Capablanca – Tartakower New York, 1924

1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 f5 3.c4 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nc3 0–0 [White prepares to trade off
Black's king knight or king bishop, both of which are important attacking pieces in
this opening.]

6.e3 b6 7.Bd3 Bb7 8.0–0 Qe8 [Black plans to attack on the kingside by 9...Qh5 and
10...Ng4.]

9.Qe2 [White prepare to meet 9...Qh5 by 10.e4 when Black's pieces will be
embarrassed in the center.]

9...Ne4 10.Bxe7 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Qxe7 12.a4 [Preventing 12... Qa3 and preparing to
play on the queenside by 13.Rfb1 and a later a5.]

12...Bxf3 [This is horrible: Black's bishop is his best piece and he voluntarily gives
it up. He should play 12...d6 and 13...Nd7 to solidify his position in the center.]

13.Qxf3 Nc6 14.Rfb1 Rae8 15.Qh3 [Preventing Black from freeing himself by
15...e5. Black should now try to get some play on the kingside by 15...g5.]

15...Rf6 16.f4 Na5 17.Qf3 d6 18.Re1 Qd7 19.e4 fxe4 20.Qxe4 g6 21.g3 Kf8 22.Kg2
Rf7 23.h4 d5 24.cxd5 exd5 25.Qxe8+ Qxe8 26.Rxe8+ Kxe8 [We have now reached
a classic ending) White has a bishop against a knight and a target on g6. Black
struggles to get counterplay, but by giving up material White strengthens his bind
until Black finally gives up.]

27.h5 Rf6 [27...gxh5 28.Rh1 Kf8 29.Rxh5 Wins a pawn for White.]

28.hxg6 hxg6 29.Rh1 [Now each of White's pieces is more active than its Black
counterpart.]

29...Kf8 [Black wants to move his rook to the c-file but can't allow a pin by Bb5.]

30.Rh7 [Now White's rook has an ideal position on the seventh rank. Black's king
is in a box and will soon become the object of attack by all White's pieces.]
30...Rc6 31.g4 Nc4 [Black doesn't take on c3 as that would give White connected
passed pawns on the kingside. He brings his misplaced knight to the kingside, but
the time this takes lets White tighten his bind there.]

32.g5 Ne3+ 33.Kf3 Nf5 34.Bxf5 gxf5 [White has given up his bishop for Black's
knight and must now lose his c- pawn, but now his king has a clear path into
Black's position by g3–h4–g5–f6.]

35.Kg3 Rxc3+ 36.Kh4 Rf3 [36...Rc1 37.Kh5 Rh1+ 38.Kg6 Rxh7 39.Kxh7 c5 40.g6
And White gets a new queen.]

37.g6 Rxf4+ 38.Kg5 Re4 [38...Rxd4 39.Kf6 Kg8 40.Rd7 And Black get mated.]

39.Kf6 [White doesn't take the f-pawn because it will shield his king from checks
on the f-file. The g6 pawn is all he needs to win with his mating battery of king
and rook in place.]

39...Kg8 40.Rg7+ Kh8 41.Rxc7 Re8 42.Kxf5 [White only captures after Black's rook
has been reduced to passive defense.]

42...Re4 43.Kf6 Rf4+ 44.Ke5 Rg4 45.g7+ Kg8 [45...Rxg7 46.Rxg7 Kxg7 47.Kxd5 Kf7
48.Kd6 Ke8 49.Kc7 Ke7 50.d5 And the d- pawn can't be stopped.]

46.Rxa7 Rg1 47.Kxd5 Rc1 48.Kd6 Rc2 49.d5 Rc1 50.Rc7 Ra1 51.Kc6 Rxa4 52.d6
[White will get a new queen. If you don't see this, play the position out with
Gambit.]

1–0
 Capablanca – Black New York, 1913

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.c4 [White begins to
undermine the defense of the e4 knight.]

7...Bb4+ [Black force s White to interpose on d2 so he can trade off the exposed
knight, but loses a tempo by moving his bishop a second time. Note also that the
bishop is en prise on b4.]

8.Nbd2 0–0 9.0–0 Re8 [White, having unpinned his d2 knight, was threatening to
capture on e4.]

10.cxd5 Nf6 [Black wants to post his knight on d5, where it can't be chased by a
White pawn.]

11.Ne5 [White takes advantage of Black's loss of time to bring his own knight to
an agressive square, attacking Black's weakness on f7.]

11...Nbd7 [This is a mistake, cutting his bishop off from the kingside.]

12.Ndf3 [Not only supporting his knight but threatening to go to g5.]

12...Nxd5 [This is a blunder: with one White knight already aimed at f7 and the
other ready to jump in at e5 or g5 Black should not open the diagonal leading to
that square.]

13.Nxf7 [Breaking through before Black has a chance to defend the diagonal by
...N7f6 and ...c6 or ...Be6.]

13...Kxf7 14.Ng5+ Kf8 15.Qh5 [White has too many threats. Black can't cover the
mate on f7 without losing too much material, since the queen is indirectly
attacking the knight on d5, e. g. so Black resigned here.]

15...Qe7 16.Nxh7+ Kg8 17.Qxd5+ Kh8 18.Qh5 [Black is two pawns down and still
getting checkmated.]

1–0
 Capablanca – Scott Hastings, 1919

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nbd2 Nbd7 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.0–0 0–0 8.e4 dxe4
9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Bxe4 Nf6 [This chases White's bishop to a better attacking post.
Black should strike at White's center by 10...c5.]

11.Bc2 b6 12.Qd3 [White now has a powerful battery on the b1–h7 diagonal that
forces Black to weaken his kingside.]

12...h6 13.b3 Qe7 14.Bb2 [Now all White's pieces are aimed at Black's king.]

14...Rd8 15.Rad1 Bb7 16.Rfe1 Rac8 17.Nh4 [White threatens 18.Nf5 and prepares
to bring his queen to a better attacking square.]

17...Bb8 18.g3 Kf8 19.Qf3 Kg8 [Black has not hing to do and just waits for the axe
to fall, but if 19...c5, 20.d5 floods Black in the center as well as the kingside.]

20.Nf5 Qc7 21.Nxh6+ Kf8 22.d5 [Now White's queen bishop enters the fight and
Black's kingside collapses immediately.]

22...cxd5 23.Bxf6 gxf6 [23...gxh6 24.Qh5 And Black gets mated on g7 or d7.]

24.Qxf6 Ke8 25.Rxe6+ fxe6 26.Qxe6+ Kf8 27.Qf6+

1–0
 Capablanca – Bogoljubow Moscow, 1925

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 dxc4 4.e4 [After this White can't keep a pawn on d4, but his
pieces become very active.]

4...c5 5.Bxc4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Nf6 7.Nc3 Bc5 [The bishop is exposed here; he should
play 7...Nbd7.]

8.Be3 [White takes aim at Black's exposed bishop.]

8...Nbd7 [Black defends the bishop but underestimates the coming sacrifice. He
should castle to defend against tactics due to White's advantage in development.]

9.Bxe6 [White cashes in his edge in development to open up Black's king.]

9...fxe6 10.Nxe6 Qa5 [10...Qb6 11.Nxc5 Nxc5 12.O-O Qc6 13.Rc1 Ncxe4 14.Nxe4
Qxe4 15. Bc5 And White has a mighty attack.]

11.0–0 [White doesn't lose time by taking on g7.]

11...Bxe3 [This opens the f-file for White's rook, but 11...Kf7 walks into 12.Qb3.]

12.fxe3 Kf7 13.Qb3 Kg6 14.Rf5 Qb6 15.Nf4+ Kh6 16.g4 [White tightens the net
around Black's king, but this is really a mistake that should let Black out. He
should have played 16.Qf7.16.Qf7 g6 17.g4 Qxe3+ 18.Kg2 and Black will get
mated.]

16...g5 17.Qxb6 axb6 18.Rd1 Rg8 [With his king exposed and White's pieces all
active, Black has a tough defence but this is a blunder. He could have won by
taking the knight. 18...gxf4 19.g5+ Kg7 20.gxf6+ Nxf6 21. Rg5+ Kf7 22.exf4 h6
23.Rg3 Nh5 And Black will eventually get away.]

19.Nfd5 Nxg4 [19...Rg6 20.Ne7 Rg7 21.Ncd5 leaves Black completely tied up and
White's attack still going full steam.]

20.Ne7 Rg7 21.Rd6+ Kh5 22.Rf3 [Sealing the mating net. This pretty move
ensures the win.]
22...Ngf6 23.Rh3+ Kg4 24.Rg3+ Kh5 25.Nf5 Rg6 26.Ne7 [He could have won faster
by checking first. 26.Rh3+ Kg4 27.Kg2 And Black gets mated.]

26...g4 27.Nxg6 Kxg6 28.Rxg4+ Kf7 29.Rf4 Kg7 30.e5 Ne8 31.Re6 [Black resigned
here. He didn't like the idea of playing on, for example...]

31...Nc7 32.Re7+ Kg6 33.e6 [when he loses at least another piece.]

33...Nc5

1–0
 Capablanca – Fonaroff New York, 1918

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 d6 [This is weak, but Black hopes to keep his center
pawn.]

4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.0–0 Be7 7.Re1 [Now White threatens to win Black's e-
pawn.]

7...exd4 [7...O-O 8.Bxc6 Bxc6 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Qxd8 Rfxd8 11.Nxe5 Bxe4 12.Nxe4
Nxe4 13.Nd3 White wins material because of thepin]

8.Nxd4 Nxd4 [Black should castle. Now White's queen gets a strong post.]

9.Qxd4 Bxb5 10.Nxb5 0–0 11.Qc3 [White prepares to bring his knight to f5.]

11...c6 12.Nd4 Nd7 13.Nf5 Bf6 14.Qg3 Ne5 15.Bf4 Qc7 16.Rad1 Rad8 [White now
has a beautiful combination. You may want to try to find it before looking at the
rest of the game.]

17.Rxd6 Rxd6 18.Bxe5 [Black is now tied down to both his queen and the defense
of g7. He tries a clever tactical defense, but White has seen further.]

18...Rd1 [18...Qa5 19.f4 Bxe5 20.fxe5 Rg6 21.Ne7+]

19.Rxd1 Bxe5 [The bishop looks strong here, but it has little attacking potential
because it must defend g7.]

20.Nh6+ Kh8 [Now White has a final combination which mates or wins a piece.
Try to look for it yourself before continuing.]

21.Qxe5 Qxe5 22.Nxf7+

1–0
 Capablanca – Marshall Moscow, 1925

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.b3 c5 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.0–0 Be7 7.d3 0–0 8.Bb2 d4 9.e4
[White blocks the center in order to start a flank attack.]

9...dxe3 [Black doesn't want to let White gain space on the kingside by 10.Ne1
and 11.f4, but now White's extra center pawn gives him a permanent edge there.
9...a6 10. Ne1 Rb8 Should be OK for Black.]

10.fxe3 Ng4 11.Qe2 Bf6 12.Nc3 Qa5 [The queen doesn't do anything here and
Black will soon gets exposed on the kingside.]

13.Rac1 Rd8 14.h3 Nge5 15.Ne4 [The knight takes aim at Black's kingside. With
his queen and queenside pieces out of play Black is hard pressed to defend the
coming attack.]

15...Qxa2 [Now Black gets crushed on the kingside, but things were bad anyway.
15...Nxf3+ 16.Qxf3 Bxb2 17.Qxf7+ Kh8 18.Qf8+]

16.Nxf6+ gxf6 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.Be4 [White's whole army is aimed at Black's king
and Black has only a knight to defend.]

18...Bd7 19.Ra1 Qxb3 20.Rfb1 [Black now loses either his queen or knight. He
could resign here, but the finish is amusing.]

20...Qb4 21.Bxe5 fxe5 22.Rxb4 cxb4 23.Bxb7 Rab8 24.Rxa7 b3 25.Qb2 Ba4
26.Qxe5 Bc6 27.Qg5+ Kf8 28.Bxc6 b2 29.Qe7+

1–0
 Capablanca – Havasi Budapest, 1928

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 dxc4 4.e4 c5 5.Bxc4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Nf6 7.Nc3 a6 8.0–0 Bc5
9.Be3 Nbd7 10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.Nxe6 Qa5 12.Nxg7+ Kf7 13.Nf5 [White threatens
14.Qb3+ followed by 15.Ne2.]

13...Ne5 14.Qb3+ Kg6 15.Rac1 Bf8 16.Ne2 h5 17.Rfd1 [Bringing the last piece into
the attack.]
17...Rg8 18.Nf4+ Kh7 19.Bb6 Qb5 20.Rc7+ Kh8 [20...Bd7 21.Nd5 Nxd5 22.Rxd5
Qxb3 23.axb3]
21.Qxb5 [White eliminates Black's only active piece in preparation for the final
attack.]

21...axb5 22.Rd8 [Now none of Black's pieces has a productive move.]

22...Rxa2 [22...Bxf5 23.Rxa8 Bxe4 24.Rcc8 Ned7 25.Bd4]
23.Rdxc8 Nc4 24.h3 Nxb6 25.Rxf8 Nfd7 [25...Rxf8 26.Ng6+ Kg8 27.Rg7+]
26.Rf7 Rxb2 27.Nd5 [Black resigns because he must lose a piece.]
1–0
Capablanca – Spielmann New York, 1927

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nd7 4.Nc3 Ngf6 5.Bg5 Bb4 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Qa4 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3
0–0 9.e3 c5 10.Bd3 c4 11.Bc2 Qe7 12.0–0 a6 13.Rfe1 Qe6 14.Nd2 b5 15.Qa5 Ne4
16.Nxe4 dxe4 [Looking at this position it hardly seems possible that White will
soon have a passed pawn on the a-file!]

17.a4 Qd5 [17...bxa4 18.Bxa4 Bb7 19.Qc7]

18.axb5 [The pawn cannot be captured because of the pin on the a-file. Black
captures the bishop at g5, but this is not relevant to the action.]

18...Qxg5 19.Bxe4 Rb8 20.bxa6 [In return for the piece, White has three pawns,
normally considered enough compensation. But the fact that one of them is a
passed pawn nearing the promotion rank, and that the path to the 8th rank is
clear, is decisive.]

20...Rb5 21.Qc7 Nb6 22.a7 Bh3 23.Reb1 Rxb1+ 24.Rxb1 f5 25.Bf3 f4 26.exf4
[White won.] 1–0
 Capablanca – Becker Carlsbad, 1929

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nd7 4.Nc3 Ngf6 5.Bf4 [White hopes to profit from Black's
knight being committed to the passive square d7.]

5...dxc4 6.e3 [Note that White doesn't get anything from advancing his knight, as
shown in the variation: 6.Nb5 Bb4+ 7.Nd2Ne4]

6...Nd5 [Black decides to eliminate any future threats to c7, but he loses time
doing so.]

7.Bxc4 Nxf4 8.exf4 Bd6 9.g3 Nf6 10.0–0 0–0 11.Qe2 b6 12.Rfd1 Bb7 13.Rac1 a6
14.Bd3 [The bishop 't doing anything on c4, so White takes aim at h7 and opens
his rook's line to c7.]

14...Bb4 [Black hopes to counterattack on the a8–h1 diagonal, but White can
answer any threats there easily, showing Black's idea to be a simple loss of time.]

15.Ne4 [Threatening to trade off the only defender of h7.]

15...Qd5 16.Nfg5 [Before trading off Black's knight White prepares to take the a8–
h1 diagonal away from Black after a later Nxf6+ and Be4.]

16...Ne8 [Black sees ly the threat to c7, not the stronger threats on the a8– h1
diagonal and the kingside.]

17.Nxh7 f5 [17...Kxh7 18.Nf6+]

18.Nhg5 [Black missed this move. Now taking White's knight on e4 loses another
pawn, so Black has no good defence to 19.Qh5. If you don't see White's wins after
18...Nf6, 18...fxe4 or 18...Qxd4, copy the game and try them out against Gambit.]

1–0
 Capablanca – Torres Barcelona, 1929

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 [This is risky.]

5.Nb5 Bb4+ [Exposing this bishop to exchange only exposes the weakness of d6.
Black should make a gambit of it by 5...d5 6.cxd5 Bc5.]

6.Bd2 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 0–0 8.N1c3 Na6 [This loses time. Black had to try 8...Nc6,
though the dark squares give White an edge.]

9.g3 Nc5 10.Bg2 a6 11.Nd6 Qa5 [Exposing his queen and knight to a potential
fork.]

12.0–0 Rb8 13.Rfd1 b5 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Qg5 [With Black's pieces tied up on the
queenside White strikes on the kingside.]

15...Na4 [Black is blind to the danger to his own king. He had to give up a pawn by
15...h6.]

16.Nf5 Ne8 17.Nh6+ Kh8 18.Qe7 [Black loses a rook. If you don't see this, check it
out by playing this with Gambit.]

1–0
 Capablanca – Colle Budapest, 1929
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qb3 Bxc3+ [Premature, since White often has to
waste a tempo by a3 to force this trade. 4...c5 5.Nf3 Nc6 This is Black's best line
here and should be equal.]

5.Qxc3 Ne4 [This is also premature. Black may have thought the knight was strong
here, but it is really overexposed.]

6.Qc2 d5 7.Nf3 0–0 8.e3 Nc6 [Black hopes to free himself and destroy White's
pawn center by a later ...e5.]

9.Be2 Re8 10.0–0 e5 [The break Black was playing for, but this move is really a
blunder, since after 10...f5 11.Nd2 White will keep some advantage by playing b3
and Bb2 and later f3.]

11.cxd5 [Both of Black's knight's are attacked. Black resigned here, because ...]

11...Qxd5 [Loses to...]

12.Bc4 [Driving the queen from the defence of the knight on e4. Black's only try
now is...]

12...Nb4 [But it isn't good enough. You should be able to work out White's win
here.]

1–0
 Capablanca – Bogoljubow London, 1922

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0–0 9.d4
exd4 [The release of tension in the center is premature. 9... Bg4 is the
contemporary reply.]

10.cxd4 Bg4 11.Be3 Na5 12.Bc2 Nc4 13.Bc1 [is this a loss of time? Not really, since
the knight will eventually be forced back with b2–b3 and then the bishop can be
profitably employed at b2.]

13...c5 [Classical Spanish play. Black will expand on the queenside and White will
attempt to keep control of the center and attack on the kingside.]

14.b3 Na5 15.Bb2 [As promised. It would have been wrong to push the d-pawn,
because then Black would simply swing his knight from f6 to d7 and stick the
bishop on the long diagonal.]

15...Nc6 16.d5 Nb4 [Black has lured White into playing d4–d5, but it has cost him
some time. He now attempts to eliminate the Spanish bishop, which can be
dangerous after e5.]

17.Nbd2 Nxc2 18.Qxc2 [Black now has the bishop pair, but White controls the
center and has a strong bishop at b2. Should he play on the kingside, as usual, or
perhaps undermine the Black pawn structure with a2–a4. Or both? And how to
time all ofthis?]

18...Re8 19.Qd3 [A very nice move which increases the pressure on the queenside
while making it easier for the queen to get to the kingside via the third rank.
Before making a concrete plan, White strives to improve the position of his
pieces.]

19...h6+– [If Black was worried about e4–e5, he could have played Nf6–d7, but
White isn't ready for such action yet. 19...Nd7 20.e5 Bxf3 21.Nxf3 dxe5 22.Nxe5
Nxe5 23.Bxe5 Bd6 24.Bxd6 Qxd6 25.Rad1 is not likely to be enough to win, given
the block$]

20.Nf1 Nd7 21.h3 Bh5 [Black is a little too attached to his bishop pair. He should
have captured and then played Bf6, to take control of the e5 square which has
been the center of attention for some time.]

22.N3d2 Bf6 23.Bxf6 Qxf6 [Black seems to have secured the central squares, but
now White deflects the Black knight to the queenside, and then launches his
attack.]

24.a4 c4 25.bxc4 Nc5 26.Qe3 bxa4 [The position has changed considerably. Black
has some valuable assets on the queenside and a seemingly well-placed knight,
but it is actually offside.]

27.f4 [White is prepared to bring a pawnstorm against the enemy king. The Nc5
cannot come to the aid of its monarch. The attack can be repelled, but only by
going into a complicated endgame.]

27...Qe7 28.g4 Bg6 29.f5 Bh7 30.Ng3 Qe5 31.Kg2 Rab8 32.Rab1 f6 [This is a
passive move which creates further holes in Black's position. Since all of his
chances lay on the queenside, he should have continued with his infiltration of
the White position. 32...Rb2 33.Rxb2 Qxb2 would have been appropriate.]

33.Nf3 Rb2+ 34.Rxb2 Qxb2+ 35.Re2 [This is a much more comfortable position for
White. The hole at e6 will be a nice landing site for the Nf3, and the passed pawn
is not important.]

35...Qb3 36.Nd4 Qxe3 37.Rxe3 Rb8 [At first sight it seems that Black has all the
chances with his open file and passed pawn. But White sees the potential of a
passed d- pawn!]

38.Rc3 Kf7 39.Kf3 Rb2 40.Nge2 Bg8 [Now White, keeping in mind the theme of
the previous variations, sees that he can achieve his goal of a passed d-pawn. He
notices that the pawn at e4 is not a material consideration in this position.]

41.Ne6 Nb3 [Of course Black cannot even think about exchanging at e6 and
entombing the bishop. 41...Nxe4 42.Kxe4 Rxe2+ 43.Kd4 is a winning endgame for
White, since the bishop is absolutely useless and the king is closeenough]

42.c5 dxc5 43.Nxc5 Nd2+ 44.Kf2 Ke7 [Again Black finds himself unthinkingly
following conventional wisdom by moving his king to the center. But he needed to
invest more thought in his queenside advantage. 44...Nb1! was best.]

45.Ke1 Nb1 46.Rd3 a3 [and here Black should have stuck to his plan, instead of
belatedly switching to the queenside advance. 46...Kd6! gives drawing chances.]

47.d6+ Kd8 [At this point White is concentrating on mate rather than a
longwinded endgame. The idea is that a knight at c6 would force the king off the
queening square.]

48.Nd4 Rb6 49.Nde6+ Bxe6 50.fxe6 Rb8 51.e7+ Ke8 52.Nxa6

1–0
 Capablanca – Colle Budapest, 1929

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qb3 Bxc3+ [Too early, since White often has to
waste a tempo by a3 to force this trade.]
5.Qxc3 Ne4 [This is also premature. Black may have thought the knight was strong
here, but it is really overexposed.]
6.Qc2 d5 7.Nf3 0–0 8.e3 Nc6 [Black hopes to free himself and destroy White's
pawn center by a later ...e5.]
9.Be2 Re8 10.0–0 e5 [The break Black was playing for, but this move is really a
blunder, since after the next move...]
11.cxd5 [both of Black's knight's are attacked. Black resigned here, because he
saw that the only move to defend both knights,]
11...Qxd5 [loses to]
12.Bc4 [Driving the queen from the defence of the knight on e4. Black's only try
now is]
12...Nb4 [but it isn't good enough. You should be able to work out White's win
here.] 1–0

Capablanca – Golombek Margate, 1939

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 c6 7.e3 Nbd7 8.Bd3 h6
9.Bh4 0–0 10.Nf3 Re8 11.0–0 Be7 12.Bg3 [White prevents Black from easing his
game by 12...Ne4.]
12...Nf8 13.h3 Be6 14.Rab1 [White prepares b4–b5 to weaken Black's queenside.]
14...Nh5 [Black begins a manuevre to exchange light squared bishops, but this
loses a lot of time.]
15.Bh2 g6 16.Ne5 Ng7 17.b4 Bf5 18.Na4 [White prevents Black from meeting a
later b5 by ...c5.]
18...Bxd3 19.Qxd3 Nd7 20.Rfc1 Nxe5 21.Bxe5 Bd6 22.Bxd6 Qxd6 23.b5 [In spite
of all the exchanges this break is very strong.]
23...cxb5 [23...Rac8 24.bxc6 bxc6 Black's weaknesses on a7 and c6 will prove
decisive.]
24.Qxb5 Ne6 [24...Re7 25.Rc5 Rd8 26.Nc3]
25.Nc3 [The b-pawn is hopeless, so White takes aim at another target as well.]
25...Red8 26.Qxb7 Qa3 27.Nxd5 Qxa2 28.Nb4 Qa4 29.Nc6 [White not only
threatens to take the rook on d8 but also to trap the queen by 30.Ra1.]
1–0
 Capablanca – Vassaux Buenos Aires Olympiad, 1939
1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 e6 5.d4 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 Bb4 [This is
worse than the normal 7...b5 because the bishop is exposed here and interferes
with Black's queenside play.]

8.0–0 0–0 9.Qe2 Qe7 10.Ne5 c5 [10...Nxe5 11.dxe5 Nd5 12.Ne4]

11.f4 Nb6 [Black begins a manuevre to relieve his cramped position by exchanges,
but he loses a lot of time doing so, giving White a strong attack.]

12.Bb3 Nbd5 [Black loses too much time with this knight. He should get on with
his development.]

13.Bd2 Bxc3 [13...Nxc3 14.bxc3 Ba5 15.Bc2 And White will get a strong attack by
15.Qd3 and g4–g5.]

14.bxc3 Ne4 15.Be1 f6 16.Qd3 f5 [16...fxe5 17.Qxe4 White wins a pawn here.]

17.a4 Kh8 18.g4 [White undermines Black's knight and opens lines for his attack.]

18...Ndf6 19.Bh4 Bd7 20.Rf3 [White threatens 21.Rh3 and 22.Ng6+.]

20...Be8 21.Rh3 Qd6 22.gxf5 exf5 23.Rd1 cxd4 24.exd4 Qa3 25.Be6 g6 26.Bg5
Nxg5 [26...Bxa4 27.Bh6 Bxd1 28.Nxg6+ hxg6 29.Bxf8+]

27.fxg5 Ne4 28.Rxh7+ [And Black gave up in the face of...]

28...Kxh7 29.Qh3+ Kg7 30.Qh6#

1–0
 Alatortsev – Capablanca Moscow, 1935

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0–0 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Bxe7 Qxe7 8.Nf3
Nxc3 9.bxc3 [The series of exchanges have eased Black's defensive burden. Now
both sides complete their development.]

9...b6 10.Be2 Bb7 11.0–0 c5 12.Ne5 Nc6 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 [Black has achieved a
comfortable position.]

14.Bf3 Rac8 15.a4 cxd4 16.cxd4 g6 17.Bxc6 Rxc6 18.Qd3 Qb7 19.Rfb1 Rfc8 20.h3
a6 21.Qa3 Rc2 22.Qd6 [If only there were no pawn at f2, Black could deliver
checkmate in one move, with Qxg2 mate. Seeing this, Capablanca finds a mating
attack.]
22...Rxf2 23.Qg3 [23.Kxf2 Rc2+ 24.Ke1 Qxg2 25.Qb8+ Kg7 26.Qe5+ f6 and White
runs out of checks.]
23...Re2 [White resigned, since the position is now hopeless, even though there is
no immediate mate threat. If you think you can hold the position, try playing it
against Gambit!]
24.Rc1 Rxc1+ 25.Rxc1 b5 0–1

Bernstein – Capablanca Moscow, 1914

1.d4 d5 [The interesting points in this game don't start until move 29.]

2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bg5 0–0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Rc1 b6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Qa4
Bb7 10.Ba6 Bxa6 11.Qxa6 c5 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.0–0 Qb6 15.Qe2 c4
16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.Nd4 Bb4 18.b3 Rac8 19.bxc4 dxc4 20.Rc2 Bxc3 21.Rxc3 Nd5
22.Rc2 c3 23.Rdc1 Rc5 24.Nb3 Rc6 25.Nd4 Rc7 26.Nb5 Rc5 27.Nxc3 Nxc3 28.Rxc3
Rxc3 29.Rxc3 [White is a pawn ahead, but the back rank is unprotected. It looks
like this can be exploited by checking with the queen, but then it turns out that
Black gets mated.]

29...Qb2 [This is a brilliant example of a deflection which sets up the back rank
mate . White actually resigned here. Let's see why. 29...Qb1+ 30.Qf1 Rd1 31.Rc8+
Rd8 32.Rxd8++]
30.Qxb2 [30.Qe1 Black can finish the job with a brilliant sacrifice: Qxc3!! 31. Qxc3
Rd1+ 32.Qe1 Rxe1++] 0–1
 Alekhine – Capablanca AVRO, 1938
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ne2 Qb6 8.Nf3 cxd4
9.cxd4 Bb4+ 10.Kf1 Be7 [In this sharp line of the French, opening lines with 10...f6
is a wiser move.]

11.a3 Nf8 12.b4 Bd7 13.Be3 Nd8 [Black does have a plan: to play Bb5 and
exchange the light-squared bishops. But this is easily parried, and turns out to be
just a waste of time.]

14.Nc3 a5 [Black challenges White's queenside formation and forces White to

determine his short-term plans. Alekhine decides to plant a pawn at b5.]

15.Na4 Qa7 16.b5 [Now the scope of the Bd7 is severely limited, and Black's plan,
beginning with 13...Nd8?!, is exposed as faulty.]

16...b6 [The picture is quite different from that of two moves ago. With the
queenside secured, White now turns his attention to the kingside.]

17.g3 [In order to achieve results on the kingside, White may need to use both
rooks, so he takes time out to prepare a nice safe hole for his king. Alekhine
always prepared his attacks well. That's why he was able to play so many
combinations]

17...f5 18.Kg2 Nf7 19.Qd2 [Alekhine is not so captivated by his own plan that he
forgets to keep an eye on his opponent! Capablanca was preparing g7–g5 and
Nf8–g6. This must be stopped!]

19...h6 20.h4 Nh7 21.h5 [Excellent judgement! Alekhine sees that the enemy
knight will get to e4, but reasons that the hole at g6 will be more important.]

21...Nfg5 22.Nh4 Ne4 23.Qb2 Kf7 [23...Bxh4 24.gxh4! keeps control of critical
squares on the kingside, and now 25.f3 will prove fatal to the Ne4.]

24.f3 Neg5 [Looking at the position, we can see that if the Pf5 were out of the
way White could launch a powerful attack. Alekhine wastes no time in achieving
this goal .]

25.g4 fxg4 26.Bg6+ [A useful interpolation, which cuts off the communication of
the enemy rooks.]

26...Kg8 27.f4 Nf3 [More resistant was 27...Nf7, but after 28.Bd3 Black would still
have been in deep trouble.]

28.Bxh7+ Rxh7 29.Ng6 Bd8 30.Rac1 [Such a quiet move is easy to miss. But if
White had left the c- file unguarded, Black might have been able to establish
some counterplay by swinging his heavy artillery there.]

30...Be8 31.Kg3 [His majesty attends to the invasive knight personally! The threat
is simply Kxg4 and Kxf3.]

31...Qf7 32.Kxg4 Nh4 [32...Ng5 33.fxg5 Qf5+ 34.Kg3 and the king is perfectly safe,
while the White rooks aim for the f-file.]

33.Nxh4 Qxh5+ 34.Kg3 Qf7 35.Nf3 h5 [Capablanca exceeded the time limit here,
but his position was hopeless in any event.]

1–0
 Corzo – Capablanca Havana, 1900

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 exf4 4.Nf3 g5 5.h4 g4 6.Ng5 h6 [White's knigh t is trapped,
but he hopes to get compensation by luring Black's king into the center.]

7.Nxf7 Kxf7 8.d4 d5 [Black is willing to give back a pawn or two to speed up his
development and close the a2–g8 diagonal.]

9.exd5 [White would like to open the f-file by 9.Bxf4, but 9...Bb4 is a strong reply.]

9...Qe7+ [Black begins his counterattack.]

10.Kf2 g3+ 11.Kg1 Nxd4 [Black returns the piece to gain an attack on the a7–g1
diagonal where White's king has no room to breathe.]

12.Qxd4 [12.Bxf4 Qf6]

12...Qc5 13.Ne2 Qb6 [Very strong. White is hard pressed to defend against
14...Bc5.13...Qxd4+ 14.Nxd4 Bc5.]

14.Qxb6 axb6 15.Nd4 Bc5 16.c3 Ra4 [Black threatens 17... Rxd4. This is why Black
forced White to trade queens on b6.]

17.Be2 Bxd4+ 18.cxd4 Rxd4 19.b3 [White hopes to skewer Black's rooks on the
a1–h8 diagonal.]

19...Nf6 20.Bb2 Rd2 21.Bh5+ Nxh5 [21...Kg7 22.Bc3 Rc2 23.Be5 And White has
counterplay.]

22.Bxh8 f3 [Black's exchange sacrifice has let him keep a strong attack against
White's king.]

23.gxf3 [23.Bc3 f2+ 24.Kf1 Bf5 25.Bxd2 Bd3+]

23...Nf4 24.Re1 Rg2+ 25.Kf1 Bh3 0–1

 Gotthilf – Capablanca Moscow, 1925

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 c5 6.dxc5 [White should advance the d-
pawn here. 6.d5 exd5 White can use the diagonal to his advantage here. Nh4 And
Black can't hold the d5 pawn.]

6...Bxc5 7.Nc3 Ne4 8.Nxe4 Bxe4 9.0–0 Nc6 10.Nd2 Bxg2 11.Kxg2 [Now Black has
an edge because of his freer pieces and White's slightly exposed king.]

11...d5 12.Qa4 [12.Nf3 dxc4 13.Qa4 Rc8 14.Ne5 Qc7 15.Bf4 Qb7]

12...Rc8 13.Nb3 0–0 14.Rd1 [14.cxd5 Qxd5+ 15.e4 Qd3 16.Nxc5 bxc5 17.Be3 Nd4]

14...d4 [Black's pawn wedge will give him a permanent edge.]

15.Nxc5 [15.e3 e5]

15...bxc5 16.a3 [White tries to counter Black's central clamp by opening the
queenside but since he can't play b4 this is just a waste of time.]

16...Qb6 17.Bd2 a5 18.Qc2 e5 19.Rab1 f5 [Black's space edge in the center is

getting dangerous, but White can't do anything about it.]

20.h3 h6 21.b3 Rb8 22.Rb2 Qb7 [Taking over the diagonal that White gave up at
move 10.]

23.Kh2 Rbd8 24.b4 [White is desparate to get some play before he gets pushed
off the board, but he overlooks a pretty tactic.]

24...d3 [White resigned here. If he had played on the game might end as follows:]

25.exd3 Nd4 26.Qb1 Nf3+ 27.Kg2 Nxd2+

0–1
Ilyin Zhenevsky & Rabinovich – Capablanca Leningrad, 1936

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 c5 5.0–0 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Bxg2 7.Kxg2 d5 8.c4 Qd7
9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.e4 Nc7 11.Nc3 e5 12.Nf5 Qxd1 13.Rxd1 Nba6 14.Be3 Rd8
15.Rxd8+ Kxd8 16.a4 [White hopes to play a later Nb5 and win the a-pawn, but
the time this will require lets Black activate his pieces. They should keep the heat
on Black's king by 16.Rd1+ Kc8 17.a3 g6 18.Nh6 Bxh6 19.Bxh6 Re8 20.b4 when
White keeps the initiative.]

16...Kd7 [Now Black can meet a check on d1 by ...Ke6.]

17.Nb5 g6 18.Nh4 [White loses time with both knights. 18.Rd1+ was still correct.]

18...Bc5 19.Nxa7 [White wins a pawn but accepts weak doubled e-pawns.]

19...Bxe3 20.fxe3 Nc5 [Now Black threatens both 21...Nxe4 and 21...Ra8, and
White can only defend both of these threats by letting Black further maim his
pawn structure.]

21.Nb5 Nxb5 22.axb5 Ke6 [Black doesn't bother with the e-pawn since taking it
would give White some activity by 22...Nxe4 23.Ra7+ Ke6 24.Ra6]

23.Kf3 Rd8 24.b4 Nb3 25.Ra7 [25.Ra6 Nd2+ 26.Ke2 Rd6 27.Nf3 Nxe4 And Black
will consolidate his bind by ...h6 and White will be left with no defense.]

25...Nd2+ 26.Kg2 Nxe4 27.Nf3 Rd5 28.Ra8 Rxb5 29.Re8+ Kf6 30.g4 Ng5 31.Nxg5
Kxg5 32.Kg3 [Black has an extra pawn as well as a continuing bind.]

32...Kf6 33.Rh8 Kg7 34.Re8 h6 35.h4 Kf6 36.Rc8 [36.Rh8 Rxb4 37.Rxh6 Kg7 And
White's rook is permanently stranded on h6.]

36...Rxb4 37.Rc6+ Kg7 38.g5 h5 39.Rc8 Rg4+ 40.Kh3 Re4 41.Rc3 b5

0–1
 Janowski – Capablanca New York, 1916
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 Bf5 [Not a particularly effective move in this line.
The control of e4 comes at a high price, if White responds correctly by capturing
at d5 before developing his queen at b3.]

5.Qb3 [This is not as effective, since Black can respond symmetrically.]

5...Qb6 [A classic question confronts White early in the game? Will the doubled
pawns resulting from the exchange of queens be weak, or is the open a-
fileuseful?]

6.Qxb6 axb6 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Nxd5 cxd5 [Already we have an interesting endgame.
Black has control of e4 and the a-file while White has targets at d5, b6, and b7.
But the pawns are hard to get at.]

9.e3 Nc6 10.Bd2 Bd7 [A tremendously insightful move! Capablanca sees that he
must turn his weak pawns into fighting pieces, and the idea is to play Na5 then
b5–b4 which will constrict the White queenside. White should prevent this with
11.Bb5!]

11.Be2 e6 12.0–0 [If White had played 11.Bb5, he would have been able to play
12.Ke2, keeping the king centralized in the endgame. As it turns out, the king
becomes a target!]

12...Bd6 13.Rfc1 Ke7 14.Bc3 Rhc8 15.a3 [Better was 15.Nd2. Now there is an
additional hole on the queenside, and the b4–square belongs to Black in any
event.]

15...Na5 16.Nd2 [As Black increases his pressure on the queenside, Janowski
correctly decides to react in the center. But Capablanca is aware of his opponent's
plans.]

16...f5 [This slows down the advance e3–e4 for some time, and makes White
waste a few moves in preparation.]

17.g3 b5 18.f3 Nc4 19.Bxc4 bxc4 20.e4 Kf7 [With e4–e5 coming, Black makes
room for his bishop to retreat along the a3–f8 diagonal.]

21.e5 Be7 22.f4 b5 [The plan all along has been to advance this pawn, but now it
takes on a new significance. White must keep an eye on the queenside, and his
less mobile pieces are therefore ill-equipped to defend the king against a direct
assault.]

23.Kf2 Ra4 24.Ke3 Rca8 [The threat of b5–b4 is renewed. Keep this position in
mind as we continue. It is in stark contrast to the position we will see in seven
more moves. But what is most important is that the White pieces can't defend the
kingside!]

25.Rab1 h6 26.Nf3 g5 27.Ne1 Rg8 28.Kf3 gxf4 29.gxf4 Raa8 30.Ng2 Rg4 31.Rg1
Rag8 [Black's play requires no comment Capablanca saw that White's pieces were
out of play and simply switched sides of the board. His greater mobility enabled
him to achieve a winning position with great ease.]

32.Be1 [White tries to get his bishop involved in the defense. But we recall that
this piece was dedicated to the protection of the queenside, guarding against b5–
b4]

32...b4 33.axb4 [Now Black's fantasies involve Bd7–e4+. Not allowed by the rules,
but Black finds away to work around the rules. 33.Bxb4 Bxb4 34.axb4 h5 35.h4
Rg3+ 36.Kf2 Rd3 37.Rgd1 Rgg3 was an unacceptable alternative.]

33...Ba4 34.Ra1 [Completely missing the point. 34.Rc1 was needed, but then after
34...Bb3 Black would have been able to invade on the a-file.]

34...Bc2 35.Bg3 Be4+ 36.Kf2 h5 37.Ra7 Bxg2 38.Rxg2 h4 [and the rest is simple:]

39.Bxh4 Rxg2+ 40.Kf3 Rxh2 41.Bxe7 [41.Rxe7+ Kf8 42.Bf6 Rgh8! 43.Bxh8 Kxe7]

41...Rh3+ 42.Kf2 Rb3 43.Bg5+ Kg6 44.Re7 Rxb2+ 45.Kf3 Ra8 46.Rxe6+ Kh7

0–1
 Lasker – Capablanca St.Petersburg, 1914

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 Bd6 [In
the Exchange Variation the bishop pair can be very useful to Black, but White has
a pawn majority on the kingside.]

8.Nc3 Ne7 [This is a very natural position for the knight, which can move to g6 or
c6 as required. At the same time, it is less of a target for White's pieces when it is
on e7, compared to the more exposed position on f6.]

9.0–0 0–0 10.f4 [This creates a weakness on the a7–g1 diagonal.]

10...Re8 [11.e5 Bc5 12.Be3 Bxd4 13.Bxd4 Nd5 White has a passed pawn, but a
blockade can be set up on the e6–square.]

11.Nb3 [11.h3 Bc5 12.Be3 Nd5 There are two pins in this position, on the knight at
d4 and the bishop at e3.]

11...f6 [This is a mistake, creating a weakness. White's threat of advancing the

pawn to e5 was not so dangerous.]

12.f5 [An important move, and a strong one. White concedes control of e5, but
takes the e6–square.]

12...b6 [An attempt to bring the bishop to a useful diagonal. But that piece would
have functioned better as a defender at d7.12...Bd7 Black could now bring the
rook from a8 to d8, and then retreat the bishop to c8 if necessary.]

13.Bf4 Bb7 [Black should just have captured at f4.]

14.Bxd6 cxd6 [The Black pawns on the queenside are weak.]

15.Nd4 [Capablanca had just overlooked this move.]

15...Rad8 16.Ne6 [This infiltration of the outpost at e6 puts Black in real trouble.]

16...Rd7 17.Rad1 Nc8 [17...c5 A strong move. 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 b5 Black will
transfer the knight via c8–b6–d7–e5 and will then have a good position, as noted
by Capablanca.]

18.Rf2 b5 19.Rfd2 Rde7 20.b4 Kf7 21.a3 Ba8 [21...Rxe6 This was the best move
available, since the knight at e6 was so powerful. 22.fxe6+ Rxe6 Can White win
this position? It won't be easy.]

22.Kf2 Ra7 23.g4 h6 24.Rd3 a5 25.h4 axb4 26.axb4 Rae7 [A mistake. 26...Ra3
Black seizes the open lines and will bring the knight into the game via b6.]

27.Kf3 Rg8 28.Kf4 [A serious error. The correct move was 28.Rg3.]

28...g6 [Now it is Black's turn to go astray. 28...g5+ was correct.]

29.Rg3 g5+ 30.Kf3 Nb6 31.hxg5 hxg5 32.Rh3 Rd7 33.Kg3 Ke8 34.Rdh1 Bb7 35.e5
dxe5 36.Ne4 Nd5 37.N6c5 Bc8 38.Nxd7 Bxd7 39.Rh7 Rf8 40.Ra1 Kd8 41.Ra8+ Bc8
42.Nc5

1–0
 Merenyi – Capablanca Budapest, 1928
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3 d5 4.Bb5+ [This is weak since White's bishop is would be a
good piece after the pawn center clarified.]

4...Bd7 5.Bxd7+ Qxd7 6.exd5 Qxd5 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 Qxd4 9.Nxd4 e5 [Taking
advantage of White's exposed knight to gain a strong center pawn.]

10.Nb5 Kd7 [10...Na6 would misplace the knight, while now it is White's knight
which is misplaced.]

11.Ke2 Kc6 12.a4 Nd7 13.Be3 a6 14.Rd1 Ngf6 15.Nd2 Rd8 16.Na3 [White begins
to retreat and Black's edge in piece activity will increase with every piece.]

16...Nd5 17.Ndc4 b6 18.Rd2 Bxa3 19.Rxa3 [19.Nxa3 Nxe3 20.Kxe3 Nc5 And Black
keeps the advantage because of his more active pieces and White's weak a-
pawn.]

19...Rhe8 20.Nd6 Re7 [Black meets White's hopeful tactics by simple

consolidation.]

21.c4 Nxe3 22.fxe3 [22.Kxe3 Nf6 23.Ne4 Ng4+ 24.Kf3 Nxh2+ 25.Kg3 Nf1+]

22...Nc5 23.Ne4 Rxd2+ 24.Nxd2 a5 [Black's edge is now clear across the whole
board: White has weaknesses on c4, a4, e3 and g2, and Black's pieces are all more
active than their counter- parts.]

25.Nb1 Rd7 26.Nd2 e4 27.Nb3 Nd3 28.Nd4+ Kc5 29.b3 f5 30.Ra1 Rxd4 [The e3
pawn was the key to White's keeping Black's king and pawns at bay; now White is
overrun.]

31.exd4+ Kxd4 32.g3 [32.h4 f4]

32...g5 33.b4 f4 34.c5 f3+ 35.Kf1 e3 36.Re1 bxc5 37.Rxe3 Kxe3 38.bxa5 c4 [White
will promote first, but Black will promote with mate.]

0–1
 Nimzovitch – Capablanca New York, 1927

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Bd3 [Too passive. White trades his good bishop for
Black's bad one and, by doing so, eliminates his own attacking potential.]

4...Bxd3 5.Qxd3 e6 6.Nc3 Qb6 7.Nge2 c5 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.0–0 Ne7 [Black is willing
to let White exchange his knight for the c5 bishop because this trade will leave
White's bishop without any good squares.]

10.Na4 Qc6 11.Nxc5 Qxc5 12.Be3 Qc7 13.f4 Nf5 14.c3 Nc6 15.Rad1 g6 [Black sets
a positional trap: White has been moving his pieces with no real object in mind,
and Black invites him to do something apparently active on the kingside.]

16.g4 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 h5 [Now White must either let the h-file be opened onto his
king or give Black the f5 square.]

18.g5 0–0 [Now White has no chance to open the kingside while Black has fine
squares for his pieces for his pieces all over the board.]

19.Nd4 Qb6 20.Rf2 Rfc8 21.a3 Rc7 22.Rd3 Na5 23.Re2 Re8 24.Kg2 Nc6 25.Red2
Rec8 26.Re2 Ne7 [Black saves his knight for f5 and unleashes a brutal battery on
the c- file.]

27.Red2 Rc4 28.Qh3 Kg7 29.Rf2 a5 30.Re2 Nf5 [Now Black will allow the
exchange of knights because the trade will leave White tied to the defense of f4.]

31.Nxf5+ gxf5 32.Qf3 [32.Qxh5 Rh8 33.Qf3 Rh4 And the f4 pawn must fall.]

32...Kg6 33.Red2 Re4 34.Rd4 Rc4 35.Qf2 Qb5 36.Kg3 Rcxd4 37.cxd4 Qc4 [Black
will now work on the weak spots on d4 and f4 until White is forced to let Black's
pieces into the first rank, when White will simply run out of moves.]

38.Kg2 b5 39.Kg1 b4 40.axb4 axb4 41.Kg2 Qc1 42.Kg3 Qh1 43.Rd3 Re1 44.Rf3
Rd1 45.b3 Rc1 46.Re3 Rf1 [White's queen can only be saved at the cost of mate
or his rook.]
0–1
 Pulvermacher – Capablanca New York, 1908

1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.c3 Bg4 5.fxe5 dxe5 6.Qa4+ Nd7 [This loses a pawn,
but Black makes a virtue of necessity and develops quickly. 6...Qd7 7.Bb5 c6
8.Nxe5 And White will come out a pawn up.]

7.Nxe5 Ngf6 8.d4 0–0 9.Bg5 [This loses a piece. White should have played 9.Bc4.]

9...Nxe5 10.dxe5 [Now Black wins a piece by tactical means. Try to find it yourself
before challenging Gambit to demonstrate it.]

10...Nxe4

0–1

Reti – Capablanca Berlin, 1928

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.c3 a6 5.Ba4 f5 [White's fourth move did nothing for
his immediate development and took the best square from his queen knight, so
Black feels he can risk this push for the initiative.]

6.d4 fxe4 7.Ng5 exd4 8.Nxe4 [White might do better to castle and make a gambit
of the opening.]

8...Nf6 [Black uses the exposed White knight to develop with tempo.]

9.Bg5 Be7 10.Qxd4 [White miscalculates that Black won't be able to take
advantage of his exposed queen.]

10...b5 [Winning material, but White must have felt that Black's many pawn
moves would give White enough counterplay.]

11.Nxf6+ gxf6 12.Qd5 bxa4 13.Bh6 [13.Qxc6+ Bd7]

13...Qd7 [This fine move defends the knight as well as the bishop on e7, prepares
to attack White's kingside by a later ...Qg4 or Qh3 and gets ready to castle
queenside.]

14.0–0 Bb7 [Aiming his extra piece straight at White's king position.]

15.Bg7 0–0–0 [Another fine move. Black is willing to give back a little material to
take the initiative. After White takes the rook Black will have his queen bishop,
knight, queen and rook all aiming at White's king, which has no defenders.]

16.Bxh8 Ne5 [Now White's queen won't be able to get back to defend the
kingside.]

17.Qd1 Bf3 [Very powerful; Black wins a tempo on White's queen while not
allowing the counterplay White might hope for after, e.g. 17...Qf5 18.Qxa4.]

18.gxf3 Qh3 [White has no defense to threats like 19...Nxf3+ and 19...Rg8+]

0–1

Tartakower – Capablanca New York, 1924

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Be2 [A passive move which lets Black take the initiative in the
center.]

3...d5 4.exd5 Nf6 5.c4 [A dangerous loss of time with White's weakness on e3 and
the e1–h4 diagonal. He should remember he is playing a gambit and develop his
kingside.]
5...c6 [In contrast to White, Black is perfectly willing to give up a pawn to get his
pieces out.]

6.d4 Bb4+ [The first intermediate move. Before taking on d5 Black develops a
piece and throws White into confusion.]
7.Kf1 [White must move his King. 8...Nxd2 9.Nbxd2 cxd5 White's position is
horrible.]

7...cxd5 8.Bxf4 dxc4 9.Bxb8 [White hopes to win a piece by 10.Qa4+, but misses
Black's reply. 9.Bxc4 would be only a little better for Black.]
9...Nd5 [A fine intermediate move. Black protects his bishop, centralizes his
knight and threatens a deadly fork on e3.]

10.Kf2 [10.Bf4 Qf6]

10...Rxb8 11.Bxc4 0–0 [Black has a huge advantage here: White's king is exposed,
his pieces are undeveloped and Black has the bishop pair. White doesn't realize
the danger to his king, else he would play 12.Bxd5 to get rid of Black's strong
knight.]

12.Nf3 Nf6 [Black saves his knight from exchange, since it will become a nuisance
on e4 or g4.]

13.Nc3 b5 [Driving White's bishop from the center.]

14.Bd3 Ng4+ 15.Kg1 Bb7 16.Bf5 Bxf3 17.gxf3 [Black wins easily after 17.Qxf3.]

17...Ne3 18.Bxh7+ [White can't let Black deflect his queen from the defense of
d4.]

18...Kh8 19.Qd3 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Nd5 21.Be4 Nf4 22.Qd2 Qh4 [Black's queen and
knight and queen are so strong that he now threatens to win by the crude ...Rb6,
... f5, ...Rg6+ and ...Rg2. White stops that but there are too many other threat as
well.]

23.Kf1 f5 24.Bc6 Rf6 [Now White can only save his bishop by shutting it off from
the defense of his king.]
25.d5 Rd8 26.Rd1 [26.Qf2 Qh3+ 27.Ke1 Nd3+]

26...Rxc6 [Winning a piece, but also trading off the last piece guarding White's
king.]

27.dxc6 Rxd2 28.Rxd2 Ne6 29.Rd6 Qc4+ 30.Kg2 Qe2+ [White resigns in the face
of mate or further loss of material. If you have doubts about this, Gambit will
convince you.]

0–1