1
C66 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Bxb5 10.Nxb5 The pawn c7 is
Capablanca,Jose−Raul
Fonaroff,Mark
New York casual 18.06.1918 list"!
[Petre Nad]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 d6
The old Steinitz variation of Ruy Lopez. By
studying World Champions games we try to see
what each champion has brought to the art of
the game, but also the development of some
openings during through the years.
Which are the consequences of d7-d6? How
white which has a lead in development to use
this move?
The move d7-d6 delays the Bf8 emergence and
the castle and makes possible the pin on a4-e8
diagonal. White has already 3 developed pieces
(Nf3, Bb5 and Rf1), Black only 2 (Nf6, Nc6), so
4.Bc5 or 4.Be7 looks natural (following the
principle of the opening: TIME, that states the
balance in development).
White must use the pin of Nc6 and put pressure
on e5 (in order to force the pawns trade exd5).
5.d4 Bd7 6.Nc3 And not 6.d5 which leads to a
close center where the development advantage
can not be used.
Be7
Now if 7.Bxc6, Bxc6 8.dxe5, dxe5 9.Nxe5, bxe4
with an equal position so White create this
threat defending e4.
Remember that in this central pawn structure
White wants to force e:d4 in order to achieve a
central superiority and Black should avoid it.
7.Re1 exd4 8.Nxd4
White already obtained an advantage due to his
better control of the center,space advantage
and to the qualitative value of his pieces.
Moreover, Black's e7-bishop has a very small
qualitative value and Black needs to improve it.
Black will make some exchanges now to free up
his position (the exchange of the pieces is the
main strategy of the player with lesser space).
However, Black will only succeed to exchange
pieces of the same qualitative value, so White
will keep his advantage further.
attacked once and defended once so it can be
subject of a tempo move. Keep that on "to do
0-0
After these exchanges, White improved the
qualitative value of his queen too. We will see
how Capablanca knows to use the advantage of
the qualitative value of pieces to win the game,
even if Black has no weaknesses in his position.
11.Qc3
A very strong move. The queen is placed
(typical mean to use the space advantage) on
the third rank where she has a better mobility,
being able to arrive on both flanks. Moreover,
the d4-square is made free for the knight to go
on f5 - all these with tempo by attacking the c7-
pawn.
c6
Consequences?
Black will try to push d6-d5, but d6 will be weak
until then.
White has a superior qualitative value of his
pieces , but this is a short term-advantage, so
White must create threats on next moves in
order to keep the initiative (d6 and g7 will be the
targets).
12.Nd4 Nd7 13.Nf5
Capa is fulfilling his plan started with 11.Nc3. In
some Queens Indian lines White sacrifices a
pawn to reach f5 with a knight. In addition with
an active queen, the knight is extremely
powerful because it exerts pressure on d6,e7,g7,
h6 and it's very difficult to be chased by Black
(g6 is causing more weaknesses).
Bf6
Black has finally succeeded to improve the
positioning of his bishop (and his qualitative
value too), but White is able now to create a
majority of forces on the kingside. Furthermore,
due to his reduced mobility, the black queen is
not able to participate very well in the fight on
the kingside.
14.Qg3 Ne5
 2

[ 14...Be5 15.f4 Bf6 16.Be3 Bxb2 17.Rad1 with mate.]

The pawn d6 will fall, White has active rooks [ 22.Nxf7+ Kg8 23.Nxe5+-
and black pieces don't cooperate at all. ] Conclusions:
15.Bf4 Qc7 16.Rad1 Capablanca used to play simple and effective
White brings his last force in the battlefield. It's i chess. He was a master of the endgame (we
nteresting now to compare the qualitative value will analyze some of his masterpieces) but, as
of pieces of the 2 players. As we'll see in a few we noticed from this game, he knew how to
moves, White transforms his qualitative take the initiative right from the beginning.
advantage into a quantitative advantage. The important features of the games where:
How "to do list" can help us here? - clarifying the central pawn structure (forcing
-d6,e7,g7,h6 are vulnerable points in Black exd4)
camp because of Nf5 - how to use the space advantage
-Bf4 exerts "X-rays" on Qc7 exposed on h2-b8 - how to create qualitative superior pieces
diagonal (Nf5>Nd7, Qg3>Qc7, Rd1>Rd8)
-Bf6 as we noticed already is "the defender", if - two weaknesses principle
we can trade "the defender" the attack wiil go on. - N+Q couple in attack
]
1-0
Rad8 17.Rxd6
The beginning of a splendid combination. White
wants to trade Rd1 for Ne5 and pawn d6, in
order to gain the chance to trade Bf6 and use
the pin of Rd6.
Advice: if you can not calculate the variations
trough the end (especilly intermediatte moves
Qa5 or Rd1 based on the unprotected position
of Re1) try to find a safe line according with "to
do list". For example:
[ 17.h4 Prepares Bg5 to trade the bishops and
h4-h5 to avoid Ng6 which blocks the g-file. g6
18.h5 Rfe8 19.Bg5 Bxg5 20.Qxg5
With a strong attack. ]

17...Rxd6 18.Bxe5 Rd1 if 18...Bxe5 19.Qxe5

with double attack on d6 and g7
[Better was: 18...Qa5 19.Bc3 Bxc3 20.bxc3
Rg6 21.Ne7+ Kh8 22.Nxg6+ hxg6 23.Qd6
And White has a lot to work despite his pawn
up. ]
19.Rxd1 Bxe5
White has now material advantage, but the
weakness of the last rank attracts his attention.
What if White can deflect Rf8 & Qc7 from
protecting d8......?

20.Nh6+ Kh8 21.Qxe5

The final strike and the correct move order. If
[ 21.Nxf7+?? Qxf7 ]
21...Qxe5 22.Nxf7+ [22.Nxf7+ Rxf7 23.Rd8+