2

2
3
1
7
6
6
2
3
5
3
3
6
4

I

2
3
4
2
3
2
1
2
5
2
7
3

3

4
2
5

1 86

Simultaneous Displays
WINS

9 Feb 1 9 1 4
1 0 Feb 1 9 1 4
I I Feb 1 9 1 4
1 6 Feb 1 9 1 4
1 7 Feb 1 9 1 4
1 8 Feb 1 9 1 4
22 Feb 1 9 1 4
2 Mar 1 9 1 4
3 Mar 1 9 1 4
24 May 1 9 1 4
28 May 1 9 1 4
29 May 1 9 1 4
(total for tour

Moscow
Moscow
Moscow
Viborg
Helsinki
Helsinki
St. Petersburg
Kiev
Kiev
St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg
S t . Petersburg
769 + 86 - 91 = )

LOSSES

23
23
13
20
25
22

5
5
5

24

2

24
25
27
21
23

5
2

DRAWS

2
3
5

7

I
2

I

2
I
3
2
I
2

2ND SOUTH•AMERICAN TOUR

Buenos Aires
23 Aug 1 9 1 4
Buenos Aires
30 Aug 1 9 14
Buenos Aires<•>
6 Sep 1 9 1 4
Buenos Aires<•>
1 3 Sep 1 9 1 4
Buenos Aires
20 Sep 1 9 1 4
Buenos Aires
27 Sep 1 9 1 4
Buenos Aires
4 Nov 1 9 1 4
(total for tour 1 3 7 + 5 - 7 = )
26 Jan 1 9 1 5
4 Feb 1 9 1 5
1 2 Feb 1 9 1 5

33
29

28
25
22

3

22

Brooklyn
New York Cy.
Brooklyn

29
48

Washington
Washington
Kingston, N.Y.
Troy, N.Y.
Utica, N.Y.
Syracuse, N.Y.
Cleveland, 0.
Chicago
Chicago
Chicago
Nashville, Tenn.
Memphis, Tenn.
New Orleans
New Orleans

34
14
8
36
23
24
28
48
21
34
26
15
15
16

5

2
2
3

3
2
12

5TH US TOUR

1
2
6
8
10
12
16
20
23
26
27
29
1
3

Mar
Mar
Mar
Mar
Mar
Mar
Mar
Mar
Mar
Mar
Mar
Mar
Apr
Apr

1915
1915
1915
1915
1915
1915
1915
1915
1915
1915
1915
1915
1915
1915

1
3
3
I
2
2

187

Simultaneous Displays
WINS

New Orleans
6 Apr 1 9 1 5
Lafayette, La.
7 Apr 1 9 1 5
(total for tour 384 + 2 - 1 4 = )
29 May 1 9 1 5
3 0 May 1 9 1 5

Tampa, Fla.
Tampa, Fla.

6TH US TOUR
Brooklyn
1 3 Nov 1 9 1 5
Philadelphia
1 9 Nov 1 9 1 5
Washington
2 0 Nov 1 9 1 5
Indianapolis
2 Dec 1 9 1 5
Chicago
4 Dec 1 9 1 5
Chicago
Dec 1 9 1 5
Chicago
Dec 1 9 1 5
Princeton Univ.
20 Dec 1 9 1 5
(total for tour 209 + 8 5 = )

LOSSES

DRAWS

16
26
31
29

28
15
25
35
45
18
21
22

5

-

1 1 Jan 1 9 1 6
1 2 Feb 1 9 1 6

New York Cy.
New York Cy.

7TH US TOUR
Colorado Springs
27 Mar 1 9 1 6
Salt Lake City
1 Apr 1 9 1 6
Seattle
4 Apr 1 9 1 6
Seattle
5 Apr 1 9 1 6
Portland, Ore.
6 Apr 1 9 1 6
Portland, Ore.
7 Apr 1 9 1 6
Portland, Ore.
8 Apr 1 9 1 6
San Francisco
1 1 Apr 1 9 1 6
San Diego, Calif.
15 Apr 1 9 1 6
San Antonio, Tex.
1 8 Apr 1 9 1 6
Austin
1 9 Apr 1 9 1 6
Dallas, Tex.
21 Apr 1 9 1 6
New Orleans
25 Apr 1 9 1 6
New Orleans
2 9 Apr 1 9 1 6
Pittsburg
3 May 1 9 1 6
( total for tour 385 + 5 - 1 0 = )
26 Oct 1 9 1 6
30 Oct 1 9 1 6
10 Nov 1 9 1 6
1917
1 5 Mar 1 9 1 8

New York Cy.
Bethlehem, Pa.
Philadelphia
Havana([)
Cienfuegos, Cuba

2

30
17
44

30
14
27
37
20
5
29
14
23
25
29
19
18
51

24
32
20
19

2

3
I
2

3

Simultaneous Displays

188

WINS

LOSSES

8TH US TOUR
New York Cy.
8 May 1 9 1 8
New York Cy.
2 1 Sep 1 9 1 8
Philadelphia
28 Sep 1 9 1 8
Hartford, Conn.
3 Dec 1 9 1 8
Philadelphia
4 Dec 1 9 1 8
BaltimoreCg)
1 4 Dec 1 9 1 8
New York Cy.
8 Jan 1 9 1 9
Troy, N.Y.
IO Jan 1 9 1 9
Syracuse, N.Y.
1 1 Jan 1 9 1 9
Cleveland, 0.
1 3 Jan 1 9 1 9
Chicago
18 Jan 1 9 I 9
New Orleans
28 Jan 1 9 I 9
New Orleans
30 Jan I 9 1 9
New Orleans
I Feb 1 9 1 9
Pittsburg
1 0 Feb 1 9 1 9
(total for tour 376 + 3 - 1 5 = )
Havana
Havana

24
I4

City of London CC
Hastings
London
Paris
London
Newcastle
Glasgow
Liverpool
Liverpool
Manchester
Stoke
Leeds
Bradford
Sheffield
Birmingham
Cheltenham
Cardiff
Norwich
London
Hampstead
Thornton Heath, Sy.

21
27
38
24
36
38
35
29
36
30
40

Apr 1 9 1 9
Apr 1 9 1 9

5

33
22
28
29
14
26
18
28
45
44
17
17
17
38

2
2

3

2

4TH EUROPE TOUR
6
23
28
13
18
22
24
27
29
1
2
3
7
8
9
IO
II
14
15
16
18

Aug
Aug
Aug
Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct

I919
1919
I919
1919
1919
1919
1919
1919
1919
1919
1919
19I9
1919
1919
1919
1919
1919
1919
1919
1919
1919

DRAWS

3

2

4
7
1
2
2
2

3
3

40

35
38
36
36
35
38
35
34
35

3
l

2

2
3

2
1
2
3
I
3
5
4
4

189

Simultaneous Displays
WINS

Ipswich
22 Oct 1 9 1 9
St. Albans, Herts.
24 Oct 1 9 1 9
Wrexham, Wales
27 Oct 1 9 1 9
Worcester
28 Oct 1 9 1 9
Kingston, Sy.
29 Oct 1 9 1 9
Guildford
1 Nov 1 9 1 9
London
1 3 Nov 1 9 1 9
Bury St. Edmunds
20 Nov 1 9 1 9
Dudley, Staffs.
24 Nov 1 9 1 9
House of Commons
2 Dec 1 9 1 9
Dublin
4 Dec 1 9 1 9
Dublin
5 Dec 1 9 1 9
Belfast
IO Dec 1 9 1 9
Luton, Beds.
18 Dec 1 9 1 9
Bromley, Kent
20 Dec 1 9 1 9
London
1 8 jan 1 920
Madrid
1 Feb 1 920
Madrid
3 Feb 1 920
Bilbao, Spain
4 Feb 1 920
Madrid
I I Feb 1 920
Seville
1 3 Feb 1 920
Seville
1 4 Feb 1 920
Barcelona
20 Feb 1 920
Barcelona
26 Feb 1 920
(total for tour 1 5 1 5 + 4 1 - 89 )

LOSSES

DRAWS

40
40
26

40

36
42
37
34
42
36
27
37
38
40
39
27
28
27
29
27
28
28
27
24

4
2

2
12
2

1
2

2
1
I
2
2
2

I
3
2

I
2
6

3
2

I
I
2
4
I
2

I

=

26 Mar 1 920

26

Baltimore

5TH EUROPE TOUR
Bristol
9 Oct 1 920
Woolwich
1 3 Oct 1 920
Amsterdam
1 8 Oct 1 920
Hague
1 9 Oct 1 920
Rotterdam
22 Oct 1 920
Hertogenbosch
23 Oct 1 920
(total for tour 1 84 + 7 - 1 1 )

39
40
26
24
28
27

=

16
4
7
9
23
25

Dec
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb

1 920
1922
1 922
1 922
1 922
1 922

New York Cy.
Cleveland, 0.
Chicago
South Bend, Ind.
New York Cy.
Philadelphia

32
1 02
50
29
37
46

3
I
7
3
6

Simultaneous Displays

190

WINS

LOSSES

DRAWS

6TH EUROPE TOUR

Paris
1 5 May 1 922
Manchester
2 Oct 1 922
London
7 Oct 1 922
London
22 Oct 1 922
Rotherham, Yorks.
26 Oct 1922
Manchester
28 Oct 1 922
Bolton, Lanes.
30 Oct 1 922
(total for tour 242 + 6 - 9 = )
1 6 Nov
18 Nov
20 Nov
29 Nov
12 Dec
7 Mar
6 Mar
23 Apr
I I Oct

New York Cy.
Philadelphia
Providence, R.I.
New York Cy.
Cleveland, 0.
Brooklyn
Philadelphia
New York Cy.
Philadelphia

1 922
1 922
1 922
1 922
1 922
1 924
1 924
1 924
1 924

38
32
41
29
36
24
42

30
33
43
21
39
25
27
16
22

2
4
4

2

2
I

2
6
5
4

3
4
5

4
9
8

7TH EUROPE TOUR

Berlin
26 Oct 1 925
Berlin
28 Oct 1 925
Warsaw
30 Oct 1 925
Moscow
7 Nov 1 925
Moscow
8 Nov 1 925
Leningrad
20 Nov 1 925
London
1 3 Dec 1 925
(total for tour 1 38 + 1 5 - 68 = )

19
22
15
12
18
18
34

3 May
6 May
22 May
23 May
5 June
26 June
30 Nov
4 Dec
1 0 Dec
l l Dec
1 3 Dec
1 5 Jan
Jan

21
23
32
20
14
42
22
30
17
31
29
20
29

1 926
1 926
1 926
1 926
1 926
1926
1 926
1 926
1 926
1 926
1 926
1 92 7
1 92 7

Havana
Chicago
Cleveland, 0.
Cleveland, 0.
Philadelphia
New York Cy.
New York Cy.
Chicago
Detroit
Cleveland, 0.
Cleveland, 0.
Havana
Santiago, Cuba

3
2
4
4

10
18
12
1
11
8
8

1
2

3

2

7
l
3
3
3
l
3
4

191

Simultaneous Displays
WINS

New York Cy.
Philadelphia

22 Mar 1 927
26 Mar 1 92 7

LOSSES

DRAWS

26
18

3RD SOUTH•AMERICAN TOUR

San Paulo
Aug 1 92 7
San Paulo
Aug 1927
San Paulo
Aug 1 927
San PauJo<h>
Aug 1 927
San Paulo
Aug 1 927
Rio de ]aneiro
1 3 Jan 1 928
Rio de ]aneiro
1 4 Jan 1 928
Rio de ]aneiro
1 7 Jan 1 928
Rio de Janeiro
1 9 Jan 1 928
(total for tour 1 65 + 1 0 - 4 = )

15
16
17
18
27

1 0 Feb 1 928
1 1 Feb 1 928

Philadelphia
Brooklyn

19
21

2

33

3
IO
24
23
24
8

4
2
2

3

2
5
2

12

3

44

3

8TH EUROPE TOUR

Berlin
4 Aug 1 928
Essen
1 928
Stockholm
5 Nov 1 928
Goteborg
7 Nov 1 928
Munich
I I Nov 1 928
London
20 Nov 1 928
Manchester
2 1 Nov 1 928
London
22 Nov 1 928
(total for tour 220 + 1 4 - 3 7 = )
l Dec 1 928
16 Feb 1 929

Brooklyn
Havana

26
24
27
22
29

3

3

2
1

5
5
7
8

I

3

39

24
29

3

9
2

2

3

3

43

15

9TH EUROPE TOUR

Apr
9 Apr
10 Apr
1 2 Apr
28 Apr
25 June
2 1 July
25 July
4 Dec
8 Dec
10 Dec
8

1 929
1929
1 929
1 929
1 929
1929
1929
1 929
1 929
1 929
1 929

London
London
London
London
London
Berlin
Prague
Prague
Berlin
Munich
Vienna

5

35
36

40
16
29
28
24
24
25
28
30

1

4

3

3
3

3

2
6
2

7
1
4
6
8

192

Simultaneous Displays
WINS

LOSSES

DRAWS

Paris
23 Dec 1 930
Newcastle
1 4 Jan 1 93 1
(total for tour 370 + 1 7 - 44 = )

18
37

12
23
29
4

28
32
23
22

6
2

19
26
26

l
3
2

l
3

46

4

16
4

Feb
Feb
Mar
Apr

1931
1931
193 1
1931

New York Cy.
Boston, Mass.
Havana
Havana

l 0TH EUROPE TOUR
14 Apr 1931
London
l Aug 1 93 1
Amsterdam
Hague
4 Aug 1931
(total for tour 7 1 + 6 - 4 = )
1 4 May
28 Jan
26 Feb
1 3 Mar
15 Mar
1 7 Mar
23 Mar
8 Apr

1 932
1 933
1 933
1933
1 933
1 933
1933
1 933

Havana
Havana
Havana
Balboa, Panama
Balboa, Panama
Balboa, Panama
Colon, Panama
Los Angeles

3

16
6
3

33
26
20
33
39
19
25

6

MEXICAN TOUR

El Paso, Tex.
1 933
Torreon, Coah.
1 933
Monterrey, N.L.
1 933
San Luis Potosi
1 933
Mexico Cy.
1 933
Mexico Cy.
1 933
Mexico Cy.
1 933
Mexico Cy.
1 933
PuebJaW
1 933
2 May 1 933
Mexico Cy.
Mexico Cy.
4 May 1 933
8 May 1 933
Mexico Cy.
9 May 1 933
Mexico Cy.
I O May 1 933
Cuernavaca, Mor.
1 1 May 1 933
Guadalajara, Jal.
1 4 May 1 933
Mazatlan, Sin.
1 6 May 1 933
Culiacan, Sin.
(total fo r tour 452 + 1 0 - 20 = )
1 4 Apr
1 6 Apr
18 Apr
1 9 Apr
2 1 Apr
24 Apr
26 Apr
29 Apr

17
29
20
30
35
31
26
36
31
18
36
27
15
27
23
20

31

2
2

3
7
2
3

2

2

193

Simultaneous Displays
WINS

2 1 May 1 933
9 Oct 1 934
1 0 Oct 1 934

Hollywood
S. Juan, Puerto Rico
S. Juan, Puerto Rico

1 1 TH EUROPE TOUR
Manchester
7 Jan 1 935
Rotterdam
1 9 Jan 1 935
Paris
Jan 1 935
Leipzig
28 Jan 1 935
Bayreuth
29 Jan 1 935
Berlin
I Feb 1 935
Berlin
2 Feb 1 935
Prague
5 Feb 1 935
Mahrisch.Ostrau
6 Feb 1 935
Warsaw
8 Feb 1 935
Moscow
1 0 Feb 1 935
Leningrad
1 2 Feb 1 935
Moscow
4 Mar 1 935
Moscow
16 Mar 1 935
Leningrad
2 1 Mar 1 935
Bilbao, Spain
27 Nov 1 935
Logrono, Spain
30 Nov 1 935
Burgos
2 Dec 1 935
Madrid
3 Dec 1 935
Madrid
10 Dec 1 935
Barcelona
1 3 Dec 1 935
Manresa
1 5 Dec 1 935
Barcelona
1 7 Dec 1 935
Tarrega
1 9 Dec 1 935
San Sebastian
27 Dec 1 935
(total for tour 628 + 59 - 76 = )
7 Mar 1 936
27 Mar 1 936

Havana<k>
Havana

LOSSES

39
26
12
20
29
27
27
25

4
10
I

I

3

22

2

24

4
14
11
3

7

10
25
14
21
29
30
24

7

3

2
2
5
8
6
9
9
2

9
I

2

27

3

18
35

3

27

2

40

DRAWS

2

21
31
29

2

30

40

5

14

i 2TH EUROPE TOUR

1 1 May
3 1 May
1 0 June
12 June
1 8 June
1 9 June
22 June

1 936
1 936
1 936
1 936
1 936
1 936
1 936

Moscow
Moscow
Kalin in
Leningrad
Kiev
Kiev
Dniepropetrovsk

27
23
24
12
23
18
20

3
2
9
2

3
4
4
9
5

5

7

2

8

Simultaneous Displays

194

Dniepropetrovsk
2 3 June 1 936
Odessa
26 June 1 936
2 7 June 1 936
Odessa
28 June 1 936
Kharkov
29 June 1 936
Kharkov
30 June 1 936
Kharkov
(total for tour 269 + 42 - 79 = )
1 4 Dec
28 Mar
17 Apr
1 1 Sep
1 7 Oct
20 Oct
1 9 Mar
2 1 Mar
8 May
10 Sep
5 Oct
30 Sep
26 Jan
1 3 Apr
6 Nov
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(j)
(k)
(I)

1 936
1 937
1 937
1 937
1 937
1 937
1 938
1 938
1 938
1 938
1938
1 939
1 940
1 940
1 94 1

New York Cy.
Miami
Havana
Semmering
Vienna
Baden-by-Vienna
New York Cy.
Philadelphia
Havana
Santiago, Cuba
S. Clara, Cubam
Buenos Aires
Santiago, Chile
Havana
New York Cy.

WINS

LOSSES

DRAWS

24
21
21
21
17
18

3
2
3
4
5
2

3
7
6
5
8
10

28
21
50
25
20
29
13
24
22
27
18
21
21
19

3
l
6

2

3
2

American Chess Bulletin, 1 937, p. 84.
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1 9 May 1 907.
Washington Evening Star, 10 Jan 1 909.
Louisville Times, l June 1 9 1 2 .
&vista del Club Argentino de Ajedrez, July-Sept 1 9 1 4.
American Chess Bulletin, 1 9 18, p. 107.
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1 2 Dec. 1 9 1 8
Possibly a simultaneous display with clocks.
Date given as 3 1 April in Revista Mexicana de Ajedrez, 1 933, p. 1 73.
Diario de la Marina, l March 1 936.
Diario de la Marina, 29 Sept 1 938.

14
3
10
2

6
3
2
2
4
l

Index of Players

Numerals refer to game-numbers; those in italics indicate that Capablanca had thi
white pieces.

Adams, 105
Alekhine, 8, 1 2
Anaya, 48, 50
Anderson, 194
Ardevol, 83
Aronson, 6
Aurbach, 1, 23, 24, 122
Baca-Arus, 121
Bancroft, 98
Barnett, 193
Beihoff, 1 1 5
Berasain, 49, 51
Bernstein, I S, 16
Blanco, J. A., 136, 1 44
Blanco, R., 88, 120, 1 62, 166
Blumenfeld, 1 4
Bogoljubow, 1 8
Bohatirchuk, 1 8
Borochow, 187
Botvinnik, 200
Brackett, 27
Bray, 190
Broadbent, 98
Bruezza, 204
Burgess, 28
Campos, 202
Carranza, E., 38, 73, 75
Carranza, Leopoldo, 37, 74
Carranza, Lizardo Molina, 39, 64,
79, 74
Carter, 174
Chajes, 53
Chase, 195
Cintron, 70
Coria, 57, 73
Corzo, E., 129, 1 39, 159, 160, 1 64,
165, 166
Corzo, J., 3 1 , 32, 88, 92, 120, 1 3 1 ,
140, 145, 1 46, 147, 1 48, 149, 1 50,
151, 1 52, 153, 1 54, 155, 1 56, 157,
1 63, 166

..

Cruz, 87
Cutting, 108, 1 09
Davidson, H. F., 108, 1 09
Davidson, L. A., JOO
Delmar, 166
Delmonte, 127, 1 37, 166
Dietz, 204
Dunkelsbuhler, 180
Duz-Hotimirsky, 9, 11
Echevarria, 161
Ettlinger, 1 03, 1 33
Eva, 99
Evenssohn, 1 8
Euwe, 89
Fahndrich, 1 9, 77
Ferguson, 108, 1 09
Finn, 166
Fiol, 130, 1 4 1 , 166
Fonaroff, I23
Forsberg, 208
Fox, A. W., 25
Gavilan, 1 32, 142
Geisser, I 76
Gelabert, 88, 20 I
Gelly, 35, 76, 81
Germann, 96
Glicco, 205
Goldfarb, 6
Gottesdiener, 6
Grieg, JOO
Griffith, 1 1 9
Hadland, 192
Haussmann, 188
Helms, 26
Higginbottom, 99
Hirszbajn, 6
Hymes, 166
Iglesias, 1 58
Illa, 44, 45, 47, 63, 76, 81
Ilyin-Zhenevsky, 90
Israel, 62, 72

Index of Players

196
Jaffe, 52, 54, 55
Kaufmann, 1 9, 7 7
Kmoch, 89
Labatt, 71, 91, 185
Lasker, Edward, 181
Law, Bonar, 124
Leu, 204
Lilienthal, 89
Lipschutz, 166
Loman, 178
Lundin, 97
Lynch, 43, 60, 78
Maddock, 196
Marceau, 134
Marshall, 1 1 6, 1 1 7, 1 1 8
Martinez, 58, 73, 80
Masyutin, 182
Mendes, 87
Meyer, 107
Michelsen, 175, 183
Mieses, 3, 4
Miller, 96
Moise, 71
Morton, 95
Muffang, 94
Navarrete, 165
Neill, 82
Nimzowitsch 1 3
Nollman, 40, 46
Northrop, 112
Other, A. N., 1 1 1 , 1 68, 186
Paredes, 1 28, 138
Parker, 98
Pavlov, D. N., 1 4
Pavlov, N . M . , 1 7
Perkins, 95
Phillips, 166
Podhajsky, 1 77
Portela, C. M., 36, 72, 74, 80
Portela, R., 120
Prestes, 203
Privonitz, 179
Puig, 83
Pulcherio, 87
Pulvermacher, 75A, 106
Puntas, 83
Rabinovich, 90
Rather, 207
Raubitschek, 1 10, 169, 1 70

.

Ravinsky, 102
Redding, 167
Reeve, 191
Rensoli, 165
Reti, 1 9, 22
Ribera, JOI
Rivera, 206
Roething, 30, 166
Rose, 104
Rosen, 91
Rosenbaum, 6
Rosenthal, 1 1 3
Ross, 1 1 9
Ruffer, 1 1 9
Ruiz, 6 1 , 79
Rydz, JOO
Salwe, 6
Santasiere, 197
Schrader, 173
Schroeder, 66
Selesniev, 1 7
Shackleton, 95
Sharp, 67, 84, 85, 86
Sheffer, 1 7 1
Shipley, 33, 65, 68, 82, 84, 86,
199
Silbert, 93
Simon, 98
Skillicorn, 96
Stahr, 184
Steiner, H., 126
Sterling, 1 35, 143
Stewart, 69, 85, 86
Sutcliffe, 99
Tartakower, 20, 21, 77
Teichmann, 2, 5
Tholfsen, 198
Thomas, 125
Turner, JOO
Varnum, 204
Vianna, 87
Villegas, 41, 42, 56, 59, 75, 78
Voigt, 34
Ward, 29
Watson, 172
White, 189
Wolbrecht, 114
Wolstencroft, 99
Znosko-Borovsky, 7, JO

Index of Openings
Numerals refer to game-numbers ; those in italics indicate that• Capablanca had th,
white pieces.

Benoni Defence, 3, 46, 197
Bird's Opening, 62, 91, 188
Budapest Counter-gambit, 189
Caro-Kann, 69, 72, 74, 77, 80, 82,
83, 85, 86, 88, 101, 201
Centre Counter-gambit, 120, 1 3 1
Dutch Defence, 147, 151, 153, 157,
1 77, 182
English Opening, 185, 50 (Anders­
sen's Opening)
French Defence :
Exchange Variation, 1 9, 65, 78, 1 09,
142, 143, 1 7 1
MacCutcheon Variation, 10, 33, 45,
76, 199
other variations, 27, 138, 1 39, 163,
172, 203, 206
Four Knight's Opening, 35, 36, 43,
53, 54, 57, 126, 148, 173, 178
Giuoco Piano, 1 3, 1 44, 1 46 (Evans
Gambit)
King's Gambit, 75, 75A, 79, 1 22, 1 64,
1 70, 174, 195, 196
Kings's Pawn, various :
Latvian Gambit, 159, 160
Philidor's Defence, 42, 194
Ponziani, 124, 1 28
Three Knight 's Opening, 3 1 , 32
Two Knight's Defence, 66, 162
Vienna, 1 50, 152
Max Lange, 1 1 6, 1 1 7, 1 1 8
other variations, 4, 51, 58, 6 1 , 1 4 1
Old Indian Defence, 5 2 , 55

Petroff's Defence, 1 12, 1 14, 1 54, 167,
180
Queen's Fianchetto Defence, 202
Queen's Gambit Declined :
White plays B KN5, 5, 1 5, 1 8, 28,
34, 39, 63, 96, 125, 179, 186,
187, 192, 193, 200, 204, 205
Slav Defence, 8, 16, 56, 59, 95, JOO
other variations, 23, 40, 99, 166, 208
Queen's Indian Defence, 87, 90, 102
Queen's Pawn :
• plays P Q N3, 41, 48, 121,
White
149, 155, 1 76
Colle System, 94, 184, 190
Stonewall, 44, 71, 1 37
other variations, 1, 9, 60, 64
Reti's Opening, 89
Ruy Lopez :
Berlin Defence, 22, 129, 1 56, 169
Steinitz Defence, 25, 81, 108, 123,
198
other defences without 3 . . . P-QR3,
3� 73, 93, JO� 113
Exchange Variation, 1 7, 38
Closed Defence, 2, 7, 11, 1 2, 97, 181
Steinitz Defence Deferred, 67, 68, 98
Tarrasch Defence, 6, 92, 107
other defences with 3 . . . P-QR3, 26,
30, 47, 49, 105, 106, 1 35, 191
Scotch Game, 14, 20, 24, 84, 130, 1 32,
1 33, 134, 136, 140, 145, 161
Sicilian Defence, 21, 29, 70, 1 1 9, 127,
175, 183, 207
-

-

Index of Endgames

To understand the games of Capablanca one must understand the endgame,
of which he was the undisputed master. First and last he was a positional
player, and for him the endgame extended backwards, as it were. The who)(
game was an endgame but with more pieces on the board. He might threaten
mate or gain of material, but underlying his play there would be the thread oJ
his positional aim : a win in the endgame if other means failed.
Here are some endgames of special interest of merit.
Pawn endings, 1 8 1 , 1 99
Knight endings, 45, 1 02
Knight against bishop, 32, 72, 78, 1 48, 1 53
Bishops of opposite colour, 5, 1 3, 22
A minor piece up, 87, 1 1 1 , 1 44
The exchange up, 29, 1 44, 1 47, 183
Rook endings, l, 50, 90
Endings with two rooks each, 1 7, 37
Two minors against a rook, 26, 53
Rooks, and minor pieces, 1, 1 7, 1 9, 20, 42, 45, 76, 87, 96, 1 03, 166, 1 83, 204
Queen ending, 30
Steinitz pointed out that if you are making active use of your king and your
opponent is not then you are, in effect, playing with an extra piece. Capablanca
understood this well. Here are some examples of his use of the king in the end­
game, of his king manoeuvres in the middlegame as preparation for the end­
game, and of middlegame combinations in which his king takes part.
4, 6, 29, 30, 37, 50, 53, 72, 90, 1 02, 1 03, 1 20, 144, 1 47, 1 63, 1 97.

Index of Sources

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36

La Stratigie, 1 9 1 3, p. 4 1 1
Ibid,. 1 9 1 3, p. 484
Ibid., 1 9 1 3, p. 482
Ibid. , 1 9 1 3, p. 480
Ibid. , 1 9 1 3, p. 486
Lodz Chess Society Jubilee
book 1 903-1 938, p. 44 (Dan­
iuszewski)
Shakmatny Vestnik, 1 9 1 3, p. 377
Ibid. , 1 9 1 3, p. 379
Ibid. , 1 9 1 3, p. 38 1
Ibid. , 1 9 1 4, p. 7
Ibid. , 1 9 1 4, p. 9
Ibid. , 1 9 1 4, p. 1 1
Ibid., 1 9 1 4, p . 35
Ibid., 1 9 1 4, p. 5 1
Ibid. , 1 9 1 4, p. 48
Ibid. , 1 9 1 4, p. 50
Ibid. , 1 9 1 4, p . 6 1
Ibid., 1 9 1 4, p . 1 00
Ibid. , 1 9 1 4, p . 1 00
Ibid., 1 9 1 4, p. 1 1 6
Ibid. , 1 9 1 4, p. 1 1 7
Ibid. , 1 9 1 4, p. 1 1 7
La Stratigie, 1 9 1 4, p. 200
Ibid., 1 9 1 4, p. 20 1
Revista del Club Argentino de
Ajedrez, 1 906, p. 1 09
New Orleans Times-Democrat, 9
December 1 906
American Chess Bulletin, 1 907,p. 28
New York Tribune, 22 December
1 906
American Chess Bulletin, 1 907, p.
28
New Yorker Staats-Zeitung, 2 1
March 1 909
Diario de la Marina, Havana,
22 July 1 909
Ibid. , 2 August 1 909
New York Sun, 30 May 1 9 1 0
Philadelphia Inquirer, 6 November
1910
El Dia, Montevideo, 1 6 May
191 1
Ibid. , 19 May 1 9 1 1

37
38
39

40

41
42
43

44

45

46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71

La

Prensa, Buenos Aires, 20 May
191 1
Revista del Club Argentino de
Ajedrez, 1 9 1 1 , p. 43
La Prensa, 27 May 1 9 1 1
El Dia, 3 June 1 9 1 1
Ibid., 9 June 1 9 1 1
La Prensa, 6 June 1 9 1 1
El Dia, 16 June 1 9 1 1
Ibid. , 1 9 June 1 9 1 1
Ibid., 26 June l 9 1 1
Revista del Club Argentino de
Ajedrez, 1 9 1 1 , p. 73
El Dia, 3 July 1 9 1 1
Ibid. , 8 July 1 9 1 1
Ibid., 1 1 July 1 9 1 1
Ibid., 15 July 1 9 1 1
Ibid. , 1 4 July 1 9 1 1
American Chess Bulletin, 1 9 12, p.
267
Ibid. , 1 9 1 2, p. 267
Ibid. , 1 9 12, p. 267
Ibid. , 1 9 1 2, p. 267
La Prensa, 26 August 1 9 1 4
La Stratigie, 1 9 15, p. 1 4
La Prensa, 23 August 1 9 1 4
Ibid. , 26 August 1 9 1 4
Revista del Club Argenlino de
Ajedrez, 1 9 1 4, p. 80
Ibid. , 1 9 1 4, p . 8 1
Ibid. , 1 9 1 4, p. 73
Ibid. , 1 9 1 4, p. 75
Original score
New Orleans Times-Picayune, 26
December 1 9 1 5
American Chess Bulletin, 1 9 1 6, p.
76
Ibid., 1 9 1 6, p. 1 56
Philadelphia Inquirer, 1 9 Novem­
ber 1 9 1 6
.New York World Sun, 1 3 June
1 926
American Chess Bulletin, 1 934, p.
1 34
New Orleans Times-Democrat, 1 9
February 1 9 1 1

200

Index of Sources

72 El Dia, 22 May 1 9 1 1
73 Ibid. , 29 May 1 9 1 1
74 Ibid. , 12 June 1 9 1 1
75 Revista del Club Argentina de
Ajedrez, 1 9 1 1 , p. 7 1
76 Ibid. , 1 9 1 1 , p. 72
75A Philadelphia Inquirer, 27 May
1917
77 La Strategic, 1 9 1 1 , p . 432
78 Revista del Club Argentina de
Ajedrez, 1 9 1 4, p. 72
79 My Chess Career, p. 14 7
80 Revista del Club Argentina de
Ajedrez, 1 9 1 4, p. 72
8 1 Ibid. , 1 91 4, p . 89
82 American Chess Bulletin, 1 9 1 9,
p. 2
83 Els Escacs a Catalunya, 1 928, p.
96
84 Philadelphia Inquirer, 1 2 March
1 922
85 Ibid. , 23 March 1 924
86 Ibid., 26 October 1 924
87 El Ajedrez Americana, March
1 928
88 Diario de la Marina, 2 1 May 1 928
89 Het Volk, Amsterdam, January
1 935
90 British Chess Magazine, 1 936, p.
573
91 Capablanca Magazine, Havana,
1 9 12, p. 20
92 Ibid. , 1 9 1 3, p. 155
93 20 Partien Capablanca's, p. 32
94 Ibid. , p. 30
95 Yorkshire Observer Budget, 1 1
October 1 9 1 9
96 British Chess Magazine, 1 920,
p. 86
97 Unidentified Swedish news­
paper, November 1 928
98 British Chess Magazine, 1 935, p.
95
99 Ibid. , 1 935, p. 95
100 Ibid. , 1 935, p. 95
I O I Ajedrez Espanol, 1 936, p . 5
1 02 Shakmaty v SSSR, 1 935, p. 74
103 New York Evening Post, 17 April
1 907
1 04 American Chess Bulletin, 1 907, p.
95
1 05 Ibid., 1 937, p. 84
1 06 Revista del Club Argentina de
Ajedrez, 1 908, p. 1 1 0

107
1 08
1 09
1 10
111
1 12
1 13
1 14
1 15
1 16
1 17
1 18
1 19
1 20
121
1 22
1 23
1 24
125
126
127
128
129
1 30
131
1 32
1 33
1 34
1 35
1 36
1 37
1 38
1 39
1 40
141
1 42
143
1 44
1 45
1 46
1 47
1 48
1 49

American Chess Bulletin, 1 908, p.
1 17
My Chess Career, p. 22
From ms. by Capablanca
Revista del Club Argentina de
Ajedrez, 1 9 1 0, p. 126
New Orleans Times-Democrat, 2 1
February 1 909
Original score
Chess Weekry, 1 909, p. 1 5 7
Ibid., 1 9 1 0, p. 1 1 2
The Pawn, 1 5 January 1 9 1 1
Modern Anarysis of the Chess
Openings (F. J. Marshall)
Ibid.
Ibid.
The Field, 1 9 1 1 , p. 12 16
La Lucha, Havana, 24 December
1910
Capablanca Magazine, 1 9 1 2 , p . 9
La Strategie, 1 9 1 3, p. 409
New York Evening Post, 22 June
1918
Chess and Its Stars (B. Harley),
p. 58
The Times, 1 April 1929
The Los Angeles Times, 1 6 April
1 933
Diario de la Marina, 20 September 1901
Ibid. , 2 1 September 1 90 1
Ibid. , 23 September 1 90 1
Ibid. , 24 September 1901
Ibid., 2 4 September 1 90 1
Ibid., 24 September 1 90 1
Ibid. , 26 September 1 90 1
Ibid., 2 7 September 1 90 1
Ibid., 28 September 1901
Ibid., 30 September 1 90 1
Ibid. , 2 October 1 90 1
Ibid. , 4 October 1 90 1
Ibid. , 7 October 1 90 I
Ibid. , 8 October 1 90 1
Ibid., 1 0 October 1 90 1
Ibid. , 12 October 1901
Unidentified Havana news­
paper
Diario de la Marina, 22 October
1 90 1
Ibid. , 18 November 1 90 1
Ibid. , 20 November 1901
Ibid. , 22 November 1 90 1
Ibid. , 25 November 1 90 1
Ibid., 28 November 1 90 1

20I

Index of Sources
1 50 Ibid. , 30 November 1 90 1
1 5 1 Ibid. , 4 December 190 1
1 52 Ibid. , 7 December 190 1
1 53 Ibid. , 1 2 December 1 90 1
1 54 Ibid. , 16 December 1 90 1
1 55 Jaque Mate, September 1 933
1 56 Ibid.
157 Ibid.
1 58 Glorias del Tablero 'Capablanca',
p. 1 6 (Gelabert)
1 59 Original score
1 60 Ibid.
1 6 1 Diario de la Marina, 2 8 October
1 90 1
1 62 Unidentified Havana news­
paper
1 63 Diario de la Marina, 5 February
1 902
1 64 Original score
1 65 Ibid.
1 66 New Tork Herald, 27 April 1 903
1 6 7 New Tork Tribune, 8 January
1 905
1 68 Chess Weekry, 1 9 10, p. 1 52
1 69 Revista del Club Argentino de
Ajedrez, 1 908, p. l 08
1 70 Ibid. , 1 908, p. 1 07
1 7 1 New Tork Tribune, 1 5 January
1909
1 72 American Chess Bulletin, 1 909, p.
27
1 73 St. Louis Globe-Democrat, 1 4
February 1 909
1 74 Chess Weekly, 1 9 1 0, p. 1 1 3
1 75 Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1 1 Decem­
ber 1 9 1 0
1 76 Die Schachwelt, 1 9 1 1 , p. 392
I 77 Casopis Ceskjch Sachistu, 1 9 1 1 , p.
151
1 78 Tidskriftjor Schack, 19 1 1 , p. 202
l 79 Birmingham Daily Post, 2 1 Octo­
ber 1 9 1 3
1 80 Falkirk Herald, 5 November
1913

181
1 82
183
1 84
1 85
1 86
1 87

•

188
1 89
1 90
191
1 92
1 93
1 94
1 95
1 96
1 97
1 98
1 99
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208

Glorias del Tablero 'Capablanca',
1 70
Kievskaya Mist', 1 8 February
1 9 1 4 (o.s.)
American Chess Bulletin, 1 9 1 5, p.
44
Chicago Tribune, 27 March 1 9 1 5
American Chess Bulletin, 1 9 1 5, p.
1 14
Chess News, 1 9 1 6, p. 44
American Chess Bulletin, 1 9 1 8, p.
234
Ibid. , 1 9 1 8, p. 236
Ibid. , 1 9 1 9, p. 2 1 1
Birmingham Daily Post, 1 4 October 1 9 1 9
Ibid. , 9 December 1 9 1 9
Ibid. , 6 January 1 920
Morning Post, 8 December 1 9 1 9
Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2 6 February 1 922
American Chess Bulletin, 1 922, p.
43
Ibid., 1 922, p. 43
Ibid. , 1 922, p. 1 79
Ibid. , 1 924, p. 5 1
Het Schaakphenomeen (Euwe and
Prins), p. 336
Botvinnik's Art in Chess, Volume
I, p. 140 (Baturinsky)
Letter from J. A. Gelabert
Deutsche Schachblatter, 1 927, p.
414
Unidentified Brazilian news­
paper
American Chess Bulletin, 1 93 1 , p.
56
Revista Mexicana de Ajedrez, p.
1 78
A.B.C. (Madrid) , 4 December
1 935
American Chess Bulletin, 1 936, p.
157
Ibid. , 1 94 1 , p. 99
p.