% BOOKTITLE = Capablanca Move By Move
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "About this publication"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.23"]

{Jose Raul Capablanca is a chess legend, world champion and quite simply one
of the greatest players in the history of the game. His achievements and
seemingly effortless style of play won many admirers, and his legacy includes
a treasure of instructive games. Studying Capablanca's play is a must for any
aspiring chess player. For Cyrus Lakdawala, it was a key factor in his chess
development and improvement, and in this book he revisits many of his
favourite Capablanca games. Lakdawala examines Capablanca's skills in attack,
defence, counter-attack, exploiting imbalances, accumulating advantages and,
of course, his legendary endgame play.} 1. -- {This new series provides an
ideal platform to study chess openings. By continually challenging the reader
to answer probing questions throughout the book, the 'Move by Move' format
greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as
the traditional assimilation of knowledge. Carefully selected questions and
answers are designed to keep you actively involved and allow you to monitor
your progress as you learn. This is an excellent way to improve your general
chess skills and knowledge.} (1. -- {Cyrus Lakdawala is an International
Master, a former National Open and American Open Champion, and a six-time
State Champion. He has been teaching chess for 30 years.}) *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Foreword"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "John Emms"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.23"]

{The 'Move by Move' format is designed to be interactive, and is based on
questions asked by both teachers and students. It aims - as much as possible -
to replicate chess lessons. All the way through, readers will be challenged to
answer searching questions and to complete exercises, to test their skills in
key aspects of the game. It's our firm belief that practising your skills like
this is an excellent way to study chess.} 1. -- {Many thanks go to all those
who have been kind enough to offer inspiration, advice and assistance in the
creation of 'Move by Move'. We're really excited by this series and hope that
readers will share our enthusiasm.} (1. -- {John Emms, Everyman Chess.}) *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Introduction"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.23"]

{"What others could not find in a month's study, he saw at a glance." - Reuben
Fine.} 1. -- {It isn't easy to write a book about one's chess hero and remain
an unbiased annotator. This is what I wrote about Capablanca in another book:
"When it comes to all things Capa, I am one of those love-struck annotators
who itches to give every move he played an exclamation mark." And another: "As
a faithful acolyte of Saint Capa, I hope you will forgive me for sneaking in
yet another of the Blessed One's games into the book." So you see, it won't be
easy, but in this book I try and remain objective, revealing Capablanca's
warts as well as his double exclams. --- Capa's opening play, especially in
the earlier part of his career, was uninspiring at best, so we don't spend
much time there. Fischer theorized: "Some kid of 14 today, or even younger,
could get an opening advantage against Capablanca..." On the other hand,
Capa's middlegame play, especially when it came to pawn structure and planning,
was two or more generations ahead of his time. If you look at his handling of
the King's Indian against Menchik, it looks as if a contemporary GM like
Karpov or Kramnik plays the white pieces against a C-player who bought books
on KID but didn't bother to study them. Strategically, Capa had a deceptive,
elegant way of threading through the maze, the only sighted person among the
multitude of his day. He would somehow find a way of removing the complexity
of any position, no matter how chaotic, and translate it into a plan which we
can all understand. In the late middlegames and endings he has no rival and
may well be the greatest player of all time. Only Bobby Fischer could make a
case to be his equal in technical endings. Hopefully, after going over the
games in this book, some of this will rub off on us!} *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "A Look at Capa's Career"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.23"]

{The four-year-old Jose Raul Capablanca quietly watched his father and a
fellow army officer play chess each night. One evening, tot-Capa corrected his
father after an inaccurate move and suggested another. When Capa's father
checked the suggested move, it turned out to be an improvement! Don Jorge
Capablanca then played his son a game - and lost! He ran out into the street
and shouted "A miracle!" after his four-year-old son beat him in his very
first chess game. Thus began the career of the most naturally gifted player of
all time. --- Shortly afterward, the four-year-old Capa attended the
Steinitz-Chigorin world championship match in Havana in 1892. This match left
a powerful imprint upon his mind. He also watched astounded as the American GM
Harry Nelson Pillsbury performed a 16-board blindfold simultaneous display.
"Pillsbury's displays ... electrified me." Capa's interests as a youth
included such diverse fields as mathematics, history, philosophy, violin and
baseball. His parents sent him to the U.S. to study chemical engineering at
Columbia University on the strict promise that he avoided playing chess.
Luckily for us, he disobeyed them. Legend has it that he breezed through and
aced a horrifically complex three-hour engineering problem in just 40 minutes
in his final exams.} 1. -- {He quickly earned a reputation in the United
States as an unbeatable amateur and earned a match shot in his first real test
in 1909 with then U.S. Champion Frank Marshall, a player in the Top 10 in the
world, and an overwhelming favourite against the unknown but gifted Cuban
amateur. Capa outplayed Marshall both strategically and tactically in two out
of three phases of the game. The result was an embarrassingly lopsided +8-1=14
bloodbath in Capa's favour. Capablanca held his own in the opening ("His heart
is not in it," said Znosko-Borovsky about Capa in the opening stages of the
game), and dominated the American in the middlegame and ending, as his pieces
glided along with the flow of a concert pianist's fingers along the keys. Next,
Capa toured the U.S. on a simultaneous exhibition tour; the newspaper
headlines read: "Beyond all Expectations!" and "Astonishing!" He managed to
avoid losing a single game in his first ten simuls. --- The crushing victory
over Marshall earned Capa an invitation to the elite GM event, San Sebastian
1911, where he vaulted to world prominence with a stunning first place finish.
Suddenly Capa usurped Rubinstein's spot as Lasker's natural challenger. Lasker
dodged Capa for a full decade in a world title match. Meanwhile, during the
years before and after World War I, Capa lapped up ten first place finishes,
often with overwhelming scores, like a hungry cat with a bowl of cream. In
short matches, he also beat the likes of Teichmann and Alekhine, among others.
Finally in 1921, the pressure in the press grew unbearable for Lasker, who
finally agreed to a championship match in Havana. Capablanca methodically
broke Lasker down with a never-before-seen level of technical accuracy,
defeating Lasker by +4, without a loss in the match.} (1. -- {So difficult was
Capa to beat that he went ten years without losing a tournament game, from the
St Petersburg tournament of 1914 to New York 1924, where he finally lost a
game to Réti. (It was believed the only reason for that defeat was loss of
composure when Capa's rumoured mistress walked into the tournament hall while
Capa's wife - and the press! - also attended!) When he was world champion, his
dominance was absolute and his first place finish - without a single loss -
was almost a forgone conclusion. In the chess world, Capa was the beginning,
the middle and the end, both God and devil - the way Fischer would have been
had he continued playing after he won the World title from Spassky. --- Capa
continued to dominate until the unthinkable happened: He lost his world title
to Alekhine. A grossly overconfident Capa entered the match unprepared
psychologically for the new and improved Alekhine. In the end, Capa lost the
match because he had never previously been tested to the degree with which
Alekhine pressed him. Capa was simply unprepared for this caprice of fate. The
loss of his title had a contracting effect on Capa's style. Now terrified of
defeat, he began to play super safely, a bit like a Petrosian prototype.
Nevertheless, he continued to be placed at the very top of elite tournaments
and even defeated world champion-to-be Max Euwe +2=8 in a short match as late
as 1931.}) *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capa's Style"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.23"]

{Capa was the consummate incrementalist/minimalist, who would win squeakers by
a single tempo in positions everyone else drew. Znosko-Borovsky said that
Capablanca was the first player to truly introduce the concept of piece
harmony/activity over structure. His opponents rarely failed to look awkward
and clunky. Playing over the games in this book, the difference is noticeable.
It can be a jarring sight to see a ballerina waltzing with Frankenstein. His
strength rocketed from the late middlegame into the ending. The fewer the
pieces, the stronger he played. Don't believe for a second that Capablanca was
a pure positional player. He was also probably the best tactician in the world
between 1917 and 1927. Capa's games erupted with "little combinations",
short-range but unexpected shots which he conjured at a glance. He was also
capable of combinations and calculations on a grand scale, as in his game
against Bernstein from St Petersburg 1914, but was generally too lazy or
cautious to enter such positions on a regular basis.} 1. -- {In each chapter
we encounter three Capablancas:} (1. -- {1. The young, aggressive adventurer,
1901-1915.}) (1. -- {2. The mid-years, where Capa ruled as uncontested king at
the height of his powers, 1916-1927.}) (1. -- {3. In his final period, from
1928 to his death in 1942, we see a very cautious, super-positional player,
plagued by health issues like high blood pressure and chronic headaches during
his games. Apparently time and poor health managed to kill Capas 1 and 2 by
this point. Even in this period he produced many magnificent strategic gems
and dazzling endings.}) (1. -- {Viewing the ease with which he won, the reader
may get the feeling that Capa played chess while his opponents played checkers,
or some other game. If any of this rubs off, our own play will hopefully turn
more subtle and harmonious.}) *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capa the Greatest?"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.23"]

{Well, I'm sorry to disappoint, but in my opinion Capablanca was the second
strongest player in the history of the game, behind Fischer but ahead of
Morphy and Kasparov. Capa easily possessed the most natural talent but was
also, unfortunately, the laziest world champion, who couldn't be bothered to
log heavy study hours. Had he been ingrained with the fanatical zeal of an
Alekhine or a Fischer, then Capa would most certainly have reached the number
one spot. Of course, this is all total speculation and it's impossible to say
who was or wasn't the greatest. The only marker we go by is to gauge who
dominated his peers most in his prime. No player ever logged an impossible,
mythical performance like Fischer did immediately before his match with
Spassky - not even Capablanca.} *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "The Format of the Book"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.23"]

{In the end, this book isn't so much about Capablanca as it is about us
extracting lessons and learning from Capablanca. The Move by Move interactive,
question and answer format is designed for the reader to put in a little sweat
going through the games. The reader is challenged with exercises in planning,
discovering combinations, calculation and critical decisions. Of course, you
are not obligated to do the exercises, but if you do put in the work, there
will be a payoff in the end. --- The chapters are arranged by theme: Attack;
Defence; Exploiting Imbalances; Accumulating Advantages; and Endgames. Since
Capa's games were rarely one dimensional, several of the games fit into
multiple chapters.} *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Behold"]
[Black "the Awesome Power of Capa!"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.23"]

{I became an accidental beneficiary of a Capa-boost in rating. Normally my
USCF rating hovers in the 2500-2550 range. As soon as I began work on this
book (I looked at so many Capa games that sometimes the pieces began to merge
in my blurred vision!) my rating unexpectedly began to climb... and climb...
until it reached 2588, only ten points away from my peak rating from 1998.
Such a thing is unheard of for a 51-year-old geezer like me. (You know you are
old when you have so many candles on your birthday cake that there is no hope
of blowing them out.) Was this the result of a placebo effect or perhaps
rating inflation? I'm not sure. A sample of one isn't exactly scientific proof,
but I stubbornly maintain that my rating shot up as a result of Capa's
disembodied, ectoplasmic spirit rubbing off. So he gets full posthumous credit
for my unexpected rating hike. --- The revelation of a long dead genius still
remains available to us today. After examining Capa's games in detail you
begin to ask yourself the question in each position: Where is the essential
core?} *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Acknowledgements"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.23"]

{Many thanks to editor, Grandmaster John Emms, for offering the opportunity to
write a book about my hero. Thanks to Jonathan Tait for the final edit. Thanks
also to the Capaphiles, David Hart, Peter Graves and Tom Nelson, for their
insightful discussions on all things Capa; and finally, thanks to the pit crew,
Nancy, Regional Vice President of Commas, and computer handyman Tim.} 1. -- {
I hope you enjoy reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it. May your
play always achieve Capa-like accuracy and harmony.} (1. -- {Cyrus Lakdawala,
San Diego, June 2012}) *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "1: Capa on the Attack"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.23"]

{The words "Capablanca" and "attack" are not normally associated with one
another. As a kid who studied Capa, I remember mostly going over endings and
positional games. His attacking games never really stuck out. Researching this
book, I was shocked at just how many amazing king hunts Capablanca produced.
In fact, at one point I had over 100 candidate games for this chapter! Attacks
were mainly the product of the younger, more impetuous Capa, but even then,
only once in a while, like an overweight person indulging in a dessert on
occasion. After Capablanca became world champion in 1921, his play grew more
cautious and the number of his attacking games sharply receded. I suppose he
had his reputation to defend, and avoiding loss became the prime directive
over winning brilliantly. Even late in his career, Capa was still capable of
the occasional sparkler, like his game against Levenfish, the final game of
the chapter. --- Capablanca certainly had all the necessary requirements of a
great attacker: Intuition, positional build-up skills two generations ahead of
his rivals, a perfect sense of timing, and unrivalled combinational skills,
especially in short range calculation. If his temperament were different and
he didn't fear a loss to such a great degree, Capa could have been another
Morphy, Tal or Alekhine. But he chose not to. He wanted to be Capa instead.
Emanuel Lasker once observed with shock, that Capablanca didn't get the normal
artistic exaltation which arises from combinations or a beautifully produced
attack in his own games. Capa's two bottom lines were: Victory and, barring
that, avoiding loss. Even with this business-like temperament, Capa managed to
pull off many beautiful attacking games when he decided to let go and be
someone else. Before entering this chapter I quote myself from another book:
"And you thought Saint Capa was just an endgame player!"} *

[Event "8th matchgame, Havana"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1901.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Corzo y Prinzipe, J."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C25"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1901.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

{Corzo, our hero's early rival, later went on to become one of Capablanca's
biggest fans, even writing a regular column in - what else? - 'Capablanca
Magazine'.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 ({Today, the Vienna Game is more commonly met
by} 2... Nf6 3. f4 d5 {.}) 3. f4 exf4 4. Nf3 g5 {QUESTION: Still a Vienna? ---
ANSWER: The game transposed to a line of the King's Gambit. We choose our
openings as a way of reflecting our natures. The King's Gambit and Colle
player are two very different people.} 5. h4 g4 {What 12-year-old isn't
delighted to enter the violent Hamppe-Allgaier Gambit on either side? ---
QUESTION: Isn't it an unsound gambit? --- ANSWER: Relax and allow Corzo his
fun. I believe it was H.L.Mencken who defined puritanism as a fear that
someone, somewhere, was having a good time! A century ago, the line was
exceedingly dangerous to Black. Today, the computers have proven you correct
and ruined White's fun with powerful defensive schemes favouring Black. Just
as people are born, live their lives, and pass away, the same holds true for
some chess openings. GM Nigel Short has an amusing theory about the King's
Gambit in general: "The only reason the King's Gambit is playable is because
Black has about ten good lines, but he can only play one at a time. That's
actually why it's okay."} 6. Ng5 {We are reminded of the Men at Work song:
"Who can it be knocking at my door? Go away! Don't come round here no more!"
--- QUESTION: A blunder? White's knight is trapped. --- ANSWER: The knight is
on a suicide mission, a deliberate piece sac for initiative and attack.} h6 ({
QUESTION: Why not} 6... f6 {- ? --- ANSWER: White gets reasonable compensation
for the piece after} 7. Qxg4 h5 8. Qf5 Nce7 9. Qxf4 {, J.Goetze-D.Rupel,
Seattle 1984.}) 7. Nxf7 Kxf7 8. d4 ({Others:} 8. Bc4+ d5 $1 {(a quick ...d7-d5,
even at the cost of a pawn, is standard operating procedure in Black's simple
goal of survival)} 9. Bxd5+ Kg7 10. d4 Bd6 {(goading White forward)} 11. Bxc6 (
11. e5 Bb4 {comes to the same thing}) 11... bxc6 12. e5 Bb4 13. Bxf4 Be6 14.
Qd3 Ne7 {, when Black achieved a light-square blockade and stood clearly
better, G.Welling-V.Mikhalevski, Gibraltar 2008.}) (8. Qxg4 Nf6 9. Qxf4 Bd6 $1
{looked like shaky compensation for the invested piece, T.Kalisch-L.Hazai,
Gold Coast 1999.}) 8... d5 {A pawn is a tiny investment if he gets rapid
development in exchange.} 9. exd5 (9. Bxf4 {looks better than Corzo's choice,
but even here White is hard pressed to prove he gets full compensation for the
piece.}) 9... Qe7+ 10. Kf2 ({Corzo's attempted improvement over his unsound} 
10. Be2 $2 f3 11. gxf3 gxf3 12. O-O Qxh4 {, which gave Capa a winning position
in the sixth game, although he botched it and only drew. Capablanca writes:
"Corzo analyzed the position and told someone that he should have played K-B2 
(10 Kf2). When I heard this I analyzed the situation myself and decided to
play it again, as I thought that Black should win with the continuation that I
put in practice in this game." Very sneaky! So the prodigy went home and began
studying the position and came up with a fantastic idea in his home prep.})
10... g3+ $1 11. Kg1 {Now the h1-rook remains unused for the remainder of the
game.} Nxd4 $3 {This brilliant return sac takes firm control over the
initiative.} 12. Qxd4 ({QUESTION: What compels White to accept? He can just
pick off f4 instead. --- ANSWER: Let's take a look at your line:} 12. Bxf4 Nf5
{(threatening a nasty queen check on c5)} 13. Qh5+ Kg7 14. Qg4+ Kh7 15. Rh3 {
(to make air for the king)} Nf6 16. Qf3 Rg8 17. Bd3 Kh8 {and White's
initiative comes to an end.}) 12... Qc5 13. Ne2 Qb6 $1 {The point. Black
threatens the devastating ...Bc5.} 14. Qxb6 ({Black's initiative also rages on
after} 14. b4 Bxb4 15. Be3 $1 {(the only move)} fxe3 16. Qxh8 Bf8 $1 17. Qe5
Bd6 {.}) 14... axb6 15. Nd4 {After the queen exits, the knight proves to be an
unreliable understudy.} Bc5 16. c3 {EXERCISE (planning): The fight for d4 is
the centre of gravity in the universe. It looks like White has everything
under control. He doesn't. There is an odd but strong way for Black to
increase the pressure on d4. How? --- ANSWER:} Ra4 $1 {Threat: ...Rxd4!.} 17.
Be2 {His king needs air.} ({The tricky} 17. b4 {is met by the counter-tricky}
Rxb4 $1 {.}) 17... Bxd4+ 18. cxd4 Rxd4 {How annoying for White: f4 remains
defended. Even from an early age, Capa's pieces magically coordinate despite
raging complications.} 19. b3 {Threatening to poke both black rooks along the
a1-h8 diagonal.} Nf6 20. Bb2 Rd2 21. Bh5+ {White fires a bullet into the wall
to test the forensics of the position. The move is also a diversionary tactic
designed to try and throw the young Capa off. --- EXERCISE (critical decision):
It looks like White managed to develop and now hopes to grab some initiative.
What should Black do about it? --- ANSWER: The exchange sac gives Black a
crushing attack.} Nxh5 $1 22. Bxh8 f3 $1 {Clearance. A powerful early display
of Capa's nimble feel for where his pieces should go: f4 is ripe for occupancy.
} 23. gxf3 Nf4 24. Be5 {EXERCISE: White's defences - layers on an old wedding
cake - crumble. After 24 Be5 Black can force resignation in a few moves. How
would you play here?} (24. Rc1 Rf2 $1 25. Rxc7+ Bd7 $1 {and White is curiously
helpless against the inevitable ...Ne2 mating pattern.}) 24... Rg2+ $1 {ANSWER:
The white king's fevered dreams conjure very real phantoms, as he tosses in
his sweat-soaked bed.} 25. Kf1 Rf2+ 26. Ke1 (26. Kg1 Ne2# {!}) 26... Nd3+ (
26... Nd3+ 27. Kd1 g2 $1 28. Rg1 Nxe5 {leaves White completely helpless. ---
Are you ready for a mindblower fact? Hooper and Brandreth claim in 'The
Unknown Capablanca', that the prodigy consumed just five minutes on his clock
for the entire game.}) 0-1

[Event "Casual game, Havana"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1902.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Corzo y Prinzipe, J."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C10"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1902.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bd7 {QUESTION: What is the idea behind
Black's strange last move? --- ANSWER: This is the first recorded game with
the Fort Knox variation of the French Defence. The idea is to develop the
bishop via c6 and chop a white knight, either on e4 or f3. Then Black plays ...c7-c6 and we get a Caro-Kann-like formation where Black eliminates his
potentially bad bishop and then switches the pawn structure to the opposite
colour of his remaining bishop.} 5. Nf3 Bc6 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. O-O Ngf6 8. Bg5 {
Illogical. This is the kind of move club players tend to bang out without
thought. --- QUESTION: How can a move which simultaneously develops and pins
be wrong? --- ANSWER: White's last move increases the likelihood of trades.
--- QUESTION: How would this factor help Black? --- ANSWER: Although Black's
position stands solid, his only worry is that he remains cramped. If this is
the case, swaps are in his favour.} (8. Ng3) ({and} 8. Ned2 {to keep pieces on
the board is the modern way to play as White.}) 8... Be7 9. Nxf6+ ({Others:} 9.
Bxf6 Nxf6 10. Qe2 O-O 11. c4 Bxe4 12. Bxe4 c6 13. Rad1 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Qc7 15.
Rd3 Bf6 16. b3 Rad8 {, when White should theoretically stand a tad better but
my experience in the line argues otherwise. White's extra space is
counter-balanced by Black's target on d4, S.Belkhodja-A.Berelowitsch, German
League 2002.}) (9. Ned2 {is probably the best move for White, who avoids mass
exchanges:} h6 10. Bh4 O-O 11. Re1 b5 $5 {and Black's control of the central
light squares gives him a reasonable position, N.Vink-T.Bottema, Wijk aan Zee
1998.}) 9... Bxf6 {Remember, every swap helps Black.} ({After} 9... Nxf6 10.
Ne5 $5 Qxd4 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. c3 {White's bishop pair and superior pawn
structure give him a good return for the invested pawn.}) 10. Be3 {Corzo
belatedly realizes that he should keep pieces on the board; however, now his
eighth move proves a clear waste of a tempo.} O-O 11. c3 b6 {Intending to chip
away at White's centre with ...Bb7 and ...c7-c5.} ({The alternative is to go
super solid with} 11... Bxf3 12. Qxf3 c6 {. I play this line as Black once in
a while, and also reach such positions from the Caro-Kann, and even from the
Slav, with White's pawn on c4 rather than c3. White's bishop pair is an
advantage only on paper, just as long as Black doesn't allow the position to
open prematurely.}) 12. Qc2 $6 Kh8 ({QUESTION: Shouldn't Black damage White's
pawn structure by chopping the knight on f3? --- ANSWER: Correct. I'm not
certain why Capablanca shouldn't, wouldn't or couldn't take on f3. In this
case the young Capa gets too cute. Better to bite with} 12... Bxf3 $1 13. gxf3
({h7 is taboo:} 13. Bxh7+ $4 Kh8 14. gxf3 g6 15. Bxg6 Rg8) 13... g6 {and the
damage to White's structure is more meaningful than his bishop pair and
light-square control.}) 13. Nd2 (13. Bxh7 $4 Bxf3 14. gxf3 g6 15. Bxg6 Rg8 {
wins a piece for no compensation.}) 13... Re8 {Eventually, Black seeks the
freeing break ...e6-e5.} 14. Bxh7 $2 {Poor judgment. White's dream of attack
fails to correspond with reality. It was P.T.Barnum who said: "There is a
sucker born every minute!" Black's king is perfectly safe and three pawns
aren't enough.} g6 15. Bxg6 fxg6 16. Qxg6 {QUESTION: I disagree with your
assessment of the sac. White extracted three healthy pawns for the piece,
exposed Black's king and now enjoys an attack. Shouldn't the assessment be:
Advantage White? --- ANSWER: In the end what we want doesn't count for much.
It's what we get that matters. Black stands clearly better for the following
reasons: 1. White failed to assemble sufficient reinforcements to commit to
such a radical course of action and there simply is no attack. --- 2. White
kindly opened the g-file for Black's rook and his future attack down that file,
taking aim at g2. --- 3. Black has a grip on the light squares. --- 4. White
passers can't be pushed until a considerable amount of material comes off the
board.} Qe7 $6 {Yielding to instinct. Black shouldn't be in a rush to swap
queens. White's attack simply doesn't exist.} (16... Re7 $1 {, retaining
queens, is much stronger.}) 17. f4 $6 {Now light-squared punctures dot White's
position, as on a pox-scarred face.} ({QUESTION: Once again I disagree with
your assessment of White's last move. I like it. He clamps down on e5,
preventing Black's freeing break, creates a target on e6, and prepares Nf3 and
Ne5. --- ANSWER: White's last move was a strategic error, typical for the time,
where White in his delusion of an attack weakens his light squares further,
especially g2. He also destroys the potency of his remaining bishop whose
menial job on e3 is quite at odds with his previous station in life and
self-esteem. With} 17. f3 Rg8 18. Qh6+ Qh7 19. Qxh7+ Kxh7 20. Ne4 {White keeps
his disadvantage to a minimum.}) 17... Qh7 {Even as a child, Capa's instinct
was to swap down to an ending, a realm he ruled with an iron fist.} 18. Qxh7+ {
Otherwise Black begins to attack with ...Rg8.} Kxh7 {Black stands better
because White's kingside pawns have little chance of advancing due to the
danger to his king. Black's light-squared bishop rules the long diagonal and
worries White about potential attacks on g2.} 19. Nf3 Rg8 {Target: g2.} 20.
Rae1 Rg6 21. Bd2 {The ugly bishop walks a few paces behind his more powerful
brothers on Black's side.} ({I would play} 21. Ng5+ {to try and seal the
g-file. Black can eventually break the blockade or induce White into weakening
further with h4.}) 21... Bd5 22. b3 Rf8 (22... b5 {isn't necessary yet.}) 23.
Kh1 ({Naturally not} 23. c4 $4 Bxf3 24. Rxf3 Bxd4+ {.}) 23... c5 {Principle:
Open the game when you have the bishop pair.} 24. dxc5 ({QUESTION: Doesn't
this help Black? --- ANSWER: It does. But} 24. Be3 {isn't much better. Frisco
Del Rosario writes: "...but White is spellbound into keeping the line open to
the e6-pawn."}) ({And} 24. Ng5+ {fails to help White anymore:} Kh8 25. c4 Bb7
26. dxc5 Nxc5 {, when Black's pieces become more and more active.}) 24... Nxc5
25. c4 Ba8 {QUESTION: What is the point of Black's last move? --- ANSWER: Just
a precaution. Capa avoids future tricks on his bishop if White ever seizes the
seventh rank.} 26. Bb4 Rfg8 27. Bxc5 {EXERCISE (critical decision): We can
recapture the bishop. But we can also sac the piece back and play 27...Rxg2.
Judge the ramifications. Is it worth it? --- ANSWER: It sure is: g2, like
gravity, quickly brings White down, as the contagion on the light squares
continues to spread. White's position, for so long a three-legged stool,
finally collapses as Black's light-squared bishop gathers demonic power down
the h1-a8 diagonal.} Rxg2 $1 28. Be3 $1 {The only move.} ({Corzo walks into
mate in each of the following lines:} 28. Bg1 $4 Rxg1+ $1 {.}) (28. Rxe6 $4
bxc5 29. Rxf6 Bxf3 {.}) (28. Bd6 $4 Rg1+ $1 29. Rxg1 Bxf3+ {.}) 28... Bh4 $1
29. Rd1 ({White can safely rule out} 29. Nxh4 $4 Rg1# {.}) ({EXERCISE: 
(combination alert): After} 29. Rd1 {Black has a shot which short-circuits the
defence. Let's see if you can find it. --- ANSWER: The bishop's hypnotic
oscillations continue with a beautiful interference. Get used to this kind of
thing in the book. The math always seems to work for Capa's side alone.}) 29...
Bf2 $3 {Keep in mind that Black was a 13-year-old kid and White the IM/GM
strength Cuban champion.} 30. Rd7+ {White's forces are sent scattering like a
nest of eels startled by the approaching shark.} (30. Rxf2 Rxf2 31. Rd7+ Kh6
32. f5+ Kh5 33. Rh7+ Kg4 34. Bxf2 Kxf3 $1 {(all alone and all powerful: for
Black's king, loneliness is the price of his absolute power)} 35. Bg3 Rd8 $1 {
mates in five moves.}) 30... Kh6 31. Rd5 {A move like this is a synonym for
resigning.} ({The rest is easy since} 31. Rxf2 $4 Rg1#) ({and} 31. h4 $4 Bxf3 {
fail miserably.}) 31... Bxe3 32. Ng5 R2xg5 {Not the best move but the simplest
- the Capa trademark.} 33. fxg5+ Rxg5 34. Rf6+ Kh5 35. Rxe6 Bxd5+ 36. cxd5 Rg1#
0-1

[Event "San Sebastian"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1911.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Bernstein, O."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C66"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1911.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

{Which narcotic is as deliciously addictive or intoxicating as revenge over an
oppressor? San Sebastian 1911 was one of the strongest tournaments ever held.
Only established giants of the game were invited, with the exception of the
young Capablanca who squeaked in on the merit of his crushing +8 -1 =14 match
victory over Frank Marshall - a player who may have been deserving of an
invitation to San Sebastian himself. As expected, a few of the more prickly
participants protested the entry, the loudest of which was Bernstein, Capa's
first round opponent. Can anyone guess what happened next? The universe has a
sense of humour and must have planned the whole thing. The story ended happily
for all but Bernstein, who duly got clubbed like a baby seal while Capa walked
away with the tournament brilliancy prize for this game.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 Nf6 {How very fashionable, the Berlin Defence to the Ruy Lopez.} 4. O-O
(4. Nc3 {transposes to Spanish Four Knights.}) 4... Be7 {QUESTION: This move
isn't normal, is it? --- ANSWER: In 1911, there was little opening theory to
speak of, and even strong GMs basically winged it!} ({Today, the Berlin tabiya
ending arises after the moves} 4... Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 {.}) 5. Nc3 {Back to Four Knights.} ({The most logical way to
continue may be to protect the e-pawn with} 5. Re1 {, and at the same time
leave open the possibility for c2-c3 and d2-d4.}) 5... d6 6. Bxc6+ {QUESTION:
Premature? --- ANSWER: Probably the bishop shouldn't capture unforced on c6
like this, though it may transpose to book lines later on.} ({Better to keep
options open with} 6. d4 {.}) 6... bxc6 7. d4 exd4 8. Nxd4 {This structure is
called the "little centre". White enjoys more space and greater central
control, while Black holds the bishop pair.} Bd7 9. Bg5 O-O 10. Re1 {White
plans the disruptive e4-e5 next.} h6 {QUESTION: Isn't this weakening? ---
ANSWER: The move weakens Black, yet looks correct after his next move.} 11. Bh4
Nh7 $1 {Principle: Swap when you are cramped.} 12. Bxe7 ({I would keep pieces
on the board with} 12. Bg3 {.}) 12... Qxe7 13. Qd3 Rab8 14. b3 Ng5 $5 15. Rad1
({QUESTION: Can White go pawn hunting with} 15. Qa6 {? --- ANSWER: It gets him
nowhere after} Qe5 16. Rad1 Ne6 {.}) 15... Qe5 16. Qe3 Ne6 {Preventing f2-f4.}
17. Nce2 {Once again fighting for f4.} Qa5 ({I would continue the swap policy
with} 17... Nxd4 18. Nxd4 c5 {.}) 18. Nf5 Nc5 $5 {Bernstein, underestimating
his world champion-to-be opponent, begins to drift his pieces away from his
king's guard.} ({QUESTION: Why didn't Black take on a2? --- ANSWER:
Pawn-grabbing adventures have consequences. In this case White gets a powerful
attack after} 18... Qxa2 $2 19. Qg3 $1 {now Nf4 and e4-e5 are in the air;} ({
regaining the pawn by} 19. Qc3 {is also good}) 19... Ng5 20. Qc3 $1 Bxf5 21.
exf5 {and if Black tries to hang on to everything with} Qa6 $2 ({instead Black
must agree to enter the unpleasant but necessary line} 21... Ne4 22. Qxc6 Nf6
23. Ra1) 22. Ng3 f6 23. Re7 Rf7 24. Rde1 Rbf8 25. h4 Nh7 26. Nh5 $1 {, when
the returning Qg3 is ruinous for Black.}) 19. Ned4 Kh7 20. g4 $1 Rbe8 21. f3
Ne6 22. Ne2 $5 {How very odd to see the high priest of positional play
kneeling at the altar of attack. This is the kind of speculation one
associates with Tal, not Capa, who boldly offers pawns on the queenside in
order to generate the attack. --- QUESTION: Is it sound? --- ANSWER: I don't
know; probably not. Kasparov didn't think so and awarded the move a dubious
mark, claiming: "I think that by around the year 1925 the Cuban would no
longer have played 22 Ne2?!." --- QUESTION: You have the nerve to overrule
Kasparov's assessment!? --- ANSWER: Well, I admit that is a bit on the
presumptuous side, but I feel that Kasparov, while technically correct,
possibly underestimated the practical chances behind Capa's sac. I remember
reading an article where Smyslov bemoaned Tal's con artist style, yet Tal kept
winning and went on to swindle the world title from Botvinnik.} Qxa2 23. Neg3
$5 {All or nothing. We are conditioned to seeing Capa play for subtle points.
Instead he plays the position like a raging comet, buying Black off at the
going market rate: Two pawns in exchange for a speculative attack.} Qxc2 $5 {
A move played under the theory that a rich man can buy his way into heaven.
When ambition and reality collide, it is usually the former who sustains
injury. Black reasons: If a small sample is good (a2), then how much better to
take possession of the whole (c2)? The threat is ...Qc5.} ({Kasparov liked
this move, but Lasker gave it a question mark and suggested} 23... f6 24. Nh5
Rf7 {.}) 24. Rc1 Qb2 25. Nh5 {We get a growing sense of accumulating peril
around Black's king. Capa writes: "...it is this knight that is going to
decide the game." Kasparov mockingly adds: "But only because of Black's weak
play."} Rh8 $2 ({QUESTION: Can Black go for a piece with} 25... g6 {? ---
ANSWER: It loses to} 26. Qxh6+ Kg8 27. e5 $1 {(interference)} gxh5 28. gxh5 {
(White threatens the simple Kh1 and Rg1+ mating; there is no defence)} Qxb3 29.
Re2 $1 {.}) ({QUESTION: Well then, what move do you suggest? --- ANSWER: Both
Kasparov and Houdini suggest that Black remains slightly better after} 25... g5
$1 {.}) 26. Re2 $1 Qe5 ({If he tries to hide the sweepings under the rug with} 
26... Qa3 {, then} 27. Nhxg7 $1 {pierces the defences.}) 27. f4 {Removing the
queen's coverage from the critical f6- and g7-squares.} Qb5 {Black's queen
taps her foot in impatience and finally leaves. The key kingside dark squares
now remain outside her field of vision. --- EXERCISE (combination alert/
critical decision): Black's king is caught within the pendulum of those
ominous knights and the time to sac has arrived. But the question arises:
Which knight shall we sac and on what square? --- ANSWER:} 28. Nfxg7 $1 {The
f6-square is the weak link and Black quickly collapses.} Nc5 $6 {The knight,
with a croak of disbelief, realizes g7 isn't really hanging, and stays well
clear as if from a noxious odour.} ({As bad as it looks, he had to try} 28...
Nxg7 29. Nf6+ Kg6 30. Nxd7 {.}) 29. Nxe8 {Now White has a vicious attack and
isn't even material down.} Bxe8 30. Qc3 $1 f6 (30... Rg8 31. Nf6+ Kg7 32. Re3 {
is also totally hopeless for Black.}) 31. Nxf6+ Kg6 32. Nh5 $1 Rg8 33. f5+ {
Black's king gets driven into a pocket of emptiness where he gets hunted down.}
Kg5 ({Black also gets slaughtered after} 33... Kh7 34. Nf6+) ({or} 33... Kg5
34. Qe3+ Kxg4 35. Rg2+ {.}) 34. Qe3+ {. Irony alert: Bernstein gets crushed by
the weakling he wanted to ban from the tournament! To Bernstein's credit, he
became a Capa convert and magically transformed into one of Capa's greatest
fans after this game.} 1-0

[Event "Exhibition game, Berlin"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1913.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Mieses, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E91"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1913.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 {The Benoni/Schmid Benoni was a virtually unknown idea at
the time the game was played.} 3. d5 d6 4. c4 (4. Nc3 {is the Schmid Benoni.})
4... g6 ({QUESTION: Can Black play} 4... b5 {here, transposing to a Benko
Gambit? --- ANSWER: Only if Mieses was clairvoyant and gazed into the future,
since the opening had yet to be invented!}) 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. e4 O-O 7. Be2 ({I
tend to play} 7. h3 {in this position. --- QUESTION: To what purpose? ---
ANSWER: In the Benoni, Black's problem piece is his light-squared bishop. He
is generally okay if he can later swap it off with ...Bg4 and ...Bxf3. h2-h3
denies Black this possibility. Also, remember, Black is somewhat cramped so
any trade tends to be to his benefit.}) 7... e6 ({QUESTION: What if Black
plays King's Indian style with} 7... e5 {- ? --- ANSWER: Then I suggest
Petrosian's system with} 8. Bg5 {. White scores very well from this position
and you get a favourable version since Black sealed c5 with a pawn.}) 8. O-O
exd5 9. exd5 ({Today, the more dynamic} 9. cxd5 {, creating opposite wing
majorities, is more commonly played.}) 9... Ne8 {QUESTION: I don't understand
the reason for this unforced retreat. Why did Black play it? --- ANSWER: I was
going to give the move a "?!" mark until I remembered my vow not to criticize
the openings of the old lions. As The Who's Tommy warns: "You can't speak evil.
Your mouth is sealed." I don't understand the strange knight retreat either
and Mieses is no longer here to explain, so the motivation behind the move
remains an eternal mystery.} ({Black should play for trades with} 9... Bg4 $1 {
.}) 10. Re1 Bg4 11. Ng5 Bxc3 $6 {Clearly Black lives beyond his means. I
wonder if this was Mieses' idea behind his earlier knight retreat. If so it's
a strategically sour idea. --- QUESTION: Why? It seems a fair trade. Black
gives up his good bishop to damage White's queenside pawns. --- ANSWER: Capa
got by far the better of the bargain. Black weakened all the sensitive dark
squares around his king; whereas his dream of exploiting White's broken
queenside pawns is no more than a twisted vision, which never comes to pass.}
12. bxc3 Bxe2 13. Qxe2 Ng7 $6 (13... Nf6 {, covering e4 and looking for swaps,
was better. Mieses, a Grandmaster-strength pure tactician and attacker, tended
to fold like a cheap umbrella against Capa, who just wouldn't let Mieses get
the type of game he flourished in. In fact, Mieses' lifetime record versus
Capa was an unhappy 0%, a record even I could match if I ever get around to
building a time machine to go back and challenge the Cuban legend.}) 14. Ne4 {
Both d6 and f6 are sensitive points in Black's position.} f6 15. Bf4 Ne8 16.
Bh6 Ng7 {EXERCISE (planning): So the question arises: What plan should be
implemented to flare up White's attack? --- ANSWER: Step 1: Come all ye
faithful. Awaken his only dormant piece.} ({QUESTION: Why self-pin? --- ANSWER:
Black avoided the game-ending trap} 16... Rf7 $4 17. Ng5 $1 {.}) ({Now let's
assess the position after} 16... Ng7 {: 1. White managed to weaken the pawn
front around Black's king. --- 2. Black is especially tender on the dark
squares and sorely misses his dark-squared bishop. --- 3. White has a menacing
build-up of pieces near Black's king.}) 17. Rad1 $1 Na6 {Step 2: Lift the rook
to the third rank.} 18. Rd3 $1 f5 $2 {The impatient make poor defenders. I
guess Mieses' mood, by now dark as sin, and sick and tired of the escalating
abuse, nudged him to lash out impulsively with this ineffective stabbing
motion.} ({He should sit tight with} 18... Nc7 {.}) 19. Ng5 {Thanks for the
square! The knight, an apparition born from mist, emerges on g5.} Nc7 (19...
Re8 20. Re3 {is of no help to Black either.}) 20. Qe7 Qxe7 (20... Nce8 {
changes nothing. White would continue as he did in the game.}) 21. Rxe7 Nce8 {
EXERCISE (planning): Taking on b7 is okay but somehow feels like a petty
distraction in such a position where Black can barely move. Let's go after
Black's king instead. Find your target and come up with a plan. --- ANSWER:
Target h7, the weakest link.} 22. Rh3 $1 f4 23. Bxg7 Nxg7 24. Rxh7 {Black
begins to discard material the way one scrapes mud off a filthy shoe.} Nf5 25.
Re6 $1 Rfe8 26. Rxg6+ Kf8 27. Rf7# {. This attack, like virtually all of
Capa's attacks, was founded on solid positional chess.} 1-0

[Event "Exhibition game, St Petersburg"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1913.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Dus Chotimirsky, F."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C90"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1913.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
Na5 {A strange move order by today's standards but we abide by a statute of
limitations, so I won't complain about strange or inaccurate opening moves
throughout the book.} ({QUESTION: What is the move order mostly played today?
--- ANSWER: The main path would be} 8... O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 {.})
9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. Nbd2 ({White can also play} 11. h3) (11. a4) ({and} 
11. d5 {.}) 11... Nc6 (11... O-O 12. Nf1 Nc6 13. Ne3 Re8 $6 14. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 $2
{(Black should just move his queen)} 15. exd5 Na5 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Nxe5 {and
White won a pawn, R.J.Fischer-W.Donnelly, Milwaukee 1957.}) 12. Nf1 $6 {This
allows an annoying pin.} (12. d5 Nd8 13. a4 Rb8 {was probably better, C.Ahues-A.Rubinstein, Hamburg Olympiad 1930.}) 12... cxd4 13. cxd4 Bg4 {This is
the danger of White holding back on h2-h3.} 14. d5 Nd4 15. Bd3 O-O 16. Be3 Rac8
$5 {QUESTION: Why doesn't Black damage the pawns by taking on f3? --- ANSWER:
I would do just that.} ({Perhaps he feared a future attack down the g-file
after} 16... Nxf3+ 17. gxf3 Bd7 18. Ng3 {which is about equal.}) 17. Bxd4 {He
hands Black a weak pawn, at the cost of the bishop pair and degrading his
control over the dark squares.} exd4 18. a4 Qb6 19. axb5 axb5 20. h3 Bxf3 21.
Qxf3 Nd7 {An interesting imbalance arises with the presence of the
opposite-coloured bishops. The principles are: 1. Opposite-coloured bishops
favour the attacking side. In this case nobody has an attack yet. --- 2. In
endings, opposite-coloured bishops allow the pawn (or pawns) down side greater
drawing chances.} 22. Rec1 Nc5 23. b4 Na4 $2 {Overly ambitious. --- QUESTION:
What don't you like about the move? He plans to plant his knight on c3, in the
heart of White's territory. --- ANSWER: Believe it or not, Black
underestimates the problems to his king, as Capa soon launches a deeply hidden
attack.} ({The balance of power remains unaltered after the correct} 23... Nxd3
$1 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Qxd3 {. --- QUESTION: Whose position do you prefer? ---
ANSWER: I actually prefer Black, who controls the c-file and dark squares.})
24. Rxc8 $1 Rxc8 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): White has a trick in the
position which creates very real threats to Black's king. --- ANSWER:} 25. e5
$1 {Threat: Qf5!. Black must weaken his kingside to prevent it. White must
confidently calculate the next few moves to be certain of the effectiveness of
his first shot, without allowing a retaliatory response.} g6 (25... Rf8 26. e6
$1 g6 {transposes.}) 26. e6 $1 Rf8 ({White gets a winning position after} 26...
fxe6 $6 27. dxe6 Rf8 28. Qg4 Rf6 29. Ng3 d5 30. Nf5 $1 Qxe6 (30... Rxe6 31.
Bxb5 $1) 31. Nxe7+ Qxe7 32. Qxd4 {, when Black is about to drop at least one
pawn and remains with a shaky king.}) 27. Ng3 $1 {The knight finds
accommodations on f1 thoroughly unsuitable, and seeks an upgrade.} Qb7 $2 {
EXERCISE: (combination alert): Let's see if you can find White's idea. ---
ANSWER: Step 1: White snaps the rein, urging his horse on. The knight is
immune.} ({Instead:} 27... fxe6 $2 28. Qg4 e5 29. Bxg6 hxg6 30. Qxg6+ Kh8 31.
Nh5 {mates.}) (27... Qc7 $1 {is Black's best defensive try:} 28. Bxb5 Nc3 29.
exf7+ Rxf7 30. Qd3 Qb7 {.}) ({After} 27... Qb7 $2 {White has access to another
trick where Capa's pieces begin to boil over on the kingside. Black soon loses
his fragile trusteeship over the kingside, and punctures and corrosion degrade
what was once a stable structure.}) 28. Nf5 $1 fxe6 ({QUESTION: What if Black
plays it cool with a move like} 28... Kh8 {- ? --- ANSWER: Black's troubles
don't go away. For example:} 29. Qe4 $1 fxe6 30. Nxe7 Qxe7 31. dxe6 Nc3 32.
Qxd4+ Qg7 33. Qxd6 $1 {.}) 29. dxe6 $1 {Step 2: Overload Black's queen.} Qc7 {
Step 3: Overload her again!} 30. Qc6 $1 {Have you ever been in the ocean when
the tide was so strong that a wave knocked you down? You get up, then another
immediately tosses you around again. This is Black's fate.} Qd8 {Black's queen,
chafing under her sister's rule, furrows her brow and backs off.} 31. Nxe7+
Qxe7 {Step 4: Win a pawn and create a passed b-pawn.} 32. Bxb5 Nc3 {Step 5:
Simplification.} 33. Qd7 $1 {White's queen, on the other hand, stands
resplendent among the unwashed rabble surrounding her.} Qxd7 {Black's poor
confused queen reminds me of the time when I introduced my wife - then
girlfriend - Nancy, to my relatives, whose baffling names she could neither
pronounce nor remember.} 34. Bxd7 {Game over. The passed e- and b-pawns decide.
--- QUESTION: I admit this is a brilliant game, but why did you put it in the
Attack chapter? --- ANSWER: Dang, I was hoping you wouldn't notice. This was
one of the games which didn't really fit into any chapter in the book. For
instance, Capa was never on the defensive, so Chapter 2 is out. I'm not really
sure which imbalance Capa did or didn't exploit; and he really didn't win by
accumulation of advantages, so there goes Chapters 3 and 4. Finally, it
doesn't fit with the endgame chapter either since he has a trivially won game
once the queens go off, so no Chapter 5! Although Capa didn't crown his attack
with mate, he really did gain all his advantages by threatening to attack. So
here it is in Chapter 1!} Rb8 (34... Nd5 35. Ra6 Ne7 36. Rxd6 Rb8 37. Rxd4 {
leaves Black three pawns down.}) 35. e7 Kf7 36. Re1 $1 {Following Lasker's
advice: The threat is stronger than its execution.} Re8 37. Bxe8+ Kxe8 38. Re6
d5 39. Kf1 Nb5 (39... d3 40. Ke1 {ends the d-pawn's dream.}) 40. Ke2 Nc7 41.
Re5 Na6 42. b5 Nb4 43. b6 d3+ 44. Kd2 Kd7 $5 {QUESTION: What the hell!? ---
ANSWER: Clear proof that Dus C was an aspiring and gifted comedian. A suicidal
person, unable to do the deed (resign!), sometimes provokes another, hoping to
be killed.} (44... Nc6 45. b7 {is no improvement!}) 45. e8=Q+ Kd6 46. Qe7+ Kc6
47. Qxb4 1-0

[Event "Casual game, Kiev"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1914.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Masyutin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A83"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1914.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 f5 2. e4 {Contrary to popular belief at most chess clubs, the Staunton
Gambit isn't all that hot an opening for White. --- QUESTION: Wouldn't one
expect a more positional approach against the Dutch with Capa as White? ---
ANSWER: Actually, Capa, who was remarkably rigid in his pronouncements and
opinions on openings, once wrote that the Staunton was White's "best" choice
in the position. Frisco Del Rosario tells a story about a Mexican amateur who
talked Capablanca into giving a private chess lesson. The student showed Capa
his game: 1 e4 c5. Capa claimed the Sicilian was unsound and "full of holes"!
Then Capa went on to explain that 2 Ne2! was White's best move, and perhaps a
refutation. "Why?" asked the amateur. Capa answered "No importa!" - not
important! Capa refused to answer the question despite his confused student's
importunate pleas.} fxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 c6 (4... Nc6 {is another effective
method for Black to deal with the Staunton Gambit:} 5. d5 Ne5 6. Qd4 Nf7 7. h4
e5 $1 8. Qa4 c6 9. O-O-O Qb6 {and the two correspondence GMs reached an
exceedingly sharp position, K.Wiacek-G.Timmerman, 15th CC Olympiad 2006.}) 5.
f3 exf3 $5 {QUESTION: This looks dangerous. Does Black have to accept the
gambit?} ({ANSWER: Returning the pawn with} 5... e3 {is the way I would go:} 6.
Bxe3 d5 7. Qd2 Nbd7 8. O-O-O b5 $1 9. g4 Nb6 10. h4 e6 11. h5 b4 12. Nb1 Nc4
13. Qe1 Qa5 {and I prefer Black in this admittedly messy position, A.Raetsky-A.Korobov, Abu Dhabi 2010.}) 6. Nxf3 e6 (6... g6 {is another way to develop. Then
} 7. Bd3 Bg7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. h4 d5 10. Bh6 {gave White compensation for the pawn,
M.Samkov-I.Bocharov, Berdsk 2008.}) 7. Bd3 d5 {QUESTION: Doesn't this hand
White a huge hole on e5? --- ANSWER: It does, but Black's last move is not so
bad. He needs his fair share of the centre. Black gives up such holes in
variations of the French Defence - and usually without being up a pawn!} 8. O-O
Nbd7 $6 (8... Be7 {is the correct move order.}) 9. Ne5 {As was his usual
custom, Capa's legendary accuracy is nowhere to be found in the opening stages
of the game.} (9. Qe2 $1 {exploits Black's inaccurate last move.}) 9... Be7 10.
Bxf6 $5 ({I would play} 10. Qe2 {.}) 10... Bxf6 $6 {A move clearly intended to
goad his opponent. --- QUESTION: This looks suicidal. Why on earth would Black
allow White a queen check on h5? --- ANSWER: This may be a question Mr.
Masyutin's psychiatrist would be better qualified to answer. Perhaps the fear
and peril of a chess game became a thrill in itself.} ({After the correct} 
10... Nxf6 $1 {, if White tries the same idea with a sacrificial attack it
fails after} 11. Rxf6 $2 Bxf6 12. Qh5+ Ke7 13. Qf7+ Kd6 14. Nc4+ $2 dxc4 15.
Ne4+ Kd5 16. Nc3+ Kxd4 $1 {(denying White a perpetual check)} 17. Rd1 Kc5 {
when Black's king escapes the net and Black remains a rook up.}) 11. Qh5+ Ke7 (
11... g6 $2 {fails to} 12. Bxg6+ hxg6 13. Qxg6+ Ke7 14. Rxf6 $1 Nxf6 15. Qg7+
Kd6 16. Nf7+ {.}) 12. Bxh7 $6 {The trouble with this move is that Black can
now force queens off the board.} ({QUESTION: Then what would you suggest as
White's best path to attack? --- ANSWER: Probably something like} 12. Rae1 {
and if} Qb6 13. Ng6+ hxg6 14. Qxh8 Qxd4+ 15. Kh1 Kd6 {, though even then,
Black gets compensation for the exchange in the form of a strong centre and
dark-square control.}) 12... Nf8 $4 {Black, impelled by a mood of
over-exuberance, decides to undertake a madman's mission, allowing White a
breathtaking sacrificial mating binge.} (12... Qe8 $1 {forces queens off and
equalizes, since White should avoid} 13. Ng6+ $2 Kd8 14. Qh3 Bxd4+ 15. Kh1 Qxg6
$1 16. Bxg6 Rxh3 17. gxh3 Bf6 {, when the endgame is clearly in Black's favour.
}) 13. Qf7+ Kd6 {EXERCISE (critical decision): Soon, Black's nimble king is
destined to be the shaper of monumental events. Continue the attack, even if
you can't visualize the position to mate. --- ANSWER: Clear e4 for the other
knight.} 14. Nc4+ $1 {A military force must be comprised of disposable parts.
If you are unwilling to take on casualties while attacking then chances of
victory recede.} dxc4 15. Ne4+ Kd5 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): Black is
not kidding and has not been not kidding for quite some time now, and look
where it has gotten him. Same question. How to continue the attack? --- ANSWER:
} 16. Rf5+ $1 {Turmoil mixed with rage is the mysterious mechanism which
transforms a crowd into a mob.} Kxe4 ({Or} 16... Kxd4 17. c3+ Kd3 18. Nc5+ Ke3
19. Rf3+ Kd2 20. Rf2+ Ke3 21. Re1# {!}) 17. Re1+ Kxd4 {The king blows by on a
fickle breeze.} 18. c3+ Kd3 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): Please come in.
Welcome to my humble home! Black's poor king, a slave to old inertia, arrives
at his final resting place. Mate in one (!) move. --- ANSWER:} 19. Rd5# {.
Double checkmate! It was the biblical Job who complained: "What I greatly
feared has come upon me." Note how most of Black's loutish pieces sit on their
original squares, while Black's king on d3 radiates silent protest. ---
QUESTION: Black didn't seem like a very strong player. Was he? --- ANSWER:
Nobody even seems to know Masyutin's first initial! Black was clearly in a
league a million miles below Capablanca, and I am almost certain Everyman
won't have me working on the book: 'Masyutin: Move by Move'! But I didn't want
to fill this one exclusively with games against Alekhines and Laskers.
Sometimes we crave carnage and the only way to satiate the thirst is to
include a bloodbath versus some unknown amateur!} 1-0

[Event "St Petersburg"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1914.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alekhine, A."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C66"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1914.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

{This game was perhaps the beginning of what would become an old grudge, much
the way die-hard Beatles fans view Yoko. Long before the two giants became
enemies and bitter rivals, they were for a brief few days, friends. It was
said Alekhine and Capa were inseparable at the St Petersburg tournament...
until the party. A young baroness invited the two GMs to a party at her home
in their honour. Both were hoping to make a splash with high-born Russian
ladies in attendance. Unfortunately for Alekhine, Capa's charm rating was
somewhere in the 2850 range. The tragic result: Capablanca 1 Alekhine 0. ---
Capa charmed the living daylights out of the young ladies and had them all
clapping their hands in delight with his wit, his easy elegance, and also his
Rudolph Valentino-style good looks. Sergei Shishko described the power of
Capa's charisma in almost worshipful tones: "Capablanca arrived in a tuxedo
with a shiny ivory chrysanthemum in his lapel. The spirited Cuban had a golden
tan and expressive velvety eyes which seemed to sparkle." It was whispered
that the shy and socially inept Alekhine sat in a corner mumbling to himself,
thinking dark thoughts about Cubans, as Capa danced the night away. Perhaps it
is possible to simultaneously love and hate another, since Capa and Alekhine
mutually admired and despised each other for the rest of their lives.} 1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 {QUESTION: A bit passive? --- ANSWER: Ruy Lopez theory
was still in its infancy at the time and most players, even very strong ones,
automatically played the solid/passive Steinitz line. Of course, there were
exceptions: Please see Frank Marshall's psychotic Marshall Gambit against Capa
next chapter!} 4. d4 {White's best chance at an edge.} exd4 5. Nxd4 Bd7 6. Nc3
Nf6 ({QUESTION: Since Black is cramped, wouldn't it be in his best interest to
swap off a pair of pieces with} 6... Nxd4 7. Bxd7+ Qxd7 8. Qxd4 {- ? ---
ANSWER: In theory you are correct, yet this seems to be an exception to the
principle. White has a clear advantage due to superior development and control
over the centre. Watch how quickly Black got into trouble in the following
game:} Nf6 (8... Ne7 {looks safer since it doesn't allow White any contact}) 9.
Bg5 Be7 10. O-O-O O-O 11. e5 Ne8 (11... Nd5 $1 {is better but still not good
for Black}) 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. exd6 Nxd6 14. Nd5 {left Black fighting for his
life, S. Rublevsky-B.Ferrandi, Ajaccio (rapid) 2004.}) 7. O-O Be7 8. Nf5 $5 {
White gambles that his bishop pair and increased control over the light
squares are more meaningful than the damage done to his pawn structure. ---
QUESTION: Is that a good gamble? --- ANSWER: I don't think so. Black should be
dynamically equal.} ({The best strategy is to take on c6 and then play for e5,
when equality is not so easy to come by for Black:} 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. Bf4 O-O 10.
e5 $1 {with an edge to White, E.Najer-V.Bologan, Poikovsky 2006.}) 8... Bxf5 9.
exf5 O-O 10. Re1 Nd7 $1 {A subtle positional idea, frowned upon by Houdini,
but better appreciated by humans. Capa's refined strategic intuition tells him
to abandon control over d5 temporarily in order to use f6 for bishop or queen.
The d7-knight is rerouted to b6. In this way he relieves his cramped position.
--- QUESTION: But won't White bag both black bishops after Nd5 next move? ---
ANSWER: He will, but Capa's spider senses tell him this is okay. And I think
he is correct.} 11. Nd5 Bf6 12. c3 Nb6 13. Nxf6+ Qxf6 14. Bxc6 $5 {White was
probably better off avoiding this swap. --- QUESTION: Why don't you like the
move? --- ANSWER: I think, in a way, White did his opponent a favour since he
gave away one of his bishops and altered more than harmed Black's structure.}
bxc6 15. Qf3 Rfe8 16. Be3 c5 17. Re2 ({White has an interesting disruptive
idea with} 17. b4 $5 Qxc3 18. bxc5 dxc5 19. Rac1 Qa3 20. f6 Nd7 $1 21. fxg7 Ne5
{, but oddly enough I think Black stands better. His king is surprisingly safe
despite the enemy pawn in his gullet on g7; his knight radiates strength on e5,
and he owns a few passed pawns.}) 17... Re5 $1 18. Rae1 Rae8 $1 {An intuitive
pawn sac. --- QUESTION: What pawn sac? --- ANSWER: Black essentially abandoned
his queenside to Qb7. --- QUESTION: What does Black get for it then? ---
ANSWER: Capa, like Fischer, had an almost religious faith in the power of
centralization of his pieces. In this case Capa gambles that his kingside
build-up leads to a direct attack on White's king.} 19. Qb7 $6 {Here we go!
Alekhine the optimist swoops in for the spoils. --- QUESTION: I take it from
your dubious mark that you think Alekhine's last move was incorrect? ---
ANSWER: Alekhine underestimated the power of Black's coming attack.} ({He
should go for} 19. Bf4 Rxe2 20. Rxe2 Rxe2 21. Qxe2 h6 22. Qe8+ Kh7 23. Qe4 {,
when he should be able to hold the position. --- QUESTION: How is one to know
when to go pawn hunting or when to avoid it? --- ANSWER: To take the plunge or
to hold back? Such questions provoke heated outcry and debate among annotators.
There is no formulaic answer to your question. Simply listen to your intuition,
but when in doubt decline!}) 19... Qxf5 20. Qxc7 Qe6 21. Qxa7 Nd5 22. Kf1 $2 {
EXERCISE: (combination alert): How would you begin the assault as Black? ---
ANSWER: Target e2 and g2. The knight is immune.} ({After} 22. Qb7 f5 $1 {
Black's attack begins in earnest.}) ({The same holds true for} 22. g3 f5 $1 {
. White is under pressure in both lines, but both are superior to Alekhine's
choice.}) ({This game was played in the early stages of Alekhine's career,
when Alekhine was not yet Alekhine. And even when he became Alekhine, defence
was never his strong suit. Black's attack gets out of control after White's
panicked last move,} 22. Kf1 $2 {.}) 22... Nf4 $1 {White's bishop stares
aghast at how easily the knight manoeuvred around him.} 23. Rd2 Nxg2 $1 {
White's kingside pawns prove not to be the impenetrable geological barrier
Alekhine had imagined. Capa's move is the right idea, and still very strong,
yet the third best move. A strong move is not necessarily the best move.} ({
Here Capa missed the killing sequence} 23... Qc4+ $3 {(tossing in this
innocuous check alters things radically)} 24. Kg1 {and now the sac obliterates
White:} Nxg2 $1 25. Kxg2 Rg5+ $1 26. Bxg5 Qg4+ 27. Kf1 Qh3+ 28. Kg1 Rxe1# {.})
(23... Qg4 $1 24. f3 Qe6 {also wins easily.}) 24. Kxg2 Qg4+ 25. Kf1 Qh3+ 26.
Ke2 ({No choice, since} 26. Kg1 $4 Rg5+ $1 {walks into mate.}) ({EXERCISE: 
(combination alert): How can Black indulge in a bit of war profiteering after} 
26. Ke2 {? --- ANSWER: Of course, just crash through on e3.}) 26... Rxe3+ $1
27. fxe3 Qxe3+ {White drops pawns the way a snake sheds old skin, as he
barters away his kingside for an empty purse.} 28. Kd1 Qxe1+ 29. Kc2 {White's
safety valve: Run away!} Qe4+ 30. Kb3 $2 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): The
shell-shocked Alekhine blunders again with 30 Kb3? Black has an immediate
knockout. Can you find what two world champions missed?} (30. Kc1 Qf4 31. Qd7
Re1+ 32. Kc2 h5 $1 {was better, when White is losing but still able to put up
some resistance.}) 30... Qc6 $6 {Okay. It's official. The thrill is gone. Capa
misses.} ({ANSWER:} 30... Ra8 $1 {is a killer:} 31. Rxd6 (31. Qd7 c4+ 32. Kb4
Rb8+ 33. Ka3 Qe3 34. Rd5 Qb6 {wins}) 31... h6 $1 32. Qd7 {(guarding against ...Qa4 mate)} Rb8+ $1 33. Ka3 Qc2 $1 {and White is completely helpless against
the multiple threats on b2 and a rook check on a8.}) 31. a4 $1 {Alekhine
desperately hopes to offer his king some degree of sanctuary on a2 or a3, the
way a sparrow builds its nest, twig by twig. But it is not enough to keep the
hawk at bay.} d5 32. a5 ({QUESTION: Doesn't this open White up to a queen
check on b5? --- ANSWER: It does, but everything loses at this point. For
example, after} 32. Qa5 {Black flushes the king out with} Rb8+ 33. Kc2 Qg6+ 34.
Kc1 Qg1+ {and if} 35. Kc2 $2 Qa1 36. Kd3 Qb1+ {.}) 32... Qb5+ 33. Ka3 Rb8 34.
Ka2 h6 $1 {No rush. Black covers his back rank before proceeding with the
distasteful business of murder.} 35. a6 (35. Rc2 Re8 $1 36. Rc1 Re2 37. Qb6
Rxb2+ 38. Ka1 Qxb6 39. axb6 Rxb6 {is equally hopeless. It is generally a bad
idea to enter a rook and pawn ending three pawns down against Capa!}) 35...
Qb3+ ({Alekhine had no wish to hang around for} 35... Qb3+ 36. Kb1 Re8 37. Rc2
Re1+ 38. Rc1 Re2 {.}) 0-1

[Event "St Petersburg"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1914.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Bernstein, O."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D53"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1914.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 c6 {Kasparov dubs
this move with a "?!" mark but there is nothing intrinsically wrong with it.
This is simply an old school Orthodox Queen's Gambit Declined. --- QUESTION:
What is the issue? Black's opening looks solid to me. --- ANSWER: Well, there
is no issue right now. It is Bernstein's coming play which is the problem.
Let's put it this way: What is weak now was normal then. Back then even strong
GMs, including Capa himself, basically winged it in the opening, concocting
all sorts of moves which would make the modern GM cringe. So in the opening
stage, we shouldn't judge 1914 openings by today's standards. Believe me, a
hundred years from now some annotator will be saying you and I played the
opening like donkeys!} 7. Bd3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 b5 {This is the real error. ...b7-b5 is totally out of place in this situation since it will be next to
impossible for Black to enforce ...a7-a6 and the freeing break ...c6-c5
without serious consequences.} ({QUESTION: Then what plan would you suggest
for Black? --- ANSWER: Something like} 8... Nd5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. O-O O-O 11. e4
Nxc3 12. bxc3 b6 13. a4 Bb7 14. a5 c5 {keeps White's advantage to a minimum, N.Dzagnidze-M.Gurevich, Chalkida 2009.}) 9. Bd3 a6 {Hoping to play ...c6-c5 next
move.} 10. e4 $1 {Much stronger than castling. White's strategic threat is
e4-e5, then swap bishops, leaving Black cramped, with a bad bishop and weak
dark squares.} e5 $2 {A move clearly at war with logic. Bernstein incorrectly
reasons: Risk is the price for a chance at freedom. But his move passes the
threshold of risk and enters the realm of foolhardy. --- QUESTION: How so? ---
ANSWER: Black now must expend huge effort to regain it, which in turn allows
White a considerable development lead.} ({QUESTION: What should Black play
instead? --- ANSWER: Both Golombek and Kasparov suggest} 10... c5 {.
Kasparov's analysis runs:} 11. e5 Nd5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 (12... Nxe7 $6 13. Ne4 {is
even worse for Black}) 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. O-O c4 15. Bc2 O-O {"with a somewhat
inferior, but acceptable game."}) 11. dxe5 Ng4 12. Bf4 {Kasparov gives this
rather obvious response an exclam for some reason.} Bc5 13. O-O Qc7 $6 {The
open c-file is not a happy spot for the queen.} ({Black should acquiesce to
the admittedly glum line} 13... Qe7 14. e6 $1 fxe6 ({not} 14... Qxe6 $4 15. Ng5
) 15. e5 {with advantage to White.}) 14. Rc1 {Eyeing the exposed queen on c7.}
f6 ({QUESTION: Why not simply regain the pawn with} 14... Ngxe5 {- ? ---
ANSWER: After} 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Qh5 $1 ({Kasparov gives} 16. Nxb5 $1 cxb5 17.
b4) 16... Bd4 17. Nd5 Qd6 18. Rxc6 $1 Qxc6 19. Bxe5 {Black is not going to
survive for long.}) 15. Bg3 fxe5 $6 ({Better to rescue the dangling knight with
} 15... Ngxe5 {.}) 16. b4 $1 (16. Ng5 Ndf6 17. Qb3 {also looks very strong.})
16... Ba7 {EXERCISE (critical decision): Intuition tells us that a forceful
continuation is needed. How would you pursue the attack?} (16... Bxb4 $2 17.
Nd5 Qd6 18. Nxb4 Qxb4 19. Rxc6 {is horrible for Black.}) ({After} 16... Ba7 {
Black is woefully behind in development and his position teeters. In battle,
normal caution shouldn't extend to the moment which requires a decisive, swift
(and generally risky!) course of action.}) 17. Bxb5 $1 {ANSWER: The time to
strike has arrived. From this point I'm not sure how much Capa actually saw,
or if he even had a sequential framework for what comes next. Instead, Capa
just began the attacking idea and flowed loosely with the chaos, calculating
when the need arose.} axb5 18. Nxb5 Qd8 19. Nd6+ Kf8 20. Rxc6 Nb6 {We sense
the hidden energies within White's position. Now they are unleashed.} 21. Bh4
$3 {Skills, if left untested, have a way of degenerating. Capa begins an
attack which requires almost inhuman calculation ability to succeed over the
board. The move is given an exclam by Capa, Golombek and Kasparov. In
typically dramatic fashion, I trump them all by awarding the move the two
exclams it truly deserves! Reuben Fine, a GM/psychologist and contemporary of
Capablanca, claimed that Capa was something of an idiot savant, in that he
made the correct move without knowing why it was correct. ---QUESTION: Do you
buy this argument? --- ANSWER: No, I don't buy Fine's theory. Having gone
through Capa's games, I am convinced he possessed computer-like accurate
calculation skills as well. In fact, Capablanca said he visualized the
position up to the 30th move from this point. The implications: Either Fine is
wrong or Capa is a liar. --- QUESTION: What is the point of White's last move?
--- ANSWER: The move is a precursor to a mind-bendingly deep exchange sac
which drives Bernstein's king out into the wilderness for the remainder of the
game. Just watch.} ({For the record, the mundane} 21. Nxe5 {gives White tons
of compensation and a winning position as well.}) 21... Qd7 22. Nxc8 $1 {Here
is the exchange sac. White's minor pieces soon seep through the porous
defences and Black's king gets banished to the nethermost regions of the board.
} Qxc6 23. Qd8+ ({The software always has to go and ruin the mystique. Houdini
points out that} 23. Be7+ $3 {finishes Black off immediately:} Kf7 ({or} 23...
Ke8 24. Qd8+ Kf7 25. Ng5+ Kg6 26. Qxh8) 24. Ng5+ Kg6 25. Qxg4 Qxc8 26. Ne6+ Kf7
27. Qxg7+ $1 Ke8 (27... Kxe6 28. Rd1 $1 {mates}) 28. Nd8 $1 {is crushing. But
of course, only computers see such lines.}) 23... Qe8 24. Be7+ $1 Kf7 25. Nd6+
Kg6 {The king tentatively hobbles forward while his spirit lags a few paces
behind.} 26. Nh4+ {Horrible, unspeakable threats hang in the air.} Kh5 {The
king flings himself against the bars of his cage in frustration.} 27. Nxe8 $1
Rxd8 28. Nxg7+ {Queens come off the board but the attack remains. White's
pieces swarm over Black's king like a street gang mugging a straying and lost
tourist.} Kh6 29. Ngf5+ Kh5 30. h3 $1 {This is the point Capa visualized and
assessed when he played 21 Bh4!!. Black has no chance of escape.} Nc8 (30...
Rdg8 31. hxg4+ Rxg4 32. f3 Rxh4 33. Bxh4 {is also hopeless}) ({and} 30... Rd7
$4 31. hxg4+ Kxg4 32. f3+ Kf4 33. g3# {is even worse.}) 31. hxg4+ Kxg4 {
Bernstein breaks his personal long jump record. In his 1911 San Sebastian game
against Capa, his king only reached g5! Here his king, wandering about on g4,
played a deadly and rather hopeless game of hide and seek with White's
attackers.} 32. Bxd8 Rxd8 {The game is over. Black managed to escape checkmate
at the cost of a totally hopeless three pawns deficit.} 33. g3 Rd2 34. Kg2 Re2
({QUESTION: Shouldn't he at least take the free a-pawn? --- ANSWER: The pawn
is poisoned:} 34... Rxa2 $2 35. Nf3 Bb8 $4 36. Rh1 $1 {mates.}) 35. a4 $1 Nb6 (
{And just in case you ask about taking the "free" e-pawn, I would like to
point out} 35... Rxe4 36. f3+ {pops a rook.}) 36. Ne3+ Kh5 37. a5 Nd7 38. Nhf5
Nf6 {Many of the old-timer GMs were notoriously late resigners. Kasparov very
politely wrote: "Bernstein 'forgets' to resign."} 39. b5 Bd4 40. Kf3 Ra2 41. a6
Ba7 42. Rc1 Rb2 43. g4+ $1 Kg6 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): White has a
method of picking up a full piece. How? --- ANSWER: Double attack: Mate on g7
and hanging bishop on a7.} 44. Rc7 $1 Rxf2+ {A dramatic bit of bluster.} 45.
Kxf2 Nxg4+ 46. Kf3 1-0

[Event "Casual game, Buenos Aires"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1914.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Israel, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A03"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1914.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. f4 {We all enjoy an alien opening spin once in a while. Ancient and
semi-modern sometimes merge.} ({Compare Capa's game with R.J.Fischer-H.Mecking,
Palma de Mallorca Interzonal 1970:} 1. b3 d5 2. Bb2 c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 Nf6 5.
Bb5 Bd7 6. O-O e6 7. d3 Be7 8. Bxc6 Bxc6 9. Ne5 Rc8 10. Nd2 O-O 11. f4 Nd7 12.
Qg4 $1 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Bf6 ({he should probably play} 13... g6 {, but I don't
like his game even then}) 14. Rf3 $1 Qe7 15. Raf1 a5 16. Rg3 Bxe5 $6 (16... g6
{is necessary}) 17. fxe5 {(Fischer achieved a winning position with remarkable
ease)} f5 (17... g6 18. Rf6 {isn't all that tempting for Black either}) 18.
exf6 Rxf6 {. --- EXERCISE: (combination alert): White to play and win material.
--- ANSWER:} 19. Qxg7+ $1 Qxg7 20. Rxf6 $1 {and Fischer duly converted.}) 1...
d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. b3 e6 4. Bb2 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd7 7. O-O a6 {Once again, I
strive to restrain myself from splattering the page with a "?!" mark. ---
QUESTION: What is wrong with the move? It puts the question to White's bishop.
--- ANSWER: Except that it's not such a difficult question he puts to the
bishop, since White's answer is painfully obvious. White would eventually take
unprovoked, since his strategic goal is conquest of e5. So Black loses a tempo.
} 8. Bxc6 Bxc6 9. c4 {White shouldn't be in a rush to open the centre after
handing over the bishop pair. I prefer Fischer's treatment: d2-d3, Nbd2 and
Ne5.} Nd7 ({With} 9... b5 $1 {Black preserves his light-squared bishop and
increases central contact.}) 10. Nc3 Qc7 11. Rc1 (11. f5 $1 {follows the
principle: Pry the position open when leading in development. --- QUESTION:
Thou shalt... thou shalt not! I don't know when to apply the principles.
Advice? --- ANSWER: You don't have to look for principles on every move. But
if a serious imbalance arises - like a lead in development - then look for its
antidote. In this case, open the game.}) 11... f6 $6 {La, lala, lala. Black
thinks he has all day. Oh, good. We passed the opening and I can finally start
doling out punishing annotations to Black.} 12. cxd5 (12. f5 $5 {also looks
dangerous for Black.}) 12... exd5 13. d4 $1 {QUESTION: Why an exclam? His last
move creates a hole on e4 and makes his e-pawn backward. --- ANSWER: Both of
which Black has no way of exploiting. On the other hand White opens the game
and makes good use of his own soon-created hole on d4.} Rd8 14. dxc5 Nxc5 $6 {
Black falls dangerously behind. The developing recapture with the bishop was
better.} 15. Nd4 Qf7 ({QUESTION: Why didn't Black develop this time? ---
ANSWER: White threatened b3-b4, followed by Ne6, forking queen and rook after} 
15... Bd6 $2 16. b4 $1 Ne4 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Ne6 {.}) 16. b4 $1 Nd7 ({Black
can't cope with} 16... Ne4 $2 17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Qc2 {.}) 17. b5 (
{Simply blasting open the centre with} 17. e4 $1 dxe4 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Nxe4 {
was also very strong.}) 17... axb5 18. Ncxb5 Nb8 $2 {EXERCISE: (combination
alert): Now White has a tactical trick which tosses Black about. (Hint: The
tactic involves the knights.)} ({He had to try} 18... Nc5 {.}) 19. Ne6 $1 {
(ANSWER)} Bxb5 {QUESTION: This looks like total collapse. Why didn't Black
just calmly lift his rook? I see no harm then. --- ANSWER: I admit that
Black's last move looks like he cuts off his hand to remove a splinter.} ({But
if he lifts the rook as you suggest, he isn't all that much better off since
White responds just as calmly with} 19... Rd7 20. f5 $1 {, and the parasite
attaches itself firmly to its host. FYI, the hanging knight on b5 is not so
hanging after} Bxb5 $4 21. Rc8+ Ke7 22. Ba3+ Rd6 23. Qxd5 $1 {with a quick
mate to follow.}) 20. Nc7+ Kd7 {Gulp. He takes his money out of the bank and
puts it all in a paper sack, hoping it will remain safe there.} 21. Nxb5 {Have
you ever tried to make a smoothie in a high-speed blender and forgot to put
the top on? To call Black's position a disaster is an insult to past
disasters! Usually one sacs a rook to achieve attacks of such magnitude. The
rest is beautiful carnage.} Nc6 22. e4 Kc8 23. Qa4 Kb8 {EXERCISE (planning):
Find a way to fuel White's attack. --- ANSWER:} 24. Bd4 $1 Bd6 25. e5 Bc7 {
EXERCISE (planning): Where is White's breakthrough? --- ANSWER: Burn down the
village and kill them all!} 26. Rxc6 $1 {Destroying the final relevant
defender. White's attack soon bears bloody fruit.} bxc6 27. e6 $1 {Cutting off
d7 as an escape route for Black's king. Black has precious little life
remaining with White's pieces enclosing.} Qe7 {The queen, who must keep watch
over c7, hopes to crawl her way back into relevance, all the while viewing her
more powerful sister on a4 with terror-glazed vision.} 28. Qa7+ Kc8 {Black's
worthless defenders are strewn about like nails driven into a wall by a drunk.
Capablanca found a forced mate in five moves. The computers tell me there is a
mate in three! --- EXERCISE: (combination alert): Can you find the quicker
mate missed by Capa?} 29. Qa8+ {Well, this is mate in five moves.} ({Capa
misses the quicker: ANSWER:} 29. Qa6+ $1 Kb8 30. Ba7+ Ka8 31. Qxc6# {!}) 29...
Bb8 30. Qxc6+ Bc7 31. Qa8+ Bb8 32. Rc1+ 1-0

[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1925.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Bogoljubow, E."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D24"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1925.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 dxc4 $5 {A rather odd point to enter the Queen's
Gambit Accepted, but I will stick by my guns and continue the stubborn refusal
to criticize the opening of the old lions by modern standards.} 4. e4 {The
only path to try and extract an advantage against Black's eccentric move order.
} (4. e3 c5 {transposes to normal QGA lines.}) 4... c5 $5 {Now Bogo is just
asking for it. --- QUESTION: What don't you like about Black's last move? ---
ANSWER: It violates the principle: Don't open the position when behind in
development.} (4... b5 {is very playable at this point and has been tried by
both Kasparov and Karpov:} 5. a4 c6 6. axb5 cxb5 7. b3 Bb7 8. bxc4 Bxe4 9. cxb5
Nf6 10. Be2 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Nc3 Bb7 {only looks like a slight edge for
White, F.Vallejo Pons-G.Kasparov, Linares 2005.}) 5. Bxc4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 {The
logical capture. Capa uncharacteristically dodges a queen swap since he
commands a considerable lead in development.} Nf6 ({Instead,} 6... a6 7. O-O
Nf6 8. Nc3 Qc7 9. Bb3 Bd6 10. Kh1 Bd7 11. f4 e5 $2 {was A.Graf-R.Mainka,
Dresden 2003 . Now Black is in deep trouble after the simple} (11... Bc5 12. e5
{is still awful for Black but necessary}) 12. Nf3 $1 {.}) ({QUESTION: What is
wrong with} 6... e5 {forcing queens off the board? --- ANSWER: It doesn't live
up to its advertising after} 7. Qa4+ $1 Nd7 (7... Bd7 $2 {is harshly met by} 8.
Qb3 $1) 8. Nf5 {, when Black didn't get queens off the board and managed to
fall even more dangerously behind in development.}) 7. Nc3 Bc5 8. Be3 Nbd7 (
8... O-O {avoids White's coming sac.}) ({EXERCISE (critical decision): Use
your intuition after} 8... Nbd7 {. White can play the solid} 9. O-O {, with a
pleasant edge in development. But those sacs on e6 also look tempting. Should
we sacrifice? If so, which piece do we sac? --- ANSWER: The sacrifice of the
bishop on e6 puts an impossible defensive burden on Black.}) 9. Bxe6 $3 {The
witch doctor tosses the bones and through his mysterious powers, correctly
interprets the scatter. The sac is sound. Capa's infallible intuition strikes
once again. With this move, White dedicates himself to a path of no return.
Now for both sides, security is a thing of the past and their joint futures
lie somewhere in a hazy future: Kill or be killed. After this sac White has a
firm grip on the initiative and he isn't satisfied with his development lead
and edge by just castling.} fxe6 10. Nxe6 Qa5 ({QUESTION: Why didn't Black play
} 10... Qb6 {- ? --- ANSWER: White gets compensation with interest for the
piece after} 11. Nxc5 $1 Nxc5 12. Rc1 {, when it is annoyingly difficult for
Black to free himself from the pin.}) 11. O-O $1 {Excellent judgment. ---
QUESTION: I don't get it. Why didn't White take the g-pawn with check,
wrecking Black's castling privileges as well? --- ANSWER: It costs White time.}
({After} 11. Nxg7+ $6 Kf7 12. Nf5 Ne5 13. Qb3+ ({or} 13. O-O Bxf5 14. exf5 Bxe3
15. Qb3+ Kg7 16. Qxb7+ Nf7 17. fxe3 Rab8 {, when Black's king is completely
safe and his pieces once again run amok with activity}) 13... Be6 14. Qxb7+
Nfd7 {, Black's pieces are horrifically active and he actually stands better.})
11... Bxe3 $6 {Bogo underestimates the force of White's coming attack. He
undoubtedly played the move to seize a hole on e5, but opening the f-file more
than makes up for it.} ({He should try} 11... Bb4 12. Bd4 {, though even then
Black fights for his life.}) 12. fxe3 Kf7 ({Alternatives:} 12... Rg8 13. Nb5 $1
{.}) (12... Ke7 13. Nxg7 Rg8 14. Nf5+ Kd8 15. Rc1 {. --- In both cases it is
hard to imagine Black's king surviving.}) 13. Qb3 $1 Kg6 {No choice but to
continue his Sunday stroll through the minefield.} 14. Rf5 $1 Qb6 (14... Ne5
15. Nd5 $1 Re8 (15... Bxe6 $4 16. Nf4+ {is crushing}) 16. Rxe5 Bxe6 17. Rxe6 {
wins, due to the coming knight fork on f4.}) 15. Nf4+ Kh6 {Something cannot
arise from nothing. All combinations must contain the spark of the preceding
cause. In this position, there is indeed something for White, but the
combination is deeply imbedded in the dark corners of the position. So hidden
that it lay just outside the reach of Capablanca's intuition. --- EXERCISE: 
(combination alert): Take about 15 minutes and look for a mating pattern. If
you find it, I take my hat off to you - and so does Capa!} 16. g4 $6 {The most
vulnerable moment in a chess game, the one where our guard goes down, can be
the point where you have the firm belief that you are in possession of all the
answers. Maddeningly, the combination flickers just out of reach of Capa's
consciousness.} ({He missed: ANSWER:} 16. Qf7 $3 {, threatening a deadly check
on h5. Black must soon give up heavy material to avoid mate:} Qxe3+ 17. Kh1 g6
18. Ne6 $1 Ne8 ({nor does he save himself with} 18... Rg8 19. Nd5 $1 Qxe4 20.
Rxf6) ({or} 18... gxf5 19. Qg7+ Kh5 20. Ne2 $3 {and White mates in four moves})
19. Rf3 Ne5 20. Rh3+ $1 Qxh3 21. Qf4+ Kh5 22. Qg5# {!}) 16... g5 $1 {The only
move but a good one. Black is right back in the game.} 17. Qxb6 $6 {Capa's old
weakness: Swapping when he shouldn't.} (17. Qf7 $1 {turns the game into a
total muddle after} Rf8 18. Qe7 Qxe3+ 19. Kg2 gxf4 20. Rf1 $1 {when it's
anybody's game to win or lose.}) 17... axb6 18. Rd1 Rg8 ({Not surprisingly,
Black avoids} 18... gxf4 19. exf4 Rg8 20. g5+ Kh5 21. Rd3 Ne8 22. Rh3+ Kg4 23.
Kg2 {. The computers reassure me in soothing tones that Black is quite safe,
but a human would need his head examined to enter such a den of evil for his
king voluntarily.}) 19. Nfd5 Nxg4 $6 {This allows White's attack to re-ignite.}
(19... Nxd5 {was better.}) 20. Ne7 $1 Rg7 21. Rd6+ Kh5 22. Rf3 $1 {Threatening
mate in one.} Ngf6 23. Rh3+ Kg4 {QUESTION: Have you noticed that nearly all of
Capa's opponents' kings end up on g4 or h5? --- ANSWER: You forgot about d3!
Please return to Capablanca-Masyutin to refresh your memory. Bogo's king
balances precariously on the high wire, faced with sudden death on either side
of him, yet, unlike the other unfortunate king marchers from this chapter,
remains defiant.} 24. Rg3+ Kh5 {When you are lost in the wilderness, one
direction is as good as another. --- EXERCISE: Capa has the draw if he wants. 
(He doesn't!) But is there a way we can play for the win? (There is!) ---
ANSWER:} 25. Nf5 $1 Rg6 {QUESTION: This looks illogical. Why did Black block
off the escape hatch for his king on g6?} ({ANSWER: If} 25... Rg8 26. Rh3+ Kg6
27. Rh6+ Kf7 {then} 28. e5 $1 {short circuits one knight's connection to the
other.}) 26. Ne7 $6 {The position is so horrifically complex that Capa's
string of his normally rare missteps continues.} ({White wins in problem-like
fashion after} 26. Rh3+ $1 Kg4 27. Kg2 $1 Nc5 28. Ng3 $3 {(White threatens
e4-e5!, followed by a rook check on d4)} Ne6 29. e5 Ne8 30. Rxe6 $3 Bxe6 31.
Rh5 $1 {and there is no defence to the inevitable and rather humiliating h2-h3
mate!}) 26... g4 ({Black is okay after} 26... Nc5 $1 {.}) 27. Nxg6 Kxg6 $2 {
The powerful are rarely prepared psychologically when their desires are
casually rebuffed.} ({Black puts up greater resistance with} 27... hxg6 $1 28.
e5 $1 Ne8 29. Rd4 Nxe5 30. Rd5 Ra5 $1 31. Nb5 $1 Bd7 32. a4 $1 Rxa4 33. Rxe5+ {
.}) 28. Rxg4+ Kf7 29. Rf4 $1 {Dual threats: e4-e5 and Nd5. Now all is as it
should be. For the remainder of the game the guilty black forces look about
left and right, surveying their surroundings for threats, while White's pieces
move about carefree and innocent.} Kg7 (29... Ke7 30. e5 Ne8 31. Nd5+ Kd8 32.
Rf8 {is curtains.}) 30. e5 $1 Ne8 31. Re6 $1 Nc7 32. Re7+ {QUESTION: Why did
Black resign!?} ({ANSWER: His pieces are tied into knots. For example:} 32.
Re7+ Kg6 33. Rc4 $1 Na6 34. Rg4+ $1 Kh6 (34... Kf5 35. h3 $1) 35. Rg8 $1 {
(threatening to take on d7)} Nc7 36. Rh8 $1 Kg6 37. e6 {wins.}) 1-0

[Event "Lake Hopatcong"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1926.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Lasker, Ed"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D52"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1926.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

{In this one Capa faces the other Lasker. All through the seventh grade I
carried around Edward Lasker's book 'Chess Secrets I Learned from the Masters'
and must have read it ten times (surreptitiously during math class). My
favourite chapter, of course, was the one on Capa. I don't have a copy anymore
and really should re-order the book. Good books, like good friends should be
visited.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 ({In those days
sharper gambit lines in the Semi-Slav, like the Moscow (} 5... h6 6. Bh4 dxc4
7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 {)}) ({and the Botvinnik (} 5... dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8.
Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 {), hadn't been invented yet.}) 6. e3 Qa5 {
The Cambridge Springs Variation was one of the hot lines at the time.} 7. cxd5
({Capablanca played} 7. Nd2 {against Alekhine in the next chapter.}) 7... exd5
8. Bd3 Ne4 9. O-O $1 Ndf6 {QUESTION: Why didn't Black accept the pawn by
capturing on c3?} ({ANSWER: He could, but Black falls behind in development.
For example:} 9... Nxc3 10. bxc3 Qxc3 11. e4 $1 dxe4 12. Bxe4 Bd6 13. Bd2 Qa3
14. Re1 O-O 15. Re3 $1 Qa6 16. Bd3 Qb6 17. Re4 Qd8 18. Bg5 $1 Nf6 (18... f6 $2
19. Rh4 $1 {gives White a winning attack}) 19. Rh4 {gave White a scary
build-up around Black's king in M.Lomineishvili-M.Romanko, European Women's
Championship, Plovdiv 2008. I don't think I would want to take on Black in
this position against Capa. Would you?}) 10. Bxf6 ({He could also retain the
tension with} 10. Bh4 {.}) 10... Nxc3 $2 {Black misevaluates the coming
position and commits the error of playing it with too strong a grasp. Later he
faces the danger of being overwhelmed by the weaknesses he creates.} ({Better
to play the position with a light touch and flow and simply recapture on f6.
Even then, after} 10... Nxf6 11. Qc2 {, I don't think Black fully equalized.
--- QUESTION: Why not? --- ANSWER: Maybe this is just a stylistic bias because
I happen to like such structures for White, but the position looks like a
typical Queen's Gambit Exchange line, except White is a little more ahead in
development than normal. The black queen is misplaced on a5 as well, where
a2-a3 and b2-b4 start a minority attack and gain a tempo to boot. I don't
think Black's bishop pair makes up for all this.}) 11. bxc3 gxf6 {Black's 
(incorrect) gamble: He purposefully allowed his kingside structure to be
damaged to open the g-file for his rooks, and also obtained the bishop pair.
With religions it is one thing to recite the proper words and quite another to
have faith in them. Black makes motions as if to attack, but deep down I
suspect he didn't really believe in his attack, and rightfully so. ---
QUESTION: I don't understand. Isn't this a good deal for Black? --- ANSWER:
The absence of a thing is often a warning sign that reality fails to coincide
with expectations. How easy it is to formulate a plan, only to underestimate
significant details. Black's trouble lies in the following factors: 1. Black
is seriously behind in development, meaning his future attack never
materializes. --- 2. Black's own king fails to find safety from horizon to
horizon since White owns the open b-file and can easily open the c-file as
well. --- 3. Add to that Black's inferior structure, just in case the players
uneventfully reach an ending. Then Black will be struggling in that scenario
as well.} 12. Qc2 Bd6 13. Bf5 {Principle: When your opponent owns the bishop
pair, swap one of them off.} Be6 14. Rab1 Qc7 15. Bxe6 $1 {Excellent strategic
judgment. White voluntarily fixes Black's structure in order to achieve the
e3-e4 pawn break.} fxe6 16. e4 O-O-O $5 {The queenside is the canvas upon
which Black paints his fate. He hopes to escape peril in the centre or
kingside but faces an even greater one on the queenside, where White is simply
faster.} ({Who can blame Black, though, for avoiding the pessimistic} 16... O-O
17. c4 {when White has all the pressure at zero risk.}) 17. c4 Bf4 18. Rb3 {
Multipurpose: 1. The rook prepares a doubling or tripling on the b-file. --- 2.
The rook covers against tricks on f3. --- 3. If Black later induces g2-g3 and
then turns it into a sac target, White's rook covers g3 laterally.} dxc4 19.
Qxc4 Qf7 {He still dreams of attack and moves a key defender away from the
problem zone.} (19... Rhe8 {was better.}) 20. Rfb1 Rd7 21. e5 $1 {Cutting the
bishop off from the defence of his king.} fxe5 ({QUESTION: Black's last move
looks incorrect. Wasn't} 21... f5 {better? Black then has control over a hole
on d5 and some pressure on the backward d4-pawn. --- ANSWER: Deal with the
wolf lurking on your front yard. Who cares about a wolf pack roaming
elsewhere? These are all subtle positional factors. Unfortunately, White
replies with a sledgehammer response. The problem with your line is that d4 is
not so backward after the crushing} 22. d5 $1 {with a triple attack on the
hanging bishop on f4, as well as the c6- and e6-pawns.}) 22. dxe5 Rhd8 {
EXERCISE: (combination alert): Black's queenside sways like a wheatfield in
the wind after 22...Rhd8 . Look for a shot.} ({If Black pleads extenuating
circumstances and goes into a defensive crouch with} 22... Rc7 {, then} 23. g3
Rg8 24. Rd1 h5 25. Rd6 Rg6 26. Qa4 $1 a6 27. Qd4 $1 {(threat: Qa7!)} Kb8 28.
Rd8+ Rc8 29. Rd7 {wipes Black out.}) 23. Qxc6+ $1 {(ANSWER)} Kb8 ({Of course,
acceptance is suicide:} 23... bxc6 $4 24. Rb8+ Kc7 25. R1b7# {!}) (23... Rc7 $2
{walks directly into a second combination:} 24. Rxb7 $1 {when Black can resign.
}) 24. g3 {Nonchalantly leaving his queen "hanging" while covering his back
rank.} Rd1+ 25. Kg2 Rxb1 26. Rxb1 Rd5 27. Qc3 Qf5 $2 {EXERCISE: (combination
alert): Black's last move fails to meet the threshold and allows Capa a trick.
Let's see you can find it. --- ANSWER: Double attack.} 28. Qb4 $1 b5 {The
inventiveness of the desperate. All that remains is for White to quell a few
isolated pockets of resistance.} 29. Nh4 $1 {Overloading Black's queen.} ({Of
course not} 29. gxf4 $4 Qg4+ {which lets Black right back into the game,}) ({
while} 29. Qxf4 $4 {hangs the rook to} Qxb1 {.}) 29... a5 {EXERCISE: 
(combination alert): After 29....a5 the beggar on a5 demands an audience with
the ruler of the country, but we need not comply. Find one good move and you
force Black's resignation. --- ANSWER: Simplification.} (29... Qc2 30. gxf4 {
wins.}) 30. Qxb5+ $1 1-0

[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1935.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Levenfish, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D49"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1935.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
a6 9. e4 ({For the record,} 9. O-O Bb7 10. Qe2 c5 11. a4 {, C.Schlechter-J.Perlis, Ostend 1906, was the earliest Meran Semi-Slav I found in the database.}
) 9... c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 Nxe5 (11... axb5 12. exf6 gxf6 13. O-O Qb6 14.
Qe2 Bb7 $5 15. Bxb5 Rg8 {led to an almost irrationally sharp game, V.Kramnik-V.Anand, 5th matchgame, Bonn 2008.}) 12. Nxe5 axb5 13. Qf3 $5 {QUESTION: Why
doesn't Capa take on b5 with check? --- ANSWER: That is possible but Capa
prefers to go after initiative rather than regain his pawn.} ({The river of
the Meran branches into several tributaries.} 13. Bxb5+ Bd7 14. Nxd7 Qa5+ 15.
Bd2 Qxb5 16. Nxf8 Rxf8 17. a4 Qc4 18. b3 Qd3 19. Qf3 Qe4+ 20. Qxe4 Nxe4 21. b4
Ke7 {is a bafflingly unbalanced ending, V.Kramnik-G.Kasparov, Wijk aan Zee
1999.}) 13... Ra5 (13... Bb4+ $1 {disrupts castling for White:} 14. Ke2 Rb8 15.
Qg3 (15. Nc6 {is well met by} Bb7) 15... Qd6 $1 16. Nc6 $6 {not all
combinations should be played just because we see them;} ({something like} 16.
a3 {is better}) 16... Qxc6 $1 17. Qxb8 O-O {gave Black a ferocious attack for
the exchange, P.Meyer-E.Torre, Lugano 1986.}) 14. O-O b4 {QUESTION: Does White
have enough for a pawn? --- ANSWER: I believe he does. His lead in development
in such an open position ensures some kind of coming kingside attack, and if
not an attack, then at least an initiative.} 15. Bf4 Be7 16. Rfc1 O-O 17. Qh3
$1 {Target: h7. Now Nc6 becomes a real threat. The position is what military
strategists term a target-rich environment.} ({QUESTION: I think the players
missed a decisive shot for White with} 17. Rxc8 Qxc8 18. Nc6 {, winning
material. What do you think? --- ANSWER: If you visualize just one ply deeper,
then you find Black's escape hatch} Bd8 $1 {.}) 17... Rc5 $2 {Black willingly
collaborates in the planning of his own funeral arrangements.} ({After the
correct} 17... Bb7 $1 18. Ng4 g6 19. Bc7 Qa8 20. Bxa5 Qxa5 {he probably has
enough compensation for the exchange.}) 18. Rxc5 Bxc5 19. Bg5 {The simple
threat to take on f6 forces a crucial weakening of the defensive barrier
around Black's king.} h6 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): We all sense that
White must be winning with all those pieces lurking around Black's king. How
should we proceed after 19...h6 - ? --- ANSWER: No more mister nice guy! Pile
on f6.} (19... g6 $4 {loses on the spot to} 20. Qh4 Be7 ({or} 20... Kg7 21.
Bh6+ Kg8 22. Nc6) 21. Nc6 {.}) 20. Ng4 $1 {Only with this move does White pull
the strings which make the puppets dance.} Be7 21. Bxf6 $1 {The correct
capture. He needs the knight for a sac on h6.} gxf6 (21... Bxf6 22. Nxh6+ {(so
obvious that it doesn't even deserve an exclam)} gxh6 23. Qxh6 Re8 24. Bh7+ Kh8
25. Bg6+ Kg8 26. Qh7+ Kf8 27. Qxf7# {!}) 22. Nxh6+ $1 ({The sloppy} 22. Qxh6 $2
{allows Black to defend after} f5 {.}) 22... Kg7 {I am certain Levenfish's
mind, racked by regret, was a streaming barrage of "maybe if" and "if only".
He must have looked back on his careless decision on his 17th move, at first
with shock, and then the maturing realization of the consequences to come.
Black's unfortunate king sits horribly awkward and out of place among his
enemies, like the victim of a practical joke duped into showing up to a party
wearing a costume - except it isn't a costume party! --- EXERCISE: 
(combination alert): Our pieces swarm around Black's king but, as we all know,
application of the exact details is where the majority of our screw-ups occur.
Let's carefully work out the finish. --- ANSWER: Cover thy nakedness!} 23. Qg4+
$1 Kh8 ({If he takes the knight, Black's king is mocked by fate after} 23...
Kxh6 24. Qh4+ Kg7 25. Qh7# {!}) 24. Qh5 Kg7 {EXERCISE: (combination alert):
The circle of enemies around Black's king grows smaller. Find the final
breakthrough. --- ANSWER: Please hold your applause until the end.} 25. Nxf7 $1
{He makes it look so easy, doesn't he?} Rh8 (25... Rxf7 26. Qh7+ Kf8 27. Qh8# {
!}) 26. Qg6+ 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "2: Capa on Defence"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.23"]

{"Danger greatly adds inspiration to Capablanca's playing." - Znosko-Borovsky.
} 1. -- {They say adversity has a way of toughening a person, and mere
survival is a far more modest goal than victory. A player cannot survive ten
years without a loss against the best players in the world without being one
of the greatest defenders of all time. Capa did the impossible when he
survived one desperate position after another, or faced one vicious attack
after another, from the end of the St Petersburg tournament of 1914, all the
way to New York 1924, where the law of averages finally caught up and he lost
to Réti. Capa's uncanny shifting adaptability under pressure continually
confused opponents and allowed him to survive the most awful positions.
Surprised, or under attack, he was virtually unmateable due to his calculation
skills (see Marshall's Marshall Gambit and the Janowski games from this
chapter). His unrivalled superiority in endings allowed him to salvage the
most God-awful situations (versus Rubinstein and Flohr). No matter how bad it
got, somehow Capa always found a way to ride out the storm. In this chapter,
one gets the eerie feeling that the blue sky was there before the storm clouds
appeared and sky still remained when the clouds disappeared.} *

[Event "5th matchgame, New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1909.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Marshall, F."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D53"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1909.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Ne4 {QUESTION: Is this logical?
Black moves his knight twice in the opening. --- ANSWER: Actually he moves it
one more time before he is done. There is a strange logic to the Lasker
Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined. Black's main worry in the QGD is the
fact that he remains cramped for a long time. By playing the Lasker, Black
gets easing swaps, albeit at a cost of time and the improvement of White's
pawn structure. --- QUESTION: This isn't the exact move order of a Lasker QGD,
is it?} ({ANSWER: It is a precursor to the modern move order, which usually
runs:} 5... O-O 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bh4 Ne4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Rc1 c6 10. Bd3 Nxc3 11.
Rxc3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nd7 13. O-O b6 14. Bd3 c5 15. Be4 Rb8 {, V.Kramnik-G.Kasparov, Las Palmas 1996. There is no doubt that the advantage lies in
White's better developed hands but converting that to a victory is another
matter.}) 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Bd3 ({White can also recapture with a piece on c3 by
tossing in} 7. Rc1 {.}) 7... Nxc3 8. bxc3 Nd7 9. Nf3 O-O 10. Qc2 h6 11. O-O c5
({White stands slightly better after} 11... dxc4 12. Bxc4 b6 13. e4 c5 14. d5
exd5 15. Bxd5 Rb8 16. c4 {, mainly due to that annoyingly posted bishop on d5.}
) 12. Rfe1 ({It was probably more accurate to toss in} 12. cxd5 exd5 {.}) 12...
dxc4 $1 {QUESTION: Why give an exclamation mark to a rather obvious move?
Black simply frees his position - hardly an earth-shattering concept. ---
ANSWER: The exclam is for when the move was played, not the move itself. 12...
dxc4 may seem obvious to the modern reader, but in 1909 one was considered
eccentric for abandoning the pawn centre. Capa intuitively understood the
hypermodern concept: A large pawn centre may also turn into a liability in the
future if chipped away on the wings.} ({The rote} 12... b6 $6 13. cxd5 exd5 14.
e4 $1 {opens the game in White's favour.}) 13. Bxc4 b6 {Smoothly preparing to
complete his development.} 14. Qe4 $5 {I'm not a big fan of this move.
Marshall was good at what he did but sometimes what he did wasn't so good!
Typically, Marshall wastes no time transferring his queen over to the kingside
in the hopes of launching an attack. The trouble is I'm not sure what exactly
he plans for his queen once it gets there. Black's position on the kingside
looks quite solid and there is no easy way to begin an attack.} ({A more
positional player would probably have gone for the simpler and stronger} 14. e4
{.}) 14... Rb8 15. Bd3 Nf6 16. Qf4 Bb7 17. e4 Rfd8 18. Rad1 Rbc8 19. Re3 $6 {
Great courage mingled with poor judgment makes for an unhappy marriage.
Marshall feeds the fictional attack with another piece, but the game
continuation shows that he clearly overlooked or underestimated the force of
Capa's vicious counterattack.} ({QUESTION: Can't White produce a dangerous
assault with the idea} 19. e5 Nd5 20. Qe4 {- ? --- ANSWER: The trouble is that
after the simple} g6 {there is no good way to cover c3, since Black threatens
discoveries on White's now exposed queen:} 21. Qg4 Nxc3 $1 22. Bxg6 fxg6 23.
Qxg6+ Qg7 24. Qxe6+ Kh8 25. Rd3 cxd4 {is just unsound for White. Now} 26. Nh4
$2 {is met by the tricky} Ne2+ $1 {(playing on White's loose back rank)} 27.
Kh1 Nf4 {.}) 19... cxd4 20. cxd4 Rc3 $1 {Principle: counter in the centre when
attacked on the wing.} 21. Bb1 ({QUESTION: What if White goes bonkers with} 21.
g4 {- ? --- ANSWER: Then Black goes counter-bonkers with} g5 $1 {, forcing the
win of the e4-pawn or else compelling White into a dubious piece sac on g5.
For example:} 22. Nxg5 $2 Rxd4 $1 {and if} 23. Nf3 Nd5 $1 24. Qb8+ Rc8 {is
quite horrible for White.}) 21... g5 $1 {QUESTION: What? We were all taught
not to lash out with pawn moves around our king but here we see Capa doing
just that. --- ANSWER: Capa's last move was a well-thought-out shot which
forces the win of material.} 22. Nxg5 ({Marshall must take the plunge since:} 
22. Qg3 $2 {fails to} Rxe3 23. fxe3 Nxe4 {when White lacks compensation.}) (22.
Qe5 $4 {fails to} Ng4 {.}) 22... Rxe3 23. Qxe3 $1 ({Marshall avoids the trap} 
23. fxe3 $2 Nh5 $1 {, forcing White to enter an ending with only two pawns for
his piece after} 24. Qxf7+ Qxf7 25. Nxf7 Kxf7 {.}) 23... Ng4 $1 {I'm not sure
if this tricky in-between move may have escaped Marshall's attention.} 24. Qg3
Qxg5 25. h4 Qg7 26. Qc7 $1 {EXERCISE: Maybe Marshall had seen this far and
thought he was winning material back. He doesn't. Black has two methods of
hanging on to his material gains. Find one of them. --- ANSWER:} Rxd4 $1 {The
second best move.} ({The computers say} 26... Qf6 $1 {is even stronger.}) 27.
Qb8+ Kh7 28. e5+ {QUESTION: Should Black be resigning!?} Be4 $1 {ANSWER:
Everything is under control. Capa's pieces float upon the current of the
position, flowing, blocking and defending with liquid grace, and going where
it takes them.} 29. Rxd4 Bxb1 30. Qxa7 Nxe5 31. Rf4 {EXERCISE: (combination
alert): After 31 Rf4 it looks like White emerged from the complications okay.
But as the old saying goes: Don't believe everything you see. Capa's startling
next move reveals that it is actually White who must protect his king. ---
ANSWER: Centralization with a vengeance. Was this was how Michelangelo
envisioned David when everyone else saw only cold, shapeless marble?} (31. Qxb6
$4 {walks into} Nf3+ {.}) 31... Be4 $3 {The bishop, soaked in power, gazes
hungrily at g2 with the love-smitten eyes of a teenager. White's initiative is
at an end and fades quickly, the way a vivid dream does upon awakening.} 32. g3
({The bishop is immune:} 32. Rxe4 $2 Nf3+ 33. Kf1 (33. Kh1 $4 Qa1+ {mates})
33... Nd2+ {forks.}) 32... Nf3+ 33. Kg2 $1 {Marshall finds the only move.} (33.
Kf1 $4 {walks into a mate in five moves:} Qa1+ 34. Kg2 Qg1+ 35. Kh3 Qh2+ 36.
Kg4 Ne5+ 37. Kh5 Bg6# {!}) 33... f5 {EXERCISE: Make a decision after 33...f5:
Should White trade queens and then take the knight on f3? --- ANSWER: It's a
trap!} (33... Nxh4+ $1 {was also very strong.}) 34. Qxb6 $1 ({Marshall avoids
the diabolical trap} 34. Qxg7+ $4 Kxg7 35. Rxf3 h5 36. a3 b5 {, when zugzwang
forces White to cough up a full rook.}) 34... Nxh4+ 35. Kh2 Nf3+ 36. Rxf3 $1 ({
White wouldn't last long after} 36. Kg2 $2 Ng5+ {.}) {Marshall puts up maximum
resistance by giving up material to try and banish the drifting spirits which
torment his king.} 36... Bxf3 37. Qxe6 {Black continues to spill pawns, as
blood oozes from his gashes. He has only two remaining. The ending is as
unreadable as enemies approaching behind a haze of smoke on the battlefield,
and I won't bore you with long, complicated lines. --- QUESTION: What is the
essence of the position? --- ANSWER: Let's discern the peculiarities of the
position: 1. Black must above all, avoid perpetual check. --- 2. Black must
organize an attack on White's king without walking into number 1 - perpetual
check. --- 3. At the same time, Black must also stem the tide of White's
surging a-pawn in its quest to queen. --- Conclusion: Juggling the three tasks
and winning will be next to impossible, yet Capa manages to pull it off.} Be4 {
Black can't wait around all day because White will be busy pushing the passed
a-pawn.} 38. f3 $1 {Now Black's bishop lacks an anchor.} Bd3 39. Qd5 Qb2+ $1
40. Kg1 ({Not} 40. Kh3 $4 Bf1+ 41. Kh4 Qh2# {!}) 40... Bb1 41. a4 ({Or} 41.
Qd7+ $2 Qg7 {when suddenly both g3 and a2 hang simultaneously. White would
have to trade queens into a hopeless ending to save a pawn. One key factor in
Black's favour: Should the game reach h-pawn and bishop versus White's lone
king, then Black wins since his bishop is on the correct colour of the
queening square.}) 41... Qa1 $1 {Threatening a murderous discovery on e4.} 42.
Qb7+ Kg6 43. Qb6+ Kh5 $1 {Black's king seeks shelter in a cozy little nook on
h5. It's remarkable how often Capa played with an exposed king, yet managed to
avoid mate or perpetual check. Besides this one, his games against Janowski
and Lasker from this chapter alone pop into mind.} 44. Kh2 Ba2 $3 {Moves like
this are why he was nicknamed "the chess machine". Capa concocts a
computer-like method of avoiding future perpetual checks. Marshall continues
to resist but Capa was attuned to a level of accuracy to which Marshall was
completely unaccustomed.} 45. Qb5 Kg6 $1 {The point of his 44th move. Now
checks on e8 are covered by a bishop block.} 46. a5 Qd4 47. Qc6+ Qf6 48. Qe8+
Qf7 49. Qa4 Qe6 $1 50. a6 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): The a-pawn
continues forward like driftwood up a lazy river. We must find a method of
getting to Marshall's king before the pawn promotes or ties us down totally.
How would you conduct Black's attack? --- ANSWER: Forced mate in 21 moves,
declares Houdini!} Qe2+ 51. Kh3 (51. Kg1 Bd5 {leads to the same. Notice that
White is denied even a single check on a wide open board.}) 51... Bd5 $1 52. a7
{EXERCISE: (combination alert): White is about to queen but Black doesn't
care. Mate takes precedence.} Bxf3 $1 {White's king, eyes downcast, submits to
his fate. There is no good defence to ...Qg2+ and ...Qh2 mate. Again, every
white queen check is covered on an open board. Remarkable. --- A supernatural
game like this leaves an indelible imprint upon our collective chess
consciousness. I have come to the depressing realization that my brain is
ill-equipped and too small to comprehend the magnitude of such play!} 0-1

[Event "San Sebastian"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1911.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Janowski, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D40"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "1911.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 d5 2. e3 {Perhaps the young Capablanca may have felt intimidated in the
presence of the world's chess elite at San Sebastian. His choice of the
ultra-safe Colle against a world championship contender shows that he felt
most insecure in the opening, which he generally just hoped to bypass without
disaster befalling him.} Nf6 3. Nf3 c5 4. c4 ({Slightly bolder than} 4. c3 {
which is the Colle proper}) ({or} 4. b3 {, the Zukertort Colle.}) 4... e6 5.
Nc3 Be7 {This is dangerous for Black since he lands in a Reversed Queen's
Gambit Accepted two moves down. --- QUESTION: Don't you mean one move down?
--- ANSWER: Two moves. White gains a move simply from the fact that he is
playing White, not Black, in the position; and he gains the second because
Janowski moves his dark-squared bishop to e7 before recapture of the c5-pawn.}
({Fischer showed an effective path to a dynamically equal game through} 5...
Nc6 6. a3 Ne4 $1 7. Qc2 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Be7 9. Bb2 O-O 10. Bd3 h6 11. O-O Na5 12.
Nd2 dxc4 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Bxc4 b6 15. e4 Bb7 {, T.V.Petrosian-R.J.Fischer,
8th matchgame, Buenos Aires 1971.}) 6. dxc5 $1 O-O 7. a3 ({Kasparov thinks} 7.
cxd5 {is the most accurate move in the position.}) 7... Bxc5 8. b4 Be7 9. Bb2
a5 $1 {This is the downside of White playing a2-a3 and b2-b4 rather than b2-b3.
Janowski induces a hole on c5, which he can later occupy with a piece.} 10. b5
{QUESTION: Why must White comply? Can't he just bypass and play for a
queenside pawn majority?} ({ANSWER: White overextends after} 10. c5 $2 b6 {
which wins a pawn and decimates the queenside pawn majority.}) 10... b6 ({At
the time of this game, Janowski was not yet terrified of Capa and takes on an
isolani, which he could avoid with} 10... dxc4 11. Bxc4 b6 {.}) 11. cxd5 exd5
12. Nd4 {White also gets to occupy a hole on d4.} Bd6 {This is the third time
he moved this bishop. Not surprisingly, White stands slightly better.} 13. Be2
Be6 ({Or} 13... Bb7 14. O-O Re8 15. Rc1 Nbd7 16. Nc6 $1 Bxc6 17. bxc6 Nc5 18.
Nb5 Be5 19. Bxe5 Rxe5 20. Bg4 $1 Nxg4 21. Qxg4 {, when White's passed pawn
creates difficulties for Black.}) 14. Bf3 $6 {Playing to pressure the
d5-isolani directly, but this loses time to a future ...Ne5 and also weakens
c4. For some strange reason, Capa's intuitive feel for where his pieces should
sit just didn't activate until the opening phase was over. The Rc1/Nc6 plan to
occupy c6 would be more effective.} Ra7 $1 {Janowski finds a way to activate
his rook. --- QUESTION: Why doesn't Black simply develop his b8-knight and
then play his rook to c8? --- ANSWER: Black must keep some degree of
watchfulness over c6, otherwise the d4-knight swoops in.} 15. O-O Rc7 16. Qb3
$6 {A common chess dilemma: You try to solve problem X (how to pressure d5?)
with solution Y (16 Qb3) - the consequences of which in turn create unwanted
problem Z (he weakens c4 and risks an eventual tempo loss by ...Nc5).} Nbd7 $5
{Black reasons that he can't live in fear forever and allows White's knight
into c6 to develop his own.} 17. Rfd1 $5 {QUESTION: Shouldn't Capablanca jump
into c6?} ({ANSWER: If a gift is offered, it is rude to decline.} 17. Nc6 $1
Nc5 18. Qd1 Qd7 {when White stands a shade better.}) 17... Ne5 $1 ({Even
stronger than} 17... Nc5 18. Qa2 Nfe4 {.}) 18. Be2 {Meekly backing down.} ({
The more aggressive} 18. Na4 {works out in Black's favour after} Nxf3+ 19. Nxf3
Rc4 {. Now the greedy attempt to damage Black's structure with} 20. Bxf6 $2 {
is effectively rebuffed by} Qxf6 $1 {and if} 21. Nxb6 $2 Rg4 $1 22. Nd4 Bxh2+
$1 {with a nasty attack.}) ({And} 18. Bxd5 $4 {is instantly refuted by} Rxc3 $1
{.}) 18... Qe7 19. Rac1 Rfc8 {Janowski outplays his inexperienced opponent and
stands better. --- QUESTION: Why is Black better? The position looks balanced
to me. --- ANSWER: Let's assess: 1. White exerts some pressure on the
d5-isolani, as well as b6 with a future Na4. He also occupies d4. --- 2.
Black's pieces have eyes for c5, c4, e5 and e4. The hole on c6 is under
control for now. --- 3. Nos. 1 and 2 seem to balance each other out but a
malaise also falls over White's kingside, a morning fog, with Black's ominous
build-up aiming at White's king. This factor alone, I feel gives him the edge,
and if not a mathematical edge, then at least the superior practical chances.}
20. Na4 {Trades help White for two reasons: 1. Trades reduce Black's attacking
chances. --- 2. Trades lead to endings, where Capa had no rival!} Rxc1 21. Rxc1
Rxc1+ 22. Bxc1 Ne4 $1 23. Bb2 $6 ({The b6-pawn is poisoned:} 23. Nxb6 $4 Qc7 {
simultaneously attacks two hanging pieces.}) ({Correct is} 23. g3 {to prevent
what followed.}) 23... Nc4 $1 24. Bxc4 {No choice, or White loses a pawn. ---
EXERCISE: (combination alert): Black has a dangerous sacrificial idea in the
position. Do you see it? --- ANSWER:} Bxh2+ $1 25. Kxh2 {With this piece sac,
Janowski gets White's king to prance around in a rather undignified manner.} ({
Declining was out of the question:} 25. Kf1 $4 Nd2+) ({or} 25. Kh1 $4 Qh4 {.})
25... Qh4+ 26. Kg1 Qxf2+ 27. Kh2 Qg3+ 28. Kg1 dxc4 29. Qc2 Qxe3+ 30. Kh2 Qh6+
31. Kg1 Qe3+ 32. Kh2 Qg3+ 33. Kg1 Qe1+ 34. Kh2 Nf6 $1 {The temporary sac of a
second piece follows. Of course Janowski isn't interested in drawing with the
upstart. He has plenty of pawns for the piece and also retains an enduring
attack, despite the reduced material.} 35. Nxe6 Qh4+ 36. Kg1 Qe1+ 37. Kh2 Qh4+
{The checks are designed to gain time on the clock and also to show Capa just
who is boss! White's poor king prances about as awkwardly as a nervous teen at
his first high school dance.} 38. Kg1 Ng4 $1 {EXERCISE (critical decision):
White's king is under siege and the position is a swirling pool of confusion
and ambiguities. His choices are 39 Qd2 and 39 g3. One of them loses; the
other continues to put up resistance. --- ANSWER:} 39. Qd2 $1 {The only move!
I don't know if Capa found this via intuition or through pure calculation
power.} (39. g3 $2 {loses to} Qxg3+ 40. Qg2 {(threatening a back rank mate on
a8)} Qe1+ 41. Qf1 Qxe6 42. Qf4 Qe1+ 43. Kg2 Qe2+ 44. Kg1 h5 45. Nxb6 Ne3 $1 {
, when White's king can't survive Black's queen and knight attacking
combination.}) 39... Qh2+ 40. Kf1 Qh1+ 41. Ke2 Qxg2+ 42. Kd1 Nf2+ $1 43. Kc2
Qg6+ 44. Kc1 {White's king, guided by unseen forces, somehow managed to reach
the relative safety of the queenside. Capa has been on the defensive since the
opening, but Janowski soon learns that an opponent who has been fooled in the
opening isn't necessarily a fool.} Qg1+ 45. Kc2 Qg6+ {Dance!} 46. Kc1 Nd3+ 47.
Kb1 fxe6 $1 {The correct recapture. Black snags four pawns for the piece and
stands better. His main idea is just to push his h-pawn down the board to make
a new queen. White isn't busted yet if he manages to pick off the pawn on b6
and turn his b5-pawn instantly into a queening threat. --- QUESTION: Why
didn't Black recapture on e6 with his queen?} ({ANSWER: White is back in the
game after} 47... Qxe6 $2 48. Qg2 $1 f6 49. Qc6 $1 {.}) 48. Qc2 {EXERCISE 
(planning): White's king, after an arduous journey, finally reaches safety.
Black has four pawns for the piece. What should he do now after 48 Qc2 - ? ---
ANSWER: Try and promote one of them to a new queen!} ({Capa isn't going to
fall for} 48. Nxb6 $4 Qg1+ 49. Ka2 Qxb6 {.}) 48... h5 $1 49. Bd4 $1 ({Stronger
than} 49. Qxc4 $6 h4 $1 50. Nxb6 h3 {when the h-pawn rapidly approaches the
queening square.}) 49... h4 50. Bxb6 {The race begins: White's passed b-pawn
versus Black's h-pawn.} h3 51. Bc7 e5 {Cutting off the bishop's coverage of h2.
} 52. b6 $1 ({White avoids the tricky line} 52. Qxc4+ Kf8 53. Bxa5 Nb4+ 54. Kb2
Qg2+ 55. Kc1 Qc2+ $1 56. Qxc2 Nxc2 {and Black's h-pawn promotes.}) 52... Qe4 $1
{At necessity's urgings, Janowski commandeers e4 for his queen, utilizing
every drop of energy the position contains and wringing it dry. His last move
is a powerful multipurpose centralization which halts b7, covers c4, and
prepares to shepherd his own h-pawn down the board.} 53. Bxe5 $5 {When all
your options lose, there isn't much of a choice but to try a swindle.} ({Capa
tries to muddle the issue, seeing that} 53. Nc3 {loses to the problem-like} h2
$3 {:} 54. Qxh2 $4 ({or} 54. Nxe4 h1=Q+ 55. Ka2 Qxe4 56. Qb1 Qg2+ 57. Ka1 Nc5
$1) 54... Qe1+ 55. Ka2 (55. Kc2 $4 Qc1#) 55... Qxc3 {and} 56. b7 {isn't
possible due to} Qb3+ {.}) 53... Qe1+ $4 ({Janowski misses his opportunity to
crown his masterpiece with} 53... Qh1+ $1 54. Ka2 Nxe5 55. Qb2 Qg2 $1 {when
Black queens and White doesn't.}) 54. Ka2 Nxe5 $6 {Perhaps Janowski goes into
shock from the startling convulsion of recent events. Black crosses the thin
line which separates daring from foolhardy. The trouble is Black's dreams
exceed the capabilities of his position. Janowski, who refuses to submit to
expediency and take the draw, is just asking for it. It is impossible to
change one's inner nature. An optimist remains an optimist morning, noon,
evening, and even while dreaming. Janowski, an addictive gambler who was in
the habit of gambling away his tournament prize money, deeply (and incorrectly)
believed in his own luck, and overpressed.} ({It was high time to partially
recoup some of his losses and take a perpetual check with} 54... Nc1+ 55. Kb2
Nd3+ {.}) 55. b7 {Now the b-pawn is a real force. Watch how Black's feared
h-pawn, now still as an insect, never gets to move again. Capablanca wrote: "...the endgame coming is perhaps the finest of its kind ever played over the
board, and that for some unknown reason it has not been properly appreciated.
It is a masterpiece, of which I am very proud." Above all other things, Capa
was a modest man!} Nd7 ({Certainly not} 55... Nc6 $4 56. Qxc4+ Kh7 57. Qxc6 {.}
) 56. Nc5 $1 Nb8 57. Qxc4+ Kh8 58. Ne4 $1 {Now White stands better. Black
doesn't have access to a single check in a wide open position.} Kh7 $2 {The
losing move. --- EXERCISE: (combination alert): After 58...Kh7? it's White to
play and win. --- ANSWER: Double attack. White's next move threatens mate and
also the h3-pawn.} (58... Qe3 $1 {saves Black after} 59. Qc8+ Kh7 60. Qxh3+ ({
on} 60. Qf5+ Kh6 {Kasparov gives} 61. Nf2 $1 {which allows White to save the
game}) 60... Qxh3 61. Ng5+ Kg6 $1 62. Nxh3 Kf5 {with a drawn ending.}) ({The
tempting} 58... h2 $4 {loses to} 59. Qc8+ Kh7 60. Qh3+ Kg8 61. Qe6+ $1 Kf8 (
61... Kh8 $4 62. Qe8+ Kh7 63. Ng5+ {wins the queen}) 62. Qd6+ $1 Kf7 63. Ng5+
Ke8 64. Qxb8+ {and wins.}) 59. Qd3 $3 {Suddenly, White's position pulses with
energy. Once again Black is denied a single check.} g6 ({On} 59... h2 $4 {
White mates in study-like fashion with} 60. Ng5+ Kh6 61. Nf7+ $1 Kh5 62. Qf5+
Kh4 63. Qf4+ Kh3 64. Ng5+ Kg2 65. Qf3+ Kg1 66. Nh3# {! Why is it variations
like this never, ever occur in my games?}) 60. Qxh3+ {The annoying
protuberance is finally removed. Black's h-pawn, for so long anticipating its
coronation in its none-too-splendid Sunday best, instead loses its life on h3.}
Kg7 61. Qf3 $1 {Remarkable control. Again, no checks for Black.} Qc1 (61... Qh4
62. Qc3+ $1 {wins.}) 62. Qf6+ Kh7 63. Qf7+ Kh6 64. Qf8+ $1 {White's queen and
knight team, malice personified, relentlessly stalk Black's king for the
remainder of the game.} Kh5 (64... Kh7 $4 65. Nf6# {!}) 65. Qh8+ $1 Kg4 {
EXERCISE: White has a game-ending move. Let's see if you can find it. ---
ANSWER:} 66. Qc8+ $1 {. Possibly this game was the most painful loss of
Janowski's life, after which emotions must have arisen to which no name or
description can be attached.} 1-0

[Event "Consultation game, Moscow"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1914.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pavlov & Selesniev"]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C68"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1914.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d4 {QUESTION: Why did White give
up the bishop pair and then immediately open the centre?} ({ANSWER: An
elemental goal for White in the Exchange Lopez is to secure a healthy kingside
pawn majority versus Black's crippled majority on the queenside. This ensures
a won king and pawn ending. Of course, Black gets the bishop pair and it is
still a long, long way to the dreamed-of pawn endgame. Fischer conclusively
proved that} 5. O-O $1 {, leaving all structural options open, is the most
accurate path.}) 5... exd4 6. Qxd4 {Every exchange helps White.} Qxd4 7. Nxd4
Bc5 {I won't give him the mark but I will say it: Dubious! This isn't such a
great spot for the bishop, which normally gets developed to d6.} (7... c5 {,
followed by ...Bd7 and ...0-0-0, looks better.}) 8. Be3 Nf6 9. f3 O-O 10. Nd2
Re8 11. Kf2 {White stands better. Black has nothing to do and no targets to
speak of.} Be6 $6 {QUESTION: Why criticize this move? I realize Black returns
the bishop pair, but in doing so he connects his pieces and completes
development. --- ANSWER: In this case Capablanca hides a radical agenda and
dresses it up in the garb of reasonableness. He frets over troubles, both
abstract and unreal. Alekhine correctly diagnosed Capa's universal tendency/
weakness to simplify for simplification's sake, even when his position
deteriorated with the simplification. Here he shouldn't have returned the
bishop pair, Black's only tangible compensation for his slightly inferior
structure. Also, White gets to swap two pairs of pieces, getting closer to his
cherished king and pawn ending.} 12. Nxe6 Bxe3+ 13. Kxe3 Rxe6 14. Kf2 Ne8 15.
Rhd1 Nd6 16. Nf1 Rae8 17. Re1 $1 {White negates the ...f7-f5 threat.} a5 {Capa
takes action on the queenside, the only place he can.} 18. Ne3 a4 19. c4 {Even
superheroes have off days. Black messed up the opening to be sure. But past is
past. What concerns Capa now is survival in the present. The question is:
Should Black remain passive or should he take risks to remedy his position? I
would probably say be passive - and lose.} b5 $5 {This rash move bursts
through the door of his previous restraint. Capa impatiently refuses to sit
tight and simply wait. But in taking action, he takes on peril as well. When
in the heat of battle, mingled with a bad position, it is no easy matter to
curb the inner tempest of emotions and decide between lashing out and a
logical, measured response. If hope of gain isn't enough of a motivation, then
add the fear of doing nothing and losing without a fight, and we reach the
threshold. --- QUESTION: It looks to me like Capablanca is in the process of
losing his temper over an imagined affront. Isn't his move overly risky? ---
ANSWER: It is risky indeed, and it is difficult to judge if this is a correct
decision or not. However, the alternative, remaining completely passive, is
not such a trifling thing as you say. Passivity has its own particular risks:
A slow, lingering death.} 20. Rac1 Rb8 21. cxb5 Rxb5 22. Re2 {White puts his
faith in the plan of hammering away on the c-pawns - a plan which never comes
to pass. --- QUESTION: Is Black busted? --- ANSWER: If not busted, he is
clearly in the vicinity. White has a healthy kingside pawn majority, while
Black's queenside is chutney. He must nurse three weak pawns. Black's pressure
on b2 fails to fully compensate.} Kf8 23. Ke1 ({QUESTION: Can White pile on
with} 23. Rc3 {- ? --- ANSWER: Black can put up stiff resistance with a line
like} g6 24. Rec2 Rb6 25. Rc5 Nb7 26. R5c4 Ra6 27. Rb4 Nd6 28. Rb8+ Ke7 29. g4
Re5 {, when Black remains under pressure but White also strains to make
progress.}) ({Of course the allies don't fall for the cheapo} 23. Rxc6 $4 Nxe4+
{.}) 23... Rb6 24. Nc4 {White probes with an air of tentative inquiry by
beginning a plan to remove the knights from the board.} Ra6 25. e5 $6 {This
loosens White's game on the light squares, which Capa later exploits with his
king. Now Black just barely manages to draw in the coming double rook ending,
mainly due to his counterattack on b2. White's best shot at a win would be to
retain the knights.} Nxc4 26. Rxc4 Ra5 27. f4 g5 $1 {Ingenious simplicity. It
is in Black's best interest to reduce the number of pawns on the board.} 28. g3
gxf4 29. gxf4 Ke7 30. Kf2 c5 ({I would have jumped at a chance to reduce the
pawns with} 30... f6 {.}) 31. Rec2 Rb6 $1 {Reminding White that b2 is also a
target.} 32. Kf3 Ke6 33. Ke4 f5+ $1 34. exf6 {QUESTION: Why didn't White
simply back off his king and attain a protected passed pawn?} ({ANSWER: This
would allow the black king entry with} 34. Kd3 Kd5 {.}) 34... Kxf6 35. f5 {
EXERCISE (planning): Black, though tied down to his pawn weaknesses, has a
method of generating much needed counterplay. How? --- ANSWER: Principle:
Activity takes precedence over material in rook endgames. Black sacs a pawn to
reach a drawn rook and pawn ending.} Rab5 $1 36. Rxa4 {White goes foraging and
comes up empty handed, but there is nothing better.} (36. Rxc5 Rxc5 37. Rxc5
Rb4+ 38. Ke3 Rxb2 {is also drawn.}) 36... Rxb2 37. Rac4 Rxc2 38. Rxc2 c6 $1 {
A key move in the equation. White's king must be kept out of d5. Black is
happy to sac both c-pawns for the white a-pawn. Now White's former superiority
is but a memory. What a feeling of wonder when the previously inconceivable 
(holding a draw from a rancid position!) becomes a reality.} 39. Rxc5 Ra6 {
White can't make progress.} 40. Rc4 ({Or} 40. Rc2 Ra4+ 41. Kd3 Ra6 {and White
has nothing better than to repeat. --- QUESTION: Can't White make something of
his outside, passed a-pawn? --- ANSWER: The outside passer is merely an
advantage on paper. White fails to make the slightest progress after} 42. Kc4
Kxf5 43. Kb4 Rb6+ 44. Kc5 Ra6 {.}) 40... Rxa2 41. Rxc6+ Kg5 {. White's fall
from lofty ambition out of the opening to his currently downgraded estate, a
drawn position, is stark.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "St Petersburg"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1914.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rubinstein, A."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D64"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1914.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

{Rubinstein and Capablanca were stylistic twins, yet Rubinstein lacked a
certain quality which Capa possessed. --- QUESTION: Which quality? --- ANSWER:
I don't know! When I interviewed Spassky in 1986, I asked him why someone like
him went on to become world champion, but other incredibly gifted players like
Rubinstein (to be fair, Rubinstein never got a title shot!), Keres and
Korchnoi, hovered at the top but failed to reach the summit? Spassky told me
the reason he won the title was that he was absolutely honest with himself
about his own failings and strove tirelessly to eradicate them. I am not
implying that Rubinstein, Keres and Korchnoi were dishonest with themselves,
but we sense a missing element. What that mysterious element is I can't say.} 
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Rc1 Re8 8. Qc2
c6 {The Orthodox QGD, the dullard's paradise. Didn't players at this time get
tired of unsweetened gruel for breakfast every morning? One wonders what
heights Capablanca would have reached had he possessed the Alekhine/Fischer
opening work ethic.} 9. Bd3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 b5 {My mother always said that if
you hang around with questionable friends you begin to take questionable
actions yourself. ---QUESTION: What is wrong with the move? --- ANSWER: Capa
plays Bernstein's rather awful pet idea from Chapter 1. This game was actually
played a few rounds before the Capablanca-Bernstein game, but I think Capa was
familiar with the idea. Some ideas are better left stored in the basement
closet.} (10... Nd5 {is preferable, as Lasker played against him. But even
better would be to simply avoid this ridiculously passive line as Black!}) 11.
Bd3 a6 $2 {Also wrong. --- QUESTION: How so? Black secures b5 in order to play
...c6-c5. --- ANSWER: A break which he achieves on move 25 in this game! It is
too slow, and in the meantime White clamps down on the c5-square.} ({Kasparov
suggests} 11... Bb7 12. O-O h6 13. Bxf6 $1 gxf6 $5 {(the fight was for the
critical c5-square; Kasparov gave recapture with the knight, which gave White
the advantage)} 14. Rfd1 a6 15. Ne4 f5 16. Nc5 Nxc5 17. dxc5 Qc7 {, when White
stands better but Black has his chances with the bishop pair.}) 12. Ne5 $1 {
This powerful disruption idea is given "!" by Tarrasch.} Bb7 (12... Nxe5 {is
of no help.} 13. dxe5 Nd5 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Bxh7+ Kh8 16. Be4 Qc7 17. f4 $1 Qb6
18. Nd1 $1 Nxe3 $4 19. Qxc6 {and Black has too many hanging pieces.}) 13. Nxd7
$1 Qxd7 14. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 ({On} 14... gxf6 {White's best plan is to ignore the
free h7-pawn and go for the blockade instead with} 15. Ne4 $1 {.}) 15. Bxh7+
Kh8 16. Be4 ({Black is busted after the much stronger} 16. Ne4 $1 Be7 17. h4 $1
{.}) 16... e5 17. dxe5 Rxe5 18. O-O {After his customarily limp opening play,
Capa finds himself a full pawn down against the leading contender for the
world title at the time. Black's bishop pair helps but clearly doesn't offer
enough compensation. No benefit is gained by dwelling on that which we lack
the power to change. Now Capa begins the process of methodically improving his
position, move by move.} Qe7 19. Bf3 Rc5 $1 {Capa composes himself for a
vigorous defence. We don't get to pick the family we are born into. In this
case the dark-squared bishop must carry the burden for his dysfunctionally
lazy brother on b7. Capa tries to make good use of his dark-squared bishop by
inflicting damage to White's queenside structure.} ({His plan looks stronger
than activating his queenside majority with} 19... c5 {.}) 20. Qe2 (20. Qb3 {
is met with} a5 {with some but not enough counterplay for the pawn.}) 20...
Bxc3 21. Rxc3 ({Kasparov suggests returning the pawn with} 21. bxc3 $5 Qf6 22.
Rfd1 Rxc3 23. Rxc3 Qxc3 24. Be4 $1 {with the initiative and attacking chances
for White. But the problem is that this line suits Kasparov's style, not
Rubinstein's. Rubinstein, like Capablanca, loved to play risk-free chess, and
so naturally he kept his extra pawn rather than return it and speculate.})
21... Rxc3 22. bxc3 Rd8 23. Rd1 Rxd1+ 24. Qxd1 Kg8 25. h4 c5 {Correctly
activating his pawn majority. --- QUESTION: Why did White leave his h-pawn to
be taken on h4?} ({ANSWER: Be careful. That is a trap. The h-pawn is taboo due
to} 25... Qxh4 $4 26. Qd7 {.}) 26. Bxb7 Qxb7 27. Qd6 {Both players had
foreseen this position but Capa assessed it more accurately. First, let's find
the clues to unlock the peculiarities of the position: 1. White is a pawn up.
--- 2. White's infiltrating queen looks more active than her counterpart. ---
3. White's king is safe from perpetual check. --- 4. Black's 3-2 queenside
pawn majority looks faster than White's 4-2 majority on the other side. ---
EXERCISE (critical decision): White has three points in his favour; we have
only one on Capa's side. What is our best shot at survival and counterplay?
--- ANSWER: Black survives only due to the vagary of a single anomaly in the
position: He can create a fast passed pawn.} b4 $1 {QUESTION: How does this
create a passer? It looks to me like Black just dropped a pawn. --- ANSWER:
Please see the game continuation.} 28. Qxc5 $6 {Suffering an agony of
indecision, Rubinstein remains tongue-tied and unable to respond properly to
Black's burst of counterplay. After this natural move White's advantage fades
quickly.} ({Tarrasch, Keres and Kotov all gave} 28. c4 $1 {as White's best
chance. Keres, after lengthy analysis of the ending, added: "Even after 28 c4!
Black could have played on, retaining excellent drawing chances."}) 28... bxc3
29. Qxc3 Qb1+ {There it is. Black creates a passed a-pawn} 30. Kh2 Qxa2 31.
Qc8+ Kh7 32. Qf5+ {Rubinstein's resolve turns into pudding, realizing he is
the victim of a cruel joke. There is no win, despite his extra pawn. The
queen's function, an abandoned boat on a dry lake bed, is at odds with her
existence. One queen alone fails to deliver checkmate. All White can do is
play for perpetual check.} g6 $5 ({Capa begins to play for the win a pawn down,
refusing the perpetual check which is his after} 32... Kg8 {. --- QUESTION:
Can't White play for mate by pushing his pawns on the kingside? --- ANSWER: He
has no effective way of doing so. For example:} 33. h5 a5 34. Qg5 $2 Qxf2 35.
h6 $2 Qf6 36. Qxa5 Qxh6+ 37. Kg1 Qxe3+ {and it is White who finds himself a
pawn down and fighting for the draw.}) 33. Qf6 a5 34. g4 {Not liking the way
the wind blows down the a-file, White hopes to divorce himself from the
proceedings by hurrying to expose Black's king and deliver perpetual check.} a4
{The passed a-pawn continues his unseemly display of gloating, as he glides
down the file toward the queening square.} 35. h5 gxh5 ({QUESTION: Can Black
play for the win with} 35... Qe6 {- ? --- ANSWER: That is a blunder which
risks loss after} 36. hxg6+ Kg8 37. Qd8+ Kg7 38. gxf7 Qxf7 39. Kg3 {, when
White may get chances to deliver mate before Black promotes.}) 36. Qf5+ ({
Keres thought} 36. gxh5 $6 Qe6 {would give Black all the chances to win.})
36... Kg7 37. Qg5+ {Drawing or losing a won game leaves an awful aftertaste
which no known sweetener is capable of cloaking.} Kh7 38. Qxh5+ Kg7 {.
Kasparov commented upon the deceptive ease with which Capa drew a pawn-down
ending against one of the greatest endgame players in the history of the game.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1918.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Marshall, F."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C89"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1918.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d5 $3 {A moment frozen in time and enshrined in the forever. Marshall
introduces his deadly Ruy Lopez gambit which lives on well after his own death.
To this day nobody has come close to refuting it and virtually every Lopez
player in the world top ten embraces Marshall's side.} 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5
Nxe5 11. Rxe5 {So we have a standard Ruy Lopez Marshall Gambit - except this
is the first one ever played! Malice often takes cover behind a sweet smile. I
believe it was Edward Lasker who wrote that Marshall hid his opening secret
for nearly a decade, lying in wait for Capa, his would-be victim. We chess
players are a devious lot. Who among us may claim an unsullied conscience or
clean hands when it comes to opening preparation, the nature of which is to
confuse and deceive? The fact that Capablanca survived a sound attacking line,
nine years in the brewing, is an astounding testament to his phenomenal
defensive skills.} Nf6 {The old school line.} ({Today, virtually everyone plays
} 11... c6 {, where Marshall's gambit has successfully withstood the test of
nearly a century of theory.}) 12. Re1 ({QUESTION: Is} 12. d4 {a more accurate
move here? --- ANSWER: It simply transposes after} Bd6 13. Re1 Ng4 14. h3 Qh4
15. Qf3 {.}) 12... Bd6 13. h3 {Preventing ...Ng4.} Ng4 $5 {QUESTION: Hey, you
just said "preventing ...Ng4" didn't you? --- ANSWER: Oops, mea slight culpa!
Let's answer your question with a question/exercise. --- EXERCISE: The obvious
question we ask ourselves: Can we take the gift knight, or should we exercise
caution with a move like Qf3 instead? --- ANSWER: The knight is poisoned.} 14.
Qf3 $1 (14. hxg4 $6 Qh4 15. f3 ({or} 15. Qf3 $2 Bh2+ $1 16. Kf1 Bxg4 17. Qe4
Bf4 $1 {, when those evil bishops whisper to each other in tones so faint,
only they can hear}) 15... Bb7 16. d4 Rfe8 {gives Black a decisive attack.})
14... Qh4 15. d4 ({Of course} 15. hxg4 $2 {transposes to the previous note
after} Bh2+ $1 {.}) 15... Nxf2 $1 {The knight, giddy and lost in reverie,
enters without thought of exit. Marshall, who wore such attacks as a badge of
office, subscribed to the philosophy/prayer: "Lord, help me behave. But not
just yet!" The pesky knight continues to foster dissent and division in
White's camp, warning of hellfire, as a preacher would to his frightened
congregation - or so he hopes. Marshall aims to keep his attack flowing with
that vital lubricant: Blood! However, the knight's bluster fails to intimidate
Capa, whose next move is icily cool under fire.} ({Instead:} 15... h5 16. Re2
Bh2+ 17. Kh1 Rb8 18. Bxf7+ $1 (18. Re8 $1 {is even stronger}) 18... Kh8 19. Qd5
{is horribly complicated but in White's favour, J.Smeets-L.Perdomo, Kochin
2004.}) (15... Bh2+ 16. Kf1 Bd6 17. Bf4 Bb7 18. Qxg4 Qxg4 19. hxg4 Bxf4 20. g3
Bd6 21. Nd2 {and Black failed to get full compensation for the pawn, namely
because the queens came off the board, A.Mori-J.Vozda, correspondence 2005.})
16. Re2 $1 {Health is a higher priority than money. The rook, eyes sparkling
with mockery, asks the presumptuous knight where it will go now. Capa stated
the obvious when he wrote: "I repeatedly demonstrated during the course of the
match, in repulsing Marshall's onslaughts." As Muhammad Ali once said: "It's
not bragging if you back it up!"} ({The computer line,} 16. Re3 $1 {, covering
h3 sacs is also possible and favours White.}) ({QUESTION: Why isn't White
taking that hanging rook on a8? --- ANSWER: Mate takes precedence over greed:} 
16. Qxa8 $4 Nxh3+ $1 {mates in seven moves.}) (16. Qxf2 $6 Bh2+ $1 (16... Bg3
$4 17. Qxf7+ {and it is Black who walks into mate}) 17. Kf1 Bg3 18. Qd2 Bxh3 $1
{is not so clear.}) 16... Bg4 $5 {QUESTION: What do we do if Black sacs his
bishop on h3?} ({ANSWER: White should be able to defend after the tempting} 
16... Bxh3 17. gxh3 Nxh3+ 18. Kf1 {. Your suggestion may be Black's best line
but should still work out in White's favour since his king is relatively safe.}
) 17. hxg4 Bh2+ 18. Kf1 Bg3 19. Rxf2 ({QUESTION: Isn't} 19. Re3 {stronger? ---
ANSWER:} Qh1+ 20. Ke2 Qxc1 21. Qxg3 Nd1 $1 {isn't so clear.}) 19... Qh1+ 20.
Ke2 Bxf2 {EXERCISE (critical decision): How would you defend as White after 20.
..Bxf2 - ?} ({White consolidates after} 20... Rae8+ $2 21. Be3) ({or} 20...
Qxc1 $2 21. Bxf7+ $1 Kh8 22. Qxg3 Qxb2+ 23. Nd2 Qxa1 24. Rf1 $1 Qb2 25. Qd3 $1
{(White threatens to sac his queen on h7 and deliver mate)} h6 (25... g6 26.
Qe3 $1 {and Black is helpless since he has no good way to cover the check on e5
}) 26. g5 {with a winning attack.}) 21. Bd2 $3 {ANSWER: Cover the critical
e1-square. Capa defends with delicate precision.} ({After the automatic} 21.
Qxf2 $2 Qxc1 22. Kd3 {follows} c5 $1 {and all of a sudden White's exposed king
feels an urgent need to recite the Lord's prayer.}) 21... Bh4 22. Qh3 Rae8+ {
QUESTION: Isn't White dead here? His king is on the run in the middle of the
board, and his rook and knight are frozen on their original squares. ---
ANSWER: On the run for now. The destination is c2, where he will be safe,
mainly due to an absence of light-square power on Black's side. Capa even
manages to free his queenside pieces, though that is another story.} 23. Kd3
Qf1+ 24. Kc2 {Live long and prosper! The king, after a harrowing journey, now
feels much better arriving on c2.} Bf2 25. Qf3 Qg1 26. Bd5 $1 {Centralizing,
as well as clearing the way for b2-b4 and Kb2, if necessary.} c5 27. dxc5 Bxc5
28. b4 Bd6 {EXERCISE (planning): The king looks safe for the moment but White
still has one huge obstacle to overcome: How to develop the a1-rook? ---
ANSWER: Open the a-file. The ancient creature, dormant for millennia, begins
to stir in the pit from a1.} 29. a4 $1 a5 $5 {A good practical move. Marshall
strains to pry open the queenside. Still, it falls short.} 30. axb5 axb4 31.
Ra6 {This rook, for so long shrouded in the shadow regions on a1, finally
emerges.} bxc3 32. Nxc3 {Game over. --- QUESTION: Why? Isn't White's king
exposed? --- ANSWER: 1. White's formally sleeping pieces emerge to excellent
squares. --- 2. The king, seemingly exposed, is in no danger. --- 3. White
exerts pressure on f7. --- 4. His passed b-pawn is ready to march forward.} Bb4
33. b6 Bxc3 34. Bxc3 h6 35. b7 {Forever eliminating ...Rc8.} Re3 {EXERCISE: 
(combination alert): White to play and deliver checkmate. --- ANSWER:} 36.
Bxf7+ $1 ({EXERCISE (calculation): Let's visualize all the mating lines
without moving the pieces. Ready? Here we go. --- ANSWER:} 36. Bxf7+ $1 Rxf7 ({
if} 36... Kh8 37. Rxh6#) ({or} 36... Kh7 37. Qf5+ Kh8 38. Rxh6#) 37. b8=Q+ Kh7
38. Rxh6+ $1 Kxh6 39. Qh8+ Kg5 40. Qh5# {! --- I can't imagine any other
player in the world at that time, except possibly Lasker, who would have
survived Marshall's assault without exam prep.}) 1-0

[Event "5th matchgame, Havana"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1921.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Lasker, Em"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D63"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1921.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

{Lasker tried to pull a fast one on Capa in their negotiations for the title
match by originally demanding an unfair clause, which stated that the champion
retains his title if the challenger wins by a single point. In effect, this
would mean the challenger would have to win the match by two points. Capa
objected in a letter to Lasker: "Moreover, such a match would not be an even
match, but would be more in the nature of a handicap contest, wherein I, as
the challenger for your title, would be compelled to give you a handicap of
one game." I have a feeling this is why Schlechter played like such a madman
in his final match game versus Lasker when Schlechter led by a point. Fischer
tried to pull this same trick on his challenger, Karpov, but fortunately FIDE
stepped in and disallowed it.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Bg5 ({Compare
Capa's opening play with Fischer's against Spassky in their world championship
match:} 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 b6 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10.
Nxd5 exd5 11. Rc1 Be6 12. Qa4 {(Fischer borrows Capa's queen manoeuvre)} c5 13.
Qa3 Rc8 14. Bb5 a6 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. O-O Ra7 17. Be2 Nd7 18. Nd4 $1 Qf8 19.
Nxe6 fxe6 20. e4 $1 d4 21. f4 Qe7 22. e5 Rb8 23. Bc4 Kh8 24. Qh3 $1 Nf8 25. b3
{and White ruled the light squares, R.J.Fischer-B.Spassky, 6th matchgame,
Reykjavik 1972.}) 4... Nbd7 5. e3 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Rc1 b6 $5 {Black is
clearly looking to pick a fight.} ({Lasker wasn't interested in grovelling for
a draw with the old school Orthodox Queen's Gambit Declined plan of} 7... c6 {.
}) (7... a6 {is a modern way of infusing some life into a dry position. The
sneaky idea is to take on c4 only after White moves his f1-bishop and then
follow with ...b7-b5, ...Bb7 and ...c7-c5, with an extra tempo over a normal
Queen's Gambit Accepted. --- QUESTION: How should White avoid that fate? ---
ANSWER: The easiest way is to just take on d5, transposing to an Exchange QGD,
when Black's ...a7-a6 doesn't always fit with the position.}) 8. cxd5 exd5 9.
Qa4 $5 {Not such a great non-developing decision. Capa isn't backing down
either and risks falling behind in development, which he could easily avoid by
developing his bishop to b5 (which he played in game one of this match, and
also against Teichmann in Chapter 3) or e2 or d3. --- QUESTION: What is the
point of White's last move? --- ANSWER: The queenside light squares were
weakened the moment Lasker played 7...b6!?. Capa instinctively understood this
and fought for them, eyeing a6 and c6 as potential infiltration squares later
on.} (9. Bb5 Bb7 10. Qa4 $6 (10. O-O a6 11. Ba4 c5 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Bc2 Nce4
14. Bxe4 dxe4 15. Qxd8 Rfxd8 16. Nd4 {and White's knight post on d4 gave him
the edge, J.R.Capablanca-E.Sergeant, Hastings 1929/30}) 10... a6 11. Bxd7 Nxd7
12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Qb3 Qd6 {allowed Lasker to equalize in the first game of the
match.}) 9... c5 $1 {Lasker correctly ignores the "threat" of Qc6 and happily
offers his d-pawn for a scary-looking development lead.} 10. Qc6 $5 {An
exceedingly risky decision. Capa plunges into the complications without
compunction or fear, courting annihilation with a smile. Sacrifices, much like
horror movies, can be scary to some but not to others. Capa, in a world
championship match nonchalantly decides to embark upon a pawn-grabbing
adventure, banking on his remarkable defensive powers. The score was tied at
this point - all draws. I guess Capablanca wanted to force a showdown.} ({
Instead, after} 10. Ba6 h6 11. Bh4 $6 (11. Bf4 {is better}) 11... cxd4 $1 {(...Nc5 is threatened)} 12. exd4 Nh5 $1 13. Bg3 Bxa6 14. Qxa6 Bg5 $1 15. Rd1 Re8+
16. Kf1 Ndf6 {Black stood better as White's h1-rook will be hard to develop, B.Gelfand-N.Short, 2nd matchgame, Brussels 1991.}) 10... Rb8 11. Nxd5 {Down the
hatch. The fledgling knight opens its beak for a serving in the nest.} Bb7 {
Lasker wants to keep queens on the board.} ({His best option is} 11... Nxd5 12.
Qxd5 Bb7 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qg5 Qxg5 15. Nxg5 cxd4 16. Rd1 Nf6 17. Rxd4 Rbc8 {
, when Black's huge development lead gives him excellent compensation for the
pawn. Still, I doubt White stands any worse after} 18. f3 $1 {.}) 12. Nxe7+
Qxe7 13. Qa4 Rbc8 {Kasparov didn't like Black's last move. --- QUESTION: Isn't
White completely busted? I don't see how his king will escape to safety. ---
ANSWER: Capa landed in a precarious situation, but I wouldn't go so far as to
say he is busted. The computers think White survives but one must play like a
computer to do so. And Capa does just that in the coming moves. --- QUESTION:
Why didn't Black take on f3?} ({ANSWER: Kasparov says that was "definitely the
best chance". Still, White lives on after} 13... Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 cxd4 15. Qxd4
Rbc8 16. Rxc8 Rxc8 17. Be2 {, when Black seems to have enough for the pawn.})
14. Qa3 Qe6 ({Houdini gives the tricky line} 14... Qe4 $1 15. Be2 cxd4 {and
now White escapes by diplomatically returning the pawn by castling.}) 15. Bxf6
{The more pieces off the board the better.} Qxf6 $6 ({Black gets loads of
compensation for his pawn after} 15... Bxf3 $1 16. Bxg7 cxd4 17. Ra1 Kxg7 18.
gxf3 {.}) 16. Ba6 $1 Bxf3 $1 {Lasker decides to sac the exchange.} ({After} 
16... Bxa6 17. Qxa6 {, Black is unable to take on d4 due to a hanging rook on
c8. QUESTION: I have a cute idea for Black:} Nb8 {and if} 18. Qxa7 {then
Black can open the game by taking on d4 with} cxd4 {. Does this work? ---
ANSWER: It's a clever idea but it fails to the counter-clever} 19. Rxc8 Rxc8
20. Nxd4 $1 {and White wins with two extra pawns. Black's back rank is too
loose to generate threats.}) 17. Bxc8 Rxc8 (17... Bxg2 18. Rg1 {is similar to
the game.}) 18. gxf3 Qxf3 19. Rg1 Re8 {QUESTION: Does Black have full
compensation? --- ANSWER: Let's assess: 1. Black is down a full exchange. ---
2. White's king is caught in the middle and not likely to find safety for a
long time to come. --- 3. Material is somewhat reduced, favouring the
defending side, White. --- Conclusion: Two out of three factors fit in White's
favour, so advantage White; but we shouldn't discount Black's practical
chances since it is not at all easy to navigate the White side.} 20. Qd3 g6 21.
Kf1 Re4 $6 {Right idea; wrong move order.} ({Correct was} 21... Nf6 $1 22. Qd1
Qh3+ 23. Rg2 {and only now} Re4 $1 24. Kg1 cxd4 {, when Black receives
reasonable compensation for the exchange.}) 22. Qd1 $6 {This transposes to the
above note.} (22. dxc5 $1 Nxc5 23. Qe2 Qf5 24. Rd1 {was better, although even
here, consolidation of the extra exchange is a monumental defensive task.})
22... Qh3+ 23. Rg2 Nf6 $1 24. Kg1 cxd4 25. Rc4 $1 {"Wonderful!" writes Lasker
about this move, which forces the removal of Black's attacking rook. Capa
successfully threads his way through Black's maze until he exits and views the
horizon.} ({Not} 25. exd4 $2 Nd5 26. Rg3 Qf5 {with huge attacking chances for
the exchange.}) 25... dxe3 26. Rxe4 Nxe4 {QUESTION: Why didn't Black play the
in-between capture with check on f2?} ({ANSWER:} 26... exf2+ $4 {fails
tactically to} 27. Rxf2 Nxe4 28. Qd8+ Kg7 29. Qd4+ {, picking off the knight.})
27. Qd8+ Kg7 28. Qd4+ Nf6 29. fxe3 Qe6 30. Rf2 {This is not going to be easy.
White's lightly-guarded king stands quite alone, surrounded by nothingness and
vulnerable to perpetual checks later on.} g5 {In order to escape the pin with .
..Kg6.} 31. h4 {A new dynamic entered. Black has a choice: a) Play 31...h6,
allowing 32 h5, in this case with a perpetual pin on f6. But Black is going
for a fortress, banking that White can't make progress. --- b) Play 31...gxh4
opening both kings. --- EXERCISE (critical decision): One path leads to a draw,
the other to shadows and confusion. Which one would you play?} gxh4 $6 {In any
given position you can collect all the relevant data and still come up with
the wrong plan. The natural, but incorrect decision gives White chances to win.
Surprisingly, White can't make progress after the self-pinning.} ({ANSWER:} 
31... h6 $3 {- I had the computers give it a go as White and they fell flat.
For example:} 32. h5 {(Black's pinned down pieces lie around like drunks
passed out in an alley; yet White can't do a thing to exploit it)} Qe7 33. e4
$1 Qe6 34. Rf5 Qe7 35. b4 Qe6 36. b5 Qe7 37. a4 Qe6 38. Qc3 Qe7 39. Kh2 Qe6 {
and White is out of ideas and must acquiesce to the draw.}) 32. Qxh4 Ng4 33.
Qg5+ Kf8 34. Rf5 $1 h5 $5 {QUESTION: Why not take on e3?} ({ANSWER:} 34...
Qxe3+ 35. Qxe3 Nxe3 36. Rf4 {isn't going to be so easy for Black to draw. He
has too many pawn targets for that roaming rook.}) 35. Qd8+ Kg7 36. Qg5+ Kf8
37. Qd8+ Kg7 38. Qg5+ Kf8 39. b3 ({Kasparov criticizes this natural move and
gives} 39. Qxh5 $1 Qxe3+ 40. Kg2 Qd2+ 41. Kg3 Nh6 42. Rd5 Qe1+ 43. Kg2 Qe4+ 44.
Kf2 {. White's king tries to sneak away with the soft tread of a mouse while
Black's queen, his shadow, strives to keep up stride for stride. Paradoxically,
Black can't sustain an attack or give perpetual check in this position since
White's king hops over to the queenside to eventual safety. This may be true,
though not so easy to find over the board!}) 39... Qd6 $1 {Target: g3.} 40. Qf4
Qd1+ 41. Qf1 Qd2 $2 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): The giants each miss a
mate for White. What did Lasker and Capa overlook?} 42. Rxh5 $2 {The wrong
pawn. Capa tries to unlock the door with a bent key.} ({ANSWER:} 42. Rxf7+ $1
Ke8 43. Rf8+ Kd7 44. Qf7+ Kc6 45. Rc8+ Kb5 (45... Kd6 46. Rd8+) 46. Qc4+ Ka5
47. Qa4# {!}) 42... Nxe3 43. Qf3 Qd4 $1 {The queen's fortuitous arrival should
save the day. "Amazing resourcefulness," says Kasparov, who claims the
position may now be drawn.} 44. Qa8+ Ke7 45. Qb7+ {At this point Lasker still
had 15 minutes on his clock but fatigue and age got the better of him, robbing
him of a well-deserved draw.} Kf8 $4 {EXERCISE: After 45...Kf8?? White has a
method of taking queens off the board, and picking up the knight to boot. How
to achieve the goal?} (45... Kd6 $1 {avoids the exchange of queens and should
draw.}) 46. Qb8+ $1 {(ANSWER)} ({After} 46. Qb8+ Ke7 47. Qe5+ $1 {White's
queen appears a reflection of her unhappy sister. --- In this game Lasker
threw the kitchen sink at Capa, who simply used it to wash his hands. In such
a magnificent loss, one senses the greatness in the player that Lasker was in
his prime.}) 1-0

[Event "7th matchgame, Buenos Aires"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1927.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Alekhine, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D52"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1927.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

{The question arises: How on earth did Capablanca lose his 1927 title match to
Alekhine? Capa was clearly the superior player up to around 1929, when he
began to decline and Alekhine approached his prime. No one ever dreamed it
would happen - probably not even Alekhine! The truth is Capa lost to himself,
not Alekhine, by failing to take his rival seriously and declining to properly
prepare for the match. To only experience victory was the precursor of his
defeat. It was rumoured that Capa hit the night clubs of Buenos Aires each
evening seeking female and alcoholic entertainment, while the focused,
monomaniacal Alekhine did what he always did: study, prepare, lay in wait for
the next game. In the end, it was Capa's faith in the infallibility of his own
genius and simple hubris which cost him the match and title. To his discredit,
Alekhine, who must have known deep down inside, that an enraged and focused
Capa would probably have defeated him in a rematch, never offered his great
rival another shot at the title.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5.
Bg5 c6 6. e3 Qa5 {The Cambridge Springs line of the Queen's Gambit Declined, a
lively change from the normally dreary Orthodox lines, which GMs at the time
churned out like mannequins from the factory. --- QUESTION: What is Black
playing for? --- ANSWER: The initiative! Black has all sorts of tricks like ...Ne4, ...Bb4 and ...d5xc4, which in some cases uncovers his queen against a
loose bishop on g5.} 7. Nd2 {QUESTION: Why retreat an already developed piece?
--- ANSWER: In order to take the sting out of ...Ne4. It also discourages ...
d5xc4 since White has options of recapturing with his knight after playing
Bxf6 first.} Bb4 8. Qc2 O-O 9. Bh4 $5 {A theoretical novelty at the time.
Capa's home prep had the effect of totally throwing Alekhine off. --- QUESTION:
What is the idea behind 9 Bh4? --- ANSWER: Mainly, White keeps clear of tricks
on his bishop from ...Ne4 and ...d5xc4. Of course, he expends a tempo to do it,
so it isn't such a great TN. Still, in this game, it proved a smashing success
since it had the effect of provoking Alekhine into an attempted refutation.} (
9. Be2 {is the main move today.}) 9... c5 {It looks logical to open the
position since White is now behind in development. --- QUESTION: How did that
happen? --- ANSWER: White took two moves each with the dark-squared bishop and
his g1-knight.} ({Black can also try} 9... e5 $5 10. dxe5 Ne4 11. Ndxe4 dxe4
12. e6 $1 {with complications, H.Bellmann-C.Fryll, correspondence 2000.}) 10.
Nb3 Qa4 $1 {QUESTION: Why give this artificial-looking move an exclamation
mark? --- ANSWER: Black should equalize and it is best through process of
elimination.} ({Let's look:} 10... Qc7 {is met by the annoying} 11. Bg3 {.}) (
10... Qb6 11. dxc5 $1 Bxc5 (11... Nxc5 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. cxd5 {looks unhealthy
for Black}) 12. Nxc5 {hands White the bishop pair.}) 11. Bxf6 ({Avoiding} 11.
dxc5 Ne4 {, when Black hopes to make trouble in the centre and on the
queenside.}) 11... Nxf6 12. dxc5 Ne4 $5 {After a staggering 70-minute think,
Alekhine offers a rather questionable pawn sac, where he essentially pulls the
pin and throws, yet the grenade lands intact and unexploded. --- QUESTION: How
can such a strong player take over an hour for a move and make a not-so-great
one? --- ANSWER: I have come to the realization that such deep sea dives do
not necessarily ensure a deep move in return. Most strong players find their
good moves rather quickly and only burn time on their clocks reassuring
themselves of the correctness of the details. --- As for Alekhine's move -
which has been condemned as an error by perhaps every annotator from Capa's
time on - I am not so sure it is an error, as much as a speculative pawn sac.
The move places difficult defensive problems in front of Capa, so it has its
practical value. --- QUESTION: Well then, what would you suggest for Black as
a path to equality?} ({ANSWER: Don't get fancy and just work to regain the
pawn with something like} 12... dxc4 13. Bxc4 Qc6 14. O-O Bxc5 15. Nxc5 Qxc5 {
, when it is hard to imagine White extracting anything from his tiny
development lead. For example, after} 16. Ne4 Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Qb6 {, the attack
on b2 gives Black enough time to develop with ...Bd7 next move - unless White
speculates by} 18. Rad1 $5 Qxb2 19. Rd4 Qb6 20. Rfd1 {with compensation for
the pawn.}) 13. cxd5 Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 Nxc5 ({After} 14... exd5 15. Rd1 Be6 (15...
Nxc5 16. Rxd5 {transposes to the game continuation}) 16. Rd4 $1 {White stands
better.}) 15. Rd1 exd5 16. Rxd5 Nxb3 $2 {I feel this is the true error.
Alekhine shouldn't have fixed White's weakened queenside pawns.} ({I tried} 
16... b6 $1 {on several of my students and had them defend White's position.
Supremely gifted as most of them are, they all, to a man and woman, folded
like poker players holding a bad hand - as White! Now I am not saying Capa
would have done the same against Alekhine, but still, it feels like Black may
have enough compensation for the pawn. --- QUESTION: What is the exact
compensation after 16...b6? --- ANSWER: The list runs: 1. White is behind in
development, with king in the centre, inability to castle or efficiently
develop his f1-bishop. --- 2. White has weak, potentially target pawns on the
queenside, especially the one on the open c-file.}) 17. axb3 Qc6 18. Rd4 Re8 {
QUESTION: What did Black get for his pawn sac? --- ANSWER: A development lead,
though I doubt it is large enough to justify his sacrifice. Black's position
is vaguely threatening, but a show of force without true focus or a clear
target is just that: A show without any true menace to White. --- QUESTION:
How does White develop his kingside? --- ANSWER: By offering to swap his
g-pawn for Black's h-pawn. Like this!} 19. Bd3 $1 Qxg2 {This opens the g-file
against Black's king, but there is no choice, since otherwise White just
castles and stays up a pawn for nothing.} 20. Bxh7+ Kf8 21. Be4 Qh3 22. Qd2 Be6
23. c4 {A queen check on b4 is in the air.} a5 $1 24. Rg1 $1 {The retaliatory
counterattack begins. --- QUESTION: Can White get away with taking on b7?} ({
ANSWER: I wouldn't have even considered it, but Houdini assures me that White
can with the tricky line} 24. Bxb7 Rab8 25. Bc6 Rxb3 26. Qd1 $1 {. Even here
Black gets attacking chances for the exchange. I much prefer Capa's human move.
Why defend when we can go on a counterattack?}) 24... Qxh2 {Alekhine regains
his lost pawn, but now the initiative and attack fall firmly into White's
hands.} 25. Rh1 $1 Qc7 26. Qb2 $1 {White's forces, silent as cats, lay in wait
on just the right squares and at the right time. With his uncanny intuition of
relevant squares, Capa targets the weak link: g7.} Qc5 {The unfulfilled queen,
a childless woman with a strong nurturing instinct, wanders about, looking to
be of use.} ({QUESTION: Why doesn't Black get on with his attack by tossing in
} 26... a4 {- ? --- ANSWER: The move walks into a forced mate! Black's
position is in far more danger then outer appearances suggest. Just watch:} 27.
Qa3+ $1 Kg8 28. Bh7+ Kh8 29. Bf5+ Kg8 30. Rdh4 {and Black is done.}) 27. Bd5 $1
{This bishop, stubborn and mean-spirited in equal measure, remains on d5 no
matter what the intimidation from the other side.} Ra6 28. Re4 $1 Rd6 {The
prelude to a possible exchange sac from Black, whose pieces give the white
bishop on d5 icy, malignant stares, yet are powerless to budge him from his
post. --- EXERCISE (planning): White's attack is in full force. How shall we
continue after 28...Rd6 - ?} ({Of course White's bishop is untouchable:} 28...
Bxd5 $4 29. Rh8# {!}) 29. Rh7 $1 {(ANSWER)} ({Attacking g7 is far stronger
than chasing the king with} 29. Rh8+ $6 Ke7 30. Rxe8+ Kxe8 31. Qxg7 Qb4+ {,
when Black is back in the game.}) 29... Ke7 {No choice.} ({The gangrenous limb
on g7 must be amputated since:} 29... f6 $4 {hangs a piece to} 30. Rh8+ Kf7 31.
Rxe8 {.}) (29... g6 $4 30. Qg7+ Ke7 31. Qxf7+ {mates.}) 30. Qxg7 {Threatening
to take on f7. The pressure becomes all but unbearable for Black.} Kd8 {The
exhausted king rolls out of bed, a sick but dutiful man who refuses to sleep
away a work day.} ({If} 30... Rf8 31. Bxe6 Rxe6 32. Rf4 $1 Qb4+ 33. Ke2 {and
f7 falls.}) 31. Bxe6 fxe6 32. Qxb7 ({Typically, Capa prefers to simplify out
rather than pursue an attack with the winning but riskier line} 32. Re5 Qb4+ {.
}) 32... Qb4+ 33. Qxb4 axb4 34. c5 $1 Rc6 35. Rxb4 Rxc5 36. Ra7 {. Alekhine
realized all that remains are a few half-hearted wisps of resistance. Not even
the Almighty can hold a two pawn down ending against Capa.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1927.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alekhine, A."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E16"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1927.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

{Alekhine's tournament book 'New York 1927' is one of the most mean-spirited
and intellectually dishonest chess books ever written. The Russian, who quite
obviously grappled with deep jealousy issues when it came to all things Capa,
spouts venom throughout the book on his favourite target. Examples of the
hate-speak: 1. "In the endgame, he (Capablanca) is not to be feared by a
first-class master." --- 2. "It's unbelievable how self-consciously and weakly
Marshall always plays against Capablanca!" --- 3. "Only then did it finally
become clear to me how exaggerated were the general shouts of praise with
which the quality of his performance in New York (1927) were greeted." --- 4.
"...his self-confidence grew in the extreme, indeed turned into
self-idolization." Well, okay, I admit criticism number 4 was possibly true!
--- Trust me. The entire book is like this! The tournament was played only a
few months before their world championship match, and Alekhine was anxious to
show Capa just who was boss. Well, as it turned out, Capa was boss and
chairman of the board. He skated to a crushing victory 3½ points ahead of
his nearest rival - Alekhine. In their personal games, they drew three, but
Alekhine's single loss to Capa turned out to be one of the most humiliating of
his life.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 {Capablanca successfully played the
Queen's Indian at a time when few even knew what it was, essentially a
hypermodern concept of controlling the centre via the wings.} 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2
c5 $5 {Inviting a Benoni hybrid, but not such a good way of entering one.} (
5... Be7 {is the more common route today.}) 6. d5 $1 {Alekhine takes up the
challenge "to avoid a draw", he says in the tournament book.} (6. O-O cxd4 7.
Qxd4 {is the Hedgehog formation.}) 6... exd5 {QUESTION: Doesn't this just drop
a pawn for White? ---ANSWER: No. Please see White's next move.} 7. Nh4 {The
pin regains the lost pawn.} (7. Ng5 {has been tried a few times:} Ne4 8. Nxe4
dxe4 9. Nc3 f5 10. Bf4 Qf6 11. O-O {and White's development lead compensated
for the missing pawn, E.Kengis-M.Womacka, Baden-Baden 1990.}) 7... g6 8. Nc3
Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Bf4 {This natural but weak move allows Black to equalize.} (
{Instead,} 10. Bg5 $1 {gives White an excellent Benoni. If Black tries} h6 $2 (
10... Qc8 11. cxd5 {gives White a much better version of the game continuation}
) 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 (11... Bxf6 $2 {is met by the shocking} 12. Nxg6 $1 {, winning
on the spot}) 12. Nxd5 $1 Bxd5 13. Qxd5 Nc6 14. Qxd7 Rac8 15. Rad1 $1 {sees
White emerge a pawn ahead in all variations (the threat is Rd6!), J.
Fedorowicz-V.Mezentsev, San Francisco 2007.}) 10... d6 11. cxd5 {QUESTION:
Isn't this just a bad Benoni for Black too, whose light-squared bishop hits a
pawn wall on d5. --- ANSWER: Black looks okay here. Keep in mind, White's
knight went off for a jaunt on h4, so he lost time as well. Annotators often
say a position is "equal". Perhaps a distinction should be made between
equality and equity. In this dynamically balanced position, Black has equity.
--- QUESTION: Why can't White keep recapturing on d5 with pieces, with the
intention of hammering away on Black's backward d6-pawn?} ({ANSWER: Your idea
is playable and perhaps safer than the one Alekhine went for, but in most
Benoni structures, Black gets counterplay against this plan. In this case
Black looks fine after} 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 Bxd5 13. Qxd5 Na6 14. Qd2 Qe7
15. Rad1 (15. Bxd6 {is met by} Rfd8) 15... Rad8 {, when White would be foolish
to take on d6.}) 11... Nh5 {To take the pressure off d6.} 12. Bd2 Nd7 13. f4 $6
({Correctly criticized by Alekhine who gives} 13. e4 {, threatening Nf5. Now
instead of Alekhine's} Nhf6 {,} ({Black can try the more enterprising} 13...
Re8 $1 {, and if White follows through with Alekhine's planned} 14. Nf5 {,
Black doesn't look too bothered after} gxf5 15. Qxh5 fxe4 16. Nxe4 Nf6 {with
equity!})) 13... a6 14. Bf3 $6 {I hate that feeling when you sense something
is amiss but you still choose to ignore the misgivings. Alekhine writes: "A
totally weak move after which the game is hard to save. Losing time, only to
place one's own piece on a worse square in order to force an opponent's to a
better one."} Nhf6 15. a4 c4 $1 {Very strong now that White no longer has easy
access to Nd4 and Nc6. Black vacates c5 for his knight. --- QUESTION: Isn't it
going too far giving your hero an exclamation mark for this rather obvious
Benoni plan? --- ANSWER: The plan is obvious today, mainly because of games
like this one. Don't take such plans for granted. Someone first invented them.
You and I are just copycats. At that time it was a novel idea, so the exclam
is for the creativity behind it.} 16. Be3 {QUESTION: This move looks incorrect.
Why did Alekhine block his e-pawn?} ({ANSWER: I think Alekhine was worried
about the line} 16. e4 b5 {. The queen check on b6 indirectly protects the
not-so-loose b5-pawn.}) 16... Qc7 17. g4 $6 {Thus begins the attack which
never was. Alekhine says he just went for it since he considered his position
strategically busted anyway. --- QUESTION: Is this ferocity or simply
desperation? Is White really lost here to the point where he must begin such a
desperate attack?} ({ANSWER: I'm not sure. A famished tiger views everyone
else as food. Perhaps the move is a sign of both ferocity and desperation.
Let's try a calmer strategic approach, say} 17. b4 {, before Black locks
things down with ...Nc5:} cxb3 18. Qxb3 Rac8 19. Bd4 Qc4 20. Qd1 Ne8 $1 21.
Bxg7 Nxg7 22. Ne4 f5 $1 {(White can't touch the d6-pawn)} 23. Ng5 Nc5 {.
Clearly White stands worse here too, but perhaps not as bad as what happens
after his lash-out move.}) 17... Nc5 18. g5 Nfd7 19. f5 $5 {The pawn lunges
forward with a cry of outrage. White, hoping to brazen it out, gains more real
estate without purposeful destiny. In so doing he leaves a gaping hole on e5,
similar to the aftermath of a pulled tooth.} Rfe8 20. Bf4 Be5 {Before he gets
shut out with f5-f6.} 21. Bg4 Nb3 22. fxg6 hxg6 23. Rb1 {EXERCISE (critical
decision): Black can play 23...Bxc3 24 bxc3 Qc5+ which picks off White's
d5-pawn. Would you give up your precious dark-squared Benoni bishop for
White's central pawn? --- ANSWER: It's not even close. White collapses after
the swap.} Bxc3 $1 {QUESTION: Really? Giving away his dark squares? --- ANSWER:
Principle: Counter in the centre when attacked on the wing. It was a good
decision. White can't easily exploit the dark squares since his pawn on g5
gums up the works.} 24. bxc3 Qc5+ {The counterattack begins in earnest.
Black's queen watches her rival on g1 with cold eyes.} 25. e3 Ne5 26. Bf3 (26.
Be2 Bxd5 {is also completely hopeless.}) 26... Nd3 27. Kh1 Bxd5 28. Rxb3 Nxf4 {
QUESTION: Are there other ways for Black to win?} ({ANSWER: As Elizabeth
Barrett Browning wrote: "Let me count the ways." Another win lies in} 28...
cxb3 29. Qxd3 Bc4 30. Qd1 Bxf1 {.}) 29. Rb1 Rxe3 {The "attack" descends into a
murky, troubled dream and White's deranged forces talk to themselves, as if
addressing the air. The rest is a bloodbath. Alekhine claims he was in too
much time pressure to know to resign. More tournament book hogwash. The true
reason, of course, was that Alekhine simply couldn't muster the courage to
stick his hand out and resign to his hated rival.} 30. Ng2 Rxf3 31. Rxf3 Nxg2
32. Kxg2 Re8 33. Kf1 Bxf3 34. Qxf3 Qxg5 35. Re1 Rxe1+ 36. Kxe1 Qg1+ 37. Kd2
Qxh2+ 38. Kc1 {The castaway on the deserted island watches glumly as his
rescue ship recedes into the horizon.} Qe5 39. Kb2 Kg7 40. Qf2 b5 41. Qb6 bxa4
42. Qxa6 Qe2+ {. Such losses between rivals leave deep scars within the mind.
Alekhine paid Capa a very rare compliment at this point: "I feel ashamed of
this game, but readily admit that my opponent took impeccable advantage of my
errors." Resentment is futile in the face of elemental calamity!} 0-1

[Event "22nd matchgame, Buenos Aires"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1927.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alekhine, A."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D67"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "172"]
[EventDate "1927.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 Be7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 {Ah yes, the soggy taste of yesterday.
Strangely enough, Capa was sometimes cunning and sometimes predictable in his
choice of openings. Fearing Alekhine's opening preparation, he goes with the
dullard's favourite, the old-style Orthodox Defence, solid but nauseatingly
passive, with almost no hope for victory for Black.} 11. Ne4 {Principle: Avoid
swaps if you hold a space advantage.} N5f6 12. Ng3 Qb4+ 13. Qd2 {QUESTION:
Well, isn't this a swap? --- ANSWER: Yes, but a good one for White, who leads
in development and space in the endgame. Black is nowhere near equality.} Qxd2+
14. Kxd2 Rd8 15. Rhd1 b6 16. e4 Bb7 17. e5 Ne8 {QUESTION: Why didn't Black
occupy the hole on d5?} ({ANSWER: What hole? White seals it with a cork by
capturing immediately. White retains his bind after} 17... Nd5 18. Bxd5 $1 cxd5
(18... exd5 19. Nf5 c5 20. Re1 {is no picnic for Black either}) 19. Rc7 Rab8
20. Rdc1 {.}) 18. Ke3 $1 {A new advantage: White's active king helps out in
the centre.} Kf8 19. Ng5 h6 20. N5e4 Ke7 21. f4 {Gaining more territory.
Capablanca's biggest psychological error in this match was underestimating
just how much Alekhine had improved strategically and in the opening.} f5 {
Capa fights for some territory himself, but at the cost of making his bishop
even worse.} 22. Nc3 Nc7 ({QUESTION: Why all this manoeuvring? Why not break
free with the immediate} 22... c5 {- ? --- ANSWER: I agree that Capa takes his
sweet time getting ready to get ready. This isn't the best timing for ...c6-c5.
White simply bypasses with} 23. d5 $1 {, when Black's position deteriorates.})
23. Nge2 g5 {QUESTION: Now White can't bypass. What about the ...c6-c5 break
here?} ({ANSWER: Caution can be an antidote which keeps us alive in a game of
plots, counterplots and deceptions.} 23... c5 {is playable but fails to
achieve equality after} 24. dxc5 Nxc5 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. b4 Ba6 27. Bxa6 N5xa6
28. a3 Nb8 29. Nd4 {. The c6-square is tender and White continues to hold a
spatial advantage.}) 24. h4 $5 {Essentially forcing a closure of the kingside.
It is not in Black's best interest to start a two-front war by opening the
kingside.} g4 25. Ng3 {QUESTION: What is the point of posting a knight on g3?
--- ANSWER: Perhaps White angles for a future d4-d5 trick, hoping to undermine
f5.} a5 26. Bb3 Rac8 27. a3 Rf8 28. Rd2 Ba8 29. Rdc2 c5 $1 {Well timed.
Black's patient defence is close to being rewarded with equality.} 30. dxc5
Nxc5 31. Na4 $1 N7a6 {The battle approaches, only we don't know the when or
the where.} 32. Bxe6 $1 {My mistake! Okay, now we know the when and where! The
disgruntled underling, coveting his boss' station, finally strikes. Anger 
(Alekhine had plenty to spare!) is the precursor to violence. This brilliant
piece sac destabilizes Black all across the board. On paper and on silicon
Black is okay, but he must thread his way through complex problems just to
stay equal.} Kxe6 33. Nxb6 {EXERCISE (critical decision): Where to move the
rook, b8 or d8? One forces a draw, while the other allows White to apply
pressure.} Rb8 $6 {A misstep.} ({ANSWER: Capa can force a draw with} 33... Rcd8
$1 34. Nxa8 Rd3+ 35. Kf2 Rxa8 36. Rxc5 Nxc5 37. Rxc5 Rb8 38. Rc6+ Kd7 39. Rc2
Ke6 (39... Rdb3 $5 40. Rd2+ Kc7 41. Rc2+ Kd7 {is drawn too}) 40. Rc6+ {.}) 34.
Nxa8 Rb3+ ({Black also struggles after} 34... Rxa8 35. Ne2 $1 Nb3 36. Rc6+ Kf7
37. R1c3 a4 38. Rxh6 {.}) 35. Rc3 {The only move.} ({Alternatives lose
instantly:} 35. Kf2 $4 Nd3+ {.}) (35. Ke2 $4 Rxg3 36. Rxc5 Nxc5 37. Nc7+ Kd7
38. Rxc5 Rxg2+ {.}) 35... Rxc3+ 36. bxc3 $1 {This shocking recapture throws
Capa back on the defensive.} ({He must have expected the rote} 36. Rxc3 $6 Rxa8
37. Ne2 Rb8 38. Nd4+ Kd5 39. b3 {with an unclear position.}) 36... Rxa8 37. Rd1
$1 {The point of his pawn recapture on c3. White's rook infiltrates and
Black's pawns begin to fall - in fact all of them!} Rf8 38. Rd6+ Ke7 39. Rxh6 {
Alekhine begins to plunder all which Capa holds dear.} Nc7 40. Rh7+ Kd8 41. c4
N7e6 42. Ra7 Nc7 $1 {QUESTION: Why didn't Capa save his a-pawn?} ({ANSWER:
Because he would drop his much more important f-pawn in its stead after} 42...
a4 $2 43. Ra8+ Ke7 44. Rxf8 Nxf8 45. Nxf5+ {, when White has too many pawns
for just one piece.}) 43. Rxa5 N5e6 44. h5 {Black is in deep trouble. White
has four pawns for the piece and passers everywhere.} Kd7 45. h6 Nxf4 $1 {This
simplifying combination breaks up White's pawns, whereby Capa eventually picks
them up one by one. Black's nimble forces must run twice as far and twice as
fast to halt the now broken armada of White's pawns. The future remains a
succession of frightening question marks for Black.} 46. Kxf4 Ne6+ 47. Ke3 f4+
{Regaining the lost piece.} 48. Kf2 fxg3+ 49. Kxg3 Rh8 50. Rd5+ Ke7 51. c5 Rxh6
{When my son was younger I was his Shaolin Kung Fu training partner. We
learned: When facing multiple assailants, your best bet of survival is to kill
off the weakest first and only then turn your attention to the remainder. Capa
first picks off the weakest link on h6.} 52. c6 Nf8 53. Rc5 Kd8 54. Kxg4 {All
the flesh gets gnawed off the bone. Still four pawns for the piece and all
passed, but all isolated. Alekhine's massive expenditure of attacking energy
only resulted in a tired indeterminacy. White's fortunes begin to wane as
Black's waxes. Watch how Capa methodically hunts them down one by one over the
remainder of the game.} Rg6+ 55. Kf3 Kc7 {The timid chipmunk emerges from his
hole after enduring a long and bleak winter.} 56. g4 Ne6 57. Rd5 $1 {Alekhine
attempts a skilful misdirection.} (57. Rc4 Rg5 $1 {picks off a pawn.}) 57...
Nd8 $1 ({Whip-quick to sense danger, Capa avoids the trap} 57... Kxc6 $2 {
which gives White serious chances to win after} 58. Rd6+ Kb5 59. a4+ $1 Kxa4
60. Ke4 $1 {.}) 58. Rc5 Ne6 59. Rd5 Nf8 60. Ra5 ({Black could have gone back
to d8, but tempts Alekhine with} 60. Rd6 Rxd6 61. exd6+ Kxd6 {, when Black
holds the draw.}) 60... Rxc6 61. Ke4 Rc1 62. Ra7+ Kc6 63. Ra6+ Kd7 64. Ra7+ Ke6
65. Ra6+ Ke7 66. a4 Nd7 $1 {Threat: ...Re1+.} 67. Rh6 $6 {Alekhine is the only
one who can lose now.} ({It is high time to force the draw with} 67. Ra7 Ke6
68. Ra6+ Ke7 {.}) 67... Re1+ 68. Kd4 Nxe5 69. a5 (69. g5 Nf7 70. Rh7 Rg1 {
picks off the g-pawn.}) 69... Nxg4 {The autumn leaves continue to drop.} 70.
Rh7+ Kd6 71. a6 Ra1 72. a7 Nf6 73. Rb7 Nd7 $1 {One by one, the pawns die
screaming. ...Kc6 wins the final straggler on a7. Alekhine has been thoroughly
outplayed from a superior ending and now must take reasonable care to avoid
losing. --- QUESTION: Does Black have chances to win? --- ANSWER: Not at GM
level. I once had queen and knight versus IM Jon Yedidia's lone queen and
thought I had chances. I didn't. That one is also quite easily drawn by the
piece-down side.} 74. Rb2 Rxa7 {The pawns, once so ominous, now all float face
down like drowned rats.} 75. Rd2 Nc5 76. Kc4+ Kc6 77. Rh2 Ra4+ 78. Kc3 Rg4 79.
Kd2 Rg3 80. Rh5 Kb5 81. Ke2 Kc4 82. Rh4+ Kc3 83. Kf2 Rd3 84. Rf4 Kd2 85. Kg2
Rd5 86. Kf3 Kd3 {. Of course Capa could play on for a while but the nightlife
awaited, so he agreed to the draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1935.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Flohr, S."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D62"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1935.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Qc2 c5 {
Capablanca tried this freeing break quite often. I don't think it equalizes.
--- QUESTION: Why not? It immediately frees Black's game. --- ANSWER: The
trouble is White usually forces an isolani upon Black - generally a passive
one, where Black lacks the dynamic piece play or attacking potential usually
inherent in most isolani positions.} 8. cxd5 ({White can also retain the
tension with} 8. Rd1 Qa5 9. cxd5 ({weaker is} 9. Bd3 h6 10. Bh4 cxd4 11. exd4
dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nb6 13. Bb3 Bd7 {, when Black gets a reasonable position against
the isolani since White's queen is misplaced on the open c-file; this was the
epic 10th game of the Lasker-Capablanca match, which we look at in Chapter 4})
9... exd5 10. Be2 c4 11. O-O Re8 12. Ne5 Bb4 13. Nxd7 Nxd7 14. Bf3 Bxc3 15.
bxc3 Nf8 16. Bf4 Bd7 17. Rb1 Bc6 18. Bd6 {and White's bishop pair and control
over the dark squares meant more than Black's grip on the light squares and
control over e4, J.R.Capablanca-F.Yates, London 1922.}) 8... Nxd5 {Capa loved
swaps!} 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 ({White also gets a tiny edge after} 9... Nxe7 10. Bd3
cxd4 11. Nxd4 Nf6 12. O-O Bd7 13. Rfd1 {, T.Radjabov-M.Krasenkow, European
Championship, Antalya 2004.}) 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 cxd4 {This looks quite
obliging.} (11... g6 12. dxc5 Nxc5 {is a better way to grovel from Black's
side, A.Shirov-J.Piket, Dos Hermanas 1995.}) 12. Nxd4 Qb4+ $6 {QUESTION: Hey,
what about your policy of not criticizing in the opening? --- ANSWER: Well, we
just got past the opening now, so Capa is fair game! Also, this move is a
lousy one, even for 1935! --- QUESTION: How so? --- ANSWER: Black has a lame
isolani position, which gets even lamer into a bad ending once queens go off.}
13. Qd2 Nc5 $6 ({It's never too late to say you are sorry and do a take-back
with} 13... Qb6 $1 {, retaining the queens.}) 14. Bb5 $1 {Ensuring a very
favourable endgame.} Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 a6 16. Bd3 {White wants a pure, good
knight versus bad bishop ending.} Be6 17. Rac1 Rfc8 18. Rc2 Nxd3 $5 {Matters
got worse and worse for team Capa, who faced one of the best technical players
of his time. Players who try and mimic Capa's play (i.e. me!) usually come
across as forgers who practice signing the name hundreds of times before
actually signing the real cheque. Flohr, an early version of Ulf Andersson,
was an exception and really did naturally play like Capa, but a weaker version.
--- QUESTION: Why did he swap?} ({ANSWER: He would have had to eventually
since White was about to double rooks on the c-file. Still, I agree that the
swap may be suspect and would go for} 18... a5 19. Rhc1 b6 {with a slightly
less nauseating position than Black gets in the game.}) 19. Kxd3 Rxc2 20. Kxc2
Kf8 21. Kd2 Rc8 22. Rc1 Rxc1 23. Kxc1 Ke7 {Steve Giddins, in his book 'The
Greatest Ever Chess Endings', writes: "Many lines of the QGD, as well as other
openings, result in Black obtaining an IQP, and if things go wrong, an endgame
such as this can easily arise. A large majority of such endings end in a win
for White, but in the present game Capablanca demonstrates that such a
position should be tenable, with the right defensive plan and its accurate
execution."} 24. Kd2 Kd6 25. Kc3 b6 $1 {Capa sets his structure to cover the
much neglected dark squares and deny White's king entry on the queenside. If
you compare this game to Capa's win against Reshevsky in the final chapter, we
see the slight difference is that Reshevsky was already committed to ...b7-b5.
This allowed the white king entry to c5.} 26. f4 {The balance sheet of Black's
fears: 1. A bad bishop versus White's powerhouse knight. --- 2. An isolani,
fixed on the same colour as his remaining bishop. --- 3. White controls d4 and
soon gets his king there, achieving an advantage in king's position. --- 4.
Nothing to do but wait and see how White plans to torment. --- Conclusion:
This is a classic position of the haves versus the have-nots. Only Capa's
superhuman defensive/endgame abilities saved him here. The rest of us would
lose this as Black!} Bd7 27. Nf3 f6 $1 28. Kd4 {Step 1: White's king reaches
its optimal spot on d4.} a5 29. Nd2 Bc8 30. Nb1 Be6 {The aimless bishop,
overstuffed and undercooked, looks out the window, staring at everything and
nothing. Keep in mind, inaction is not the same thing as surrender.} 31. Nc3 {
Step 2: The knight, a ballerina on her toes, spins around on the dance floor,
tying Black to d5.} Kc6 32. a3 h6 33. g3 h5 $3 {QUESTION: Why did Black fix a
pawn on the same colour as his remaining bishop?} ({ANSWER: Capa spotted a
deep anomaly. If he continues normally and marks time, White wins with the
following manoeuvre given by Ilya Rabinovich:} 33... Kd6 34. Ne2 Kc6 35. Ng1
Kd6 36. Nf3 Kc6 37. Nh4 $1 Kd6 38. f5 $1 Bf7 39. g4 Kc6 40. Ng2 Kd6 41. Nf4 {
(zugzwang!)} Kc6 42. Ne6 $1 Bxe6 43. fxe6 Kd6 44. e7 $1 Kxe7 45. Kxd5 Kd7 46.
a4 {and Black fails to hold the king and pawn ending.}) 34. b4 axb4 35. axb4
Kd6 {But now what? Progress doesn't come easily.} 36. b5 {QUESTION: Is this a
good move? It feels like White just gave Black a target on b5. --- ANSWER: He
did, but he also fixed a weakness on b6, so it's a trade-off.} g6 37. Na4 Kc7
38. Nc3 Kd6 {EXERCISE (planning): White has reached an impasse. How to make
progress? --- ANSWER: Sac a pawn to give Black five separate isolanis and add
maximum defensive pressure to his position.} 39. f5 $1 gxf5 $1 {No choice.} ({
The bishop, lacking the strength to protest or resist, meekly remains at his
post, since recapture with the bishop drops a pawn after} 39... Bxf5 $2 40.
Nxd5 Bd7 41. Nxf6 Bxb5 42. Nd5 $1 {, when ...Kc6 isn't possible due to the
fork on e7. After Black drops b6, the knight and three versus bishop and two
ending is a technical win for White.}) 40. Ne2 $1 Bd7 41. Nf4 Be8 {It is
critical that Black hangs on to h5.} 42. Nxd5 Bxb5 {After sleeping through the
battle, the bishop finally makes himself useful by doing something.} 43. Nxb6 {
Now all the pawns are on the same side of the board, which assists Black in
his goal to draw. Playing through this game leaves you with a feeling that the
justice was on White's side, yet he failed to win, since the power somehow
allied itself to Black.} (43. Nxf6 $2 {would be foolish, since after} Be2 {
Black hangs on to his h-pawn and now has a newly minted passed b-pawn.}) 43...
Bc6 44. Nc4+ Ke6 45. Nb2 Bb5 46. Nd1 Be2 47. Nf2 Bf1 $1 48. Nd3 {With agony of
spirit, Flohr puts his knight up for sale to the highest bidder by threatening
Nf4. Black has no choice but to try his luck in a king and pawn ending.} Bxd3 {
The once bad bishop exchanges himself for White's once all-powerful knight.
Keats wrote that there is nothing more melancholy than the death of something
that was once beautiful.} 49. Kxd3 {As in most king and pawn endings, a
microscopic misstep carries fatal consequences. We must not allow White a
zugzwang. --- EXERCISE (critical decision): Should we face his king on d5, or
should Black play the king to e5? One loses; the other draws. Think very
carefully before making this decision. --- ANSWER:} Ke5 $3 ({After} 49... Kd5
$2 50. Kd2 $1 {Black gets zugzwanged, no matter where he plays:} Ke5 ({or} 
50... Ke4 51. Ke2 Kd5 52. Kf3 Ke5 53. h3 $1 Kd5 54. Kf4 Ke6 55. h4 {and
zugzwang!}) 51. Ke1 $3 {(zugzwang!)} Kd5 52. Kf2 Ke4 53. Ke2 Kd5 (53... h4 54.
gxh4 f4 55. h5 $1 Kf5 56. exf4 {transposes to the last variation}) 54. Kf3 Ke5
55. h3 $1 {wins.}) 50. Ke2 Ke4 51. h3 (51. Kf2 h4 $1 52. gxh4 f4 $1 {is drawn,
only because White's king happens to sit unhappily on f2.}) 51... Kd5 $1 52.
Kf3 Ke5 {Remarkable.} ({White, who had the advantage from sunrise to sunset in
this game, fails to make progress after} 52... Ke5 53. h4 Kd5 54. Kf4 {
(White's king, who for so long sought a passport to f4, finally gets there,
and still can't win)} Ke6 {and it is White who must give ground, or go for the
drawn line} 55. e4 fxe4 56. Kxe4 f5+ 57. Kf4 Kf6 {.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "3: Exploiting Imbalances"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.23"]

{Rarely in a chess game do the parties arrive at that strange border called
common ground. More often than not, we end up with our respective imbalances.
In this chapter we examine Capa's mastery of imbalances, be they opposite wing
pawn majorities (against Marshall and Bogoljubow), opposite-coloured bishops 
(against Teichmann), or extra space (Treybal and Menchik). Somehow Capa's
imbalance always flowered while his opponent's soured. Mysteriously, Capa's
opponents soon found themselves in desperate need of a compass. Normally, in
the games in this chapter when the initial imbalance arises, the position
looks approximately level. However, two and two don't always add up to four
when one side skilfully plies his own imbalance while suppressing the
opponent's.} *

[Event "23rd matchgame, New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1909.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Marshall, F."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D34"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1909.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 {If I were Marshall's chess coach, I would annotate this with a "?!"
mark. --- QUESTION: Why? --- ANSWER: The strategic byways of 1 d4 don't suit
Marshall, a pure tactician. His best bet against Capablanca would be to open
with 1 e4! and keep pieces on the board. If you are destined to take a beating,
then take a beating with your boots on and go down fighting!} d5 2. c4 e6 3.
Nc3 c5 {For his entire life, Capa was unafraid to take on an isolani, just as
long as he retained piece activity.} 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Be6 $5 7.
Bg2 Be7 8. O-O Nf6 9. Bg5 {Inaccurate, since it allows Black a freeing
manoeuvre next move.} ({Instead:} 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Bg5 d4 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Ne4
Qe7 13. Nxc5 Qxc5 {, F.Marshall-Em.Lasker, 4th matchgame, USA 1923, and White
stands better after} 14. b4 $1 Qxb4 15. Rb1 {.}) (9. b3 {also looks okay for
White since it isn't clear that Black's bishop really belongs on e6 just yet.})
9... Ne4 $1 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Ne5 ({White gets nothing from} 11. dxc5 Nxc3 12.
bxc3 Qxc5 13. Rb1 b6 {.}) 11... Nxd4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. e3 $1 ({The hasty} 13.
Bxe4 $2 {is met by the tricky line} Rd8 $1 14. Qa4+ Bd7 15. Nxd7 b5 $1 16. Qa3
Qxe4 {(threatening mate in one)} 17. f3 Qe7 18. Nxc5 Nc2 {.}) 13... Nf3+ 14.
Nxf3 exf3 15. Qxf3 {QUESTION: Isn't Marshall playing a bit timidly this game?
--- ANSWER: Normally, Marshall's mind was a fertile breeding ground for
psychotically aggressive notions, but not this time. This was the 23rd game of
the match and Capa had beaten the stuffing out of him, and all of Marshall's
aggressive instincts along with it.} O-O $1 16. Rfc1 $6 {Wrong rook, wrong
file. If White plays only to stop Black's majority, he risks losing. ---
QUESTION: What do you suggest? --- ANSWER: Euwe correctly suggests the plan
e3-e4, followed by Qe3 and f2-f4 to activate his own majority. --- QUESTION:
Why did White avoid taking the b7-pawn?} ({ANSWER: Black immediately regains
it with a rook on the seventh rank and a passed c-pawn to boot:} 16. Qxb7 $6
Qxb7 17. Bxb7 Rab8 18. Be4 Rb4 19. Bc6 Rxb2 {with advantage to Black.}) 16...
Rab8 {Houdini says the position is dead equal but is fooled. --- QUESTION:
Why? It looks like neither side has anything. --- ANSWER: Despite the material
parity, Marshall has little reason for elation. One key imbalance favours
Black. Both sides have pawn majorities on their respective wings. Black's is
mobile and ready to roll forward, while White's lies dormant. --- QUESTION:
Surely such a minor factor won't lead to anything, will it? --- ANSWER: If
your pawn majority moves forward while the other side's sleeps, it is as if
you are a pawn up. This game is probably the finest example of how to handle
opposite wing majorities in chess history. I remember playing it over when I
was around nine years old, in awe at the ease with which Capa won. I am 51 as
I write this, and the sense of wonder remains at Capa's seamless victory.} 17.
Qe4 $6 {Piece play is incorrect in this position.} ({Once again, White should
activate his majority with} 17. e4 {followed by Qe3 and f2-f4, when he still
stands worse.}) 17... Qc7 {Dodging Bh3 ideas. --- QUESTION: In front of
White's rook? --- ANSWER: Don't fear ghosts. White can do nothing to exploit
the queen/rook position.} 18. Rc3 b5 19. a3 (19. b3 {looks better.}) 19... c4 {
QUESTION: Doesn't this violate principle? Black places his pawns on the same
colour as his remaining bishop. --- ANSWER: For now. The pawns soon roll
forward, changing colours, so it isn't a violation of the principle unless the
pawns get stuck on that colour for the remainder of the game.} 20. Bf3 $6 {An
awkward attempt to halt Black's majority.} ({He should play} 20. Rd1 {.}) 20...
Rfd8 21. Rd1 Rxd1+ 22. Bxd1 Rd8 23. Bf3 g6 $1 {Before you complain about pawns
on the wrong colour, this is the correct luft since Black may want ...Bf5
possibilities later on to assist his pawns forward.} 24. Qc6 $6 {He shouldn't
be begging for swaps.} Qe5 $1 {Black's queen, eyebrows raised in distaste,
decides she doesn't care for the company of her needy sister and leaves. Capa
swaps but on his terms.} 25. Qe4 Qxe4 26. Bxe4 Rd1+ 27. Kg2 a5 28. Rc2 b4 {A
wild wind pushes the wave forward.} 29. axb4 axb4 30. Bf3 Rb1 {Principle:
Place your rook behind passed pawns, yours or the opponent's.} 31. Be2 b3 {
Everything is secure.} 32. Rd2 ({QUESTION: Can't White draw by entering a rook
and pawn ending with} 32. Rc3 {- ? --- ANSWER: What rook and pawn ending?
Black wins with the trick} Rxb2 33. Bxc4 Rc2 $1 {, picking off a piece.}) 32...
Rc1 {Threat: ...Rc2. --- QUESTION: Can Black win with a rook sac on b2 to push
his pawns through?} ({ANSWER: A line of great bravado, but unfortunately you
walked into Marshall's cunning trap!} 32... Rxb2 $2 33. Rxb2 c3 34. Rb1 c2 35.
Bd3 $1 {should hold the draw.}) 33. Bd1 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): 
White's rook and bishop stand sentinel to protect the frightened flock. But
now Marshall faces that universal punisher of past bad decisions: Painful
consequences. Black to play and win a piece. --- ANSWER:} c3 $1 34. bxc3 b2 $1
{Overload. The pawn sinks into bliss on b2.} 35. Rxb2 Rxd1 36. Rc2 {Principle:
Rooks belong behind passed pawns.} Bf5 $1 {Oh, no you don't! The bishop puts a
giant exclamation mark behind the rook's discomfort.} 37. Rb2 Rc1 {White's
rook, with a look of injured accusation, is obliged into awkward, lateral
defence.} 38. Rb3 Be4+ $1 39. Kh3 (39. f3 $2 Rc2+ {picks off f3.}) 39... Rc2
40. f4 {EXERCISE (planning): Black can win White's h-pawn by force. How? ---
ANSWER:} h5 $1 {Threatening ...Bf5+.} 41. g4 hxg4+ 42. Kxg4 Rxh2 43. Rb4 f5+ $1
44. Kg3 (44. Kg5 $4 {is a helpmate after} Kg7 {.}) 44... Re2 {This nasty rook
leaves a trail of pain in its wake. Now the e-pawn drops.} 45. Rc4 Rxe3+ 46.
Kh4 {Sigh. Nobody ever resigned in those days!} Kg7 47. Rc7+ Kf6 48. Rd7 {
EXERCISE: (combination alert): Suddenly, White's king is thrust into a war
zone, when all he ever wanted was to live out his life in peace. Black to play
and force mate. --- ANSWER: Seize control over h3.} Bg2 $1 49. Rd6+ Kg7 {. The
white king's dream of unrestricted travel ends on a sour note. It's a forced
mate in five moves, despite the temporary vacancy on g5. --- It is a rare
thing indeed to watch a player like Marshall, who normally fed on violence, so
effortlessly subdued. Why fight when no battle is necessary for victory?} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1913.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kline, H."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1913.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 ({EXERCISE: Compare Capa's strategic decisions to Fischer's in this
classic game:} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6
7. O-O d5 8. c4 Nf6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. exd5 exd5 11. Nc3 Be7 12. Qa4+ Qd7 13. Re1
$3 ({Fischer spurns the exchange sac} 13. Bb5 axb5 14. Qxa8 O-O {, after which
Black takes over the initiative with ...d5-d4 and ...Bb7}) 13... Qxa4 14. Nxa4
Be6 15. Be3 O-O 16. Bc5 $1 {(eliminating Black's best piece and weakening the
dark squares, just as Capa did in this game)} Rfe8 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 18. b4 $1 Kf8
19. Nc5 Bc8 20. f3 Rea7 21. Re5 Bd7 22. Nxd7+ $3 {(a brilliant decision;
Fischer exchanges off Petrosian's bad bishop, just as Capa did this game)} Rxd7
23. Rc1 Rd6 24. Rc7 Nd7 25. Re2 g6 26. Kf2 h5 27. f4 h4 28. Kf3 f5 29. Ke3 d4+
30. Kd2 Nb6 31. Ree7 Nd5 32. Rf7+ Ke8 33. Rb7 Nxb4 34. Bc4 {1-0 R.J.Fischer-T.V.Petrosian, 7th matchgame, Buenos Aires 1971}) 1... Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nbd7
4. Bf4 {The London System is probably the most hated opening in chess, and
formally one of my main weapons as White. As the unchallenged king of tedium,
I wrote a book on the London System, the perfect weapon for the dull and
talentless.} c6 5. Qc2 $5 Qc7 {Not a very good move. Black's queen shouldn't
stay on the same diagonal as White's dark-squared bishop.} 6. e4 ({A true,
red-blooded Londoner always moves his e-pawn to e3! The move played is not in
the spirit of the London, which requires a more cowardly response, like} 6. h3
e5 7. Bh2 {.}) 6... e5 7. Bg3 Be7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Nbd2 Re8 10. O-O Nh5 11. Nc4
Bf6 12. Ne3 Nf8 $1 {Destination: f4. --- QUESTION: Why isn't Black capturing
on g3? --- ANSWER: Black is more interested in landing a piece on f4. If he
takes on g3, then after hxg3, Black loses control over f4.} 13. dxe5 {
Relieving the tension only helps Black.} dxe5 14. Bh4 Qe7 $1 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 {
Capa was a century ahead of his time in his sensitivity to colour complexes.
In this case White is weak on the dark squares. --- QUESTION: Really? I don't
see any weakness at all on dark. --- ANSWER: Here f4, a dark square, is weak.
Watch how Capa milks it. --- QUESTION: Enough for victory with such symmetry?
--- ANSWER: Enough to take the initiative.} 16. Ne1 {QUESTION: Why an unforced
retreat? --- ANSWER: In order to play g2-g3. But Capa beats him to it.} Nf4 17.
g3 {Weakening, but White can't tolerate a piece embedded in his territory
forever.} Nh3+ {Perhaps he should take on d3 since White's light squares
around his king look tender.} 18. Kh1 h5 $1 19. N3g2 {Intending f2-f4.} g5 $6 {
A rare strategic overreach from Capa. Desire for the elusive "more" is a
bottomless pit. --- QUESTION: Doesn't this weaken f5? --- ANSWER: It does, but
Capa probably talked himself into the move by reasoning that the weakening of
f5 is outweighed by the fact that Black gains space and threatens attack. ---
QUESTION: How would you play it?} ({ANSWER: Well, with the hindsight of a
century, I would play} 19... Ne6 {and if} 20. f4 exf4 21. gxf4 {then} Qh6 $1
22. f5 Nc5 {, when White's position stands at the cusp of overextension.}) 20.
f3 Ng6 21. Ne3 h4 $6 {Ah, conceit, that magical elixir which never fails to
induce dubious plans! Now Capa gives up control over g4. Capa often treated
non-GM strength opponents with utter contempt, as he displayed in this game.
The trouble is he always got away with it! Capa was especially prone to a
chess disease I call "power blindness", which is when the much stronger player
plays recklessly/carelessly, as if anything wins. But in defence of Capa's
decision, I quote GM Nicholas Rossolimo: "When one plays a weaker rival, one
should always play for beauty for the benefit of both players and the
spectators, or else the game is a waste."} 22. g4 $2 {Creating a gigantic
lesion on f4. Once you open Pandora's box, it never closes again. This is a
hideous strategic error by today's standards, but in 1913 even strong players
happily banged out such nauseating moves.} ({Of course he should retain
control over f4 by playing} 22. Ng4 Qh8 23. Kg2 $1 {.}) 22... Nhf4 {Thanks for
inviting me into your home!} 23. Rf2 Nxd3 $3 {A profoundly deep strategic
decision, which reminds me of the game above where Fischer shockingly
exchanged off Petrosian's bad bishop for a knight and went on to win with a
bishop versus knight imbalance. --- QUESTION: Wasn't that White's bad bishop?
--- ANSWER: It was, but keep in mind these factors: 1. White's bishop may get
activated on c4. --- 2. Capa wanted a bishop versus knight imbalance with so
many target white pawns fixed on light squares. --- 3. Black controls f4 but
he has two knights which may go there. So, logically, he removes the
redundancy.} 24. Nxd3 Be6 25. Rd1 Red8 26. b3 Nf4 27. Ng2 {QUESTION: Something
is amiss. Nobody pours ketchup over oatmeal. Why didn't White occupy f5?} ({
ANSWER: Matters are not so simple. After} 27. Nf5 Rxd3 28. Rxd3 Bxf5 29. exf5
Nxd3 30. Qxd3 Rd8 {Black controls the only open file. Now if White plays} 31.
Qe3 $4 {, intending to challenge with Rd2 next, he gets clobbered by} Rd1+ 32.
Kg2 h3+ $1 33. Kxh3 Rg1 $1 {mating.}) 27... Nxd3 28. Rxd3 Rxd3 29. Qxd3 Rd8 {
QUESTION: Why didn't Black take on g4? Nimzowitsch also pointed out this
omission.} ({ANSWER: He should have. Capa hated messy complications of any
sort, but in this case they are clearly in his favour after} 29... Bxg4 $1 30.
Nxh4 Rd8 31. Qc2 Bh3 32. Nf5 g4 $1 33. fxg4 Qg5 {, when White can barely move.}
) 30. Qe2 h3 $1 {Creating back rank issues for White.} 31. Ne3 a5 $1 32. Rf1 a4
33. c4 {Weakening another dark square, d4.} Rd4 34. Nc2 Rd7 $1 {Note that
Black just gained a tempo.} 35. Ne3 Qd8 36. Rd1 Rxd1+ 37. Nxd1 $2 {White's
king is not so secure.} ({He should try and take queens off the board with} 37.
Qxd1 Qb6 38. Qd3 {.}) 37... Qd4 $1 {Sparks shoot out from the sorceress'
fingertips as she gathers power. The puncture on d4 attests to White's
distress. Just look at the competency differential between Black's queen and
bishop, and White's sorry queen and knight.} 38. Nf2 {An assessment of the
imbalances: 1. Black's queen flaunts her wealth like an heiress with an
obscenely expensive diamond ring. She rules on the chronically weakened dark
squares. --- 2. Black's bishop is superior to White's knight since it menaces
so many fixed pawn targets. --- 3. White must be careful of back rank issues.
--- EXERCISE (critical decision): You can play a queen check on a1, but look
around. There is something much stronger. --- ANSWER: Confrontation. When a
foreign entity introduces itself to a closed ecological system, all hell tends
to break loose on the native flora and fauna.} b5 $1 39. cxb5 (39. Nxh3 bxc4
40. bxc4 f6 {and c4 falls, after which Black simply pushes his passed c-pawn
down the board.}) 39... axb3 ({Houdini gives} 39... Bxb3 $3 {and then follows
with some ridiculously complex manoeuvres to prove the win. Capa's move is
much simpler!}) 40. axb3 Bxb3 $1 {Black continues to prosper on the queenside
at White's expense.} 41. Nxh3 (41. bxc6 $4 {loses on the spot to the back rank
check} Qa1+ {.}) 41... Bd1 $1 42. Qf1 cxb5 43. Kg2 ({Frustratingly, White
finds himself in a situation where many attempts on Black's king are possible
but none are probable. For example:} 43. Nxg5 Qd2 44. Nh3 b4 45. Ng1 b3 46. Qb5
Qc3 {and there is no perpetual check for White.}) 43... b4 44. Qb5 b3 45. Qe8+
Kg7 46. Qe7 (46. Nxg5 $4 {is nothing more than a failed assassination attempt
after} Qd2+ 47. Kg3 Qxg5 {.}) ({EXERCISE (calculation): After} 46. Qe7 {
calculate the consequences of} b2 {. Does White have perpetual check? ---
ANSWER: He doesn't.}) 46... b2 $1 {"The forward march of the pawn is
irresistible," writes Capablanca.} 47. Nxg5 ({Or} 47. Qxg5+ Kf8 48. Qh6+ Ke7
49. Qg5+ Kd7 50. Qf5+ Kd6 51. Qf6+ Kc5 52. Qe7+ Kb6 53. Qf8 Bxf3+ $1 54. Kxf3
Qd3+ 55. Kf2 b1=Q {when Capa's joke wears thin. There is no perpetual as
Black's king runs to d1.}) 47... Bb3 {Yet another game where Capa's exposed
king escapes mate or perpetual check.} 48. Nxf7 $5 {White decides to die
defiant, with a curse on his lips. Stringing together the final remnants of
will power, the panther gathers for one last futile charge, pouncing on and
attacking a tree.} Bxf7 {The bishop slaps the knight on the back with false
bonhomie.} 49. Qg5+ Kf8 50. Qh6+ Ke7 51. Qg5+ Ke8 {. No perpetual.} 0-1

[Event "Exhibition game, Berlin"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1913.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Teichmann, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D63"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1913.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. e3 O-O 7. Rc1 b6 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Bb5 {QUESTION: Why play the bishop to b5 rather than d3, which looks
more natural? --- ANSWER: There is nothing wrong with playing to d3, but
posting the bishop on b5 also looks good. In this structure, when Black
eventually plays ...c7-c5, we end up in a hanging pawns or isolani position.
In both cases swaps tend to help White. On b5 the bishop has the option to
chop the d7-knight if the need arises.} ({A safer and probably better choice
than} 9. Qa4 c5 10. Qc6 $5 {which Capablanca tried successfully against Lasker
in the last chapter.}) 9... Bb7 10. O-O a6 11. Ba4 Rc8 ({Or} 11... b5 12. Bc2 {
and then Black loses the hanging pawns option when he plays ...c7-c5.}) 12. Qe2
c5 {QUESTION: Premature?} ({ANSWER: Probably not, otherwise why play ...Rc8?
Instead, Black can try the simplifying} 12... Ne4 13. Bxd7 Qxd7 14. Nxe4 dxe4
15. Ne5 Qe6 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nc6 Qd6 18. Qc4 {with an edge to White, who is
the only one who can win here, A.Sorin-G.Soppe, San Martin 1995.}) 13. dxc5 {
QUESTION: Why does White give up the centre? --- ANSWER: If he doesn't take on
c5, Black may play ...c5-c4, followed by ...b6-b5 with an ominous queenside
pawn majority rolling forward.} Nxc5 {Black goes for an isolani set-up.} ({
Black's queen looks rather uncomfortably posted in the hanging pawns version
after} 13... bxc5 14. Rfd1 Nb6 {.}) 14. Rfd1 {QUESTION: Giving up the bishop
pair? --- ANSWER: Yes, for two reasons: 1. As mentioned before, swaps help the
side playing against the isolani. --- 2. Knights are perfect blockading pieces.
} Nxa4 $6 {Teichmann initiates the first imbalance. I wouldn't have been in a
big rush to take. The swap takes the life out of Black's game.} 15. Nxa4 b5 16.
Rxc8 ({It is also tempting to hand over both bishops with} 16. Bxf6 Rxc1 17.
Rxc1 Bxf6 18. Nc5 Bc8 19. b4 {, when White's knights more than hold their own
against the bishops.}) 16... Qxc8 17. Nc3 Qc4 18. Nd4 {White stands better
with an iron blockade on d4. As we leave the opening, Black fervently hopes
his today goes a bit smoother than his yesterday. It doesn't.} Qxe2 $6 {A
natural pacifist has no stomach for warfare. Swapping is not the correct path
to a draw in such positions and it only helps White.} ({QUESTION: Doesn't} 
18... b4 {force White to take on c4? --- ANSWER: No. White has the zwischenzug}
19. Nf5 $1 Bd8 20. Nd6 $1 Qxe2 21. Nxe2 {, when he gets a similar, possibly
even better, version of the game.}) 19. Ncxe2 $1 Rc8 {QUESTION: Shouldn't the
knight be kept out of f5?} ({ANSWER: After} 19... g6 20. Rc1 Rc8 21. Rxc8+ Bxc8
22. Nc6 Kf8 23. Nxe7 Kxe7 24. Nd4 {we reach a situation similar to the game.})
20. Nf5 Kf8 {QUESTION: Why give up his one trump when he can back the bishop
up?} ({ANSWER: Those knights are looking pretty tough, and I'm not so sure
ownership of the bishop pair constitutes a trump. Also, backing up the bishop
with} 20... Bd8 $2 {allows the tactic} 21. Nd6 Rc7 22. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 23. Nxb7
Rxb7 24. Rxd5 {, winning a pawn due to Black's loose back rank.}) 21. Nxe7 Kxe7
22. Nd4 g6 $6 {EXERCISE (planning): After 22...g6 it's White to play and force
the win of a pawn.} ({QUESTION: Why did he do this? Now it will be very
difficult to break the pin. --- ANSWER: I think you are correct in thinking
Black's last move was an overreaction. Still, Nf5+ was a huge strategic threat
and I guess Teichmann couldn't stomach the thought of playing the miserably
passive} 22... Rg8 {.}) 23. f3 $3 {(ANSWER) This most natural of moves induces
Black to hand over a pawn. The bizarre threat is to walk the king all the way
to e5 and win Black's pinned knight.} h6 $5 {Our wants don't enter the
equation in situations of life and death. --- QUESTION: Didn't Black just
panic? I don't see how White makes progress if Black does nothing.} ({ANSWER:
Here is a sample if Black simply waits:} 23... Rc7 24. Kf2 Bc8 25. g4 Bd7 26.
Kg3 $3 Rb7 {(the need to defend the knight forces Black's rook off the c-file)}
27. Kf4 Rb6 28. Rc1 Ke8 29. Bxf6 $1 {(now White gets the mother of all good
knight versus bad bishop positions)} Rxf6+ 30. Kg5 $1 {(hi there!)} Ke7 31. Rc7
{(threatening to take on d7)} Rd6 32. Kh6 $1 {, when h7 falls and White
retains a crushing bind all the while.}) 24. Bxh6 Nd7 {Free at last. With his
pawn sac, Teichmann hopes to follow FDR's plan to get past the Great
Depression: Relief, recovery, reconstruction.} 25. h4 Nc5 $1 {Teichmann sees
that his best shot at holding would be to take the knights off the board in an
opposite-coloured bishops ending.} ({After the naive} 25... Rh8 26. Bf4 Rxh4 $4
27. Bg5+ {Black hangs the rook.}) 26. Bf4 Ne6 27. Nxe6 $1 {Here we see Capa's
eerily perfect intuition at work. The new imbalance: Opposite-coloured bishops.
Capa is unafraid of the prospect since his bishop is clearly superior.} ({
Since I don't have Capa's intuition or self-confidence in victory in the
position which arose in the game, I would deliberately allow the degradation
of White's kingside structure to avoid the opposite-coloured bishops with} 27.
Nb3 Nxf4 28. exf4 {.}) 27... Kxe6 ({Perhaps Black had more drawing chances with
} 27... fxe6 28. Rd2 Kf6 29. Bg5+ Kf7 30. Kf2 e5 {, when} 31. f4 $1 exf4 32.
Bxf4 Kf6 33. g4 {, followed by Kg3, Rh2 and h4-h5, creates an outside passed
pawn.}) 28. Rd2 Rh8 ({I think Black's best defensive set-up is to play} 28...
f6 {and then do nothing.}) 29. Rc2 $1 {Setting a strategic trap.} Rc8 ({Not} 
29... Rxh4 $2 30. Rc7 Ba8 31. Rc8 Bb7 32. Rb8 Bc6 33. g3 $1 Rh5 34. g4 Rh7 35.
Rc8 Bb7 36. Rc7 Ba8 37. Ra7 Bc6 38. Rxa6 Kd7 39. Ra7+ Ke6 40. Bg5 d4 41. e4 {
, when Black can barely move.}) 30. Rxc8 $1 {Wow. White drives down a road
without any turns. A pure opposite-coloured bishops with the absence of other
pieces is one of the hardest to convert when up a pawn, yet White cheerfully
enters it. Capablanca was acutely sensitive to the most minute alterations of
patterns and the tiniest shifts in environment. Something told him the
opposite-coloured bishops position is a win. Analysis proves his decision
correct.} Bxc8 31. Kf2 d4 $5 {Teichmann sacs another one with a fatalistic
shrug, but it comes too late and without meaning, like the belated birthday
card you received from your aunt, who forgot to send it earlier. --- QUESTION:
Why did he just give away a pawn? Isn't this just extravagant excess?} ({
ANSWER: It was probably an overreaction. Teichmann wanted air for his bishop.
But really, it doesn't constitute an error since he loses if he does nothing.
For example:} 31... f6 32. b4 Bd7 33. Ke2 Bc8 34. Kd3 Kf5 35. g4+ Ke6 36. Kd4
f5 (36... Bb7 37. Kc5 Bc8 38. Kc6 Bd7+ 39. Kb7 Be8 40. Kxa6 Bd7 41. h5 gxh5 42.
gxh5 Kf7 43. h6 Kg6 44. Bd6 $1 Kxh6 45. a4 $1 {wins similarly}) 37. g5 $1 Bd7
38. Be5 Bc8 39. f4 Bb7 40. Kc5 Bc8 41. Kc6 Bd7+ 42. Kb7 Be8 43. Kxa6 {(the
king scales the sheer, vertical side of the mountain to pick up a pawn)} Bd7
44. a4 $1 bxa4 45. b5 {and the tyre iron slices through the soggy pumpkin as
all resistance is smashed aside.}) 32. exd4 Kd5 33. Ke3 Be6 (33... f5 34. Be5
Bd7 35. Kf4 Be8 36. Kg5 Ke6 37. g4 {creates a passed h-pawn.}) 34. Kd3 Kc6 35.
a3 Bc4+ ({After} 35... Bf5+ 36. Ke3 Kd5 37. g4 Bb1 38. Be5 Ke6 39. Kf4 f6 40.
d5+ $1 Kxd5 41. Bxf6 Ke6 42. Bc3 Bc2 43. Kg5 Kf7 44. f4 Bd3 45. h5 gxh5 46.
Kxh5 $1 {the two connected passers win easily and Black's dream of drawing on
the basis of opposite bishops, so close to birth, dies stillborn.}) 36. Ke3 Be6
{EXERCISE (planning): It takes multiple strings to manipulate a marionette. A
single string won't make it dance. Work out a multi-step path to White's
victory.} 37. Bh6 $1 Kd5 {ANSWER: Step 1: Transfer bishop to its optimal post
on g7.} 38. Bg7 $1 ({Teichmann abdicates, realizing a king is no longer a king
without subjects. For example:} 38. Bg7 Bf5 39. Kf4 Bb1 40. g4 a5 41. Kg5 {
(the kingside is the theatre where the drama is played out)} Ke6 42. f4 $1 {
(Step 2: Clog the black bishop's path on the b1-h7 diagonal)} Bc2 ({or} 42...
f5 43. gxf5+ Bxf5 44. h5 $1) 43. f5+ $1 gxf5 44. gxf5+ {and the pawn can't be
taken (} Bxf5 45. d5+ {), so White opens a path to promotion for his h-pawn.})
1-0

[Event "St Petersburg"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1914.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Janowski, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C68"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1914.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 {The heavy manoeuvring games which arise
from the Exchange Lopez admirably suited Capa's style. I am surprised he
didn't play the opening more often.} dxc6 5. Nc3 $5 Bc5 {Too mechanical. Capa
made the same mistake last chapter versus Pavlov and Selesniev. --- QUESTION:
Why don't you like c5? It's the most natural spot for the bishop. --- ANSWER:
The trouble is White soon challenges it with d2-d3 and Be3. --- QUESTION: How
does that bother Black? --- ANSWER: Black has the bishop pair so he doesn't
want to swap or lose time backing his bishop off.} ({I don't think c5 is the
correct spot for the bishop and would play} 5... f6 {instead.}) 6. d3 ({It
makes no sense to take on e5. After} 6. Nxe5 Qg5 7. d4 Qxg2 8. Qf3 Qxf3 9. Nxf3
Bb4 {Black's bishop pair in the open position means more than White's pawn
centre.}) 6... Bg4 {This is a "who cares?" type of pin. White is often happy
to play h2-h3 and g2-g4 in such positions.} 7. Be3 Bxe3 $6 {Another strategic
error. He should apologize and back off to d6 instead. By taking on e3,
Janowski just eliminated his own bishop pair, strengthened the opposing centre
and also opened the f-file for White.} 8. fxe3 Qe7 ({He should probably
reserve e7 for the knight and play} 8... f6 {.}) 9. O-O O-O-O $6 {One
shouldn't rush to embrace every imbalance. Before attempting to cure a disease,
a physician must first locate it. Janowski offers his mind to security and his
heart to attack - unfortunately, an attack which only exists in his
imagination. White is much faster since he can pry open Black's game at b5
very quickly.} ({Black should play} 9... Nh6 {intending ...f7-f6 and ...Nf7.
--- Kasparov said that Capa mainly won his games due to his greater strategic
understanding. So far was Capa ahead of his peers strategically, that
sometimes it almost felt as if one player understood the castling and en
passant rules while all his opponents were unfamiliar with the basic rules of
chess.}) 10. Qe1 Nh6 ({Kasparov amusingly observes: "Of course} 10... f6 {is
more accurate, but that was how they played chess then!" It is fun to watch
the old guys in action with the hindsight of a century of knowledge on your
side.}) 11. Rb1 $1 {The hinge on the door swings left. --- QUESTION: Why give
such an obvious attacking move a double exclamation mark? --- ANSWER: FYI,
Kasparov also gave the move two exclamation marks. 11 Rb1!! is an "obvious
attacking move" - today. At that time, playing Rb1, foregoing the unnecessary
a2-a3 was a totally new attacking plan.} f6 12. b4 {Here we go.} Nf7 {The
knight, tired of life on the periphery, returns from exile hoping to be of
relevance.} 13. a4 {White lights the tinder and a line-opening b4-b5 looms.}
Bxf3 {QUESTION: An unforced capture?} ({ANSWER: Capa wrote that Janowski
"simplifies, hoping to lighten White's attack." If Black tries to jump-start
his own attack he looks woefully slow. For example:} 13... h5 14. b5 cxb5 15.
axb5 a5 16. b6 {, when White's attack is a million miles in the lead.}) 14.
Rxf3 b6 $1 {EXERCISE (planning/critical decision): Janowski halted the
b4-b5-b6 threat. Should Capa go for 15 b5 anyway? Factor in the line 15 b5
cxb5 16 axb5 a5, which gives Black a passed a-pawn. --- ANSWER: He should play
it since it opens d5 for White's knight, which is far more important than
Black's passed a-pawn.} 15. b5 $1 cxb5 16. axb5 a5 17. Nd5 {A dictator
abandons the affection of the people, swapping it for a grip on power. The
knight is an unchallenged ruler on this square.} Qc5 18. c4 {To ensure that
Black can't sac and get a pawn for an exchange on d5.} Ng5 19. Rf2 Ne6 {
EXERCISE (planning): There is no doubt that the advantage lies with White. But
now what? Come up with a plan to improve Capa's position. --- ANSWER: Step 1:
Play first for the d3-d4 break.} 20. Qc3 $1 Rd7 21. Rd1 $1 Kb7 $2 {The losing
move. Black's king prepares for the coming ordeal through prayer and fasting.
As it turns out b7 isn't such a hot square for the king.} ({Better was} 21...
Qd6 $1 22. d4 Ng5 23. Qd3 exd4 24. exd4 Re8 25. Re1 {, when White still has
work to do to prepare the c4-c5 break.}) 22. d4 Qd6 {Step 2: Force the c4-c5
break. Black collapses with alarming speed. --- QUESTION: What if Black plays
his queen to f8 instead?} ({ANSWER: It's a slight improvement by saving a
tempo from White's coming c4-c5, but one that would in no way save Black.
White would play just as he did in the game. For example:} 22... Qf8 23. c5
exd4 24. exd4 bxc5 25. Qxa5 Qa8 26. Qc3 {is a winning attack for White.}) 23.
Rc2 $1 {Now there is no way to prevent the coming c4-c5.} exd4 24. exd4 Nf4 {
Dropping a rook, but it actually didn't matter a bit.} (24... Ng5 25. Re1 Rf7
26. c5 {is crushing.}) 25. c5 $1 {If hell had a main street, it would look a
lot like the c-file.} Nxd5 {Lancing the boil, but the pus remains.} 26. exd5 {
Double attack on Black's queen and also his d7-rook (with c5-c6+).} Qxd5 27.
c6+ {Game over. Black's king perspires considerably more than the weather
indicates.} Kb8 {Hey, I said "Game over!" One great mystery I have never been
able to crack is why so many GMs of old refused to resign, and played on in
positions where they would have no chance against a 600 rated kindergartener.
We don't need to read the tea leaves to predict the rest.} 28. cxd7 Qxd7 29. d5
Re8 30. d6 cxd6 31. Qc6 {. Such wins, without the appearance of effort against
world class opponents, were the main reason so many of the top players in the
world at the time feared Capa.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1916.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Janowski, D."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D15"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1916.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 Bf5 {Today, this move is known to be an
error. Capa's shaky opening play, as is customary in many of his earlier games,
is the lone jarring element to an otherwise beautiful whole.} 5. Qb3 {The
wrong move order.} ({As I point out in 'The Slav: Move by Move' (order it and
I promise your life will change for the better!), White gains a clear
advantage through the move order} 5. cxd5 $1 cxd5 6. Qb3 {.}) 5... Qb6 6. Qxb6
axb6 7. cxd5 Nxd5 {The correct recapture. Otherwise White's knight gets access
to b5.} 8. Nxd5 ({White can also speculate with the pawn sac} 8. e4 $5 Nxc3 9.
exf5 Rxa2 10. Rxa2 Nxa2 11. Bd2 b5 12. Bd3 Na6 {, when White threatens to
infiltrate down the a-file with Ke2 and Ra1.}) 8... cxd5 9. e3 {QUESTION: Why
did White lock his bishop inside the chain?} ({ANSWER: He wants his bishop on
d2 to cover against ...Nb4. He probably feared something like} 9. Bf4 Nc6 10.
a3 b5 $1 11. e3 b4 {, J.Henriksson-B.Eriksson, Vaxjo 1992, which actually
looks fine for White after} 12. a4 {.}) 9... Nc6 10. Bd2 Bd7 $1 {QUESTION:
What? Black's last move makes no sense. Please explain! --- ANSWER: I am
positive Capa was a time-traveller from the future. Black moves an already
developed piece, retreating it to boot. Capa intends a future ...Na5, ...b6-b5,
...Nc4 plan in case White later plays a2-a3. To implement this idea he needs
coverage of b5. This is a well-known strategic plan today, but was unheard of
when this game was played. Strategic ideas from the future seemed to grow with
frequency within Capa's mind.} 11. Be2 $6 {A small inaccuracy which forces
castling. --- QUESTION: What is wrong with castling?} ({ANSWER: In endings
your king should be of use in the middle.} 11. Bd3 e6 12. Ke2 {was better.})
11... e6 12. O-O Bd6 13. Rfc1 Ke7 $1 {Principle: The king is a fighting piece
when queens come off the board.} 14. Bc3 {QUESTION: Is it correct to assume
that Janowski is intimidated by his opponent and is playing as dull as
possible to score the draw? --- ANSWER: It does look that way. I have found
that avoidance of complications results in a nasty karmic repercussion of
bringing them later on anyway.} Rhc8 {It feels like Black already stands
slightly better. --- QUESTION: What about Black's weak, doubled, isolated
b-pawns? --- ANSWER: White has no way to menace them, so they are not weak.}
15. a3 $6 Na5 {Strategic target: c4.} 16. Nd2 f5 $5 {I wouldn't have played
this move which gives White opportunities on e5 with his knight.} 17. g3 ({
Black stands slightly better after} 17. b4 Nc4 18. Nxc4 dxc4 {.}) 17... b5 {
This is why Black played 10...Bd7.} 18. f3 {QUESTION: Shouldn't White trade
off that potentially powerful knight on a5?} ({ANSWER: I thought that also,
but then after looking at} 18. Bxa5 Rxc1+ 19. Rxc1 Rxa5 20. Nf3 b4 21. axb4 Ra2
22. Rb1 Ba4 {, White continues to struggle for equality. Still, this may be
his best line.}) 18... Nc4 19. Bxc4 $1 bxc4 20. e4 Kf7 21. e5 $2 {A terrible
strategic blunder for our time but quite normal for 1916. Janowski plugs up
his own hole on e5.} ({Black's bishop pair is meaningless if White continues
with} 21. exd5 $1 exd5 22. f4 $1 {, intending Nf3 and Ne5. --- QUESTION: If
this is the case, then wouldn't you agree that Capa got lucky to win? ---
ANSWER: I suppose so, but keep in mind that a manoeuvre like this, which a
club player would find today, was no easy thing to spot for a GM a century ago.
Don't take our knowledge for granted. I am reminded of Jane Austen's heroine
from 'Mansfield Park' who so wisely remarked: "It could have all turned out
differently, I suppose. But it didn't."}) 21... Be7 22. f4 b5 23. Kf2 {
EXERCISE (planning): After 23 Kf2 come up with a long-term plan for Black.} ({
QUESTION: Why not swap off the bad bishop with} 23. Bb4 {- ? --- ANSWER: He
would like to, but the manoeuvre drops a pawn after} Bxb4 24. axb4 Ra4 $1 {.})
23... Ra4 $1 {ANSWER: Step 1: Take control over b4, preparing to double rooks
and play for ...b5-b4 later on.} 24. Ke3 Rca8 25. Rab1 {Step 2: Grab space on
the other wing.} h6 $1 26. Nf3 g5 27. Ne1 Rg8 28. Kf3 ({He should consider} 28.
Ng2 {to recapture on f4 with his knight.}) 28... gxf4 29. gxf4 Raa8 30. Ng2 Rg4
31. Rg1 ({Or} 31. Ne3 Rh4 32. Rh1 Rh3+ 33. Ke2 Rb8 {and Black continues to
make progress.}) 31... Rag8 32. Be1 {Every imbalance favours Black: 1. Black
has the bishop pair. --- 2. He also pressures White down the g-file with his
rooks. --- EXERCISE (planning): Black's only temporary problem is his bad,
light-squared bishop stuck behind his pawns. Is there a way to activate it?
--- ANSWER: Clearance. Bishops are more effective when hunting in pairs.
Black's formally bad bishop is driven to fulfil his dark fantasy, intending ...Ba4-c2-e4, after which no one will dare demean him with the term "bad" again.}
b4 $1 33. axb4 (33. Bxb4 Ba4 $1 34. Rbc1 (34. Bxe7 $2 Bc2 $1) 34... Bxb4 35.
axb4 Rb8 {keeps White on the defensive.}) 33... Ba4 34. Ra1 $1 {A brilliant
strategic decision.} ({White seeks a counterattack down the a-file rather than
suffer grim defence with} 34. Rc1 $2 h5 35. h3 R4g7 {, when White is almost in
zugzwang.}) 34... Bc2 35. Bg3 $6 ({Rather than this apathetic gesture of
tolerance, Houdini points out the startling temporary piece sac} 35. Ra7 $3
Be4+ 36. Ke3 {which holds the game. If Black takes the bait with} Rxg2 37. Rxg2
Rxg2 38. Bh4 Rxh2 39. Rxe7+ Kf8 40. Bf6 Rxb2 41. Rxe6 Rxb4 {, then White
should hold the draw despite his deficit.}) 35... Be4+ 36. Kf2 {White
incorrectly reasons: If a person (Black's bishop on e4) is obnoxious without
being physically threatening, then tolerate him.} h5 $1 37. Ra7 $2 {EXERCISE: 
(combination alert): White's forces circle outward to the threats which
surround them, but it doesn't do him any good. After 37 Ra7? it's Black to
play and win material. --- ANSWER: This one is easy and most of you probably
predicted it in your sleep.} ({White puts up more resistance with} 37. Ne3 h4
$1 38. Nxg4 hxg3+ 39. hxg3 fxg4 {, though even here it's difficult to believe
he holds the game.}) 37... Bxg2 $1 {The good/bad bishop displays his claws by
forcing White into a pin.} 38. Rxg2 h4 {This wins an exchange at a minimum.}
39. Bxh4 {Not much choice, but White is obliged to spend on a scale too grand
to reconcile with his current lack of funds.} ({He is also busted after} 39.
Rxe7+ Kxe7 40. Bxh4+ Kd7 41. Bg3 Rb8 {.}) 39... Rxg2+ 40. Kf3 Rxh2 41. Bxe7
Rh3+ 42. Kf2 Rb3 43. Bg5+ Kg6 44. Re7 Rxb2+ 45. Kf3 {EXERCISE: The blind,
disoriented king gropes his way down the hall unassisted. White's forces,
formally in the service of their king's defence, all desert him. Black to play
and force checkmate. --- ANSWER: White's pieces sob by the shore as they watch
their king swept away by the current.} Ra8 $1 {Threat: ...Ra3 mate!} 46. Rxe6+
{A parting joke.} Kh7 ({Capa is not going to fall for} 46... Kh5 $4 47. Rh6# {.
}) 0-1

[Event "11th matchgame, Havana"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1921.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Lasker, Em"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D64"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1921.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Rc1 Re8 8. Qc2
c6 {Both sides play a game of chicken, which Lasker wins. Black will only take
on c4 when White moves his light-squared bishop.} 9. Bd3 {Capa refuses to
participate in the waiting game and decides to lose a tempo. --- QUESTION:
What do you suggest instead?} ({ANSWER: I had White once in this position and
played} 9. a3 Nf8 10. h3 {, and I guess my opponent got sick and tired of
waiting for me to move the f1-bishop, and took on c4.} dxc4 {, C.Lakdawala-J.Booth, San Diego 1981.} ({If Black, I would stubbornly continue to wait with} 
10... b6) ({or} 10... Ng6 {.})) 9... dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nd5 {The standard swapping
mechanism to relieve the cramp.} ({Capablanca barely survived the
strategically suspect} 10... b5 $6 {in his game against Rubinstein last
chapter.}) 11. Bxe7 Rxe7 $5 {Technically, this is a poor move. --- QUESTION:
Why didn't Lasker retake with his queen?} ({ANSWER: Kasparov punished Lasker's
move with "?!" but keep in mind, Lasker, desperate for a win, goaded
Capablanca on with deliberately inaccurate moves. I am certain Lasker was
perfectly aware his move was dubious. He simply wasn't interested in playing
for a draw with the standard} 11... Qxe7 {, when Black eventually tries for
the freeing break ...e6-e5. In essence, Lasker had little to lose and gambled 
(incorrectly) that he could provoke Capa into a rash course of action.}) 12.
O-O Nf8 $5 ({Same philosophy. Once again spurring the sane course,} 12... Nxc3
{followed by ...b7-b6.}) 13. Rfd1 Bd7 14. e4 Nb6 $6 {QUESTION: Why did you
criticize Lasker's last move? --- ANSWER: He went too far in his
complicate-at-all-costs strategy. Lasker broke the principle: Trade when
cramped. Therefore, he should have swapped on c3.} 15. Bf1 Rc8 {EXERCISE 
(planning): Black plans the freeing break ...c6-c5 to challenge White's space
advantage. What would you do about it? --- ANSWER: Grab even more space and
halt the freeing break.} 16. b4 $1 Be8 {The roaches, though driven out of
sight, yet remain within the walls. Lasker pulls a Steinitz by scrunching up
all his pieces on the first rank, perhaps hoping to egg Capa on to
overextension in the future. In doing so he initiates a contractionary spiral,
losing more and more space. This was actually one of the worst strategies
against Capa, who was a master at grabbing territory without ceding an inch of
concession.} 17. Qb3 Rec7 18. a4 {More space.} Ng6 19. a5 {...and more.} Nd7
20. e5 {And more! --- QUESTION: Doesn't he give Black the d5-square? ---
ANSWER: White gets more than he gives in the bargain, since d6 beckons for a
knight.} b6 21. Ne4 {Eyeing the freeing ...c6-c5 break as well as the hole on
d6.} Rb8 22. Qc3 Nf4 23. Nd6 Nd5 24. Qa3 f6 $5 ({Levenfish and Panov suggest} 
24... Qe7 {and only then ...f7-f6, in order to guard the loose e6-pawn.}) 25.
Nxe8 $1 {Before Black's bishop emerges to h5.} Qxe8 26. exf6 gxf6 $1 {QUESTION:
Why did Black compromise his kingside?} ({ANSWER: The pawn recapture looks
correct, since e5 must be kept under control. Black is in even worse shape
after} 26... N7xf6 27. Ne5 {.}) 27. b5 $1 {QUESTION: Why is White trying to
swap away all his queenside pawns? --- ANSWER: Capablanca writes: "Once those
two pawns are exchanged, White can devote all his attention to the attack
against the king without having anything to worry about on the other side."}
Rbc8 $1 ({Not} 27... c5 $6 28. dxc5 Nxc5 29. axb6 axb6 30. Nd4 {, when White's
b5-pawn ties Black down and gives him cause to worry about infiltration on c6.}
) 28. bxc6 Rxc6 29. Rxc6 Rxc6 30. axb6 axb6 {QUESTION: White previously had
the favourable imbalance of a massive space advantage, which is nowhere to be
seen. Did he lose his advantage? --- ANSWER: Capa cashed in his space
advantage for other forms of wealth: 1. White has multiple pawn targets to
choose from on b6, e6, f6 and h7. --- 2. White's isolani on d4 isn't weak, and
covers the key c5- and e5-squares. --- 3. White's remaining bishop rules the
light squares and is the best minor piece on the board. --- 4. Black's king is
slightly exposed. --- Conclusion: Advantage White.} 31. Re1 Qc8 32. Nd2 $1 {
Capa's uncanny positional instinct tells him his f3-knight, though sitting
pretty, actually doesn't do much. He takes it out for a stroll, in search of
targets in Black's camp.} Nf8 {The fly in a sealed bottle bumps the side and
remains there for the remainder of the game.} ({Lasker suggests} 32... Rc3 $1
33. Qa1 Nf8 34. Ne4 Rc7 {as a superior defence for Black.}) 33. Ne4 Qd8 34. h4
$1 {QUESTION: What is the point of White's last move? --- ANSWER: Besides
initiating a hostile gesture in the direction of Black's king, White prevents ...f6-f5, which would be met with Ng5.} Rc7 35. Qb3 Rg7 36. g3 Ra7 37. Bc4 $1 {
White's forces keep a discrete distance from Black's king but dream of
smashing in Lasker's wall of opposition. Both white minor pieces are superior
to both black knights.} Ra5 {EXERCISE (planning): The pressure mounts on
Black's position. Find a way to increase it.} ({If Black ignores the threat,
he gets hit with} 37... Rc7 $4 38. Bxd5 exd5 39. Qxd5+ $1 {.}) 38. Nc3 $1 {
ANSWER: Break the blockade.} Nxc3 39. Qxc3 {Now White's bishop rules over
Black's gaunt knight with the expressionless eyes.} Kf7 40. Qe3 $1 {Target: e6.
} Qd6 41. Qe4 (41. d5 $1 e5 42. h5 {was also possible.}) 41... Ra4 $2 {
"Suicide!" writes Lasker, who should have played his rook to a7 to prevent
White's next move. Lasker tosses in this careless move, almost as a disjointed
afterthought.} 42. Qb7+ Kg6 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): This is a very
tough one. Can you work out an immediate knockout punch which escaped Capa's
notice? Take 15 minutes to try and solve the problem.} ({Probably Lasker had
intended} 42... Qe7 {and then realized it was unplayable due to} 43. Qc6 Rb4
44. Bxe6+ $1 Nxe6 45. d5 {.}) ({Capa gets lazy and misses a combination after} 
42... Kg6 {. Kasparov writes: "Before Alekhine, no one could force Capa to
really work! And the latter, naturally, was accustomed to winning with little
effort. However, in Buenos Aires 1927 this habit was to cost the Cuban dearly.
" Unfortunately this is true. The legend of the infallible chess machine is
simply a folktale for the simple-minded. Capa was very human and made mistakes
- but fewer of them than anyone else in chess history, in my opinion.}) 43. Qc8
$6 {A mild case of brain freeze afflicts Capa.} ({ANSWER:} 43. h5+ $1 Kh6 44.
Qf7 Qd8 45. Bd3 Rxd4 46. Rxe6 $3 {wins on the spot.}) 43... Qb4 $6 ({After} 
43... Kh6 $1 44. Bxe6 Rxd4 {White's advantage wouldn't have been so easy to
convert.}) 44. Rc1 $1 Qe7 $2 {As in many of his losses in this match, Lasker
noticeably tires at the end of the games.} (44... Ra7 {was forced.}) 45. Bd3+
$1 {Making way for the rook to c7.} Kh6 (45... f5 46. Rc7 Ra1+ {(just so Qe8+
won't pick up the stray rook on a4)} 47. Kh2 Qd6 48. Qe8+ Kh6 49. Qf7 {is
curtains.}) 46. Rc7 {The distance between the forces diminishes with each move
as Capa's pieces slowly encroach.} Ra1+ 47. Kg2 Qd6 {EXERCISE: (combination
alert): It has taken three quarters of forever to break down Lasker's
defences. Now we stand on the threshold of the black king's lair. Do we dare
enter? White to play and force mate. --- ANSWER: An eye for an eye and a queen
for a knight. Forming an alliance with an untrustworthy ally can be worse than
fighting alone. Black's sorry knight isn't up to the job of defending h7.} 48.
Qxf8+ $1 {. The aged black king, eyes dimmed by time, sees death approaching
and regretfully counts up the many sins of his youth from his poor opening.}
1-0

[Event "London"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1922.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Bogoljubow, E."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C91"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1922.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

{Alekhine played Bogoljubow and Euwe (who he lost to, then beat) as his
hoped-for punching bags in title matches, rather than face Capablanca - who
was the logical, legitimate challenger - in a rematch.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. d4 ({QUESTION:
Isn't} 9. h3 {the normal move? --- ANSWER: Yes, preventing the pin is played
far more often than Capa's choice, 9 d4, which he tried five times in his
career.}) 9... exd4 {Premature. Black had no need to hand White the centre.} ({
Pinning immediately is far more logical:} 9... Bg4 10. Be3 exd4 11. cxd4 Na5
12. Bc2 c5 {is approximately equal according to modern theory.}) 10. cxd4 Bg4
11. Be3 {Returning the favour. --- QUESTION: How? --- ANSWER: By playing his
bishop to e3 too early, White walks into the tempo-gaining ...Na5 and ...Nc4.}
({Best is to ignore Black's "threat" to capture on f3. After} 11. Nc3 $1 b4 (
11... Bxf3 $6 12. gxf3 {only helps White, who picked up bishop pair,
light-square control, strengthened his centre and opened the g-file for a
potential future attack}) 12. Nd5 Rb8 13. Ba4 Nxd5 14. Bxc6 Nb6 {it is
advantage White, who dominates the centre and may soon apply pressure down the
c-file, G.Kamsky-A.Lenderman, Philadelphia 2006.}) 11... Na5 12. Bc2 Nc4 ({
Black can also hold off on ...Nc4 and play the immediate} 12... c5 {, E.Sutovsky-G.Kamsky, World Team Championship, Ningbo 2011.}) 13. Bc1 c5 14. b3
Na5 ({Or} 14... Nb6 $1 15. Nbd2 Nfd7 16. h3 Bh5 17. Bb2 Re8 {with a
Benoni-like position which is quite okay for Black, V.Kramnik-M.Adams,
Dortmund 2005.}) 15. Bb2 Nc6 16. d5 $5 {Creating two imbalances with a single
move: 1. Kingside versus queenside pawn majorities. --- 2. Capa agrees to give
up the bishop pair.} Nb4 17. Nbd2 Nxc2 18. Qxc2 {Bogo emerged from the opening
quite well, with a Benoni-like position in which he has access to a few piece
trades. I believe it was GM Yasser Seirawan who once told me (right after he
beat me in a Benoni!): If Black manages to swap off two pairs of pieces in a
Benoni, he stands equal or better.} Re8 19. Qd3 h6 $6 {An unnecessary
weakening.} ({It was better to begin the fight for e5, starting with} 19... Nd7
{.}) 20. Nf1 Nd7 21. h3 (21. N3d2 $5 {, retaining pieces on the board, is how
I would play White.}) 21... Bh5 $5 {I would have chopped on f3. --- QUESTION:
And give up the bishop pair? --- ANSWER: Yes. Black's light-squared bishop
soon ends up in the nether regions.} 22. N3d2 $1 {Good man, Capa. He wisely
takes my advice. White's multipurpose last move does the following: 1. Takes
away Black's ...Bxf3 option. --- 2. Prepares to roll the kingside majority
with f2-f4. --- 3. Fights for c4 in case White later wants to toss in a2-a4.}
Bf6 23. Bxf6 Qxf6 24. a4 $5 c4 $1 (24... b4 $6 {gives up control over the
c4-square.}) 25. bxc4 Nc5 26. Qe3 bxa4 27. f4 Qe7 28. g4 Bg6 {We reach a
deeply unbalanced situation: 1. Black has bishop and knight for two knights.
--- 2. White owns a massive block of central pawns and has the option of
pushing on with e4-e5 or f4-f5. --- 3. Black has doubled, passed and protected
a-pawns. --- 4. Black has possible infiltration ideas down the b-file, and on
b2 and b3 later on. --- Conclusion: The position looks dynamically balanced
but I actually prefer Black. --- EXERCISE (planning): The question is: Should
we as White play 29 f5, burying his bishop but at the cost of handing over the
e5-square?} {ANSWER: It's a good deal for White's side.} 29. f5 $1 (29. e5 Bd3
{allows the bishop to decant on d3.}) 29... Bh7 {The bishop falls into a
fitful sleep on h7 and continues to toss and turn. --- QUESTION: Is Black's
bishop as buried as you say? At some point he can simply play ...f7-f6, move
his king and then play his bishop to g8, when it eventually emerges. ---
ANSWER: The question you should ask is: Can Black get away with ...f7-f6? If
White ever gets a knight to d4 or f4, it then entrenches itself on e6 like a
kidney stone in Black's position.} 30. Ng3 Qe5 31. Kg2 Rab8 {Eyeing
infiltration to b2 and b3.} 32. Rab1 f6 $5 {Allowing a potential nightmare
scenario of a white knight on e6.} ({Black should play} 32... Rb2 {, when he
retains a good position.}) 33. Nf3 Rb2+ 34. Rxb2 Qxb2+ 35. Re2 Qb3 36. Nd4 $1
Qxe3 $5 {Black banks on his passers in the ending.} (36... Qxc4 37. Ne6 Rc8 38.
Nh5 a3 {is dead equal according to Houdini. Which comes first: Black's passed
a-pawn or White's attack? I don't know.}) 37. Rxe3 Rb8 38. Rc3 Kf7 39. Kf3 Rb2
40. Nge2 Bg8 {This poor guy, cloaked in shame for so long on h7, dreams of
freedom some day.} 41. Ne6 {Black must sort through an amalgamation of
confusing and conflicting plans. One holds the draw, while the other leads to
suffering. The answer remains hidden beneath layers of subterranean truths
known only to Capa: EXERCISE (critical decision): Which one would you play?
--- a) 41...Nxe4, a mini combination, winning a pawn by overloading White's
king. --- b) 41...Nb3, ignoring the combination and go all out to promote his
lead, passed a-pawn.} Nb3 $6 {The wrong decision swings the advantage to
White's side.} ({ANSWER: Bogo just barely holds the draw if he grabs the pawn
with} 41... Nxe4 $1 42. Kxe4 Rxe2+ 43. Kd4 Rd2+ 44. Rd3 Rxd3+ 45. Kxd3 {, when
White's king will go on to pick up a4, but after} Bh7 46. Kc3 g6 47. Nd4 gxf5
48. gxf5 Ke7 49. Kb4 Kd7 50. Kxa4 Kc7 51. Ka5 Kb7 52. h4 h5 $1 {is zugzwang!
White must make way with his king, allowing Black to draw.}) 42. c5 $1 {
Suddenly, we begin to see the faintest glimmer of counterplay from White's
side. Capa forces a passer, distilled from his own pawn majority, one which
proves more potent than Black's on the a-file.} dxc5 43. Nxc5 Nd2+ 44. Kf2 Ke7
45. Ke1 Nb1 $1 {Bogo takes control over the a3-square.} 46. Rd3 $1 {White gets
ready to ram his own passer through. Somehow, Capa keeps a stern watch over
his opponent's deeply passed a-pawn, like a cold stepfather, who treats his
new son with fairness but never warmth.} a3 $2 {The losing move. Black wants
to hold on to everything, but keep in mind, everything is expensive. His move
is too slow.} ({He has to cough up his precious passer by stalling White's
d-pawn with} 46... Kd6 $1 47. Nxa4 {, although Black is the one fighting for
the draw.}) 47. d6+ Kd8 48. Nd4 $1 {The knight pair's aperture of influence
grows at an alarming rate, with the devastating threat of a check on c6,
followed by d6-d7 and promote. It is now clear that White is completely
winning. But when Capa initiated this entire queening race on his 41st move it
looked to any sane person that Black was the one who was faster. --- QUESTION:
How did Capablanca know that Black's surging, passed a-pawn was more of a
gesture than an actual menace? --- ANSWER: I don't have a clue. Capa just knew
though his wordless, logic-defying intuition, which infallibly pushed him
toward the correct path. This is why we study his games. We also desire access
to this elusive power of chess omniscience. If not in this life then, maybe if
we are lucky, the next!} Rb6 {A forehead-smacking moment for Bogoljubow who
must have realized at this point that he was dead lost. Black's rook, whose
blood suddenly turns to milk, makes a hasty apology and leaves to cover c6.
Suddenly all the energy evaporates from Black's pieces, which performed so
creditably in days past.} ({If} 48... a2 49. Nc6+ Kc8 50. d7+ {and the pawn
queens with check.}) 49. Nde6+ {Did I mention that White had a secondary
threat of a knight check on e6?} Bxe6 50. fxe6 Rb8 51. e7+ Ke8 52. Nxa6 ({
Black's king emerges from the business end of the meat grinder in the line} 52.
Nxa6 a2 53. Nxb8 $1 a1=Q 54. d7+ Kxe7 55. d8=Q+ {, mating in a few moves.}) 1-0

[Event "Karlsbad"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1929.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Treybal, K."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1929.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Bg5 $5 {A little weird, but the move can
transpose to main lines.} Be7 ({The most combative way to deal with White's
last move is to make him gambit a pawn by} 4... f6 $5 5. Bf4 dxc4 6. e4 b5 {,
A.Graf-E.Sveshnikov, Alushta 1994, when the position resembles all those
fashionable gambits which arise out of the Semi-Slav these days.}) ({QUESTION:
You said Black can transpose to main lines. How would he accomplish it? ---
ANSWER: Simply play} 4... Nf6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Nc3 {and now you have a choice of
the Cambridge Springs or QGD Orthodox on the next move with} Qa5 ({or} 6... Be7
{.})) 5. Bxe7 Qxe7 {QUESTION: Hasn't this swap helped Black who is more
cramped? --- ANSWER: It helps Black in that way, but also keep in mind the
dark-squared bishop was Black's good bishop.} 6. Nbd2 ({QUESTION: Why did
White play his knight to a passive square rather than play} 6. e3 {- ? ---
ANSWER: There are two possibilities: 1. I assume Capa wasn't in the mood to
speculate with a pawn sac in the line} dxc4 7. Bxc4 Qb4+ 8. Nbd2 Qxb2 {,
although White has a massive development lead for the pawn and central space,
more than enough compensation. --- 2. Perhaps Capa wanted to play for e2-e4 in
one go next move.}) 6... f5 {Not such a wonderful idea. --- QUESTION: Why not?
Black plays in Stonewall Dutch style and also prevents e2-e4. --- ANSWER:
Black plays in lousy Stonewall Dutch style! He is missing his good,
dark-squared bishop, essential in a Stonewall Dutch. --- QUESTION: I don't
think that is correct. I have seen White in Stonewalls play the manoeuvre
b2-b3 and Ba3 swapping off the dark-squared bishops. --- ANSWER: Condemned by
your own confession! You just gave the main reason why the Stonewall Dutch
isn't so popular for Black.} 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3 Nh6 {QUESTION: Why did Black
develop his knight to the rim? --- ANSWER: His idea may be to challenge for
the e5-square with a future ...Nf7.} 9. O-O O-O 10. Qc2 g6 $6 {Thank goodness.
The opening is officially over and I can hand Black the "?!" he so richly
deserves. --- QUESTION: Let me guess: More pawns on the wrong colour of his
remaining bishop? --- ANSWER: Correct. Also, the move looks purposeless. ---
EXERCISE (planning): Come up with a plan for White. --- ANSWER: Expand on the
queenside.} 11. Rab1 Nf6 {He probably should play ...Nf7 first to keep White's
knight out of e5. --- QUESTION: Can Black free himself simply by playing for ...e6-e5?} ({ANSWER: As long as tension remains in the centre, this plan would
leave Black with an isolani in a listless position. For example:} 11... e5 $6
12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 {looks like no fun at all for Black,
who just handed over the d4-square to his opponent and must also nurse a weak
isolani on d5.}) 12. Ne5 Nf7 13. f4 $1 Bd7 {QUESTION: Why not plug up the hole
on e5?} ({ANSWER: In this case Black risks "good knight versus bad bishop"
after} 13... Nxe5 14. dxe5 Ne4 15. Nb3 $1 Bd7 16. Bxe4 fxe4 17. c5 {.}) 14.
Ndf3 Rfd8 15. b4 Be8 16. Rfc1 a6 17. Qf2 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Nd7 {Of course, the
moment Black plays his knight to e4, White chops it, getting a dream good
knight versus bad bishop position.} 19. Nf3 $1 {Principle: The side with space
should avoid swaps.} Rdc8 20. c5 {Principle: Fix your pawns on the opposite
colour of your remaining bishop. The move also grabs more territory.} Nf6 21.
a4 {White accrued the following imbalances in his favour: 1. A giant space
advantage on the queenside. White can play for a b4-b5 break any time he likes.
--- 2. Black has a bad bishop. --- 3. White may be able to use the e5-square
for his knight, but if Black tries the same with e4 for his knight, White
immediately takes it, leading to the dreaded good knight versus bad bishop
scenario. --- 4. White also has the potential to expand on the kingside. --- 5.
Black can only wait. --- Conclusion: Black has landed in a dire strategic
situation.} Ng4 22. Qe1 Nh6 23. h3 $1 {It's what we all seek in life: More! In
this case, more space on the kingside.} Nf7 24. g4 Bd7 25. Rc2 Kh8 26. Rg2 Rg8
27. g5 $1 {QUESTION: Why close the kingside? Shouldn't White play for an
attack by preparing h3-h4-h5 instead? --- ANSWER: The kingside is Black's only
potential realm of counterplay. White shuts out all ...g6-g5 ideas. Also, the
kingside is not quite closed yet. White can still push his h-pawn.} Qd8 28. h4
Kg7 29. h5 Rh8 30. Rh2 Qc7 31. Qc3 Qd8 32. Kf2 Qc7 33. Rbh1 Rag8 34. Qa1 Rb8
35. Qa3 Rbg8 36. b5 $1 {Perfectly timed.} axb5 37. h6+ $1 {Also perfect timing.
White closes the kingside. --- QUESTION: Shouldn't the pawn marinate longer on
h5? --- ANSWER: No. By playing the move now, Capa temporarily buries Black's
rooks and sends Black's king to the tactically unfavourable f8-square.} Kf8 38.
axb5 Ke7 {Black's king hoped to hide in a pocket of shadow on f8, but even
here he wasn't safe.} ({Note that} 38... cxb5 $4 {drops a piece to} 39. c6+ {
, when Black's king finds himself the unhappy recipient of anguish.}) 39. b6 {
White's vast kingdom spans from b6 to h6.} Qb8 40. Ra1 Rc8 ({Attempting to
challenge White on the open file would be futile, since he sidesteps with} 
40... Qa8 41. Qc3 Qb8 42. Rhh1 {, followed by tripling on the a-file as in the
game continuation.}) 41. Qb4 Rhd8 42. Ra7 Kf8 43. Rh1 Be8 44. Rha1 Kg8 45. R1a4
Kf8 46. Qa3 Kg8 47. Kg3 Bd7 48. Kh4 Kh8 49. Qa1 Kg8 50. Kg3 Kf8 51. Kg2 {Capa
takes his sweet time, but keep in mind: My doctors always keep me waiting an
eternity in the reception area before they see me. Perhaps they learned this
in medical school as a method of demonstrating their power over their patients?
} Be8 {Black feverishly does nothing with a fury, hoping his firewall holds.
Deliberate inaction is in its strange way an action. Despite all of White's
obvious strategic pluses, Black still cherishes dreams of a fortress draw. We
all love to lie to ourselves sweetly. Remember, a fortress is only as strong
as the defenders inside. --- EXERCISE (planning): How can White make progress?
--- ANSWER: Transfer his knight to target b7.} 52. Nd2 $1 Bd7 {QUESTION: I
understand that Black rushes to protect b7, but isn't his last move
artificial? Why not simply protect it with the rook on d7, followed by ...Nd8
with a dead draw?} ({ANSWER: Well, there is good news and there is bad news
concerning your plan. The good news is that your plan does indeed cover b7
adequately. The bad news is it loses control over a8 and you just dropped poor
Treybal's queen! When planning, you must unify the abstract with the real.
After} 52... Rd7 $4 53. Ra8 $1 {White's rook woos Black's queen like an
insistent suitor, who is unwilling to take "No!" for an answer.}) 53. Nb3 Re8
54. Na5 Nd8 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): Now that is what I call a space
advantage! Find a shot and Black collapses. --- ANSWER: The end goal of
sacrifice isn't what we give up as much as what we hope to gain. Suddenly
Black's grip on b7 grows tenuous.} 55. Ba6 $1 {The boorish bishop elbows his
way in, oblivious to Black's cry of protest.} bxa6 56. Rxd7 {The fallen white
bishop's comrades rise up to take his place.} Re7 {EXERCISE: (combination
alert): After 56...Re7 you have another shot which wins more material. ---
ANSWER: Extend the scope of your generosity and destroy the defender of c6.
The knight finds himself taken to the "return" window at the store.} ({Or} 
56... Kg8 57. Nb3 {, when Black's a6-pawn drops and with it the game.}) 57.
Rxd8+ $1 Rxd8 58. Nxc6 {. And then mega-fork!} 1-0

[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1935.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Menchik, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E85"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1935.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

{Today, there are many female GMs. At the time this game was played, Vera
Menchik was an anomaly: A woman who played at international level. Her male
colleagues didn't all take kindly to her entry in what was traditionally an
all-male sport. The story goes of Viennese master Albert Becker, who
vehemently objected to Menchik's entry to the Karlsbad tournament of 1929. He
ridiculed her by declaring that any man who loses to her would be a lifetime
member of the "Vera Menchik Club". Guess who the very first member was? You
guessed it. The illustrious Becker learned the fine art of humility when he
found himself in the unhappy role of Menchik's first victim in the tournament.
--- Sadly, Menchik's life was cut short when she was killed in a V-1 rocket
bombing raid in England during WWII.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.
f3 {The King's Indian Sämisch was a rare guest in 1935.} O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2
a6 $5 8. Qd2 Bd7 $2 {As you may suspect, 1935 wasn't exactly halcyon days for
KID theory! I haven't quite decided if curiosity is a vice or a virtue. It
grows painfully obvious that Menchik was simply experimenting in the opening
and didn't have a clue how to actually play it! --- EXERCISE (planning):
Black's last move is a strategic error. How do we punish it? --- ANSWER: Cut
off ...Nc6 and close the game.} 9. d5 $1 Ne8 10. g4 $1 {An obvious move if
played today. Capa discourages ...f7-f5 and annexes yet more territory. It
looks as if White is a modern GM playing an amateur who bought books on the
KID but didn't bother reading them! Every black piece looks misplaced. --- Do
any of you own Bronstein's tournament book of the Zürich 1953 Candidates
tournament? Take a look at the King's Indians in that. Even the world's top
players handled them horribly by modern comparison. For some reason, they took
forever to play the key ...f7-f5 break. This game, played in 1935 tells a tale:
Capa plays as if the year were 2012. His opponent plays the KID like someone
would in well, 1935!} h6 $2 ({Black had to try} 10... f5 {, come what may.})
11. h4 {QUESTION: What is wrong with taking the free pawn on h6?} ({ANSWER: I
was afraid you were going to ask. You must analyze Black's logical response:} 
11. Bxh6 $4 Qh4+ {wins a piece.}) 11... Kh7 12. Ng3 $1 {That is the end of the
...f7-f5 break. Black is strategically lost since White has a free hand on
both wings.} c5 13. Bd3 Qa5 $5 ({I have a feeling Menchik would have done much
better sticking with the QGD. Maybe the time has arrived for the desperado} 
13... b5 $5 {, enticing White into a very favourable Benko Gambit - but please
remember: The Benko had yet to be invented!}) 14. Qe2 Rh8 {QUESTION: I don't
get it. Could you explain? --- ANSWER: You may be searching for meaning and
secret encryption where there is none. Black doesn't have anything
constructive to do and simply plays a very odd-looking waiting move. Sometimes
an odd move remains just what it is, an odd move.} 15. a3 $1 Qd8 {Frederick
the Great once proclaimed: "He who defends everything, defends nothing." One
wonders why she played ...Qa5 earlier. Day after dreary day, my rude dogs, Al
and Kahless, bark frantically at our good natured mailman, Russ, as he
delivers our mail. The moral: Even watchdogs, dutiful as they are, can overdo
it! Black, now hiding under her bed and locked into a bunker mentality,
perceives threats everywhere - just like my dogs!} 16. b4 $1 {Capa gains space
on both wings.} b6 17. Qb2 Bc8 18. Ke2 {Capa is intent on going after
Menchik's king.} ({He can also play exclusively on the queenside by inducing
the lock-up of the kingside first with} 18. h5 g5 19. O-O {, and only then
turn his attention to queenside infiltration.}) 18... Nd7 19. Rag1 Rb8 {
EXERCISE (planning/critical decision): Sometimes it is confusing to have many
good options. White decides to go after his opponent's king. Come up with a
plan to do so. --- ANSWER: Step 1: Close the queenside.} 20. b5 $1 {QUESTION:
Isn't closing the queenside a strategic error? --- ANSWER: Capa's brilliant
strategic decision is just the opposite. It becomes all but clear that the
kingside is the canvas of Capa's desires. By closing the queenside he
eradicates the possibility of sudden queenside distractions while he is
attacking on the other wing.} a5 {QUESTION: Why must Black comply? --- ANSWER:
No choice, otherwise White takes on a6 and begins to attack on the queenside.
--- Step 2: Before launching an attack, transfer the king to the now closed
queenside.} 21. Kd1 {QUESTION: Isn't White putzing around with his king? ---
ANSWER: When in total control, the longer road is often the better way to
travel. Before commencing with the kingside attack, Capa brings his king over
to the safety of the now closed queenside.} Kg8 22. Qd2 Nf8 23. Kc2 f6 $6 {
This gives White a contact point. She should do nothing and then continue with
that plan. In that case, White would probably make preparations for the
similar g4-g5 and then f3-f4, planning to pry open the f-file.} 24. g5 $1 fxg5
25. hxg5 h5 26. Nf5 $1 {The appetizer before the feast. The pseudo sac marks
the beginning preparations for the coming assault and the final moments of
peace experienced by Black's king.} Kf7 (26... gxf5 $2 {is even worse since}
27. exf5 {gives White a monstrous attack, as well as opening the e4-square for
White's pieces.}) 27. Nh4 Qe7 {EXERCISE (planning): Formulate a plan for White
to make progress. --- ANSWER: Prepare the f3-f4 break. The queen gently
brushes f4 like a sweetheart's fingertips on her lover's face. Black tries
desperately to hurry her king over to the queenside but the plan takes too
much time.} 28. Qh2 $1 Nc7 $2 {Black was unaware that d6 needed help.} (28...
Rb7 {was better, keeping the knight where it was on e8.}) 29. Rf1 Ke8 {Each
step the king takes proves more difficult than the last. The king was actually
safer on g8.} 30. f4 {Imbalance number one (space) gives rise to imbalance
number two: an attack. The break arrives with crushing force, as Capa's moves
radiate an aura of inevitable encroachment.} exf4 (30... Kd8 31. f5 {is also
crushing for White.}) 31. Bxf4 Kd7 {Black accrued many strategic crimes this
game. The time has come for White to extract justice. --- EXERCISE: 
(combination alert): Black's king/queen duo turn out to be clumsy dance
partners and continually step on each other's big feet. White has a killing
shot. Use the force, Luke: Do you see it? --- ANSWER: The swarm of locusts
feed through a wheat field.} 32. Bxd6 $1 ({After} 32. Bxd6 Qxd6 33. Rf7+ {the
hammer comes down on the walnut. --- This game, which I almost tossed into the
Attack chapter, shows just how far ahead strategically Capa was for his time.
No wonder they all thought the King's Indian was unsound for Black in those
days.}) 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "4: Accumulating Advantages"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.23"]

{This chapter (and perhaps the entire book!) is all about the art of strategic
build-up. British GM George Thomas lamented that he always knew exactly how
Capablanca would beat him, but there was nothing he could do about it! Capa
plays the role of the master assassin who subdues his targets through slow
poison. Imperceptibly, his position grew better and better by tiny increments,
until his confused opponents realized they were busted, but, like Thomas, had
no idea how they got there! The games in this chapter resemble one of those
Salvador Dali paintings, where Capa's forces take on a hyper-reality, while
his unfortunate opponent's forces slowly diminish, finally melting into
dissolution.} *

[Event "San Sebastian"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1911.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Burn, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C77"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1911.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

{For the younger readers who may be thinking Capablanca clobbered some unknown
amateur, here is a little biographical information about English GM Amos Burn.
--- Burn learned chess at the very late age of 16, taking lessons from future
world champion Wilhelm Steinitz. He rapidly improved to become one of the best
players of the late 19th century. Nimzowitsch singled Burn out as one of the
six best defensive players of the day in his hypermodern bible: 'New Testament:
The Praxis of My System'.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 {
Capa dominated in blocked positions where his positional insight shined.} d6 {
QUESTION: Is there a way for Black to exploit White's rather slow last move?} (
{ANSWER: Black would do well to enter a ...Bc5 formation where White's d2-d3
costs him a tempo, since in that line White normally achieves d2-d4 in one
shot. An example:} 5... b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 $1 7. O-O ({or} 7. Nxe5 Nxe5 8. d4 Bxd4
9. Qxd4 d6 {and the nasty threat of the Noah's Ark trap ...c7-c5-c4 gives
Black equal chances at a minimum}) 7... d6 8. c3 h6 9. a4 Rb8 10. d4 Bb6 {and
Black equalized since White took two moves to achieve d4, P.Leko-V.Kramnik,
8th matchgame, Miskolc (rapid) 2007.}) 6. c3 Be7 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. Nf1 b5 9. Bc2 {
QUESTION: Why not play to the more active b3-square? --- ANSWER: He gets
chased away with ...Na5, followed by ...c7-c5, which only helps Black.} d5 $1 {
White played too passively for an advantage. Black's last move takes full
advantage by achieving the Marshall Gambit break, but without a pawn sac.} 10.
Qe2 dxe4 {Inaccurate. Release of central tension helps White.} ({Black stands
well after} 10... Be6 {.}) 11. dxe4 Bc5 $6 {This turns out to be a superficial
move since Black gets stuck in an annoying pin on g5.} 12. Bg5 Be6 13. Ne3 Re8
{As awful as it looks, I would have chopped on e3 and suffered in silence. ---
QUESTION: And hand over the bishop pair?} ({ANSWER: White's e3-knight is too
powerful to leave on the board. Admittedly, Black's position still looks worse
after} 13... Bxe3 14. Qxe3 h6 15. Bh4 Qe7 {.}) 14. O-O (14. Rd1 Qe7 15. Nd5
Bxd5 16. Rxd5 Bd6 17. O-O h6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 {would also be better for White,
whose light-squared bishop proves superior to his counterpart.}) 14... Qe7 $2 (
{Black missed his last opportunity to fork over the bishop pair with} 14...
Bxe3 {and minimize the damage.}) 15. Nd5 $1 Bxd5 16. exd5 Nb8 17. a4 $1 {
Principle: Issue a challenge when leading in development.} ({QUESTION: What
about} 17. d6 {, playing for tricks on h7/a8 with Bxf6 and Qe4? --- ANSWER:
The material-loving computers like your move but I actually prefer to play for
the initiative and a bind the way Capa did in the game, rather than sell our
good position cheaply for a little material. I suppose in the end, both moves
are strong and which one you pick is a matter of style.}) 17... b4 ({QUESTION:
Why not} 17... Nbd7 {? The b5-pawn isn't really hanging because White's b2
also hangs at the end to ...Rb8. --- ANSWER: Not if White tosses in} 18. b4 $1
Ba7 19. axb5 {. White wins a pawn since b2 is no longer loose.}) 18. cxb4 Bxb4
$6 {Does a good deed in the present eradicate a past crime? --- EXERCISE: 
(combination alert): Look for a double attack trick which wins a pawn for
White.} ({Black should cut his losses with} 18... Bd6 {.}) 19. Bxf6 $1 {ANSWER:
Destroy the defender of e4.} Qxf6 {Then double attack.} 20. Qe4 $1 {The fickle
queen blows kisses to both the bishop on b4 and the h7-pawn.} Bd6 21. Qxh7+ {
Black is fortunate his rook isn't still on f8.} Kf8 22. Nh4 $1 {A silent glare
may be more disconcerting than an angry response. Nf5 hovers over Black, as
the vulture looks forward to its next meal.} Qh6 $1 {Believe it or not,
beggaring the pawn structure is Black's most tenacious defensive path. He has
little choice but to enter a hideous ending, which proves too difficult, even
for a player of Burn's defensive prowess.} ({Alternative roads are littered
with dead ends:} 22... g6 $4 {loses on the spot to} 23. Bxg6 $1 {.}) (22... Nd7
$2 {also fails to help:} 23. Qh8+ Ke7 24. Nf5+ Kd8 25. Qxg7 {and White picks
off another pawn.}) 23. Qxh6 gxh6 24. Nf5 {Total domination of the light
squares.} h5 25. Bd1 {There goes pawn number two, but this one is only
temporary. Keep in mind that Capa is playing a strong GM, yet brushes him
aside with soft, fluid moves which look deceptively easy to find. The
beautiful illusion of his games is that the rest of us, life's ordinary, dare
to believe that we too can play this way} Nd7 26. Bxh5 Nf6 {Black regains one
of the lost pawns.} 27. Be2 Nxd5 28. Rfd1 Nf4 29. Bc4 {Let's put our case
together and prove Black is busted by collecting the evidence: 1. White is a
pawn up. --- 2. Black has three pawn islands to two, with two queenside
isolanis. White, on the other hand, must worry about a target b-pawn on the
open file, whose defence may turn into a drag on momentum. --- 3. We have
opposite-coloured bishops, generally favouring the pawn-down side, but not in
this case, since White's bishop performs far better. --- 4. White has a
powerfully posted knight in the hole on f5. --- 5. White has a connected,
passed h-pawn. --- 6. White dominates on light squares. --- Conclusion: A lost
ending for Black who must deal with multiple positional woes.} Red8 30. h4 $1 {
See number five on the list!} a5 31. g3 Ne6 $5 ({QUESTION: Why did Black avoid
} 31... Nh5 {, rather than allow White to damage his pawns further? --- ANSWER:
Burn was busted in either case and runs empty on viable defensive plans. Black
reasons/gambles: If White's bishop goes off the board, then it becomes harder
to defend b2.}) 32. Bxe6 {White eagerly agrees to a separation of church and
state, giving up bishop for knight plus damage to structure.} fxe6 {He ejects
White's powerfully posted knight, only to send it to c4, another power square.}
33. Ne3 Rdb8 34. Nc4 {A new situation arises: 1. Good knight versus hobbled
bishop. --- 2. Four isolanis burden Black. --- 3. White's lone target on b2 is
defended. --- 4. White increased his passed pawn count to two: Both h- and
g-pawns.} Ke7 35. Rac1 Ra7 ({QUESTION: Doesn't} 35... Rb4 {regain a pawn? ---
ANSWER: It doesn't. After} 36. Nxd6 cxd6 37. Rc7+ Kf6 38. Rxd6 Rxa4 39. Rb6 {
White wins a double rook ending.}) 36. Re1 Kf6 37. Re4 Rb4 38. g4 $1 Ra6 ({I
am so glad you didn't ask why Black didn't go for} 38... Rxa4 $4 39. Nxd6 {.})
39. Rc3 $1 {Capa played flawless chess in controlled, strategically won
situations. The rook heads for its optimal post on f3.} Bc5 40. Rf3+ Kg7 41. b3
{How maddening for Burn. Capa slickly secures his b- and a-pawns. Meanwhile,
those two connected passers on the kingside prepare to roll. As usual, Capa's
play strikes you as almost too easy, the way he patches together unrelated
geometric patterns into a seamless whole. Conversely, the disjointed play of
his unfortunate opponents rarely fails to jar us!} Bd4 42. Kg2 Ra8 43. g5 Ra6 {
The normally defensively inventive Burn admits he is out of ideas.} ({He can't
even play} 43... Rab8 $2 {since a5 hangs, while b3 remains protected.}) 44. h5
Rxc4 $5 {In an expansive gesture of creative abandon, Burn strikes with the
flat of his sword. It has been my experience that a little freak-out before
resigning soothes the spirit.} 45. bxc4 Rc6 46. g6 1-0

[Event "Exhibition game, St Petersburg"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1913.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Alekhine, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1913.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

{Mozart versus Beethoven. This is the second match up between the great rivals
where Capa capitalized on Alekhine's still immature positional skills.} 1. d4
d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 (3... Bf5 {is also quite playable with this move order.})
4. Nf3 e6 5. Nbd2 {QUESTION: Why develop to d2 rather than to c3? --- ANSWER:
Actually, playing to d2 is quite fashionable today. GM Boris Avrukh
recommended this set-up in his 1 d4 series. The idea is to discourage ...d5xc4.
White may recapture on c4 with his knight, which then controls the key
e5-square.} Nbd7 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Qc2 {This move comes with some risk
since the queen may end up misplaced and lose a tempo on c2 if the c-file
opens later on.} ({More common are} 8. b3) ({and} 8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 {.}) 8...
dxc4 ({Alekhine was never one to grovel, but in this case he probably should
do it and play} 8... b6 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bb7 {, though after} 11. Nxf6+ Nxf6
12. Rd1 Qc7 13. c5 $1 {White stands slightly better, D.Berczes-A.Bernei,
Hungarian Team Championship 2011.}) 9. Nxc4 c5 10. Nce5 cxd4 11. exd4 Nb6 {We
reach a classic isolani position. Most pure positional players are not crazy
about playing the isolani side. Capa was an exception, and willingly took on
the isolani throughout his career.} 12. Ng5 $1 {A good investment. White
induces a weakness at a cost of time.} g6 ({QUESTION: This move weakens all
his dark squares. Wouldn't he be better off kicking the knight back with} 12...
h6 {- ? --- ANSWER: Your suggestion walks into mate! The knight has no
intention of backing up:} 13. Bh7+ Kh8 14. Nexf7+ Rxf7 15. Nxf7# {is mate!})
13. Ngf3 {Threatening Bh6, followed by Ng5 again.} Kg7 ({Watch how easy it is
for Black to get crushed after natural moves:} 13... Nfd5 14. a3 Bf6 15. h4 $1
Bxh4 $6 16. Bh6 Re8 $2 (16... Bf6 {is forced}) 17. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 18. Bxg6+ $1 {
with a decisive attack.}) 14. Bg5 {The goal is to swap dark-squared bishops in
order to weaken the dark squares around Black's king.} Nbd5 $6 {The wrong
knight. Black should do everything he can to take pieces off the board.} (14...
Nfd5 $1 {is correct, which ensures a trade on e7 since Black also threatens ...Nb4.}) 15. Rac1 Bd7 ({White stands better after} 15... Nb4 16. Qd2 $1 Ng8 ({not
} 16... Nxd3 $2 17. Bh6+ Kg8 18. Qxd3 $1 {and White threatens the rook on f8
and also Ng5, winning material}) 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Bc4 {.}) 16. Qd2 {Target:
h6.} Ng8 17. Bxe7 {QUESTION: Does this trade hurt or benefit White? --- ANSWER:
The swap eases Black's game somewhat but also weakens him on the dark squares,
so both sides are okay with it.} Qxe7 18. Be4 {This move worked out incredibly
well for White, yet may be inaccurate.} (18. Bc4 {is stronger.}) 18... Bb5 $2 {
QUESTION: What is the idea behind Black's last move? --- ANSWER: I don't have
a clue what the bishop is supposed to be doing on b5, where it pursues an
inexplicable agenda and allows damage to Black's structure.} ({Much better was
the natural} 18... Ngf6 $1 19. Bxd5 Nxd5 {which looks approximately even.}) 19.
Rfe1 Qd6 ({It is too late for} 19... Ngf6 20. Bxd5 Nxd5 21. Rc5 $1 Bd7 (21...
Ba6 $4 {loses to} 22. Rxd5 $1 exd5 23. Ng4 $1 {and Black can't deal with the
swarming white attackers}) 22. Rxd5 $1 exd5 23. Nxg6 Qxe1+ 24. Qxe1 hxg6 25.
Qe7 {, when the queen and knight attacking duo give White a winning position.})
20. Bxd5 $1 {Perfectly timed.} exd5 {White accumulated the following
advantages: 1. He leads in development. --- 2. Black has a potentially bad
bishop, since most of his pawns sit on the same colour. --- 3. Black is weak
on the dark squares. --- EXERCISE (planning): Capa spotted a subtle path to
invasion in the position. Let's see if you can find it. (Hint: Don't
exclusively focus your attention on the kingside.) --- ANSWER: Invade c7.} (
20... Qxd5 $4 {hangs a piece to} 21. Rc5 {.}) 21. Qa5 $1 {Capa had an
incredible feel for weakness on one colour. In this case Black's dark squares,
especially c7, are ripe for invasion.} a6 $6 ({Black is under heavy pressure
in the ending after} 21... Qa6 22. Qxa6 Bxa6 23. Rc7 {, but this was still a
lot better than what he got in the game.}) 22. Qc7 $1 Qxc7 23. Rxc7 {It is
clear Capa won the skirmish bloodlessly and without cost. He threatens both
the b7-pawn and also the game-ending Ng5!.} h6 24. Rxb7 Rac8 (24... Rab8 25.
Rc7 Rbc8 26. Rec1 Ne7 {is better, though Black's game remains hopeless even
here.}) 25. b3 Rc2 26. a4 Be2 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): Black hopes to
erect a defensive wall to keep change out. He can't. Find just one deadly move
and Black's position crumples. --- ANSWER: Target g6.} 27. Nh4 $1 {In a single
move, the Eastern horizon grows a sullen red in flames.} h5 ({A list of
Black's depressing non-options:} 27... Kf6 28. Nd7+ {wins the exchange.}) (
27... g5 28. Nhg6 $1 {and Black collapses just the same.}) (27... Bh5 28. g4 {
traps the bishop, as if} g5 29. Nf5+ Kf6 {, then} 30. Rb6+ Rc6 31. Rxc6# {!})
28. Nhxg6 {The position turns into Capa's tactical wonderland as his knights
spin about like lovers at a dance. The time has come for Black to resign.} Re8
{He didn't hear me. The desertions around Black's king continue unabated.} 29.
Rxf7+ Kh6 30. f4 $1 {Cutting off g5 as an escape route.} a5 {EXERCISE: 
(combination alert): White to play and win even more material. --- ANSWER:
Back again.} 31. Nh4 $1 {Threat: Nf5 mate. This knight jumps from branch to
branch with simian agility. Compare this game with Capa's befuddling
knightfest against Yates in the final chapter. --- QUESTION: Aren't you going
to indulge in a rude comment about Alekhine's failure to resign against your
hero? --- ANSWER: I fight the urge. It is hard to love Alekhine but easy to
respect his artistry. Alekhine achieved the remarkable in defeating Capablanca
in 1927, when Capa was still the superior player. He accomplished the goal by
proving that hard work sometimes upends lazy genius. A soldier understands his
enemies better than his loved ones. Alekhine understood his opponent; Capa
didn't, and grossly underestimated Alekhine in the match. A champion is more
than just the sum of his victories. When they win matters immensely. Alekhine
scored the bulk of his lifetime wins against Capa during his world
championship match - exactly when they counted most.} Rxe5 32. fxe5 Kg5 33. g3
Kg4 34. Rg7+ Kh3 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): Black's king creeps forward,
he believes unwatched. Alekhine, absurdly, refuses to resign. White can force
mate in two moves. --- ANSWER: The knight is deaf to the black king's pleas.
As Harry Truman once said: "If I can't get them to see the light, then I will
make them feel the heat!"} 35. Ng2 $1 {. Mate on f4 follows. --- Alekhine
didn't take kindly to humiliation and apparently he had very bad manners when
it came to inanimate objects. The story goes of Alekhine destroying the
furniture in his hotel room after a particularly vexing loss to Yates. I
wonder how his furniture held up after this loss to Capa?} 1-0

[Event "Exhibition game, St Petersburg"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1913.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dus Chotimirsky, F."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1913.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 {This is a nightmare! Another London loss in this
book!} c5 4. c3 {Here is the universal, infallible London System rule: The
more you try and avoid complications, the more you get them.} ({QUESTION: Did
White avoid the move order} 4. e3 {to avoid} Qb6 {- ? --- ANSWER: Probably so,
but this order is perfectly fine for White since he can now play} 5. Nc3 $1 {
, when Black dare not take the poisoned b2-pawn.}) 4... Qb6 5. Qc2 {The queen
gets misplaced on c2.} (5. Qb3 {is better, when White gets excellent chances
for equality!}) 5... cxd4 $1 {By transposing to an Exchange Slav, Black
ensures that White's queen gets targeted on the open c-file.} 6. cxd4 Nc6 7.
Nc3 $1 Bd7 {QUESTION: What is wrong with grabbing White's hanging d-pawn?} ({
ANSWER: A lot! Black falls woefully behind in development after the greedy} 
7... Nxd4 $6 8. Nxd4 Qxd4 9. e4 $1 {, when Nb5! and Rd1 are in the air.}) 8. e3
Rc8 {My Slav instincts tell me this is slightly inaccurate. --- QUESTION: Why?
Black's move is totally natural.} ({ANSWER: I think Capa moves the wrong rook.
He should castle first, bring his f-rook to c8, and then bring his queen back
to d8. I wish FIDE would ban the Exchange Slav. I would play it like this:} 
8... e6 9. Be2 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Rac1 Rfc8 $1 12. a3 Qd8 {.}) 9. Rc1 e6 10.
Be2 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Qb1 {White's queen wisely gets off the c-file.} Qa5 $5
13. Nd2 {There is no profit in chasing Black's queen.} a6 14. Nb3 {The
queenside is anybody's to take and represents a disturbing unknown.} ({On} 14.
a3 Na7 $1 {, intending ...Nb5, is good enough for equality.}) 14... Qb4 $1 {
QUESTION: Isn't Black's queen in danger, floating on b4? --- ANSWER: Not
really. Capa sets his opponent up for an amazing trap by feigning weakness to
lure White's knight forward. Who is the bigger fool? Someone who trusts
everyone, or someone who trusts nobody?} 15. Nc5 $2 {Which he falls for! This
is White's first and last true error in the game. --- EXERCISE: (combination
alert): White thinks he sacs a pawn for compensation. But look closer. Black
has a devilish trick to win a pawn without giving White the slightest trace of
compensation. --- ANSWER:} Nxd4 $1 ({QUESTION: Where did that come from!? ---
ANSWER: Black wins at least a pawn in all lines. Dus Chotimirsky undoubtedly
expected} 15... Bxc5 16. a3 Qa5 17. dxc5 Qxc5 18. Ne4 Qb6 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 {,
when he gets the bishop pair and attacking chances for his pawn.}) 16. exd4 {
Dus C goes into shock and decides to hand over a second pawn.} ({He should
probably cut his losses with} 16. Nxd7 Nxe2+ 17. Nxe2 Nxd7 {.}) 16... Bxc5 {Be
gone vile demon! It's always so pleasant when an exorcism goes well.} 17. a3 {
White decides to live with a two pawn deficit.} (17. dxc5 Qxf4 18. b4 d4 19.
Nd1 e5 {is also completely hopeless for White.}) 17... Qxd4 18. Bg3 Be7 19.
Rcd1 Qb6 20. Be5 Bc6 21. Rd3 {Black is up two clean pawns but White hopes to
drum up a miracle kingside attack. I can't tell you how many times students
have shown me positions like this where they should win easily but end up
botching it, forcing me to pull out what remains of my hair. Don't
underestimate how hard it is to win a clearly won game. Watch carefully how
Capa denies his opponent even a glimmer of a chance for the remainder of the
game. He does this by continually feeding on the advantages he already owns.}
Nd7 {A good move, chasing a potential attacker back.} 22. Rh3 f5 {Well, that
pretty much ends the attack. Forward movement of his f-pawn was a bonus from
Black's previous move.} 23. Bf4 d4 {Principle: Distract in the centre when
attacked on the wing. Capa immediately activates his central majority.} 24. Qa2
Rf6 25. Bg5 dxc3 $1 {The devastating counterattack begins. Capa, like the
universal parent, warns his opponent: Behave or face punishment.} 26. Bxf6 Bd5
$1 {Zwischenzug!} 27. Qxd5 $5 {QUESTION: Do you think White may possibly be
overfeeding the fire of his non-attack? --- ANSWER: Gulp! Nietzsche would
agree: "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." The queen toasts her
triumphant centralization a tad prematurely! Dus C trips out with a show of
artistic excess, and the queen "sac" doesn't exactly salve his aching heart.
When a material deficit grows totally out of control, it tends to lose meaning.
White is just as busted a queen down as he was before he sac'ed!} (27. Qb1 c2
28. Qc1 Bxf6 {was equally depressing for White.}) 27... exd5 28. Bxe7 cxb2 29.
Bd3 Rc1 30. Bb4 a5 31. Bxf5 axb4 {White keeps giving and Black keeps taking.
Dus C reminds me of the Black Knight from the Monty Python 'Holy Grail' movie
who kept fighting, even after arms and legs had been lopped off in the battle!}
32. Bxh7+ Kf8 33. Rf3+ Nf6 34. axb4 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): Dus C
claps his hands around his ears, refusing to listen to common sense and resign,
like the sinner who refuses to repent. How can Capa get his opponent to change
his mind about his non-resigning philosophy? --- ANSWER: Checkmate him!} Qb5 $1
({Finally, this move talks White into a deathbed repentance. Dus Chotimirsky
resigns, not wishing to face} 34... Qb5 35. Bd3 Qxd3 $1 36. Rxd3 b1=Q {.}) 0-1

[Event "St Petersburg"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1914.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nimzowitsch, A."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C62"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1914.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Qd3 exd4 8.
Nxd4 g6 $6 {A careless move. Black lacks the time for such luxuries. Luckily
for Capablanca, his position later transforms into a startlingly original
strategic idea for the time. --- QUESTION: How can a move be good and bad at
the same time? --- ANSWER: Technically, the move is dubious. Yet later Capa
managed to attain Benko Gambit pressure for the pawn - even though the Benko
Gambit had yet to be invented! Euwe writes: "It was not so difficult to
foresee the loss of a pawn by force...but Capablanca apparently did not
imagine that such a thing could happen in the solid Steinitz Defence of the
Ruy Lopez. Capablanca's mistakes are just as clear as his good moves."} 9. Nxc6
({Years later, Alekhine, having seen what befell Nimzowitsch, greatly improved
upon White's play:} 9. Bg5 $1 Bg7 10. O-O-O Qd7 11. h3 O-O 12. Rhe1 Rfe8 $6 (
12... h6 {is better}) 13. Qf3 $1 Nh5 14. g4 {and Black's game is on the edge
of collapse since he must hand over his dark-squared bishop, A.Alekhine-A.Brinckmann, Kecskemet 1927.}) 9... bxc6 10. Qa6 $5 {I would avoid this pawn
grab. Nimzowitsch bites, guiltily planning to appropriate a pawn while his
development suffers, reminding us of Alekhine's similar pawn-grabbing
misadventure from Chapter 1.} Qd7 11. Qb7 $5 {Thieves tend to justify larceny
with the thought: My need is greater than yours. When you embark on a risky
plan, consistency isn't necessarily a virtue.} ({It isn't too late to say you
are sorry and play} 11. O-O {.}) 11... Rc8 12. Qxa7 Bg7 13. O-O O-O {QUESTION:
I don't understand what you are talking about. Where is the compensation?
Isn't Black just busted, down a pawn? --- ANSWER: Who do you believe: Me or
your lying eyes!? On the contrary, Black has full compensation - and then some
- for the pawn with Benko Gambit-style pressure soon to follow on the
queenside.} 14. Qa6 Rfe8 15. Qd3 Qe6 16. f3 Nd7 $1 17. Bd2 $6 {White, still
immersed in the conviction of his fictional superiority, fails to notice the
danger around him.} ({If Nimzowitsch had an inkling of the events which soon
transpire, he would surely have made the tacit draw offer by entering the line
} 17. b3 $1 Ne5 18. Qe2 (18. Qd2 Nc4 19. bxc4 $2 {fails to} Qxc4 20. Bb2 Rb8 {
when Black regains the material with heavy interest}) 18... Nc4 $1 19. Qd3 Ne5
{.}) 17... Ne5 18. Qe2 Nc4 {Capa pounces on White's inaccuracy by occupying c4.
} 19. Rab1 {He clings to the baby on b2 with frantic urgency.} Ra8 (19... d5 $1
{also puts White under pressure.}) 20. a4 $2 {The much anticipated
resurrection of the queenside structure fails to materialize. White's
misplaced forces, wary as field mice, soon scatter and fall apart, as
Nimzowitsch conveniently makes just the right number of wrong moves to lose
the game.} ({Better was} 20. b3 $1 Nxd2 21. Qxd2 Ra3 $1 {, though even here
Black's pressure remains unchecked.}) 20... Nxd2 21. Qxd2 Qc4 $1 {The prim
headmistress, disapproving of boisterous conduct, touches her forefinger to
her lips and orders silent obedience on the queenside.} 22. Rfd1 Reb8 {Pal
Benko-approved! Capa's pieces happily engulf the vast vacancy of queenside
terrain. Now the pressure down the a- and b-files soon grows irresistible.} 23.
Qe3 {EXERCISE (planning): We can take on c3 and win our pawn back, but this
isn't Black's best plan. Find one strong move and White folds. --- ANSWER: The
end product of White's toil: A Benko Gambit from hell.} Rb4 $1 {Black's
threats mount as White must deal with both ...Bd4 and the simple plan of ...Rab8 and ...Rxb2. --- QUESTION: Where did this pressure come from? I take back
my earlier claim of White's superiority. --- ANSWER: Poor Nimzo was probably
wondering the same thing. His previous notion of superiority probably rang
hollow, even to his own ears. He fell victim to a strategic concept which had
yet to be invented: Open lines, which at that time were thought only effective
when attacking the opponent's king, are also effective when applying strategic
pressure, as in the case of this game down the a- and b-files.} 24. Qg5 $2 {
The queen, unwilling to share her queenside's misfortune, panics and makes a
hasty and undignified exit.} ({White had to adjust to the new reality, hand
over the exchange, and roll up in a ball with the line} 24. Rd3 Bd4 25. Rxd4
Qxd4 26. Qxd4 Rxd4 {.}) 24... Bd4+ 25. Kh1 Rab8 {Phantoms lurk everywhere and
nowhere as White trembles in their presence. The queenside collapses as b2
falls.} 26. Rxd4 Qxd4 27. Rd1 Qc4 28. h4 Rxb2 29. Qd2 Qc5 30. Re1 Qh5 31. Ra1
Qxh4+ 32. Kg1 Qh5 33. a5 {Where do you think you're going?} Ra8 34. a6 Qc5+ 35.
Kh1 Qc4 36. a7 Qc5 {There goes a7.} 37. e5 Qxe5 {And now White's e-pawn falls.}
38. Ra4 Qh5+ 39. Kg1 Qc5+ 40. Kh2 d5 $1 {A little precaution to protect
against a final white lunge with Ne4.} 41. Rh4 {EXERCISE: Should we worry
about Qh6? --- ANSWER: It is a hollow threat.} Rxa7 $1 42. Nd1 ({Or} 42. Qh6
Qxc3 $1 {and there is no mate.}) 0-1

[Event "Consulation game, Bradford"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1919.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Allies"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A84"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1919.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

{Capablanca, like Muhammad Ali, lost some of his best years due to war - in
Capa's case WWI. So instead of playing a world championship match against
Lasker, he found himself playing the Allies! --- QUESTION: Who were the allies
in this game? --- ANSWER: England, the United States and France? I have no
idea who they were. Probably a few master-strength players from the region.} 1.
d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 {QUESTION: Why does White voluntarily shut in
his dark-squared bishop? --- ANSWER: In these Semi-Slav "V" formations, ...
d5xc4!, followed by ...b7-b5 hanging on to the pawn, can be a real threat. So
White, not wanting to watch out eternally for...d5xc4, covers it. The
c1-bishop has two paths to development: 1. Fianchetto with b2-b3. --- 2. White
enforces the e3-e4 break, freeing his bishop.} f5 5. Bd3 Bd6 6. O-O Nf6 7. b3
O-O 8. Bb2 Nbd7 9. Nbd2 {QUESTION: Why not post the knight on c3? --- ANSWER:
White's target square is e5. His simple plan will be to post a knight on e5
and then follow with Nbd2 and f2-f4.} Ne4 10. Ne5 ({It is important to land on
e5 before Black takes control over that square with his queen; for example,
after} 10. Qc2 Qf6 $1 {.}) 10... Ndf6 {Retaining pieces only helps White.} (
10... Nxd2 $1 11. Qxd2 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Be7 {is Black's best shot at equality.})
11. f3 Ng5 $5 {These days we play our openings the way we put on an old and
familiar garment. If you read 11 books on a line and play it for 15 years
there is little mystery for you. It's easy to forget that, in Capa's day, such
positions were weird, alien territory for both sides. A perfectly acceptable
action in one culture may be considered a disgraceful one in another. Black
pursues complications and attacks with the energy of youth caught in the pangs
of infatuation. The mysterious allies, spurred on by an unspoken chivalric
code, again spurn swaps, hoping to be the lucky bulls that gored the matador
if he had an off day.} 12. Qe1 Qe8 13. Qh4 Nf7 14. Nxf7 Rxf7 15. e4 $1 {
Principle: Open the position when better developed.} Be7 ({QUESTION: Can Black
draw by forcing an opposite-coloured bishops position with} 15... Bb4 16. Rad1
Bxd2 17. Rxd2 dxe4 18. fxe4 Nxe4 {- ? --- ANSWER: This line forces
opposite-coloured bishops but loses to} 19. Bxe4 fxe4 20. Rxf7 Qxf7 21. Rf2 Qe8
22. Ba3 $1 {, forcing the win of Black's queen. Most of Capa's opponents
failed to secure the draw even when they did achieve opposite-coloured bishops.
Just ask Teichmann from the last chapter and Nimzowitsch in the next one!}) 16.
Qe1 Nd7 $6 {Swearing a vow to attack is easy; keeping the vow is not. ---
QUESTION: Black's move looks ridiculous. What is the purpose of this retreat?
--- ANSWER: I fail to find a single logical reason. One of the Allies must
have talked the others into it for some obscure reason, but we will never know
who, or what the reason was behind the move. --- QUESTION: Is this another one
of those one-sided Capa-versus-amateurs bloodbaths you talked about in Chapter
1?} ({ANSWER: It is, but a strategic slaughter this time. Also, stop picking
on the poor Allies. Who knows, you may be a descendent of one of them! The
Allies should continue to develop with something like} 16... Bd7 {, although
even then Black's position fails to inspire confidence.}) 17. exd5 exd5 18.
cxd5 cxd5 19. Rc1 {Houdini mistakenly claims this position is equal. White has
several weak points to work on, such as e5, e6 and c7.} Nb6 $6 {EXERCISE 
(planning): Black just moved the knight in the wrong direction. Find a way to
exploit this misstep. --- ANSWER: Plant a knight on e5.} 20. f4 $1 {Idea: Nf3
and Ne5. If Black had played his knight to f6, this manoeuvre would lose most
of its potency since Black's knight gets easy access to e4.} Qd8 $6 {Black's
position begins to swirl down the toilet bowl after this move.} ({It is always
embarrassing to admit you are wrong, but in this case Black should head for e4
with his knight anyway:} 20... Nd7 21. Nf3 Nf6 {.}) 21. Nf3 Bf6 22. Ne5 Re7 {
Walking into a tempo loss.} 23. Ba3 Re8 ({Or} 23... Rc7 24. Qe3 $1 {and White
soon takes over the c-file.}) 24. Qa5 $1 {Shades of his game against Alekhine
from this chapter.} Be6 25. Bb5 $1 {Note Capa's generosity with his needle,
poking here, pinching there.} Nd7 26. Qxd8 Rexd8 27. Rc7 {Infiltration. It all
looks so simple. Black is busted.} Bxe5 $6 {Adding the bishop pair and passed
e-pawn to White's already impressive strategic resume.} (27... Nf8 {looks a
little better, though Black is still quite busted after} 28. Rxb7 {.}) 28. fxe5
a6 (28... b6 $4 29. Be7 {wins material.}) 29. Bd3 {White wins a pawn with a
double attack on f5 and b7.} g6 30. Rxb7 {Complete strategic domination for
White: 1. He is up a pawn. --- 2. He has a connected, passed pawn on e5. --- 3.
He owns the bishop pair in an open position. --- 4. His rook infiltrates the
seventh rank. --- 5. He rules the dark squares.} Rdc8 31. Rc1 Rxc1+ 32. Bxc1
Rc8 33. Bd2 {No rook entry for Black.} Ra8 34. Bg5 Kf7 35. a4 a5 $2 {A mistake,
though it hardly mattered at this point.} 36. Bb5 {Hola! The bishop gives the
knight a little nudge in the ribs and forces Black's king into a pin.} Ke8 {
EXERCISE: (combination alert): Capa's mosaic is missing just one tiny piece.
How does he end the game? --- ANSWER: Enter an opposite-coloured bishops
position.} 37. Bxd7+ $1 Bxd7 38. e6 $1 {As in other Capa games,
opposite-coloured bishops fail to offer Black relief. The impoverished allies
can ill-afford charity.} ({Black must give up a piece or face} 38. e6 Bc8 39.
Rxh7 {.}) 1-0

[Event "10th matchgame, Havana"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1921.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lasker, Em"]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D61"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "1921.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c5 8. Rd1
{Lasker loved tension in any position.} ({I feel the best path to an advantage
is the immediate} 8. cxd5 {as Flohr played against Capa in Chapter 2.}) ({
QUESTION: Can White go crazy by castling on opposite wings with} 8. O-O-O {- ?
--- ANSWER: White can but it's a high risk venture:} Qa5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. dxc5
Nxc5 {and Black is happy to sac his d-pawn. Houdini likes White, but Kasparov
feels Black has the better chances. When it comes to assessment, always go
with the human!}) 8... Qa5 {The queen wisely removes herself from the d-file.}
9. Bd3 {Lasker agrees to give up a tempo.} ({In the seventh game of the match,
Capablanca, as White, released the tension with} 9. cxd5 {and got too little
to realistically play for the win after} Nxd5 $1 (9... exd5 10. Be2 c4 11. O-O
Re8 12. Ne5 {gave White perhaps a small edge, J.R.Capablanca-F.Yates, London
1922}) 10. Bxe7 Nxe7 11. Bd3 Nf6 12. O-O cxd4 13. Nxd4 {(too many pieces
swapped off to take on an isolani)} Bd7 14. Ne4 Ned5 {, when Black equalized
and drew quickly.}) 9... h6 {Just in case you didn't notice, White threatened
Bxh7+!.} 10. Bh4 cxd4 ({Alekhine suggested} 10... Nb6 {.}) 11. exd4 ({QUESTION:
Can White avoid an isolani position and play} 11. Nxd4 {- ? --- ANSWER: It
lacks dynamism to do so, but sure, the move is playable and dead equal after}
dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nb6 13. Bb3 Bd7 {.}) 11... dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nb6 13. Bb3 Bd7 {Black
has a nice version of an isolani position. --- QUESTION: Why? He has yet to
engineer a single piece trade. --- ANSWER: True, but White's queen sits
awkwardly on the open c-file, handing Black a tempo. White also wasted a tempo
with his earlier Bd3, taking two moves to capture on c4, so Black is better
developed than he would normally be.} 14. O-O Rac8 15. Ne5 Bb5 ({Capablanca
criticized this move and suggested} 15... Bc6 {.}) 16. Rfe1 Nbd5 $6 17. Bxd5 $6
{Lasker makes the same error Teichmann made last chapter. It makes no sense to
keep swapping down when White is the one with the isolani.} ({Breyer suggested
} 17. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 $1 (17... Nxf6 $2 {loses on the spot to} 18. Ng6 $1 Rfe8 19.
Rxe6 $3) 18. Bxd5 exd5 {and now} 19. Ng4 $1 {, when d5 is under heavy pressure
to the coming Qf5!.}) 17... Nxd5 18. Bxe7 Nxe7 19. Qb3 Bc6 $1 {Kasparov made
no comment on this move but, for the time, it was an original strategic
decision.} ({I think most masters of the day would have played} 19... Ba6 {to
avoid the deliberate weakening of Black's structure.}) 20. Nxc6 bxc6 {
Capablanca correctly gauged that his backward and isolated c-pawn was actually
stronger than White's isolani on d4. --- QUESTION: Don't the mutual pawn
weaknesses cancel each other out? --- ANSWER: Euwe writes: "It is noteworthy
that in this position White's queen pawn is weaker than Black's queen's bishop
pawn; the main reason for this is that Black's queen four square (d5) is very
strong."} 21. Re5 Qb6 22. Qc2 Rfd8 23. Ne2 $6 {White falls under pressure
after this meek response.} (23. Na4 {would be more consistent.}) 23... Rd5 24.
Rxd5 ({Lasker claimed this was a blunder, giving instead} 24. Re3 {, but then
Houdini points out} c5 $1 25. Rc3 Rcd8 $1 {with a clear plus.}) 24... cxd5 {
From this point on, Capa plays flawlessly.} 25. Qd2 Nf5 26. b3 ({Lasker also
criticized this move, giving} 26. g3 {as better.}) 26... h5 27. h3 ({Lasker,
by now a complete downer on himself, claimed this was another error and gave} 
27. Ng3 {instead, but as Kasparov points out, White's position is "cheerless"
after} Nxg3 28. hxg3 Qc7 {.}) 27... h4 $1 {QUESTION: Why is he trying to
prevent Ng3? White would have to capture away from the centre. --- ANSWER:
Capa's move was designed to discourage g2-g4 instead.} 28. Qd3 Rc6 29. Kf1 g6
30. Qb1 Qb4 31. Kg1 {EXERCISE (planning): It is clear that Black stands much
better but how to make progress? Come up with a concrete plan to do so. ---
ANSWER: Begin a queenside minority attack, swapping a pair of pawns on that
wing. The end result will be another isolani for White to nurse. This game has
to be one of the earliest and most clear examples of how to conduct a minority
attack successfully.} a5 $1 {QUESTION: What is a minority attack? --- ANSWER:
It is when the player with the fewer pawns on one side of the board launches
them forward. The idea here is to swap Black's a-pawn for White's b-pawn,
saddling White with a second isolani.} 32. Qb2 a4 {The tyranny of the minority
exerts its power over the masses. Now ...Rb6 may be coming, so White allows
queens to come off the board.} 33. Qd2 Qxd2 34. Rxd2 axb3 35. axb3 {QUESTION:
I realize White stands worse, but even if he drops his b-pawn he probably
draws. Isn't this an acceptable ending for him? --- ANSWER: I strongly urge
you to stop accepting such rancid positions! You are misassessing.
Imperceptibly, by fractions of a centimetre, Black's game keeps improving.
Capa managed to seed Lasker's position with two permanent, chronic pawn
weaknesses. Later, Lasker did indeed lose his b-pawn and yet failed to secure
the draw.} Rb6 {Principle: If you can, force the opponent's rook into awkward
lateral defence.} 36. Rd3 (36. Rb2 $2 {drops a pawn to} Rb4 {.}) 36... Ra6 $1
37. g4 ({Kasparov gives} 37. Nc3 Ra1+ 38. Kh2 Rc1 39. b4 Rc2 40. Kg1 Rb2 41. b5
Rb4 $1 {, when White drops his b-pawn and remains with a weak d-pawn after} 42.
Ne2 Rb1+ 43. Kh2 Rxb5 {.}) 37... hxg3 38. fxg3 Ra2 39. Nc3 Rc2 $1 {No rest for
Lasker. Black's rook chases the knight like children at play, threatening ...Nxd4!, overloading White's rook.} 40. Nd1 Ne7 $1 41. Nc3 Rc1+ 42. Kf2 Nc6 43.
Nd1 $1 {Lasker sets up a deep trap...} Rb1 $1 ({...which Capa deftly dodges:} 
43... Nb4 44. Rd2 Rb1 45. Nb2 $3 {(now Black has a "combination")} Rxb2 $2 46.
Rxb2 Nd3+ 47. Ke2 Nxb2 48. Kd2 {was the point. The knight is trapped and White
draws.}) 44. Ke2 $2 {With each passing move, Lasker's belief in his survival
grows less a conviction and more a theory. The chronically ill b3- and
d4-pawns are, as doctors like to call it, pre-existing conditions. We the
ordinary can take heart. Even world champions do dumb things from time to time.
--- EXERCISE: (combination alert): Beset with weary frustration under the
heavy positional pressure, Lasker walks into a simple trap. Can you find the
combination for Black which Lasker missed? --- ANSWER:} Rxb3 $1 {The knight
fork on d4 allows Black his trick.} 45. Ke3 {A parent in a life-and-death
situation has no time to mourn the loss of a child if other children remain in
danger. Lasker, having dropped b3, now fights ferociously for the life of the
others.} Rb4 $1 {Pinning White down to his biggest weakness, d4.} 46. Nc3 Ne7
47. Ne2 Nf5+ 48. Kf2 g5 49. g4 Nd6 50. Ng1 Ne4+ 51. Kf1 {The king must simmer
at the bottom of the pot to avoid the loss of a second pawn.} ({If} 51. Ke3 $2
{then} Rb1 52. Nf3 Rh1 $1 {.}) 51... Rb1+ 52. Kg2 Rb2+ 53. Kf1 Rf2+ 54. Ke1 Ra2
{Capa messes with his opponent's head a while before taking action, allowing
Lasker to stew in the memory of errors and regrets.} 55. Kf1 {The king, body
riddled with welts and contusions, slumps back, too weak to move, and too
beaten down to grow angry.} Kg7 56. Re3 Kg6 57. Rd3 {EXERCISE (planning): The
door to White's survival closes quickly. Work out a step by step winning plan
for Black to convert. --- ANSWER: Step 1: Transfer the king to d6.} f6 $1 58.
Re3 Kf7 59. Rd3 Ke7 60. Re3 Kd6 61. Rd3 Rf2+ 62. Ke1 Rg2 63. Kf1 Ra2 64. Re3 {
Step 2: Play ...e6-e5 and create a passed d-pawn.} e5 65. Rd3 exd4 66. Rxd4 Kc5
67. Rd1 {Step 3: Push it down the board!} d4 68. Rc1+ Kd5 (68... Kd5 69. Rd1
Nf2 70. Rb1 d3 {is utterly hopeless for White.}) 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1924.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bogoljubow, E."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D05"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1924.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 Nf6 ({I played this game the same day I annotated Capa's win over Bogo,
winning by simply following Capa's instructions! As all dumb, cheating
students (like me!) understand, copying off the smart kid's (Capa's!) exam
pays dividends:} 1... d6 2. Nf3 Bg4 3. Nbd2 Nd7 4. b3 Ngf6 5. Bb2 e6 6. h3 Bh5
7. e3 Be7 8. Bd3 c5 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 cxd4 11. exd4 d5 12. Nf1 Rc8 13. Ng3 Bg6
14. Bxg6 hxg6 15. Qd3 Qa5 16. Rec1 $6 (16. a3) 16... Ba3 17. Bxa3 Qxa3 18. c3
Rc7 19. Rc2 Rfc8 20. Rac1 a6 21. Qe3 b5 22. Qd3 Ne8 23. h4 Ndf6 24. Ne5 Nd6 25.
Qe2 Nf5 26. Nxf5 gxf5 27. Qe3 Qe7 28. Qh3 $2 Ne4 29. h5 Qg5 30. Qf3 Nf6 31. c4
$2 bxc4 32. bxc4 dxc4 33. Rxc4 $4 Rxc4 34. Rxc4 Rxc4 {0-1 J.Pryor-C.Lakdawala,
Gambito rapid 2012. White resigned since} 35. Nxc4 Qc1+ {picks off the knight.
Capa's games and strategic ideas are rich with real-time practical value.}) 2.
Nf3 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. b3 {The Zukertort Colle, the most aggressive
sibling in the normally introverted Colle family.} Nc6 6. O-O Bd6 7. Bb2 O-O 8.
Nbd2 Qe7 ({QUESTION: Why not play} 8... Nb4 {- ? --- ANSWER: White simply
retreats his bishop to e2, then boots Black's knight back to c6, by tossing in
a2-a3, and finally returns to d3 with his bishop. The result: no change.}) 9.
Ne5 $5 ({He can also play} 9. a3 {to prevent Black's following manoeuvre.})
9... cxd4 $1 10. exd4 Ba3 $1 {The bishop clears his throat, hoping to get his
brother's attention. With this swap, Capa removes the air from White's
attacking position.} 11. Bxa3 Qxa3 12. Ndf3 ({According to the Chesspub.com
team this move is inaccurate and should be replaced by} 12. c3 $1 {where, they
say, White still has a chance for an edge. Bogo mistakenly plays for his now
non-existent future attack. I read accounts of Bogoljubow's legendary optimism.
Like most super-GMs, Bogo was an unassuming and modest man, once making the
claim: "When I am White, I win because I am White. When I am Black, I win
because I am Bogoljubow!"}) 12... Bd7 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 $1 {QUESTION: Isn't White
better since Black has a bad bishop? --- ANSWER: The position is deceptive.
Black stands at least equal due to the open c-file. He will try and swap away
his bad bishop via b5.} 14. Qd2 Rac8 15. c3 a6 $1 {Intending to debadify the
bishop via b5.} 16. Ne5 Bb5 17. f3 $6 {There is biding one's time and then
there is stalling. Where is Bogo's optimism when he needs it? Bogo,
intimidated by his opponent, feels threatened and mistakenly decides to go
totally passive and keep his guard up.} ({He is still okay if he takes on the
hanging pawns with} 17. c4 dxc4 18. bxc4 Bc6 19. Qe3 {, protecting his d-pawn
and threatening a discovered check on h7. In this case a few green chutes of
grass pop up through the cracks in the concrete.}) 17... Bxd3 18. Nxd3 Rc7 {
Now Black soon picks on the backward c-pawn.} 19. Rac1 Rfc8 20. Rc2 Ne8 $1 {
Redeploying to d6, where the knight clamps down on White's c3-c4 break.} 21.
Rfc1 Nd6 22. Ne5 Qa5 23. a4 $6 {If you are going to grovel then be consistent!
White's last move is at cross purposes with his own best interests. Every pawn
move for White on the queenside constitutes a subtle degradation of his
position.} ({Better to do nothing and play} 23. Qe3 {, when ...Nb5 can be met
with c3-c4.}) 23... Qb6 {Capa's prime directive in the position: Poke and
annoy. He keeps blowing into the balloon until his opponent is the one who
pops.} 24. Nd3 $6 {QUESTION: Why dubious? It looks like White gets the
initiative for the pawn with Nc5 and Rb2.} ({ANSWER: The initiative is pure
facade. In this case, Bogo bargains for more than he should give. My guess is
an optimistic nature isn't a good fit with a plan which requires endless
grovelling! Bogo's faith in his ability to survive waivers as he scapegoats
his b-pawn in a desperate attempt at what turns out to be purely fictional
piece activity. He probably felt he would lose in the long run if he went
passive and suffered in silence with} 24. b4 a5 $1 25. b5 Nc4 26. Nxc4 Rxc4 27.
Ra2 Qc7 28. Ra3 {, when Black eventually engineers an ...e6-e5 pawn break,
with or without ...f7-f6.}) 24... Qxb3 {If someone gives you free money,
accept and stash it away in your bank account.} 25. Nc5 Qb6 26. Rb2 Qa7 {
Threat: A knight fork on c4.} 27. Qe1 b6 {Out!} 28. Nd3 Rc4 29. a5 $6 {This
half-hearted attempt burdens destiny with excessive demands. Rather than
muting his grievances, Bogo haphazardly tosses another pawn, hoping his
control over c5 will give him some play. He gets nothing for it.} (29. Rb4 {is
superior, though still hopeless.}) 29... bxa5 30. Nc5 Nb5 31. Re2 $2 {White
just blundered in a lost position. Black's queen, hidden away on a7, like an
actress, doesn't allow the audience to see her true self behind the mask of
performance. --- EXERCISE: (combination alert): Find the clever shot which
eventually brings the queen into the spotlight and puts Bogo away. --- ANSWER:
Step 1: Open the c-file. Compare Capa's trick with the similar one he pulled
on Dus Chotimirsky in this chapter.} Nxd4 $1 {Capa was unrivalled in his
hyper-alert ability to spot short-range combinations.} 32. cxd4 {Step 2: X-ray/double attack on c1 and g1. The queen, hidden on a7, emerges triumphant in the
end.} R8xc5 $1 {. Black's queen, still hidden away on a7, decides the game.}
0-1

[Event "3rd matchgame, Buenos Aires"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1927.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Alekhine, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A47"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1927.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 c5 5. O-O cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bxg2 7. Kxg2 d5 $5
{Risky, but possibly still playable.} ({From a practical standpoint it may be
wiser to slowly prepare ...d7-d5 with something like} 7... g6 8. c4 Bg7 9. Nc3
Qc8 10. b3 Qb7+ 11. f3 d5 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 Qxd5 14. Be3 Nc6 15. Nxc6 Qxc6
16. Rc1 Qe6 17. Qd3 O-O 18. Rfd1 {, when White was unable to make anything of
his lead in development, M.Tal-L.Polugaevsky, USSR Championship, Moscow 1976.})
8. c4 $1 {Principle: Open the game when ahead in development.} e6 $2 {This
innocuous move costs Alekhine dearly.} ({He should clear the centre with} 8...
dxc4 $1 9. Qa4+ Nbd7 10. Rd1 Qc8 11. Na3 a6 12. Qxc4 e6 13. b3 Qb7+ 14. Qc6
Qxc6+ 15. Nxc6 Rc8 16. Nd4 Bc5 17. Bb2 O-O {, when the storm had passed and
Black equalized, R.Knobel-M.Read, correspondence 1998.}) 9. Qa4+ $1 Qd7 ({After
} 9... Nbd7 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. e4 N5f6 12. Rd1 {Black has to deal with
unpleasant pressure on the c6-square and d-file.}) 10. Nb5 $1 {Threat: Nc7+.}
Nc6 11. cxd5 exd5 $1 {QUESTION: Why not recapture with the knight instead of
taking on a weakness?} ({ANSWER: Black falls dangerously behind in development
and ends up in a dreadful position after} 11... Nxd5 $2 12. e4 Nf6 13. Bf4 Rc8
14. N1a3 Be7 15. Rfd1 Qb7 16. Nc7+ $1 Kf8 {(the knight can't be touched)} 17.
Rac1 {.}) 12. Bf4 Rc8 13. Rc1 Bc5 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): White must
act quickly to exploit his lead in development. What would you play here? ---
ANSWER: Principle: Create confrontation when ahead in development.} 14. b4 $1
Bxb4 $2 {Alekhine reasons: Better to lose a limb than life itself. Correct
reasoning, but he picked the wrong limb!} ({He can minimize the pain by
handing over an exchange for a pawn in the line} 14... Nxb4 $1 15. Nd6+ $1 Ke7
16. Qxd7+ Kxd7 17. Nxc8 Rxc8 {.}) ({QUESTION: Why must Black give any material
when he can simply retreat with} 14... Be7 {- ? --- ANSWER: Retreat of the
bishop loses instantly to} 15. Nc7+ {.}) 15. Rxc6 $1 {Removal of the defender.}
Rxc6 16. Qxb4 Ne4 17. Nd2 $6 {The positional player's disease: Refusal to
weaken in order to increase piece activity.} ({Instead, after} 17. f3 $1 Nc5
18. N1c3 O-O 19. Rd1 {Black collapses quickly.}) 17... Nxd2 18. Qxd2 {QUESTION:
Why did Capa allow Alekhine to castle?} ({ANSWER: Black gets to castle no
matter how White recaptures. For instance:} 18. Bxd2 Rc5 19. Nd4 Rc4 20. Qb2
O-O {.}) 18... O-O 19. Rd1 Rc5 20. Nd4 Re8 21. Nb3 Rcc8 22. e3 Qa4 23. Qxd5 $1
Rc2 24. Rd2 Rxa2 {Black hopes for a future payday from his two connected
passers on the a- and b-files.} 25. Rxa2 $6 {Positional player's disease
number 2: Underestimating one's own initiative. Capa, with feline indifference,
swaps when he should keep pieces on the board.} (25. Rd4 $1 Qa6 26. Rc4 $1 {is
much better, when the coming Rc7 is decisive.}) 25... Qxa2 26. Qc6 Rf8 27. Nd4
Kh8 {EXERCISE (planning): White is slightly up in the material count with two
minor pieces for rook and pawn. However, if he sits around, Black's two
connected passers rumble forward. Come up with a plan for White. --- ANSWER:
Play for a direct attack on Black's poorly defended king.} 28. Be5 $1 f6 {
QUESTION: Didn't Black just help out his opponent by weakening?} ({ANSWER:
Black can't save himself if he avoids weakening. For example:} 28... Qa5 29.
Bd6 Rg8 30. e4 $1 Qg5 31. Nf5 Qf6 32. Qb7 Qe6 33. Ba3 a5 34. Nd6 Rf8 35. Qxb6 {
is hopeless for Black.}) 29. Ne6 $1 {The power of White's forces amplify in
exponential magnitude.} Rg8 {In past centuries royals married for political
alliances, when love had to give way to power and survival. The rook/king duo
is a loveless but necessary marriage to keep Black's king alive for the moment.
Black's rook, a parody of its former self, clutches g7 as a hungry monkey
would a ripe banana.} 30. Bd4 {As always, Capa's pieces are perfectly placed.
The bishop takes aim at Black's king and also keeps an eye out in case Black's
passers attempt a queening run.} h6 31. h4 $1 {Another attacker surges forward.
--- QUESTION: Didn't White just miss a killing sac on g7?} ({ANSWER: Your line
should win but it isn't the best path.} 31. Nxg7 Rxg7 32. Bxf6 Kh7 33. Bxg7
Kxg7 {is not as clear since White still has to worry about those queenside
passers. --- The principle: A queen ending is the worst one to be up a pawn or
pawns. --- I learned this the hard way. I remember losing one as a kid. Up
three pawns, I thought I was about to upset an expert. Unfortunately he
queened first and my extra pawns meant nothing.}) 31... Qb1 {EXERCISE: 
(combination alert): Find the knockout punch.} (31... Kh7 32. e4 $1 Qe2 33.
Qd5 Re8 34. Qf5+ Kg8 35. Bxf6 $1 {decimates the defensive barrier.}) 32. Nxg7
$1 {(ANSWER) Capa collects on an old debt by pressing the knife to Black's
throat and extracting a single drop of blood. Sacs on g7 and f6, for so long
the silent sub-narrative in the position, now grow very real. Even though Capa
lost his title match to Alekhine, this crushing victory must have given him
great satisfaction. Vengeance fails to return our dead, but it does make us
feel a lot better!} Qg6 ({After} 32... Rxg7 33. Qxf6 Qe4+ 34. Kg1 Qb7 35. Qxh6+
Kg8 36. Bxg7 Qxg7 37. Qxg7+ $1 Kxg7 38. Kf1 $1 {, White's king, within the
square of the a-pawn, is easily capable of halting Black's two passers. The
same cannot be said of Black's poor king, who gets overwhelmed by the white
armada on the other side.}) 33. h5 $1 Qf7 34. Nf5 Kh7 ({After} 34... Rf8 35.
Nxh6 Qxh5 36. Bxf6+ Kh7 37. Qd7+ $1 Kxh6 38. Qg7# {is mate!}) 35. Qe4 Re8 36.
Qf4 Qf8 37. Nd6 Re7 38. Bxf6 {Black's beleaguered king descends into a
madman's nightmare and soon the ocean of attackers spits out the bloated
corpse on the beach.} Qa8+ 39. e4 Rg7 40. Bxg7 Kxg7 41. Nf5+ Kf7 42. Qc7+ {.
The queenside passers never had time to move forward a single square.} 1-0

[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1935.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Ragozin, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1935.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

{Capa's prime was behind him when this game was played, yet his aura of
invincibility remained. Watch how tentatively the Russian Grandmaster plays
the Cuban legend.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 {A very un-Capa opening
choice. --- QUESTION: What is this line? --- ANSWER: I may need to forward
your question to my editor, GM John Emms, an expert on the line, who recently
authored a 'Move by Move' book on the Nimzo, and also heads the Nimzo-Indian
section on the website Chesspublishing - but I will try to explain. The
Sämisch Variation is perhaps White's most radical choice versus the
Nimzo-Indian. He expends a tempo to force ...Bxc3+, a move Black often plays
later on anyway. White gets the bishop pair and a rolling centre, while Black
gets the long-term chances due to his superior structure. In essence White
must attack or face a difficult tomorrow should an ending arise. Today, it
isn't played too often since theory worked out promising defensive schemes for
Black's side. As time marches on and computers grow stronger, the attacking
side always seems to take one on the chin theoretically.} Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 d6 ({
A modern interpretation of the line may run:} 5... c5 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Nc6 8.
Ne2 b6 9. e4 Ne8 10. O-O Ba6 11. Ng3 Na5 12. f4 $5 Bxc4 13. Bxc4 Nxc4 14. f5
cxd4 15. cxd4 f6 {, B.Jobava-R.Wojtaszek, Khanty-Mansiysk 2011. --- QUESTION:
Does White get full compensation here? --- ANSWER: I harbour grave doubts
about White's compensation for the pawn at this point, but Jobava is a
super-GM and perhaps knows something about the position I don't.}) 6. Qc2 {
Playing for e2-e4 in one go.} O-O 7. e4 e5 8. Bd3 c5 9. Ne2 Nc6 10. d5 {
QUESTION: Doesn't locking the centre help Black, who has the knights? ---
ANSWER: It does and it doesn't. Remember, White plans a kingside attack based
on his extra space. Principles have an odd way of working, even when we don't
fully understand them. White follows the principle: Lock the centre before
launching a wing attack.} Ne7 (10... Na5 11. a4 Nh5 ({better is} 11... b6 12.
Ng3 Ba6 13. Qa2) 12. h4 Qf6 13. f3 h6 14. Kf2 Bd7 15. Bd2 a6 $2 16. Qb2 $1 Rfc8
(16... Qd8 17. g4 {gives White a powerful attack}) 17. Qb6 Qd8 18. Qxd6 {with
a superior position for White, D.Navara-D.Andreikin, Havana 2011.}) 11. f3 Nd7
{EXERCISE (planning): White hopes for a kingside attack. How would you
proceed? --- ANSWER: Pushing pawns and gaining kingside space.} 12. h4 $3 {For
the time a startlingly original idea, which is much stronger than castling.}
Nb6 $6 {Black misplaces his knight in a naive attempt to engineer ...f7-f5.}
13. g4 $1 {Nyet! Of course, Capa isn't going to allow Ragozin his break.} f6
14. Ng3 Kf7 $1 {Nothing spooks the herd more than the scent of predators
nearby. Ragozin, not liking the look of dark clouds on the kingside, correctly
decides to leave town and head for the relative safety of the queenside.} 15.
g5 $1 {No less than a cry to arms. Capa waves the bloody shirt to ignite the
revolution on the kingside. Compare Capa's play with his game against Menchik
from the previous chapter. --- QUESTION: What good does it do to open the
kingside if Black's king runs away to the other side? --- ANSWER: Although
Black's plan denies White a direct attack, in no way does it dampen White's
kingside initiative.} Ng8 16. f4 $1 Ke8 17. f5 $1 {As he did in his game
against Treybal last chapter, Capa annexes territory at a pace which warms the
hearts of dictators worldwide.} Qe7 18. Qg2 Kd8 19. Nh5 $1 {Targeting g7 as an
entry point. If White gets his knight to e6, Black will be strategically
busted.} Kc7 20. gxf6 $1 gxf6 (20... Nxf6 $2 {drops a pawn to} 21. Qxg7 Rf7 22.
Qh6 {.}) 21. Ng7 $1 {Destination: e6. The knight enters the dark cave, aware
of the watching eyes around it.} Bd7 22. h5 Rac8 23. h6 $1 Kb8 24. Rg1 Rf7 25.
Rb1 Qf8 {The queen's lips grow thin in annoyance. g8 must be defended against
sudden Ne6 tricks.} 26. Be2 $1 {Eyeing h5 for the bishop.} Ka8 {The king
celebrates the fact that he sneaked through White's net since the mesh wasn't
fine enough to trap him - yet. Black hopes to utilize a cheap and abundant
labour force on the queenside to keep his king safe.} 27. Bh5 Re7 {QUESTION:
Can't Black buy some freedom with an exchange sac for a pawn?} ({ANSWER: Black
can't bribe his way out of this one. The exchange sac fails to alleviate the
pressure after} 27... Nxc4 28. Bxf7 Qxf7 29. Qe2 b5 30. Ne6 {. White retains a
crushing bind and there is no answer to infiltration with Rg7 next.}) 28. Qa2
Qd8 29. Bd2 Na4 30. Qb3 Nb6 {QUESTION: Shouldn't Black be trying for
counterplay through the ...b7-b5 break?} ({ANSWER: Capa's iron grip on the
position sees to it that all Black breaks sputter and fail miserably. For
example:} 30... Rb8 $4 31. Ne6 Bxe6 32. fxe6 Nb6 33. Bf7 {wins.}) 31. a4 $1 Rb8
({The a-pawn is taboo:} 31... Bxa4 $2 32. Qa2 Bd7 33. Ne6 Bxe6 34. fxe6 {. The
trouble is that Bf7 is threatened, and if Black makes way for the knight with}
Rec7 $4 {, then the knight on b6 hangs to} 35. Rxb6 {because Black has
generously opened the a-file.}) 32. a5 Nc8 33. Qa2 Qf8 34. Be3 b6 35. a6 $1 {
About now, Ragozin was probably admiring Treybal's position from last chapter!
Black's one and only prayer is that White overextends in his attempts to get
him. Unfortunately for him, Capa almost never overextended, due to his
masterful positional control.} Qd8 36. Kd2 Qf8 37. Rb2 Qd8 38. Qb1 b5 $5 {
Tolerance has its limits. Black attempts a clumsy rearguard uprising. But who
can blame him? One can turn the other cheek for only so long. --- QUESTION:
What if Black does nothing and shuffles between f8 and d8 with his queen?} ({
ANSWER: White then patiently times a proper entry down the g-file. For example:
} 38... Qf8 39. Rg3 Qd8 40. Qg1 Qf8 41. Ne8 $1 {(threatening mate in one)} Rxe8
42. Bxe8 Qxe8 43. Rxg8 {wins.}) 39. cxb5 Nb6 40. Qa2 c4 {Before White plays
the move himself.} 41. Qa3 $1 Qc7 42. Kc1 $1 Rf8 43. Rbg2 $1 Qb8 (43... Bxb5 $4
{loses instantly to} 44. Ne6 {.}) 44. Qb4 Rd8 45. Rg3 {What a squeeze!} ({In
such positions, Capa toys with his helpless opponent, avoiding the immediate} 
45. Ne6 {. --- QUESTION: Isn't the line} Rc8 46. Rg7 {crushing for White? ---
ANSWER: It is, but what is the rush? Sometimes when my position is incredibly
good, I tend to be slow to take action, simply because I enjoy the view so
much!}) 45... Rf8 46. Ne6 Bxe6 47. dxe6 {The sum of all of Black's fears:
Death by asphyxiation. Ragozin opens his mouth to speak but the words won't
come out. It's almost difficult to believe that Capa's opponent was a strong
GM of his day. There is no good defence to the coming Bf7.} Rc7 (47... Qd8 48.
Bf7 {wins,}) ({as does} 47... Rd8 48. Bf7 {.}) 48. Qxd6 Ne7 49. Rd1 {. In the
history of chess literature, it's hard to find a superior example of how to
exploit a territorial advantage than this game. I maintain my claim that Capa
was two or more generations ahead of his day strategically. It once again
looks like a modern day world champion, such as Kramnik, suddenly transported
by time machine to Moscow, 1935, and played the white pieces.} 1-0

[Event "AVRO Tournament, Holland"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1938.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Euwe, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E34"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1938.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 {Capa's specialty line against the Nimzo.
Unlike the position he reached versus Ragozin, this time Capa may recapture on
c3 with his queen, preserving the integrity of his pawn structure. ---
QUESTION: This seems to be a better path than allowing Black ...Bxc3, b2xc3 -
correct? --- ANSWER: I prefer this line over the Sämisch, but keep in mind, 4
Qc2 costs White time to avoid weakening his structure: Qc2, a2-a3, Qxc3 and
then move the queen again if Black plays ...Ne4 later on.} d5 (4... O-O) ({and
} 4... c5 {are also played here.}) 5. cxd5 Qxd5 (5... exd5 {can heat up
quickly. For example:} 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8. dxc5 g5 9. Bg3 Ne4 10. e3 Qa5 11.
Nge2 Bf5 12. Be5 {with head-spinning complications, G.Kasparov-N.Short, 9th
matchgame, London 1993.}) 6. Nf3 c5 ({Today the main line runs} 6... Qf5 7.
Qxf5 exf5 8. a3 Be7 9. Bf4 c6 10. e3 {, when it is deceptively difficult to
extract anything from the position, S.Zhigalko-R.Wojtaszek, Polish Team
Championship 2011.}) 7. Bd2 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 cxd4 ({QUESTION: Can Black regain the
bishop pair with} 8... Ne4 {- ? --- ANSWER: The move simply drops a pawn to} 9.
dxc5 $1 {.}) 9. Nxd4 e5 10. Nf5 Bxf5 11. Qxf5 Nc6 {QUESTION: Isn't this
position just bad for Black? --- ANSWER: Not necessarily. White has both
bishops, but don't discount Black's development lead and greater central
control. --- QUESTION: Is an open position better for the bishops or for the
side with a lead in development? --- ANSWER: From my experience, the side
leading in development usually benefits the most, but perhaps not here. The
chances look dynamically balanced. Stylistically, I would take White if given
a choice.} 12. e3 O-O {EXERCISE (planning): White has obvious problems
completing his development. If he moves his f1-bishop he drops g2. If he moves
his a-rook he drops his a2-pawn. Come up with a plan to complete development.
--- ANSWER: Temporarily sac the g-pawn.} 13. Be2 $1 Qe4 ({White stands a shade
better in the ending if Black takes the pawn:} 13... Qxg2 14. Bf3 Qg6 15. Qxg6
hxg6 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Bxe5 {. --- QUESTION: This doesn't look like much for
White, correct? --- ANSWER: I agree in theory, but still: White can play for a
win due to potential pressure on c6 and the bishop over knight imbalance.
Nobody in their right mind would willingly enter a slightly worse technical
ending versus Capa!}) 14. Qf3 {Playing for the win.} (14. Qxe4 Nxe4 15. Rc1
Nxc3 16. Rxc3 Rac8 17. Bf3 Na5 {is drawish.}) 14... Qc2 $5 {Hoping to prevent
castling.} ({Euwe didn't like the prospects of an ending versus Capa's bishop
pair after} 14... Qxf3 15. gxf3 Nd5 16. Bd2 {, but his chances look better
here than in the line he played in the game.}) 15. O-O $1 {Anyway.} Rad8 (15...
e4 $2 {, which disconnects White's queen from the e2-bishop, fails miserably to
} 16. Qg3 Qxe2 (16... Ne8 $2 17. Bb5 $1 a6 18. Rac1 {traps Black's queen}) 17.
Bxf6 g6 18. Qf4 Qh5 19. Rfd1 Qf5 20. Qxf5 gxf5 21. Rd7 {and Black can barely
move.}) 16. Bb5 {Double attack on c6 and the e5-pawn.} ({Capa missed the
strange computer trick} 16. Ba6 $1 {, which leads to a clear advantage for
White.}) 16... Rd5 17. Rac1 Qe4 $6 ({He should try his luck in a slightly
inferior position after} 17... Qg6 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Bb4 {.}) 18. Qe2 $1 Rd6
19. f3 Qf5 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): Look around. White can win
material by setting up a double attack. --- ANSWER: Part of the power of
ownership of the bishop pair is the fact that one of them can usually be
exchanged off for a knight at will at the favourable moment. This is one such
moment.} 20. Bxc6 $1 Rxc6 21. Qb5 $1 {There it is. Both e5 and b7 are loose.
Black must abandon one of them.} Rfc8 22. Qxb7 Qd3 23. e4 {White is up a clean
pawn and weakness-free.} ({This move may actually be stronger than the weird
computer-shot} 23. Qxa7 R6c7 24. Bd2 $3 Rxc1 25. Bxc1 {. Only computers and
people with strange brains like Morozevich, Shirov and Nakamura are capable of
spotting geometric anomalies like this. --- QUESTION: Isn't this better than
what White got in the game? --- ANSWER: I'm not so sure. In this case White
hangs on to both pawns but is also strangely tied down and passive. He may
have difficulty making progress without handing over a pawn.}) 23... Nh5 {Euwe,
gauging the temperature, decides his position is untenable in the long run and
launches a last ditch, all-out attack.} 24. g3 Qe3+ 25. Kg2 Qg5 26. Kf2 $1 {
Note how Capa deprives Black of a key bargaining chip by leaving his queen on
b7. In doing so, Black can't easily swing the c6-rook into the attack since he
hangs his other one on c8.} f5 $5 27. exf5 Qxf5 ({Euwe is no miser who parcels
out coins carefully. He refuses to step on the brakes and back off with} 27...
Nf6 {. When all logical avenues have been exhausted, human nature dictates
that we turn to gambling.}) ({EXERCISE (critical decision): With} 27... Qxf5 {
Euwe dares Capa to play} 28. g4 {, which wins a piece. Would you go for it?
--- ANSWER: White should accept the piece. The sac is unsound since Black's
attack can't be sustained. Black's shaky theory behind the sac: Culpability in
one crime can be erased by committing another, which fixes the first! A person
cannot simultaneously be both spontaneous and calculating, yet Euwe's sac
gives one the impression of just that.}) 28. g4 $1 Qf4 29. gxh5 Qxh2+ 30. Ke3 {
Every scar on a soldier's body is hard earned. --- QUESTION: Why isn't this
game in the Defence chapter of the book? --- ANSWER: I almost bunged it in
there. It also fit in Chapter 3, Exploiting Imbalances, since it's a good
example of how to play bishops against a knight pair. Capa's games were rarely
one dimensional.} Qf4+ {The lone attacking queen, an enraged teddy bear, fails
to intimidate. Euwe tries in vain to grab hold of something tangible in his
attempted attack but instead reaches for a reflection of a reflection.} 31. Ke2
Qc4+ 32. Ke1 Qd3 ({Black's attack also runs out of gas after} 32... Qh4+ 33.
Rf2 Qh1+ 34. Kd2 Qxh5 35. Rg1 Qh6+ 36. f4 $1 {.}) 33. Qb3+ Kh8 34. Rc2 $1 {Too
many defenders; too few attackers. Capa balances his pieces with ease upon an
uneven surface. His last move renders Black's would-be attack null and void.}
Rf6 ({White consolidates after} 34... Qe3+ 35. Re2 Qc1+ 36. Kf2 Qf4 37. Rh1 Rf8
38. Bxe5 {.}) 35. Rd2 Qf5 36. Qc2 Qf4 37. Qe4 {The secret of successful
defence: Centralize.} Qg3+ 38. Rff2 Qg1+ 39. Ke2 Rff8 40. h6 $1 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "5: Capa on Endings"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[SourceDate "2010.10.23"]

{We finally get our hands on the good stuff. Capa's endings continue to exert
their fascination upon new generations, long after his death. No player in the
history of the game monopolized a single phase as Capa did in endings. He
wasn't just superior to his opponents in the endgame. He consistently
dominated, even after his prime. Capa invariably found hidden meaning in the
most trifling shifts in the position, to which most of his opponents were
oblivious. If he stood better in the ending, he nearly always won. In drawish
endings he often won. And when he stood worse - you guessed it! - he usually
still drew or won. --- It was difficult to pick from so many instructive
examples. This chapter is but a tiny sliver of the whole. Unlike other
chapters in the book, where the games are ordered chronologically, in this
chapter we start with the more basic endgames and then progress to the more
crowded ones with more pieces on the board.} *

[Event "Hastings"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1919.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Conde, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1919.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. d4 exd4 8.
Nxd4 Be7 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. Bg5 O-O 11. Qd3 Re8 12. Rfe1 h6 13. Bh4 c5 14. Nf5 Bxf5
15. exf5 Qd7 16. h3 a5 17. Re2 Nh7 18. Bxe7 Rxe7 19. Rxe7 Qxe7 20. Nd5 Qd7 21.
Re1 Re8 22. Rxe8+ Qxe8 23. Qe3 Qd7 24. Qe7 Qxe7 25. Nxe7+ Kf8 26. Nd5 Ke8 27.
Nxc7+ Kd7 28. Nd5 Kc6 29. c4 Nf6 {The incessant haggling continues. Black
seeks control over d5 as the vital component to his strategy, even at the cost
of a pawn down king and pawn ending. --- EXERCISE (critical decision): Assess
the position. Should we trade knights, or is the king and pawn ending drawn if
we do so? --- ANSWER: Take the plunge.} 30. Nxf6 $1 {Capa soon proves that
Black chased a conclusion which the position refuses to support. Black is dead
lost in the king and pawn ending.} gxf6 {Black threatens ...d6-d5 next, which
either gives him king position or a protected, passed d-pawn if ...d5-d4 is
allowed.} 31. a4 $5 ({Capa didn't like} 31. Kf1 d5 32. cxd5+ Kxd5 33. Ke2 Ke4 {
which the computers say wins for White as well.}) 31... d5 32. b3 $1 d4 {
QUESTION: Isn't Capablanca's 31st move a "??". The position has to be a dead
draw now. --- ANSWER: It isn't. Let's assess: 1. White is up a doubled extra
pawn on the kingside. It is important to realize that White can still create a
passed pawn with his majority. At the moment this doesn't seem to bother Black
a bit since his king can await and block the coming passer on the kingside.
--- 2. Black's pride and joy is his passed and fortified d4-pawn. This pawn
keeps White's king honest and near the d1 queening square. --- The position
does indeed look drawn, but looks are deceptive. The position contains a
hidden win for White which Capablanca had foreseen.} 33. f4 {Denying the black
king entry via e5.} Kd6 34. g4 Ke7 35. Kf2 Kd6 36. Kf3 Ke7 37. Ke4 Kd6 38. h4
Kd7 {EXERCISE (planning/combination alert): The position looks like a dead
draw, with neither side able to make progress. If you discover the correct
idea, we find that Capa's side does indeed win. How? --- ANSWER: Sac the 
(almost!) useless b3-pawn in order to create a second passer. Capa tosses his
pawn negligently forward one move into hostile territory, as if any square
will do.} 39. b4 $3 {Capa's last move must have had the effect of a slap
across the face to his opponent, as the armies abruptly collide with titanic
force.} axb4 {It doesn't matter which way Black captures. White wins with
exactly the same plan both ways. --- QUESTION: Wait a minute. If this is the
end of the world, then the end of the world doesn't seem so bad. How does
White's pawn sac help? Capablanca just handed Black two passers as well. ---
ANSWER: He gave Black a duo of passers only one file apart. This means White's
king is perfectly equipped to halt them both. On the other hand, White's
passers, a world apart, mean Black's king is helpless to stop them.} 40. a5 Kc7
41. g5 $1 {Sorry rabbit, this is the turtle's race to win. The second
passer-in-waiting soon emerges.} fxg5 42. fxg5 hxg5 43. hxg5 b3 {Where do you
think you are going? Black's pawn sits only two squares from promotion, yet it
feels like infinite distance.} 44. Kd3 {The crow grows attracted to the shiny
object on b3. The optimistic b-pawn, hoping to win a race, finds itself in a
cul-de-sac.} Kd7 {Make up your mind. Are you trying to halt the a-pawn or the
g-pawn? Black's king, floating in a limbo of indecision, can only barricade
one or the other. When you are lost and without a GPS, each direction looks
much like the others.} 45. g6 fxg6 46. fxg6 {. Black's king, with a sigh of
resignation, passively witnesses the operation unfold, utterly powerless to
partake.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1913.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Duras, O."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D26"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "1913.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e3 a6 6. Bxc4 b5 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. a4
b4 9. Nb1 c5 10. O-O Nc6 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. Qe2 Qd5 13. Rd1 Qh5 14. Nbd2 Na5 15.
Nf1 O-O 16. Ng3 Qg4 17. e4 Nb3 18. Rb1 Rfd8 19. Be3 Nxe4 20. Bc2 Bxe3 21. Qxe3
Nbc5 22. h3 Qg6 23. Nxe4 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Bxe4 25. Bxe4 Nxe4 26. Qd4 h6 27. Qxb4
Nf6 28. Qb7 Qe4 29. Qxe4 Nxe4 {QUESTION: Who stands better? --- ANSWER: The
only significant imbalance is opposite wing pawn majorities. White has a 2:1
queenside pawn majority, normally an advantage. As we shall see, his majority
isn't so easy to mobilize. I would assess the position as "+=". White stands
better but Black should hold the draw. However, these generalities don't apply
to Capa, who routinely won slightly inferior endings throughout his career.}
30. b4 $2 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): The easiest mistake is the
"natural" move. In this case White mistimes the mobilization of his majority.
Black to play and force the win of a pawn.} ({The correct path lies in} 30. Ne5
$1 a5 {(attempting to fix in place White's majority of two with a single unit)}
31. Rd4 Nc5 32. Rc4 Nb3 $1 33. Rc3 Rb8 34. Nd7 $1 Rd8 $1 (34... Rb4 $6 35. Rc8+
Kh7 36. Nf8+ Kg8 37. Nxe6+ {is at least a draw if White wants one}) 35. Rxb3
Rxd7 36. Rb5 Rd2 {and should end in a draw.}) 30... Nc3 $1 {ANSWER: Double
attack on d1 and a4.} 31. Rd3 ({Instead:} 31. Ra1 Rb8 32. Ra3 Nd5 {picks off a
pawn.}) (31. Rd7 a5 $1 (31... Nxa4 $6 32. Ne5 {should give White enough
kingside counterplay to hold the draw}) 32. bxa5 Rxa5 {and a4 falls, all the
while Black's well-placed rook deprives his opponent of Ne5 counterplay.})
31... Nxa4 32. Ra3 Nb6 {As long as the rook on a8 is protected, b4-b5 is not a
threat.} 33. Ne5 Kf8 34. Nd3 Nd5 35. Ra4 {Intending Nc5.} Rb8 36. Rxa6 Nxb4 37.
Nxb4 Rxb4 {So White made significant progress in his goal to draw the game by
clearing the queenside of pawns. --- QUESTION: Is this a dead draw? --- ANSWER:
It is a draw since all pawns are on one side but by no means a dead draw.
Black's practical chances shouldn't be underestimated. This is one of those
positions everyone thinks is a trivial draw, yet would lose to someone on the
pawn-up side who knows what they are doing. I have seen strong GMs lose the
pawn-down side in 4 versus 3 situations - just as Duras is destined to this
game. We all think we know how to draw here, but few do! So let's learn it.
Which patient was ever cured by ignoring the doctor's prescription?} 38. Ra7 ({
If} 38. g3 $1 {, intending h3-h4 next move, then Black should prevent this
optimal defensive set-up with} g5 $1 {.}) 38... h5 {Intending ...h5-h4.} 39. g3
$5 {Those with an excess of nervous energy must always be occupied with a
project. White hopes to achieve his best set-up next move with h3-h4.} ({
Instead, he should probably just slide over with} 39. Kf1 {and wait around to
see how Black makes progress.}) 39... h4 $1 {Quick as a hunter who spies a
ripple of motion in the forest, Capa removes the possibility of White
organizing his perfect defensive set-up with h3-h4 by playing ...h5-h4 himself.
--- QUESTION: Don't pawn trades help the defending side? --- ANSWER: Not when
the trade entails handing the opponent a weakness.} 40. gxh4 $6 {Logically
swapping down but, in doing so, Duras litters his position by taking on a
fragmented structure.} ({I think he was better off with the anti-principled
move} 40. g4 {. Of course, here he must deal with a hole on f4 which Black's
king may later occupy. But it feels like Black may have a harder time
converting in this version.}) 40... Rxh4 41. Kg2 e5 42. Kg3 Rd4 43. Ra5 f6 44.
Ra7 Kg8 $1 {The king sneaks by, unseen in the dead of night, out of his
imprisonment on the eighth rank, via h7.} 45. Rb7 Kh7 46. Ra7 Kg6 47. Re7 Rd3+
48. Kg2 {EXERCISE (planning): Now Black needs to roll his kingside pawns
forward by playing for ...f6-f5. How can he engineer this strategy?} (48. Kg4
$4 f5+ 49. Kh4 Kf6 50. Ra7 g5+ 51. Kh5 Rxh3# {would be a pretty stupid way for
White to lose.}) 48... Rd5 $1 {ANSWER: By protecting his e-pawn first.} 49. Kg3
f5 50. Ra7 Rd3+ 51. Kg2 e4 52. Ra4 Kg5 53. Ra5 g6 {About this point Duras
probably suffered a sinking feeling about his previous sense of accomplishment
at achieving his "drawn" position, dampened further by the fact that his
position may not be tenable anymore.} 54. Rb5 {QUESTION: Can White hold the
draw by simply shuffling his rook along the sixth rank?} ({ANSWER: Watch how
quickly White's position degrades if he follows this plan:} 54. Ra6 Rd2 {
(threat: ...e4-e3)} 55. Kg1 f4 56. Rb6 f3 $1 57. Re6 Kf5 58. Re8 {the rook
mumbles awkward apologies and hastily abandons his post, ending White's sixth
rank strategy;} ({if} 58. Ra6 $2 Rd1+ 59. Kh2 e3 {wins on the spot}) 58... Rd1+
59. Kh2 Rf1 60. Kg3 Rg1+ 61. Kh4 g5+ 62. Kh5 Rg2 63. Rf8+ Ke5 64. Re8+ Kd4 65.
Rd8+ Kc4 66. Re8 Kd3 {, when f2 falls and Black wins easily.}) 54... Kf4 55.
Ra5 Rd2 56. Ra4 {Preventing ...e4-e3.} Kg5 {Threat: ...e4-e3!.} 57. Kg1 Kf4 58.
Kg2 g5 59. Rb4 {EXERCISE (planning): Black's dream of victory begins to gel
into reality. Come up with a plan for Black to make progress. --- ANSWER: Make
way for the f-pawn to roll forward.} Ke5 $1 60. Rb5+ Rd5 61. Rb8 f4 62. Rg8 Kd4
63. Kf1 Kd3 64. Ra8 e3 $1 65. Ra3+ (65. fxe3 Kxe3 66. Kg2 Rd2+ 67. Kf1 Rd1+ 68.
Kg2 f3+ 69. Kh2 f2 70. Re8+ Kd3 71. Rd8+ Kc2 72. Rc8+ Kb3 73. Rb8+ Kc4 74. Rc8+
Kb5 75. Rb8+ Kc6 76. Rc8+ Kd7 {forces promotion.}) 65... Ke4 {Capa's nimble
king flicks about the board like tongues of flame in a fire. Meanwhile,
White's nervous king, fearful of looming mate threats, flinches every time he
sees his own shadow.} 66. fxe3 f3 $1 {Black's win, a Polaroid photo, slowly
appears into clarity.} (66... fxe3 $6 67. Ra8 $1 {isn't so easy.}) 67. Kg1 {
White's king suffers from what Martin Luther King described as "a degenerating
sense of nobodyness."} (67. Ke1 Rd3 68. Ra5 Kxe3 69. Re5+ Kf4 70. Ra5 Re3+ 71.
Kf2 Re2+ 72. Kf1 Re5 73. Ra3 Kg3 {also does the trick.}) 67... Rd3 68. Ra8 Kxe3
69. Re8+ Kf4 70. Rg8 Rd1+ 71. Kf2 Rd2+ 72. Kf1 Rh2 $1 {The finishing touch.
The h3-pawn falls and resistance melts like snow on a warm spring day.} 73. Kg1
(73. Rh8 Kg3 {threatens mate on h1 and also the h-pawn.}) 73... Rxh3 74. Rg7 g4
75. Rg8 Kg3 0-1

[Event "29th matchgame, Buenos Aires"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1927.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Alekhine, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D52"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "1927.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. Nf3 Qa5 7. Nd2 Bb4 8. Qc2
dxc4 9. Bxf6 Nxf6 10. Nxc4 Qc7 11. a3 Be7 12. g3 O-O 13. Bg2 Bd7 14. b4 b6 15.
O-O a5 16. Ne5 axb4 17. axb4 Rxa1 18. Rxa1 Rc8 19. Nxd7 Qxd7 20. Na4 Qd8 21.
Qb3 Nd5 22. b5 cxb5 23. Qxb5 Ra8 24. Rc1 Ra5 25. Qc6 Ba3 26. Rb1 Bf8 27. Bxd5
Rxd5 28. Nxb6 Rd6 29. Qb7 h5 30. Nc4 Rd7 31. Qe4 Rc7 32. Ne5 Qc8 33. Kg2 Bd6
34. Ra1 Rb7 35. Nd3 g6 36. Ra6 Bf8 37. Rc6 Rc7 38. Rxc7 Qxc7 {QUESTION: Can
White win? --- ANSWER: Let's assess: 1. White is up a pawn. --- 2. Effectively,
all the pawns sit on the same side of the board and White has no passed pawn.
This factor favours Black. --- 3. The queen and knight team is superior to
Black's queen and bishop, due to the potential attacking power inherent in Q/N.
--- 3. If queens come off the board, the knight and five pawns may still beat
bishop and four pawns - but only on the condition of no radical alteration to
the structure. --- Conclusion: I would rate White's chances to win slightly
lower than 50%.} 39. Ne5 Bg7 40. Qa8+ Kh7 41. Nf3 {QUESTION: Why did White
transfer his knight from dead centre to f3? --- ANSWER: It is crucial for
White to keep the knight on the board. He can't allow a swap for Black's
bishop, since the queen ending is probably drawn. Also, with his knight on f3,
White's king is safe from queen checks on the long diagonal.} Bf6 42. Qa6 Kg7
43. Qd3 Qb7 {EXERCISE (planning): How does White make progress? --- ANSWER:
Play e3-e4 and d4-d5, creating a passed d-pawn.} 44. e4 Qc6 45. h3 Qc7 46. d5
exd5 47. exd5 Qc3 $1 {Perfectly timed. If queens come off, the advanced d-pawn
may turn into a defensive liability for White.} 48. Qxc3 $6 {Capa's old
disease crops up, his tendency to swap no matter what the requirements of the
position. Sometimes it is wiser to bend in order to avoid breaking.} ({His
best shot to win is to keep queens on the board with} 48. Qd1 $1 Qa1 49. Qe2
Qb2 50. Qe4 {, though even then, it looks impossibly difficult to win this one.
}) 48... Bxc3 49. Kf1 Kf6 {Black intends ...Ke7 and ...Kd6, tying White down
to his d-pawn.} ({After} 49... Kf8 50. Ke2 Ke7 51. Kd3 Ba5 52. Ne5 $1 Be1 53.
Ke3 Bc3 54. Nc4 {keeps Black's king away from the d-pawn.}) 50. Ke2 Bb4 51. Nd4
$1 Bc5 (51... Ke5 $4 {hangs the bishop to} 52. Nc6+ {.}) 52. Nc6 $1 {Capa
cleverly encases his d5-pawn as if it were a precious and delicate family
heirloom, passed on from generation to generation.} Kf5 53. Kf3 Kf6 54. g4 {
QUESTION: Why is White trading pawns? --- ANSWER: Every pawn trade helps Black,
but Capa needs to get his pawns off the dark squares, away from the influence
of Black's bishop.} hxg4+ 55. hxg4 {There are few pawns on the board and
White's d-pawn must be closely watched and guarded. Alekhine is almost there
with the draw. --- EXERCISE (planning/critical decision): In this position he
has a choice of plans: a) 55...Bb6, to wait and ask White how he will make
progress. --- b) 55...Kg5, to get active with his king.} Kg5 $2 {If we are on
a budget, it is sometimes wise to rein in our spending habits when we shop. In
this instance, Alekhine wants more than his position is willing to give as his
innate tendency to stay as active as possible leads him astray.} ({ANSWER:
White is unable to make progress if Black simply waits. For example:} 55... Bb6
$1 56. Ke2 Bc7 57. Ke3 Kg5 58. Ke4 $1 f5+ $1 (58... Kxg4 $2 {loses to} 59. Ne5+
Kg5 60. d6 $1 f5+ 61. Kf3 $1 Bb6 62. d7 Kf6 63. Nc6) 59. gxf5 gxf5+ 60. Kd3 Kf4
{and Black should hold the draw without any trouble. A good general thinks
like the enemy but then goes one step further.}) 56. Ne5 $1 {"Thou shalt not
steal," said the thief! Capa strikes whip-quick as White's last move wins a
pawn at a minimum.} Bd4 {QUESTION: How can White win if Black simply pushes
his f-pawn forward?} ({ANSWER: White utilizes a tactic in your line:} 56... f5
57. d6 $1 fxg4+ 58. Kg2 {, when the advanced d-pawn costs Black a piece.}) 57.
Nxf7+ {I am always outraged when I witness my dogs befouling one of my beloved
fruit trees in the backyard. Alekhine must have had similar emotions at this
point about the outrageous violation of his f-pawn.} Kf6 58. Nd8 $1 {The
nimble knight continues to rise and sink, its propulsion oars on a rowboat.}
Bb6 (58... Ke5 $4 {allows White a winning king and pawn ending after} 59. Nc6+
Kxd5 60. Nxd4 Kxd4 61. Kf4 {.}) 59. Nc6 Bc5 60. Kf4 $1 Bxf2 61. g5+ Kf7 62.
Ne5+ Ke7 {Necessity demands homage. The rather flagrant bribe of one pawn in
exchange for mercy is accepted - I mean the pawn, not the mercy part!} ({If} 
62... Kg7 $2 63. d6 Bb6 64. Nc6 Kf7 65. d7 {wins the bishop.}) 63. Nxg6+ Kd6
64. Ke4 Bg3 65. Nf4 Ke7 66. Ke5 Be1 67. d6+ Kd7 68. g6 Bb4 69. Kd5 $1 {Black
quickly runs short of tomorrows, as hopes of an impenetrable wall collapse.} ({
Of course Capa is not going to fall for the lowbrow drawing trap} 69. g7 $4
Bc3+ 70. Kd5 Bxg7 {.}) 69... Ke8 70. d7+ $1 {. The insects sneak into the
house through the cracks.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1924.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Tartakower, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A85"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1924.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 f5 3. c4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. e3 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O
Qe8 9. Qe2 Ne4 10. Bxe7 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Qxe7 12. a4 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Nc6 14. Rfb1
Rae8 15. Qh3 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 27. h5
Rf6 28. hxg6 hxg6 29. Rh1 Kf8 30. Rh7 Rc6 31. g4 Nc4 32. g5 Ne3+ 33. Kf3 Nf5
34. Bxf5 gxf5 {During the Christmas of 1969 my family visited Blacksburg,
Virginia, where my uncle was an engineering professor at Virginia Tech. Having
saved my allowance for an eternity, and with a little monetary assistance from
Santa, I wisely invested in my first Capablanca book. Both the name and author
of the book are long forgotten, but what I do remember is this diagrammed
position versus Tartakower. I took one look and grew convinced Capa's side was
losing. Don't make the same mistake I made when I was nine-years-old! ---
EXERCISE (planning): How would you evaluate this ending? Is the position even
or does one side stand better? The second part of the question is: whatever
your evaluation, come up with a plan for White. --- ANSWER: Houdini says "+="
or slight edge for White. The fact is, it is White who is winning since he has
an extra piece - his king. His next move allows king entry via h4. The plan: 1.
Infiltrate to f6. --- 2. With Black's king cut off, try either queening or
play directly for checkmate with king/rook and pawns teaming up.} 35. Kg3 $1 {
He leaves c3 as a gift on Black's doorstep.} Rxc3+ $6 ({In his book, 'The
Greatest Ever Chess Endings', Steve Giddins points out an analytical dual
between chess journalist Vladimir Goldin and GM Igor Zaitsev. Goldin claimed a
draw for Black with} 35... Kg8 $1 {(clearly Black's best practical try)} 36.
Rd7 Rxc3+ 37. Kh4 Rf3 {and now Goldin's analysis continued} 38. g6 $2 ({
however, GM Igor Zaitsev found a hole in Goldin's line:} 38. Kh5 $3 Rxf4 39.
Kg6 Kf8 40. Kf6 Re4 41. Rf7+ $1 Kg8 42. Rxc7 Re8 43. Kxf5 {, where White
reaches the Goldin line but with the c7-pawn already eliminated; in this case
White wins}) 38... Rxf4+ 39. Kg5 Re4 40. Kf6 Re8 $1 {, when Black's rook
reaches the first rank, which puts White's win at risk; for example,} 41. Kxf5
Rc8 $1 42. Ke6 c5 $1 {should save Black.}) 36. Kh4 Rf3 ({QUESTION: It looks to
me like Black wastes time going after f4. Why not try a queening race with} 
36... c5 {- ? --- ANSWER: White is faster in every line:} 37. dxc5 d4 ({or} 
37... bxc5 38. g6 d4 39. Kg5 d3 40. Kf6 Ke8 41. g7) 38. g6 d3 39. cxb6 axb6 40.
Rd7 Ke8 41. g7 {and White reaches the goal first.}) 37. g6 $1 Rxf4+ 38. Kg5 Re4
39. Kf6 $1 {QUESTION: Why dance around the f-pawn, rather than take it? ---
ANSWER: A Zen koan for you to solve: What is the only thing a sword cannot
cut? The answer: Itself! --- Capa's move, which declined Black's f-pawn, was a
shocking revelation to me in 1969. It looked to me at the time that White's
king had lost his mind, like a man who resorts to wearing tinfoil hats to
prevent radio waves from entering his brain. (We may discuss this theory some
more if I ever write a book on Fischer!) With his last move, White conveys an
unspoken "or else!" to his opponent by threatening mate in one and thus gains
a tempo. Black would actually be better off without his f-pawn, which for now,
shields White's king from annoying checks.} Kg8 40. Rg7+ Kh8 41. Rxc7 {Another
back rank mate threat looms and White's king, rook and g-pawn make common
cause to hunt the opposing king like wild game. Abandonment by family is a
primordial human fear. Black's forlorn king is the divorced parent who moves
to another city and by now barely knows his own children.} Re8 42. Kxf5 {The
correct moment to take the f-pawn. Well, I did say Black would be better off
without the pawn, didn't I?} Re4 43. Kf6 {Re-litigating the old mate threat.}
Rf4+ 44. Ke5 Rg4 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): How can White hold on to his
g-pawn and then pick off d5? --- ANSWER: By offering to go into a won king and
pawn ending.} 45. g7+ $1 Kg8 ({After} 45... Rxg7 46. Rxg7 Kxg7 47. Kxd5 Kf7 48.
Kc6 Ke7 49. Kb7 Kd6 50. Kxa7 Kc6 51. Ka6 Kc7 52. d5 Kd6 53. Kxb6 Kxd5 54. a5 {
promotes.}) 46. Rxa7 Rg1 {QUESTION: Why not continue the harassment from g5?} (
{ANSWER: The rook backs away with the laboured, false friendliness of an enemy
before a more powerful foe. Black walks into a quick mate in this line:} 46...
Rg5+ 47. Kf6 Rg1 48. Ra8+ Kh7 49. Rh8# {!}) 47. Kxd5 {Capa lassoes yet more
pawns with the ease of a ranch-hand roping fat, lazy, wayward cows. Time for
Tartakower to resign. Naturally he didn't. Perhaps it was under the assumption
that a beaten general can still hope to negotiate favourable terms of
surrender?} Rc1 48. Kd6 Rc2 49. d5 Rc1 50. Rc7 Ra1 51. Kc6 Rxa4 52. d6 1-0

[Event "Nottingham"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1936.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Reshevsky, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E03"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1936.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Qa4+ Nbd7 5. Qxc4 e6 6. g3 a6 7. Bg2 b5 8.
Qc6 Ra7 9. Bf4 Bb7 10. Qc1 c5 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. O-O O-O 13. Nbd2 Qe7 14. Nb3
Bb6 15. Be3 Rc8 16. Qd2 Ne4 17. Qd3 Nec5 18. Nxc5 Nxc5 19. Qd1 Ba8 20. Rc1 Rac7
21. b3 Nd7 22. Rxc7 Rxc7 23. Bxb6 Nxb6 24. Qd4 Nd5 25. Rd1 f6 26. Ne1 Bb7 27.
Bxd5 exd5 28. e3 Qe4 29. h4 a5 30. f3 Qxd4 31. Rxd4 Rc1 32. Kf2 Ra1 33. Rd2 a4
34. Nd3 Rb1 {Compare this game to Capa's defence against Flohr in Chapter 2.
--- QUESTION: I assume this is an example of good knight versus bad bishop,
but given that, doesn't Black's active rook easily make up for it? --- ANSWER:
Let's answer the question with an exercise: EXERCISE (planning): Your claim is
exactly correct. But what if White had a way of forcing rooks off the board?
Then his advantage would be unquestioned. --- ANSWER:} 35. Rb2 $1 Rxb2+ ({No
choice but to swap since Black loses if he gets cute:} 35... Rd1 $4 36. Ke2 Rg1
37. bxa4 {wins.}) 36. Nxb2 Bc6 37. Nd3 g5 $1 38. hxg5 fxg5 39. Nb4 axb3 40.
axb3 {I hope nobody thought about taking the "free" bishop.} Bb7 41. g4 $1 {
QUESTION: Isn't White's last move incorrect? He places more pawns on the
target light squares. --- ANSWER: It was critical for White to halt ...h7-h5!
when he must deal with the threat of ...h5-h4, creating an outside passed pawn
for Black.} Kg7 42. Ke2 {Black has two defensive postures: Plan a) Play for ...Kg6 and ...h7-h5; after White takes, Black recaptures with his king and then
plans infiltration with ...Kh4 and ...Kg3. --- Plan b) Black centralizes his
king on e5, then manoeuvres his bishop to e8, and follows with ...h7-h5 to
reduce the number of pawns on the board. --- EXERCISE (planning/critical
position): Which plan would you choose?} Kg6 $2 {A fatal choice.} ({ANSWER:
Plan b) was correct:} 42... Kf6 $1 43. Kd3 Ke5 44. Nc2 Bc6 45. Kc3 Be8 $1 46.
Nd4 h5 $1 47. gxh5 Bxh5 48. Kb4 g4 $1 49. fxg4 Bxg4 50. Kxb5 Ke4 51. Kc5 Kxe3
52. b4 Bd7 53. Kxd5 {(threat: Nc6 to shut out the bishop)} Ba4 $1 {and Black
draws.}) 43. Kd3 h5 {Reshevsky's defensive goal: Remove as many pawns from the
board as possible, but his plan is the wrong way to do so.} ({QUESTION: How
about} 43... d4 {, liquidating his pawn weakness on d5? --- ANSWER: You must
factor in White's obvious response} 44. e4 $1 {when the d4-pawn drops. Don't
consider your ideas exclusively. Put yourself in your opponent's place and
factor in an appropriate response. Then you won't miss such tricks.}) 44. gxh5+
Kxh5 45. Kd4 Kh4 46. Nxd5 Kg3 {The malcontent on g3 threatens to make trouble
for White's f-pawn.} 47. f4 $1 {Capa boldly allows Black an unopposed, passed
g-pawn, seeing that it can be stopped while his passers surge.} g4 48. f5 Bc8
49. Ke5 $1 {The king undermines the bishop's authority over the e6-square.} (
49. f6 $2 Be6 {lets Black right back in the game.}) 49... Bd7 50. e4 Be8 51.
Kd4 $2 {A blunder, which could have thrown away half a point.} ({After the
correct} 51. f6 $1 Kf3 52. Nf4 g3 53. Kf5 Bd7+ 54. Kg5 Be8 55. e5 Bf7 56. Kf5
Bxb3 57. e6 Bxe6+ 58. Kxe6 Kxf4 59. f7 {White wins by a tempo.}) 51... Kf3 $1
52. e5 g3 53. Ne3 {Let's take a shot at an impossibly hard problem. Black
clings to life by the thinnest of threads, yet deeply hidden in the position
lay a remarkable way for Black to save himself. --- EXERCISE (critical
decision): Look at 53...Bh5 and also 53...Kf4. One of them holds the draw for
Black. What does your intuition tell you?} Kf4 $2 {A panicked opponent ensures
your victory. Now Black's counterplay grows cold as old ash in the fireplace.}
({ANSWER: Black draws in problem-like fashion after} 53... Bh5 $3 {(release
the Kraken! - the bishop moves soundlessly into the picture, a blurred, grey
form of an intruder in a surveillance video)} 54. e6 Bg4 $1 {(zugzwang;
unbelievably, White can't make progress)} 55. b4 Kf4 56. Kd3 Kf3 $1 (56...
Bxf5+ $2 {fails to} 57. Nxf5 g2 ({or} 57... Kxf5 58. e7 g2 59. e8=Q g1=Q 60.
Qe4+ $1 {and all Black king moves lead to a dead lost king and pawn ending})
58. Nd4 $1) 57. Kd2 g2 $1 58. Nxg2 Kxg2 59. e7 Bh5 60. Ke3 Kg3 61. f6 Kg4 62.
Kd4 ({an optimistic and misguided student suggested} 62. Ke4 $4 {as a winning
try, but I ask for whom?} Be8 $1 63. Ke5 Kg5 64. Ke6 Kg6 65. Ke5 Bf7 $1 {and
Black actually wins due to zugzwang}) 62... Kf5 63. Kc5 Kxf6 {draws.}) 54. e6
$1 {Now everything falls back on track. White wins.} g2 55. Nxg2+ Kxf5 56. Kd5
Kg4 57. Ne3+ Kf4 58. Kd4 $1 ({The remnants of Black's resolve drain slowly
like old bath water. Reshevsky understands too late that he entered a dead end
with no escape, as} 58. Kd4 Bh5 59. e7 Bg6 60. b4 Bh5 61. Nd5+ Kf5 62. Nc7 {
and e8Q wins the bishop.}) 1-0

[Event "Exhibition game, Vienna"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1914.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Reti, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1914.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8.
dxe5 Nb7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 Nc5 11. Nd4 Ne6 12. Be3 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 c5 14. Be3 d5
15. exd6 Bxd6 16. Rad1 Qf6 17. Qh5 Rb8 18. Bc1 Qf5 19. Qxf5 Bxf5 20. Ne4 Rfe8
21. Nxd6 cxd6 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 {QUESTION: Dead drawn? --- ANSWER: Only king
versus king is dead drawn! Of course, with correct play neither side should
lose this one, which falls into the familiar "how on earth did he win?"
category. White's microscopic edge is due to the fact that his pawns are
slightly more secure than Black's, yet the presence of opposite-coloured
bishops greatly increases the likelihood of a draw.} 23. Be3 $1 Re6 ({QUESTION:
Shouldn't Black be trying to liquidate with} 23... Bxc2 {- ? --- ANSWER: The
line leads to the loss of a pawn for Black, though perhaps at the end he may
still achieve a draw after} 24. Rxd6 h6 ({not} 24... Rc8 $2 25. Bxc5 $1 {and
White wins a pawn in a more favourable position due to Black's loose back rank}
) 25. Ra6 Rb8 26. Bxc5 Rxb2 27. h3 {, when White wins a pawn but even here
conversion to the full point looks like a nightmare.}) 24. c3 a6 {Capa would
only need to glance at such a position as that after 24...a6 to drink in the
essential elements. It looks like White has nothing. Now look closer. ---
EXERCISE (planning): How can White create an imbalance which allows him to
play for the win?} ({Better to play} 24... a5 $1 {to prevent White's plan.})
25. b4 $1 {ANSWER: The plan comes into clarity and substance. Create a
queenside pawn majority.} cxb4 26. cxb4 h6 27. a4 $5 {This is actually an
offer of a pawn in order to create a passer.} Bc2 ({It's understandable that
Réti wasn't interested in the line} 27... Re4 $5 28. b5 $1 Rxa4 29. b6 {, when
White's deeply embedded passer gives him chances to win. Capa kept this idea
in mind and stored it for future use in a little room in his mind.}) 28. Ra1
Re4 29. b5 $1 {A passed b-pawn is the catalyst to White's winning ambitions.}
Rxa4 {Réti yields to economic imperative, accepting the pawn in exchange for
his future suffering.} 30. Rc1 $1 Be4 31. b6 {There we go, the same situation
as in the above note. If there is but a single bone and two dogs, growling
generally follows.} Kf8 $2 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): White's
preparations are filled to overflow and the time for direct action has arrived.
Black's last move, 31...Kf8?, was a serious tactical error which allows White
to win a piece. Let's see if you can find it.} ({Black should be able to hold
things together in the line} 31... Rb4 $1 32. Rc8+ Kh7 33. f3 Bd5 34. Rd8 Rb3
35. Kf2 a5 36. Rxd6 Be6 {.}) 32. f3 $1 {ANSWER: Good fortune awaits White. All
that is required is to reach out and grab it. The following sequence is forced.
} Bd5 33. Rc8+ $1 {QUESTION: Doesn't this just help Black who gets to
centralize his king for free? --- ANSWER: Before the water comes to a boil,
the lobster relaxing in the pot thinks to himself: "Ah, so warm and cozy!"
Tactics override strategic considerations! Perhaps Réti thought he had
everything under control at this point.} Ke7 34. b7 $1 {The clever point.
White's b-pawn, with an air of indifference, moves forward to a guarded square.
Suddenly, White's good gets a lot better, while Black's bad gets a lot worse.}
Bxb7 35. Rc7+ Ke6 36. Rxb7 Ra1+ 37. Kf2 Ra2+ 38. Kg3 a5 {Black's misfortunes
have yet to conquer his spirit. We have all been here: White has a won game
but won games don't win themselves. How many times have we botched such
positions? Watch how Capablanca gives Réti zero chances to save himself. ---
QUESTION: What are the difficulties White must overcome? --- ANSWER: An
Assessment: 1. White is up a piece for two pawns, more than enough to win if
he suppresses Black's counterplay. --- 2. Black has split passed pawns, both
about to move down the board. White must construct a plan to halt them. --- 3.
White's king is out of the loop of action on g3. --- Conclusion: White is
winning but must play accurately to get the job done.} 39. Ra7 {Principle:
Place your rook behind enemy passed pawns.} a4 40. Ra6 {Threatening Bf4.} g5 ({
After} 40... Ke7 41. Bf4 d5 42. Bd6+ $1 Ke8 (42... Kd7 $2 43. Bf8 $1 {wins})
43. Ra7 d4 44. Kf4 $1 {(the key move to White's victory; he gives up his
g-pawn in order to activate his king)} Rxg2 45. Ke4 Rd2 46. Rxa4 {picks off
all of Black's passers.}) 41. Bc5 $1 Rd2 42. Ba7 $1 {Threatening the a4-pawn,
as well as Bb8.} f5 43. h4 f4+ 44. Kh3 Kf5 45. hxg5 hxg5 46. Rxa4 Rd1 {
Threatening mate on h1.} 47. g4+ $1 fxg3 48. Kxg3 {. White's king unexpectedly
arises from his sickbed. Black's d-pawn no longer constitutes a threat, so
Réti resigned.} 1-0

[Event "St Petersburg"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1914.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Marshall, F."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C01"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1914.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. h3 Bh5 6. Be2 Nc6 7. O-O Bd6 8.
Nc3 Nge7 9. Be3 f6 10. Qd2 Bf7 11. Rae1 a6 12. a3 Qd7 13. Nh4 O-O-O 14. f4 Nb8
15. Bg4 Be6 16. f5 Bf7 17. Ne2 Rde8 18. Bf4 Nec6 19. Bxd6 Qxd6 20. Nf4 Nd8 21.
c3 Nbc6 22. g3 Na5 23. Rxe8 Rxe8 24. Nhg2 Nc4 25. Qf2 Qb6 26. Nd3 Qb5 27. Re1
Nxa3 28. Rxe8 Bxe8 29. Ngf4 Nc4 30. Bf3 Bf7 31. Qe2 Qd7 32. Nc5 Qd6 33. Nce6 g5
34. Nxd5 Nxe6 35. fxe6 Bxe6 36. Bg4 Qxg3+ 37. Kh1 Kb8 38. Bxe6 Nxb2 39. Ne3 Na4
40. Qd2 Qf3+ 41. Kg1 Qc6 42. d5 Qxc3 43. Qxc3 Nxc3 {QUESTION: With four pawns
for the piece, this should be a relatively simple win for Black, correct? ---
ANSWER: Win, yes, simple, no. The ending is more tricky than it looks since
Black's kingside pawns are unprotected. If they all fall, then White gets a
passed h-pawn as well. --- QUESTION: So what? That takes forever. What about
Black's two passers on the queenside? --- ANSWER: Let's not overlook a minor
detail: White is up a piece! He may be able to construct a sac for Black's
passers. I maintain the win is not so simple for Black.} 44. Ng4 {Destinations:
f6, h7 and g5.} a5 {Time to roll the passers.} 45. Nxf6 a4 46. Nxh7 a3 47. d6 {
No choice but to give Black another pawn. The aisle must be cleared at any
cost to cover a2 from the queening attempt.} cxd6 48. Bb3 {EXERCISE (planning):
How to create order from the raw materials before us after 48 Bb3 - ? Come up
with a winning plan for Black.} ({Not} 48. Nxg5 $4 {, since} d5 {cuts the
bishop off the a2 sac square.}) 48... Ne4 $1 {ANSWER: Step 1: Protect g5.
There is no reason to rush. Our passers can wait. Deprived of a passed pawn,
White has no counterplay. From this point Capablanca deftly sidesteps
Marshall's diversionary tactics.} 49. Bd5 {This does little to allay White's
worries but, to be fair, there was no defence.} ({White is simply too slow
after} 49. Kg2 Kc7 50. Ba2 (50. Kf3 $4 {drops the bishop to} Nd2+) 50... Kb6
51. Kf3 Nc3 52. Bb3 Kc5 $1 53. Nxg5 Kb4 54. Bg8 d5 {.}) 49... b5 $1 {Step 2:
Push the queenside passers. The knight is immune from capture on e4. --- How
disconcerting for Marshall, whose last move was rendered utterly meaningless
as the knight continues to stand silent guard over g5.} 50. Nf8 Kc7 51. Ne6+
Kb6 52. Kg2 b4 53. Kf3 Nd2+ {Relaxed is good; lax is not.} ({More accurate was
} 53... b3 $1 54. Bxb3 Nd2+ 55. Kg4 Nxb3 {which covers the d4-square and
denies White Nd4 and Nc2.}) 54. Ke2 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): Black to
play and promote to a pawn. --- ANSWER: Time to flip the switch. The passers
pour in as their numbers swell. The b-pawn is Norman Bates; the a-pawn is
Norman Bates dressed up as his dead, murdered mother. Whenever I go over a
Capa/Marshall game, I always come away with the impression of a professor
lecturing a student ill equipped to absorb the lesson.} b3 $1 55. Kxd2 a2 {
Game over.} 56. Bxb3 a1=Q 57. Kd3 {QUESTION: Doesn't White have some chance to
draw if he takes the g-pawn?} ({ANSWER: Watch out for double attacks!} 57. Nxg5
$4 Qa5+ {wins the knight as White's fortunes arrive at a low ebb.}) 57... Qf1+
58. Kd4 Qxh3 59. Bd5 Qf5 60. Kc4 g4 61. Kd4 g3 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1924.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Lasker, Em"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D13"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1924.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bf4 e6 7. e3 Be7 8. Bd3
O-O 9. O-O Nh5 10. Be5 f5 11. Rc1 Nf6 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Nh4 Kh8 14. f4 Rg8 15.
Rf3 Bd7 16. Rh3 Be8 17. a3 Rg7 18. Rg3 Rxg3 19. hxg3 Rc8 20. Kf2 Na5 21. Qf3
Nc4 22. Qe2 Nd6 23. Rh1 Ne4+ 24. Bxe4 fxe4 25. Qg4 f5 26. Nxf5 exf5 27. Qxf5 h5
28. g4 Rc6 29. g5 Kg8 30. Nxd5 Bf7 31. Nxe7+ Qxe7 32. g4 hxg4 33. Qh7+ Kf8 34.
Rh6 Bg8 35. Qf5+ Kg7 36. Rxc6 bxc6 37. Kg3 {EXERCISE (critical decision):
White has two pawns for the piece, but since g4 eventually falls, he gets
three. As Black would you play 37...Qe6 offering to swap queens? --- ANSWER:
It is suicide to swap queens in such a position. The meek queen trade is an
interpretation which fails to accord with Lasker's normally optimistic world
view.} Qe6 $2 ({Anarchy is the drug of choice for adrenaline addicts like
Lasker. He would only stand slightly worse after} 37... Bd5 $1 {. --- QUESTION:
Well, can't White force queens off with} 38. Qe5+ {- ? --- ANSWER: He can if
he wants to lose! After} Qxe5 39. dxe5 Be6 {White's three connected passers
are solidly blockaded. Black's winning plan is simply to infiltrate with his
king via h5:} 40. b4 Kg6 41. Kh4 Bf5 {(White soon gets zugzwanged)} 42. a4 Bd7
43. a5 a6 {(every pawn on the wrong colour of the remaining bishop, but still
winning!)} 44. Kg3 Kh5 45. Kg2 Be6 46. Kg3 Bf5 {(zugzwang!)} 47. Kh2 Kh4 {wins.
}) 38. Kxg4 Qxf5+ 39. Kxf5 {Lasker walks away from the accident bruised and
bloodied but still standing and alive. White has three pawns for a bishop, and
king position, giving him a winning ending.} Bd5 40. b4 a6 41. Kg4 (41. Ke5 $1
Kg6 42. a4 Bb3 43. a5 Bd5 44. b5 $1 {was also winning. When one side's forces
flow and mesh so perfectly and purposefully, we get the impression that fate
gives White a helping hand.}) 41... Bc4 42. f5 Bb3 43. Kf4 Bc2 44. Ke5 Kf7 {
The fire must be fed. Overload the bishop.} 45. a4 $1 {Black hears the mice
scratching behind the walls.} Kg7 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): Come up
with a breakthrough idea for White after 45...Kg7.} (45... Bxa4 46. Kxe4 {is
an easy win for the three connected passers.}) 46. d5 $1 {ANSWER: Create
another passed pawn. Capa stashes away pawns the way an alcoholic hides
ill-concealed bottles of alcohol in the house.} Bxa4 ({Or} 46... cxd5 47. b5
Bxa4 48. bxa6 Bc6 49. a7 Ba8 50. f6+ Kf7 51. g6+ $1 Kxg6 52. Ke6 {and White
queens first.}) 47. d6 c5 {A desperate bid to halt the promotion and create a
passed pawn of his own.} 48. bxc5 Bc6 {EXERCISE (critical decision): Should we
go on offence or defence as White? We can play 49 Kd4 to meet the threat of ...a6-a5-a4, or we can go for it with 49 Ke6, making it a queening race. What
would you do? --- ANSWER: White is faster in the queening race.} 49. Ke6 $1 a5
{Too slow.} 50. f6+ {The fisherman examines his net and asks: "What did I
catch today?" --- EXERCISE (calculation): Without exercise the brain atrophies.
Let's work out the following queening (and rooking!) sequence in our mind's
eye without moving the pieces. Ready? Set. Go!} ({ANSWER:} 50. f6+ Kf8 51. g6
a4 52. d7 {(the unruly pawn gracelessly barges his way in)} Bxd7+ 53. Kxd7 a3
54. c6 a2 55. c7 a1=Q 56. c8=R# $1 {! Well done if you made it to the end!})
1-0

[Event "Havana"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1913.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Kupchik, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C49"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "1913.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. Bxc6 bxc6 7. Nxe5 Qe8
8. Nd3 Bxc3 9. dxc3 Qxe4 10. Re1 Qh4 11. Qf3 Ba6 12. Bf4 Rac8 13. Be5 Bxd3 14.
cxd3 Qg4 15. Bxf6 Qxf3 16. gxf3 gxf6 {Euwe writes: "White has a small
advantage: Black's rook pawns are both vulnerable and besides his bishop pawns
are doubled." --- QUESTION: What about White's weak pawns? --- ANSWER: Black
has trouble exploiting White's weak kingside isolanis, mainly because White is
on the move and with it he takes and holds on to the initiative for the
remainder of the game. Black simply fails to find targets in White's camp and
fights shadows on a wall.} 17. Re4 $1 {QUESTION: Why not to the seventh rank?}
({ANSWER: Superficially that looks better but isn't. After} 17. Re7 Rfd8 18.
Rae1 Kf8 19. R1e3 Rb8 20. b3 Rb5 $1 {Black's other rook gets active and White
has no constructive plan to improve his game.}) 17... Rfe8 18. Rae1 Re6 {
Neither side is willing to fix the other's pawns.} 19. R1e3 Rce8 {This
accomplishes nothing.} ({Black should remain active with} 19... Rb8 $1 20. b3
Rb5 $1 {. Even a slight reduction in one's suffering is better than nothing.})
20. Kf1 Kf8 21. Ke2 Ke7 22. Ra4 {Reminding his opponent of his weakness.} Ra8
23. Ra5 $1 {Preventing ...a7-a5.} d5 {A driver cuts in front of him so Black
decides to honk his horn and play ...d7-d5 to deny White Re4, Kd2, and R-moves
to the a- or h-file.} 24. c4 Kd6 25. c5+ $1 Kd7 26. d4 {Now a7 is a major
liability.} f5 27. Rxe6 $1 fxe6 28. f4 Kc8 29. Kd2 Kb7 {At long last, Black's
rook earns its freedom. Now the insufferable turns into the barely tolerable.}
30. Ra3 $1 {Divide and conquer. Off to the other front.} Rg8 31. Rh3 {EXERCISE
(critical decision): Black must decide between passive defence with 31...Rg7
or go active and sac a pawn with 31...Rg1. Which one would you go for? ---
ANSWER: Principle: In rook endings activity tends to trump material.} Rg7 $2 {
A person may only be considered old when he or she gives up on a
long-cherished dream. The rook grows obdurate, incorrectly refusing to cede
ground.} ({It was crucial to give up a pawn to break through the veil of
passivity. Sometimes we must do what is right, not what is easy. Euwe gives
lengthy analysis showing} 31... Rg1 $1 32. Rxh7 Rb1 $1 {should hold the draw
for Black.}) 32. Ke2 $1 Ka6 ({QUESTION: If active is best then why not go for
the same line now with} 32... Rg1 {- ? --- ANSWER: There is one gigantic
difference: In this case White gained a precious tempo, possibly two, since
Black's king blocks his a-pawn. For example:} 33. Rxh7 Rb1 34. h4 Rxb2+ 35. Kf3
Rxa2 36. Rg7 Ra3+ 37. Kg2 a5 38. h5 {and the h-pawn is too fast.}) 33. Rh6 Re7
34. Kd3 Kb7 35. h4 Kc8 36. Rh5 $1 {Getting ready to take over the g-file.} Kd7
37. Rg5 Rf7 {EXERCISE (planning): Admittedly, Black is tied down, but what
comes next? The raw materials are set before us. How to vitalize them into a
cogent plan to make progress? --- ANSWER: Step 1: Charge into the queenside
with his king.} 38. Kc3 $1 {Heading for a5.} Kc8 39. Kb4 Rf6 40. Ka5 {The
power differential between the two kings is the difference between the
radiance of the sun and the light of the moon.} Kb7 {Step 2: Push all the
queenside pawns until he reaches a collision point on b5.} 41. a4 $1 a6 42. h5
Rh6 43. b4 Rf6 44. b5 $1 {Prying open Black's pawn cover, Capa goes after the
creature in its own lair on b7.} axb5 45. axb5 Rf8 ({If} 45... cxb5 46. Kxb5
c6+ 47. Ka5 Rf7 48. h6 {and Rg7 follows with deadly effect.}) 46. Rg7 Ra8+ 47.
Kb4 cxb5 48. Kxb5 Ra2 {Step 3: Apply a chokehold with c5-c6.} 49. c6+ Kb8 50.
Rxh7 Rb2+ 51. Ka5 Ra2+ 52. Kb4 Rxf2 53. Re7 $1 ({Houdini incorrectly gives} 53.
h6 $2 Rh2 54. Rh8+ Ka7 55. h7 Rh3 56. Ka4 {, claiming a winning advantage for
White. I took Black's side and held a draw.}) 53... Rxf4 ({After} 53... Rh2 54.
Rxe6 Rxh5 55. Kc5 Rh4 56. Re5 Rxf4 57. Re8+ $1 Ka7 58. Rc8 Rf1 59. Rxc7+ Kb8
60. Rf7 {White picks off d5, when his two advanced passers win easily.}) 54. h6
$1 {Headed for promotion. The white king turns his back on his d-pawn. His
h-pawn is all that matters.} Rxd4+ 55. Kb5 Rd1 56. h7 {Impressive alchemy on
Capa's part. The pawn promotes to something far more valuable.} Rb1+ 57. Kc5
Rc1+ 58. Kd4 Rd1+ 59. Ke5 Re1+ 60. Kf6 Rh1 61. Re8+ Ka7 62. h8=Q Rxh8 63. Rxh8
Kb6 64. Kxe6 Kxc6 65. Kxf5 {Tears are futile, yet we still shed them. Two
pawns are not enough for a rook.} Kc5 66. Ke5 c6 67. Rh6 $1 Kb5 68. Kd4 {.
Euwe cited this game as one of Capablanca's very best endings.} 1-0

[Event "Riga"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1913.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nimzowitsch, A."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "1913.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. d3 d6 6. Bg5 Be6 7. Bb5 h6 8. Bh4
Bb4 9. d4 Bd7 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 g5 12. Bg3 Nxe4 13. Bxc6 Bxc6 14. dxe5 dxe5
15. Bxe5 Qxd1 16. Raxd1 {QUESTION: I realize you are not covering the
middlegame in this chapter, but Nimzowitsch played a passive, lame game so far,
correct? --- ANSWER: I agree. Nimzowitsch normally marched to a drum only he
heard. Here though, he plays in a rather meek, un-Nimzo-like, orthodox manner.
I remember a line from the television show 'Kung Fu', where that font of
wisdom, Master Po, declares: "It is no disgrace to lose - if one has fought to
win." Many of Capa's opponents claimed they played below par against him, just
as Fischer's opponents did. Fischer once said he never once played a healthy
opponent! --- I remember with amusement, an article Larsen wrote for 'Canadian
Chess Chat Magazine' in 1972, titled something like "Heat Wave in Denver"
explaining away his 0-6 1971 Candidate's match defeat at Fischer's hands as a
fluke! I remember a quote which went something like: "... and Fischer didn't
prove to me he could beat me in a single game under normal conditions."
Really? 0-6 wasn't good enough proof? --- It's very difficult to keep your
composure when facing a legendary talent. In Nimzo's case we see another of
Capa's opponents fall under a self-hypnotic and self-fulfilling prophecy of
his own defeat in the belief in the futility of resisting Capa's machine-like
accuracy. --- QUESTION: Who stands better? I see a better-developed White
versus a structurally-superior Black. --- ANSWER: That is essentially correct.
We also have the presence of opposite-coloured bishops which, at the moment,
may help White's drawing chances since he may drop a pawn later on. Now the
key question is: Can White do anything with his development lead? Capa and the
computers say no. Structure matters and Black stands better.} f6 17. Bd4 {He
declines c7, almost as an afterthought.} ({Rather than such cautious
reservation, White may have had better chances simplifying with} 17. Bxc7 Nxc3
18. Rde1+ Kf7 19. Ba5 Nb5 20. c4 Nd6 21. Nd2 {, when his position looks better
than the one he got in the game.}) 17... Kf7 18. Nd2 {Generally, the side
trying to hold the draw seeks to remove extraneous pieces from the board,
aiming for a pure opposite-coloured bishops position to maximize drawing
chances. As in his game against Teichmann from Chapter 3, Capa is happy to
cooperate.} Rhe8 $5 ({I would be nervous about the drawing power of
opposite-coloured bishops and would keep the knights on the board with} 18...
Nd6 {.}) 19. f3 Nxd2 20. Rxd2 Rad8 21. g4 $5 {QUESTION: Why did he toss in
g2-g4? --- ANSWER: White wants to fix f6 as a potential target and play f3-f4.}
Bb5 22. Rb1 {QUESTION: If White wanted to play for f3-f4, then why move his
rook off the file?} ({ANSWER: Nimzo changed his mind, probably seeing the line
} 22. Rff2 Re1+ 23. Kg2 b6 {, and now if White proceeds with his plan} 24. f4
$4 {then} Bc6+ 25. Kg3 Rxd4 $1 {wins a piece, since ...Re3+ is a deadly threat.
}) 22... Ba6 23. Rbd1 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): Black to play and win a
pawn. There are two ways. You get credit for finding either one. --- ANSWER:}
Re2 $1 {Threatening ...c7-c5! White has no choice but to take on e2.} ({Also
strong was} 23... Be2 $1 24. Re1 Bxf3 25. Rf1 c5 $1 {.}) 24. Rxe2 Bxe2 25. Re1
Bxf3 26. Rf1 c5 $1 27. Bxf6 $2 ({White had more drawing chances entering the
rook and pawn ending after} 27. Rxf3 $1 cxd4 28. Rd3 Rc8 29. Rxd4 {.}) 27...
Rd1 $1 28. Be5 Rxf1+ 29. Kxf1 Bxg4 30. a4 Ke6 31. Bb8 a5 $3 {This almost looks
like a typo.} 32. Ke1 $1 ({QUESTION: Wasn't Capablanca's last move a blunder?
White can play} 32. Bc7 {picking off a5. --- ANSWER: Ah, but does he? Nimzo
avoided a devilish trap. Black has a study-like win here after} b5 $1 33. axb5
a4 34. Kf2 a3 35. b6 Kd7 36. c4 Kc6 37. Ke3 Be6 38. Kd3 a2 39. Be5 Kxb6 {and
zugzwang! Now if White just waits with} 40. Ba1 {, then Black activates his
majority on the other side with} h5 $1 41. Ke4 h4 42. Bc3 g4 43. Kf4 Bf5 $1 {
winning.}) 32... Kd5 33. Kd2 ({Tricks, tricks! This time Black meets} 33. Bc7 {
with} Kc6 $1 {, when the a-pawn is untouchable.}) 33... Bd7 34. Bc7 Kc6 $1 35.
Bd8 {EXERCISE (planning): The bishop, with saint-like forbearance, once again
refuses to retaliate by taking on a5 (and get himself trapped!). How can Black
in this position force the win of a pawn? --- ANSWER: Step 1: Protect a5.} b6
36. c4 Kb7 $1 {Step 2: Get his king out of the way. Capa relates a story about
how Nimzowitsch, at the next tournament, bet Capablanca money that the
position was still drawn. Capa, not having looked at the position since,
accepted the bet, glanced at Nimzowitsch's idea and refuted it on the spot!
This left poor Nimzo short on cash, as well as pride.} 37. Kc3 {Step 3: Take
it!} Bxa4 {The white a-pawn dies and the heirs are legally unable to claim his
estate. Emergency protocol advises us to remain calm in such situations. Nimzo
does just that, placing all his drawing hopes on the opposite-coloured bishops
(just as Teichmann and Thomas did in this book!).} 38. Kb2 Bd7 39. Kb3 Be6 $1 {
Threat: ...b6-b5.} 40. Kc3 a4 41. Kd3 Kc6 42. Kc3 g4 43. Bh4 h5 {QUESTION: How
does Black make progress? His kingside pawns can't advance without the help of
his king, and his king is stuck on the queenside defending his weakness on b6.
--- ANSWER: Capa's answer is simple: Eliminate his weakness on b6. Like this:}
44. Bg3 a3 $1 45. Kb3 Bxc4+ $1 46. Kxa3 b5 {No more weakness on b6.} 47. c3 Kd5
48. Bf2 Be2 49. Kb3 Bd1+ 50. Kb2 Kc4 51. Kc1 Bf3 {QUESTION: Can Black sac a
piece and get three healthy pawns for it by taking on c3?} ({ANSWER: Your idea
wins. For example,} 51... Kxc3 $1 52. Kxd1 ({declining the bishop also fails
to save White:} 52. Bxc5 Bc2 53. Be7 b4 54. Bg5 Kb3 55. Be7 Bf5 56. Kd2 h4 $1
57. Bxh4 Kb2 58. Bf6+ Kb1 59. Be5 b3 60. Bf6 b2 {winning a piece}) 52... c4 53.
Kc1 Kd3 54. Bc5 c3 55. Bb4 h4 56. Bd6 Kc4 57. Bc7 b4 58. Kc2 b3+ 59. Kb1 Kd3
60. Bf4 b2 61. Bd6 Kd2 62. Bf4+ Kd1 {zugzwang - Black wins.}) 52. Kd2 b4 53.
cxb4 cxb4 54. Bh4 Be4 55. Bf6 Bg6 56. Bh4 b3 57. Bf6 {EXERCISE: (combination
alert): White has both ...b3-b2 and ...h5-h4 covered. Or does he? Look more
deeply. White still has considerable hidden defensive baggage in the position.
How can Black make progress? --- ANSWER: Step 1: Overload the glass-jawed
bishop, who can't take a punch. The h4-square isn't quite as covered as White
had imagined.} h4 $1 58. Ke3 {Step 2: Sacrifice a pawn in order to create a
second passer.} g3 $1 59. hxg3 h3 $1 {Sir, your bags have arrived. White's
firewall breaks down.} 60. Kf2 Bf5 61. g4 ({Or} 61. Kg1 Bg4 62. Kh2 Kd3 {and
Black wins exactly as he does in the game.}) 61... Bxg4 62. Kg3 {Step 3: Win a
bishop by escorting the passed b-pawn heavenward.} Kd3 63. Kh2 Kc2 64. Kg3 {
White makes a brave show of defiance but the end result is never in doubt.
White's disembodied king, suspended in the ether, can only watch but somehow
can't connect with Black's bishop, who sits immune on g4.} b2 ({Unfortunately
for Nimzo, after} 64... b2 65. Bxb2 Kxb2 {Black owns the correct coloured
bishop for the h-pawn and wins.}) 0-1

[Event "Berlin"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1928.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Rubinstein, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1928.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. dxc5 e6 4. e4 Bxc5 5. exd5 exd5 6. Bb5+ Nc6 7. O-O Nge7
8. Nbd2 O-O 9. Nb3 Bb6 10. Re1 Bg4 11. Bd3 Ng6 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Nce5 14.
Qf5 Nxd3 15. Qxd3 d4 16. Bd2 Qf6 17. Re4 Rad8 18. Rae1 Qc6 19. g3 Rfe8 20. Ba5
Rxe4 21. Qxe4 Nf8 22. Qxc6 bxc6 {White has only one plus in the position: He
gets his rook to the seventh rank. --- QUESTION: Is this enough to win? ---
ANSWER: Not really. Black should be able to hold things together on the
queenside. Capa never let issues like drawn positions stop him from winning
anyway! Somehow he manages to squeeze out the win against the second best
endgame player in the world at the time. We already know who was best.} 23. Re7
{Black has a choice: Centralize with 23...Rd5 in an attempt to make White take
on b6, straightening out Black's queenside pawn structure. Or play ...d4-d3 to
reduce the number of pawns on the board and ease his defensive task. ---
EXERCISE (critical decision): Which one would you play?} Rd5 $2 {The wrong one.
The logical defence eludes Rubinstein and fades as he tries in vain to grasp
on to a drawing plan.} ({ANSWER: Black has excellent chances to hold in the
simplifying line} 23... d3 $1 24. Bxb6 axb6 25. cxd3 Rxd3 26. Rb7 Nd7 27. Rc7
c5 28. Rc8+ Nf8 {.}) 24. Bxb6 $1 axb6 25. Rb7 Nd7 {This is the exact position
Black could have had in the 23...d3 line, except that his d4-pawn would be
traded off. Capa takes deadly advantage of this omission.} 26. Rc7 Rd6 ({After
} 26... c5 27. Rc8+ Nf8 28. Nd2 {, suddenly White threatens Rb8 followed by
Nc4, picking off b6. --- QUESTION: So what? Can't Black just play} b5 {- ? ---
ANSWER: He can, but his pawns become loose after} 29. b3 $1 {, threatening Ne4.
Play might continue} f5 30. a4 $1 {(a passer emerges)} d3 31. c4 bxc4 32. bxc4
Re5 33. a5 Re2 34. a6 $1 Re1+ 35. Kg2 Ra1 36. Rxc5 Rxa6 37. Rxf5 {and White
wins a pawn, while Black's d-pawn remains in mortal danger.}) 27. Rc8+ {
Gaining a tempo.} Nf8 {The knight, with trembling lower lip and hurt feelings,
sulks into the gloom on f8. --- EXERCISE (planning): With Black's knight tied
up and unable to help defend the queenside, how can we jump on this
opportunity to win b6? --- ANSWER: Create immediate confrontation.} 28. Nd2 $1
{Threat: Nc4.} c5 {Black squirms and attempts to escape, but Capa blocks him
at every turn from this point.} ({QUESTION: Why not} 28... b5 {to keep White's
knight out? --- ANSWER: In that case the knight does an about-face and
retraces his route with} 29. Nb3 $1 {, threatening the unanswerable Na5.}) 29.
Nc4 Re6 30. Rb8 $1 {Capa strings his coordinates together perfectly on the
focal point b6.} Re1+ 31. Kg2 g5 ({QUESTION: Why can't Black go on his own
counterattack on c2 by playing} 31... Rc1 {- ? --- ANSWER: That is a blunder.
White would respond} 32. Nxb6 {when there is no good answer to the coming Nd7.}
) 32. a4 Ra1 33. Nxb6 {Feeding time at the lion cage.} Kg7 34. Rc8 Ne6 35. Nd7
$1 Rxa4 36. Nxc5 Rb4 ({Rubinstein rummages through his meagre belongings,
unable to find a solution. After} 36... Nxc5 37. Rxc5 {Black is defenceless as
a baby in the womb since White can set up with the plan b2-b3, b3-g4, and then
transfer his king to d3. --- QUESTION: What if Black's rook counterattacks the
kingside pawns? --- ANSWER: That is the point of g3-g4. White can then play
Rf5 and Rf3, covering his kingside pawns. Meanwhile Black's d-pawn falls.}) 37.
Nd3 Rb5 38. Kf3 h6 39. b4 h5 40. g4 $1 {To be able to play Ke4 in the future
without allowing Black to compose resistance with ...f7-f5+.} hxg4+ 41. hxg4 f6
42. Rc4 Kf7 43. Nc5 $1 Nd8 {A move perhaps based on the theory that a soldier
may survive a losing battle by not drawing attention to himself. The humble
knight bows, paying homage to his master on c5.} ({Also hopeless was} 43...
Nxc5 44. bxc5 Ke7 45. Ke4 {.}) 44. Nb3 $1 {. The second pawn falls, while ...Nc6 is prevented.} 1-0

[Event "Budapest"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1929.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Canal, E."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E16"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1929.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2+ 7. Nbxd2 O-O 8.
O-O c5 9. dxc5 bxc5 10. Qc2 Nc6 11. Rfd1 Qb6 12. a3 Rab8 13. Rab1 Rfc8 14. e4
e5 15. Qd3 d6 16. Nf1 Nd4 17. Nxd4 exd4 18. b4 Qc6 19. bxc5 dxc5 20. Rxb7 Qxb7
21. e5 Qb3 22. exf6 Qxd3 23. Rxd3 {QUESTION: Is Capablanca losing? White has a
bishop and knight for a rook. --- ANSWER: Under normal circumstances you would
be correct in assuming that a bishop and knight team would beat two rooks, but
this position contains a few hidden anomalies: 1. White's rook is tied down to
Black's powerful, passed d-pawn. --- 2. Should a pair of rooks come off the
board, then White may have difficulty defending his a-pawn; and if he drops
his a-pawn, then Black's passed a-pawn looms large. --- 3. White may have some
chances for a direct attack upon Black's king. --- The computers like White as
well. Houdini assesses at +.44, advantage for White; Rybka assesses at +.26,
while Fritz agrees with you with +.75, nearly a winning advantage for White.
--- QUESTION: What is your assessment? --- ANSWER: After analyzing with the
computers, I agree with Houdini's assessment. White stands better in a very
sharp ending.} Rb1 {Planning ...Rcb8 and ...R8b3, to take rooks off the board
and/or win White's a-pawn.} 24. Bd5 Rcb8 {EXERCISE (planning): How would you
play White? You have a choice between 25 Kg2, unpinning, or 25 Rf3, going on
the attack.} 25. Kg2 $2 {A serious misjudgment. White's planning GPS system is
clearly broken. He allows rooks off the board.} ({ANSWER: Capa would have had
to sweat to earn the draw after the correct} 25. Rf3 $1 {, going on the attack
and dodging a rook swap. Computer analysis runs} R1b3 26. Rf5 g6 27. Re5 R3b6
28. Re7 Rxf6 29. Rxa7 Rb2 30. f4 Ra2 31. Rc7 d3 32. Rd7 Rb6 $1 33. Be4 $1 f5 $1
34. Bxd3 Rbb2 {, when Black generates enough counterplay from his rooks on the
seventh. Either side can still win from this interlocked stage, like evenly
matched wrestlers straining for an advantage.}) 25... R8b3 {Of course! Rooks
come off the board. This means Black no longer has to worry about his king.
White's a-pawn, on the other hand, is not long for this world. Chances are now
even.} 26. Rxb3 Rxb3 27. Nd2 Rxa3 28. Ne4 {So White drops a3 but picks off c5.
--- QUESTION: Which one is faster? --- ANSWER: Apparently the race is
approximately even - if both sides play correctly, which they don't!} a5 {The
race begins: two passers to one.} 29. Nxc5 gxf6 30. Kf1 a4 31. Ke2 Ra1 {
EXERCISE (critical decision): White's knight must choose between two
directions: 32 Nd3, staying close to the surging black a-pawn; or 32 Nd7,
going on a counterattack on Black's f-pawn. One draws; the other loses.} 32.
Nd3 $2 {This is not the time for half measures. White opts for a passive plan
which yields meagre fruit.} ({ANSWER: White must boldly counterattack to hold
the game with} 32. Nd7 $1 a3 33. c5 a2 34. Bxa2 Rxa2+ 35. Kd3 {. Now Black
can't afford to take on f2 due to the passed pawn on c5. Note that Black's
king cannot help out since he is denied entry from f8. After} Ra7 36. Nxf6+ Kg7
37. Nd5 Kf8 38. Kxd4 {the probable result is a draw.}) 32... a3 33. c5 a2 {
Threat: ...Re1+ and ...a1Q. The a-pawn, now seething and pulsing with
unharnessed energy, is impossible to contain.} 34. Kf3 {EXERCISE: (combination
alert): The crowd tosses rose petals in the a-pawn's path as it nears
coronation. Black has access to a simple trick which forces the win of a piece
for his a-pawn. --- ANSWER: Double attack.} Rd1 $1 35. Bxa2 Rxd3+ 36. Ke4 Rd2 {
What a difference from the variation White could have entered on his 32nd move.
In this case Black's d-pawn is still alive, as is his f6-pawn. Both were taken
by White in the other line.} 37. Bc4 Kf8 $1 {Black's king must help out by
moving into the square of White's passed c-pawn.} 38. f3 Rxh2 39. Kxd4 Ke7 40.
Bd3 h5 41. Ke3 Rg2 42. Kf4 Rg1 43. Be4 Rc1 44. c6 {White's c6-pawn is the prop
upon which his body hangs. Black can't afford the time to sac the exchange
back with ...Kd6 and ...Rxc6, since White would win the resulting king and
pawn ending. But we have a little trick in the position. --- EXERCISE: 
(combination alert): White's bishop stands his ground with misplaced pride.
How can Black force the win of the c6-pawn? --- ANSWER: Zugzwang! Silence
sometimes carries greater meaning than words.} Rc3 $3 {The black rook smiles
as if at a secret joke.} 45. c7 {QUESTION: I don't get it. Why did White just
discard his c-pawn as though it were a used napkin?} ({ANSWER: He loses it in
every line. For example:} 45. Bd5 Rc5 46. Be4 Ke6 47. g4 (47. Ke3 f5 {picks
off c6}) 47... h4 48. Ke3 Kd6 49. Kf2 Rxc6 $1 {, and if White takes the rook
he now loses the king and pawn ending after} 50. Bxc6 Kxc6 51. Kg2 Kd5 52. Kh3
Ke5 53. Kxh4 Kf4) ({or} 45. Kf5 Rc5+ {.}) 45... Rxc7 {The pawn satiates the
rook's dark craving - for now.} 46. Bd5 {The bishop, though technically alive,
may as well be dead or in a coma, his life merely empty motion, attacking
nothing and going nowhere.} Rc5 47. Ba2 Rb5 48. Ke3 Ra5 49. Bc4 Rc5 50. Ba6 {
QUESTION: White's last move looks illogical. Why not keep a bead on f7 and
stay on the diagonal?} ({ANSWER: In that case Black wins with the following
plan:} 50. Ba2 f5 51. Kf4 Kf6 52. Bb3 Rb5 53. Ba2 Rb4+ 54. Ke3 f4+ $1 55. gxf4
h4 56. Bd5 h3 57. Kf2 h2 58. Kg2 Rb2+ 59. Kh1 Kf5 60. Bxf7 Kxf4 61. Bd5 Kg3 {
and mates in two moves.}) 50... Ke6 51. Kf4 Rc3 52. Bf1 f5 53. Ba6 Kf6 54. Bb7
Rc4+ 55. Ke3 Kg5 (55... f4+ $1 {is also an easy win.}) 56. Kf2 f4 {Black
creates his own passed h-pawn and resistance ends.} 57. Kg2 f5 0-1

[Event "Budapest"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1928.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Merenyi, L."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B27"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1928.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c3 d5 4. Bb5+ Bd7 5. Bxd7+ Qxd7 6. exd5 Qxd5 7. d4 cxd4
8. Qxd4 Qxd4 9. Nxd4 {We reach an ending typical for the c3-Sicilian, with
opposite wing pawn majorities. --- QUESTION: Isn't a queenside pawn majority
generally considered superior in an ending? --- ANSWER: Correct, but remember,
Capa's side controls more of the centre due to his e-pawn. The position looks
close to even, if not just even.} e5 $5 {I'm not sure whether this move should
be labelled confident or cocky! Clearly Capa is in an adventurous mood and
provokes his weaker opponent.} ({The simple} 9... a6 {is the safer choice.})
10. Nb5 Kd7 $1 {Based on the Steinitzian principle: The king is a fighting
piece, so use it!} ({QUESTION: This looks crazy. Why not} 10... Na6 {- ? ---
ANSWER: The trouble with your suggestion is that it rules out ...a7-a6 and
allows White's knight free rein on b5.}) 11. Ke2 Kc6 $5 {QUESTION: It feels to
me like Black is on a suicide mission. Why didn't he kick the b5-knight
instead? --- ANSWER: The move isn't as crazy as it looks. Remember, Black's
king must soon vacate the open d-file, so why not now? Capa continues the high
wire act with a chillingly cold provocation, which can be more unsettling than
an angry response. The move also displays Capa's level of self-confidence,
which bordered on arrogance, in endings versus lower-ranked opponents. He
strives at great risk to increase the complexity level of the ending and, I
would add, did a pretty good job of it too!} ({I bet 99.99% of all chess
players would play} 11... a6 {without thinking.}) 12. a4 Nd7 {Still no ...
a7-a6.} 13. Be3 a6 14. Rd1 $1 {The knight is immune.} Ngf6 15. Nd2 {Perhaps
contemplating shenanigans. If White gets a knight to a5, he delivers checkmate.
} Rd8 16. Na3 ({White can also try} 16. Nc4 $5 axb5 17. Nxe5+ Nxe5 18. Rxd8 {
with a messy position.}) 16... Nd5 17. Ndc4 b6 18. Rd2 {Preparing to double
rooks on the d-file.} Bxa3 {A second imbalance appears: Two knights versus
bishop and knight. --- QUESTION: Isn't that one also in White's favour? ---
ANSWER: I don't think so. Black's knights look very active. I'm not exactly
sure what White's bishop does on e3. Let me tell you a little secret. I do the
same thing, play knight versus bishop, all the time when facing a lower rated
player I hope to beat. Not because the knight is better but simply because it
adds imbalance and tension to the game.} 19. Rxa3 ({If} 19. Rad1 $5 {Black
should continue} Nxe3 20. fxe3 Kc7 $1 {,} ({avoiding the cheapo} 20... Be7 $4
21. Rxd7 $1 {.})) 19... Rhe8 20. Nd6 $6 {There is a fine line between
brilliant and superficial. White's fancy move turns out to be a waste of
energy.} Re7 $1 {Quite nonchalant. There is an old saying which goes: If you
argue with a fool, then passers-by may wonder just which one of you is the
fool. --- QUESTION: Can the knight be taken?} ({ANSWER: The knight actually
can be taken in the line} 20... Kxd6 21. c4 N7f6 $1 22. cxd5 (22. Bxb6 $2 Rc8
23. cxd5 Ne4 $1 24. Rd1 Rc2+ $1 25. Kd3 Rxb2 {is in Black's favour}) 22... Nd7
{, playing to win the d5-pawn later.}) 21. c4 $2 {This move, which brims with
unjustified optimism, creates punctures on the dark squares. This is all Capa
needs.} Nxe3 22. fxe3 Nc5 {QUESTION: Winning a piece? --- ANSWER: No, White
counted on his next move.} 23. Ne4 $1 {The knight backs away in protest.} Rxd2+
24. Nxd2 {EXERCISE (planning): Come up with a way to negate White's queenside
pawn majority and also weaken him further on the dark squares. --- ANSWER:} a5
$1 {Riddling the queenside with holes. --- QUESTION: But doesn't Black's last
move create a gaping hole on b5 as well? --- ANSWER: It does, but Capa simply
works around the hole, which surprisingly does White little good.} 25. Nb1 {
Heading for b5.} Rd7 26. Nd2 {Well, maybe not!} ({White realized} 26. Nc3 $2 {
walks into} Nd3 $1 {which wins a pawn. For example:} 27. b3 $2 (27. Ra2 $4 Nc1+
) 27... Nc1+ $1 28. Ke1 Rd3 29. Nd1 Kc5 {and White can resign.}) 26... e4 $1 {
Limiting White's knight and taking firm control over d3.} 27. Nb3 Nd3 28. Nd4+
Kc5 {Every black piece is superior to its white counterpart.} 29. b3 f5 {Now ..
.f5-f4 is in the air.} 30. Ra1 {EXERCISE (critical decision): Black can sac an
exchange for a pawn on d4. If we do sac, are we on our way to glory or are we
indulging in a grand daydream? --- ANSWER: You have excellent strategic
judgment if you chose to go for it. Black's remaining forces crackle with
energy after the sac.} Rxd4 $3 31. exd4+ Kxd4 {The alpha dog asserts himself.
Black's king infiltrates with deadly effect.} 32. g3 $2 ({Houdini suggests} 32.
h4 $1 {, which makes the win tougher, but Black should convert after} f4 33.
Kd2 h6 $1 {.}) 32... g5 $1 {The brazen kingside passers intrude without
bothering about an invitation from White.} 33. b4 ({After} 33. h4 f4 $1 34.
hxg5 f3+ {White has no answer to the e- and f-pawn charge.}) 33... f4 $1 {He
refuses to be distracted on the other wing.} 34. c5 {The wild lunge to glory -
a desperate hope, disguised as a plan - ends in failure.} f3+ 35. Kf1 e3 36.
Re1 ({Black is faster after} 36. cxb6 e2+ 37. Kg1 e1=Q+ $1 38. Rxe1 f2+ $1 {.})
36... bxc5 37. Rxe3 {White's last move renders satire moot.} (37. b5 Nxe1 38.
b6 (38. Kxe1 c4 {does the trick}) 38... Nd3 {gets there first.}) 37... Kxe3 38.
bxa5 c4 $1 {White is swept away on the whims of uncontrollable forces.} ({
White queens first but Black rooks with mate:} 38... c4 39. a6 c3 40. a7 c2 41.
a8=Q c1=R# $1 {!}) 0-1

[Event "Hastings"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1929.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Thomas, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1929.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 b6 5. e3 Bb7 6. Bd3 Ne4 7. a3 Bxd2+ 8.
Nxd2 Nxd2 9. Bxd2 f5 10. Qh5+ g6 11. Qh6 Qe7 12. f3 d6 13. e4 Nd7 14. O-O-O
O-O-O 15. exf5 exf5 16. Bg5 Qf8 17. Qh4 Re8 18. Rde1 Qf7 19. Kc2 a5 20. b3 Bc6
21. Kc3 h5 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Re1 Bb7 24. Qf2 Kb8 25. Rxe8+ Qxe8 26. Qe2 Qxe2
27. Bxe2 {White's position is so powerful that I dare say he is winning. ---
QUESTION: I see that White stands better, but aren't you going too far
claiming a win for White this early? --- ANSWER: Let's assess: 1. White has
the bishop pair. --- 2. White controls more space. --- 3. White's king is out
and about while Black's mopes about, stuck in the lower levels. --- 4. Black's
kingside pawns are fixed on the same colour as his remaining bishop. --- 5.
White's king has potential access to the kingside via the dark squares f4 and
g5. --- 6. All of Black's everything looks wrong! Just take a look at the
desolate landscape of Black's pawns at odd angles, and the twisted black
pieces all on awkward squares! Conclusion: I stick to my guns: Black is busted.
} Bc8 ({I would try for freedom with} 27... c5 {.}) 28. Be7 $1 {Depriving the
knight of squares and also preventing ...c7-c5 dreams.} b5 $5 {QUESTION: Isn't
this just panic on Black's part?} ({ANSWER: Black has good reason to panic!
Let's play out a scenario:} 28... Kb7 29. g4 $1 {(principle: create
confrontation when your opponent isn't ready for it)} hxg4 30. fxg4 Nb8 31.
Bf3+ Ka7 32. g5 Be6 33. Bd8 Na6 34. h4 Bf7 {(to halt h4-h5)} 35. b4 axb4+ 36.
axb4 {(threat: b4-b5!)} c5 (36... Kb8 $4 {saves the c-pawn but drops the
knight after} 37. b5) 37. bxc5 bxc5 38. Be7 {wins a pawn while retaining a
crushing position.}) 29. cxb5 Nb6 {EXERCISE (planning): Black intends to
massage away his headache through fortification of the blockade square d5. We
can stop him by playing 30 Bc4. However, this leads to opposite-coloured
bishops. Should we allow this possibility? --- ANSWER: We should. For some
mysterious reason, Capa was immune from the drawing effects of
opposite-coloured bishops throughout his career.} 30. Bc4 $1 Nxc4 31. bxc4 Kb7
32. d5 $1 {Just look at the difference between the opposing bishops; the
contrast is stark.} f4 $5 {Black decides to get a haircut and shave away a
pawn. --- QUESTION: Why give away another pawn? --- ANSWER: Stop asking
questions to which there is no answer! Sometimes reason is a suspect method of
deriving truth. One shouldn't expect to chart a chess game with total
precision. Better to factor in a few unexpected byways and turns provided by
your opponent's caprices and whims. Black struggles beyond endurance, as his
universe seems constructed solely of weak dark squares and imprisonment for
both king and bishop.} ({The reason Black sac'ed is that doing nothing is slow,
certain death. Without the sac Black's bishop sits alone with his fears while
White's king simply infiltrates the kingside. For example:} 32... Bd7 33. Kd4
Be8 34. Bf6 Bf7 35. h4 Be8 36. Ke3 Kc8 37. a4 Kb7 38. Kf4 {(a shrill wind
blows through Black's kingside dark squares, and f4 and g5 are deep holes sunk
into the ground)} Kb6 39. Bd4+ Kb7 40. Kg5 Bf7 41. Kf6 Be8 42. Ke7 {and yet
another indignity heaped upon the poor bishop. White wins.}) 33. a4 {Now a5 is
a perpetual target for the dark-squared bishop.} Bf5 {Freedom! The bishop
leaves prison with time off for good behaviour.} 34. Bg5 Kc8 35. Bxf4 Kb7 36.
h3 Bb1 37. g4 hxg4 38. hxg4 Ka7 {Shuffling aimlessly, Thomas struggles to find
a defensive plan (which doesn't exist!) but only manages to produce a
shapeless nothingness.} 39. Bd2 Kb6 40. f4 Be4 {EXERCISE (planning): Come up
with conversion plan for White.} ({Capa's little joke:} 40... Kc5 $4 41. Be3# {
!}) 41. f5 $1 {ANSWER: Step 1: Sac temporarily to create a passer.} gxf5 42. g5
f4 {No choice.} 43. Bxf4 Bg6 44. Be3+ Kb7 {The king doesn't know how he got
here. He doesn't even know where "here" is. Step 2: Work to create a second
passed pawn on the queenside.} 45. c5 dxc5 46. Kc4 $1 Bc2 47. Kxc5 Bxa4 48. Bd2
Bc2 49. Bxa5 Bg6 50. d6 {A second passer emerges.} ({For the record,} 50. Bxc7
$1 {also wins:} Kxc7 51. d6+ Kc8 52. b6 Bf7 53. Kd4 Bg6 54. Ke5 Be8 {(the
bishop walks off a little too quickly, the way a nervous child hurries past
the graveyard in the dark)} 55. Ke6 {zugzwang! White wins.}) 50... cxd6+ 51.
Kxd6 ({Black can't deal with assaults on two fronts. For example:} 51. Kxd6 Bd3
52. b6 Bg6 53. Ke7 Ka6 54. Kf6 {(White's bishop is immune)} Be4 55. g6 Kxa5 56.
g7 Bd5 57. b7 {and White makes a new queen.}) 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1927.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Vidmar Sr, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C98"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1927.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. h3 Nc6 13. d5 Nd8 14. a4 b4 15. Nc4
a5 16. Nfxe5 Ba6 17. Bb3 dxe5 18. d6 Bxd6 19. Qxd6 Qxd6 20. Nxd6 {Black
regained his pawn but not equality. White owns the bishop pair, the c4-square,
and control over the light squares in general. Let's see how Capablanca made
use of these advantages.} Nb7 ({QUESTION: Why not play} 20... Rb8 {which
forces White to swap a pair of bishops? This follows the principle: When the
opponent has the bishop pair, swap one of them off if possible. --- ANSWER:
Voltaire wrote: "All generalities are wrong, including this one!" This is an
exception to the principle. If Black enters your line, there follows} 21. Bc4
Bxc4 22. Nxc4 Nc6 23. Bg5 Nd7 24. Red1 Nb6 25. Nxb6 Rxb6 26. Rd5 c4 27. Be3 Ra6
28. Rc5 {and White picks off a pawn.}) 21. Nxb7 Bxb7 22. cxb4 cxb4 23. f3 {
QUESTION: Didn't Black's game just get better? It feels like he gained some
ground on the light squares. --- ANSWER: White has the bishop pair, but added
to that is the fact that a5 and b4 are fixed on dark squares and vulnerable.
--- QUESTION: But isn't dark the colour Black wants? Dark is opposite to his
light-squared bishop. --- ANSWER: I'm afraid this is yet another exception to
the principle. If rooks come off the board, all White has to do is to
manoeuvre his bishop to b6, c7 or d8 and Black's pawns get swatted like flies.}
Rfd8 24. Be3 {The bishop's destinies are stitched together in common purpose.}
h6 25. Red1 Bc6 26. Rac1 Be8 27. Kf2 {He begins to centralize his king.} Rxd1
28. Rxd1 Rc8 29. g4 {Seizing kingside territory.} Bd7 30. Bb6 {And there it is,
simple as that. Black is totally tied down to a5.} Be6 {Hoping to extract pus
from his wound before infection sets in. --- QUESTION: Why didn't Black just
protect his a-pawn?} ({ANSWER: He can lose one or the other, after} 30... Ra8
31. Bc7 $1 {.}) 31. Bxe6 fxe6 {EXERCISE (planning): In the matter of a single
move you can prove that all of Black's insights, as well as his resistance,
evaporate. What is White's best path to an easy win? --- ANSWER:
Simplification.} 32. Rd8+ $1 {Capa slyly jams a banana in the opponent's
exhaust. There goes Black's only threatening piece.} Rxd8 33. Bxd8 {The
bishop's sphere of influence, spokes on a giant wheel, radiates in every
direction.} Nd7 34. Bxa5 Nc5 {We can only fight with the army we have on hand.
The survivalist knight seeks sustenance by living off the land. White wins a
pawn. But look closer. You have a way of showing that Black's defensive plan
is no more than an impressionist painter's tortured abstraction of reality.
--- EXERCISE: (combination alert): White can win the pawn in a way which
forces Black to lose his knight in a few moves. How? --- ANSWER:} 35. b3 $1 {
Most accurate. White forces a passed a-pawn, the furthest away from Black's
king.} Nxb3 36. Bxb4 {Now bishop and a-pawn conspire with sinister purpose.}
Nd4 (36... Kf7 {doesn't help. Black's king is outside the square of the passer
and can't assist in halting it after} 37. a5 {.}) 37. a5 ({The pawn costs
Black his knight after} 37. a5 Nc6 38. a6 $1 {. The insolence! White's bishop
refuses to budge. Meanwhile, Black's destitute knight sits on the margins of
society. Some live life while others are content to watch life pass by.}) 1-0

[Event "Bad Kissingen"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1928.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bogoljubow, E."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1928.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 Ne4 7. Bxe7 Qxe7 8.
Nxe4 Bxe4 9. Nd2 Bb7 10. Be2 Qg5 11. Bf3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nc6 13. Qg3 Qxg3 14.
hxg3 {White stands a shade better. --- QUESTION: Why? The position looks
completely equal to me. --- ANSWER: Well, it's not much but White's extra
space should count for something.} Ke7 {A common mistake for lower rated
players is to castle in such situations. If queens come off the board, and you
judge that there is no real danger to your king, then use it. After saying
this, Bogo correctly brings his king to the middle and later on gets mated
there! There are anomalies to every rule!} 15. g4 h6 16. a3 a6 17. Ke2 Rhb8 $1
{Capa decides to start activity and grab space on the queenside.} 18. Ne4 {
This turns out to be a bit of a time waster, but still, no harm done yet.} (18.
Rac1 b5 19. c5 {is how I would play White.}) 18... b5 19. c5 d5 20. cxd6+ cxd6
21. f4 {A move based on the philosophy: It isn't a lie if you believe it!
Technically White's last move is not a mistake, but I get the feeling Bogo
overestimates his position and plays for a win when he should be thinking
about drawing. So entrenched is Bogo in his delusion of superiority, that from
this point on he pushes away rationality as a man who overindulges at a
banquet and pushes away his greasy plate of half-eaten food. The biggest
fallacy one can make in life is the assumption that the people you encounter
appraise your qualities as highly as you do! --- QUESTION: What should White
do?} ({ANSWER: Just challenge the c-file by} 21. Rac1 Rc8 22. Rc3 Na5 23. Rhc1
{with an approximately equal position. Bogo soon rues his decision to retain
rooks on the board.}) ({QUESTION: How about the pawn sac} 21. d5 {- ? ---
ANSWER: Optically it looks good for White, but I don't completely trust his
compensation at the end of the line} exd5 22. Nc3 d4 23. Nd5+ Kd7 24. e4 Ne5
25. f3 d3+ 26. Kf2 Rb7 {. Still, this is an idea for the adventurous of spirit.
}) 21... Rc8 22. f5 $6 {With each move I like White's position less and less.
Bogo makes a stab at a plan, but what he does is more of a contrivance. At
best, what he gets is a rude rendition of an imitation of a plan.} Na5 23. Kd3
Nc4 24. Rab1 d5 $1 25. Nc3 $6 {The knight, with a sheepish expression of
acknowledged guilt, returns.} ({It should hop into c5 instead, though even
then White stands slightly worse after} 25. Nc5 e5 $1 {.}) 25... Rc6 26. fxe6
fxe6 27. g5 $2 {Another outburst from Bogo. Nothing degrades a position faster
than when one side plays as if holding advantage when the actuality is the
opposite.} hxg5 28. Rh5 Kf6 29. Rh3 Rac8 {Threat: ...Nxb2+, undermining
support of c3.} 30. Ne2 a5 {Too cautious.} ({After} 30... e5 $1 31. dxe5+ Nxe5+
32. Kd2 Rc2+ {White collapses quickly.}) 31. Rf3+ Kg6 32. g4 $2 {EXERCISE 
(planning): Contrary to popular belief, Capa was not infallible. Turning away
from the rush and clamour, he incorrectly continues his policy of over-caution.
Can you spot the crushing move Capa rejected?} Nd6 $6 ({ANSWER: White falls
apart after the simple line opening} 32... e5 $1 {, when} 33. e4 {fails to
save him due to} dxe4+ 34. Kxe4 Nd2+ {.}) 33. Nc3 b4 $1 34. axb4 axb4 35. Nd1 (
{QUESTION: Wouldn't it have been more logical to play} 35. Na4 {, intending to
plant itself on c5? --- ANSWER: The problem with that plan is that after} Rc2
$1 36. Nc5 b3 $1 {White's knight must leave its post on c5 and take on b3:} 37.
Nxb3 (37. Rh3 $2 Nc4 {is crushing}) 37... Ne4 {, when White is curiously
helpless. For starters ...Nf2+ wins the exchange, while ...Rh2 followed by ...
Rcc2 is even stronger.}) 35... Rc2 36. Rf2 b3 37. Ra1 Ne4 38. Re2 R8c6 $1 39.
Rb1 e5 $1 40. Ra1 ({If} 40. dxe5 R6c4 $1 {and there is no defence to ...Nc5
mate!}) 40... R6c4 $1 41. Ra5 {At this point, Bogoljubow must have been
assaulted by strange feelings and emotions which are not easy to define.
White's unfortunate king is the embodiment of all that is wrong in his world.
--- EXERCISE: (combination alert): Black to play and deliver mate in two moves.
--- ANSWER: Clearance. I have never been able to answer the question: Does
artistic exaltation enter through the mind, emotions or the heart?} Nc5+ $1 {
When the rich squander what the rest of us would keep, it represents a status
symbol of defiant excess.} ({After this trick the knight's eyes glow with
not-so-secret amusement, because of} 41... Nc5+ 42. dxc5 e4# {! Nothing is
left of White's king but the vacant stare of a corpse into nothingness.}) 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1924.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Yates, F."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "153"]
[EventDate "1924.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. h3 c5 7. dxc5 Qa5 8. Nd2
Qxc5 9. Nb3 Qb6 10. Be5 e6 11. Nb5 Ne8 12. Bxg7 Nxg7 13. h4 a6 14. Nc3 Nc6 15.
Bd3 f5 16. Qd2 Ne5 17. Be2 Nc4 18. Bxc4 dxc4 19. Qd4 Qc7 20. Qc5 Qxc5 21. Nxc5
{After profoundly uninspiring opening and early middlegame play, Capa goes on
to win one of his most beautiful (and confusing!) endings. --- QUESTION: Isn't
bishop and knight generally superior to a pair of knights? --- ANSWER:
Everyone seems to think so but, from my own experience, two knights aren't a
disadvantage in most structures. In fact, I often encourage such an imbalance
if I am the higher-rated player.} b6 $5 {This move creates a slight weakness
on the queenside.} ({He should have grabbed the file straight away with} 21...
Rd8 {.}) 22. N5a4 Rb8 23. O-O-O b5 {QUESTION: Why did Black allow the knight
back into play? --- ANSWER: No choice, since Rd6 was coming.} 24. Nc5 Rb6 {He
stops Rd6.} 25. a4 {Capa is anxious to create confrontation while Black is ill
prepared.} Nh5 $1 {Yates finds a good way of reactivating his knight.} 26. b3
$1 cxb3 27. cxb3 bxa4 ({I would try} 27... Rc6 28. b4 bxa4 29. N3xa4 {.}) 28.
N3xa4 Rc6 29. Kb2 {White's b-pawn is more secure than Black's a-pawn.} Nf6 30.
Rd2 a5 31. Rhd1 Nd5 32. g3 Rf7 33. Nd3 Rb7 34. Ne5 Rcc7 35. Rd4 Kg7 36. e4 $1
fxe4 $5 {QUESTION: Why did Black take on an isolani?} ({ANSWER: It may be a
questionable decision. Yates decides upon a structural concession to retain
his powerful knight outpost on d5. Perhaps it was more prudent to play} 36...
Nf6) ({or} 36... Nb4 {.}) 37. Rxe4 Rb5 {QUESTION: What is Black hoping for?
--- ANSWER: Yates attempts a half-hearted volley, hoping to organize some kind
of attack on b3, but falls short.} 38. Rc4 $1 {QUESTION: Why an exclamation
mark? --- ANSWER: Black's main source of counterplay is against b3 and White's
king. A pair of rooks off the board essentially dissolves Black's attack, and
therefore his counterplay.} Rxc4 39. Nxc4 Bd7 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): 
White to play and win a pawn. --- ANSWER:} 40. Nc3 $1 Rc5 ({Or} 40... Rb7 41.
Nxd5 exd5 42. Nxa5 Rb5 43. Rc1 $1 {and White emerges a pawn up.}) 41. Ne4 Rb5
42. Ned6 $5 (42. Ra1 {picked off a5 straightaway.}) 42... Rc5 43. Nb7 Rc7 {The
harried and dispirited rook realizes he is outmatched by the killer knight
team, and backs off.} 44. Nbxa5 Bb5 45. Nd6 Bd7 46. Nac4 Ra7 47. Ne4 h6 48. f4
{Ensuring an outpost on e5, while fixing e6 as a perpetual pawn weakness.} Be8
49. Ne5 Ra8 50. Rc1 Bf7 51. Rc6 $1 Bg8 52. Nc5 {Target: e6.} Re8 53. Ra6 Re7 {
EXERCISE (planning): Black is down a pawn and is tied up as well. How do we
continue to improve White's position? --- ANSWER: Shepherd the b-pawn forward.}
54. Ka3 $1 Bf7 {Do you still think bishops are so superior to knights? This
poor guy is destined for a string of disappointments.} 55. b4 Nc7 56. Rc6 Nb5+
57. Kb2 Nd4 58. Ra6 Be8 59. g4 $5 Kf6 60. Ne4+ Kg7 61. Nd6 {"Two riders were
approaching and the wind began to howl." Are you as confused as I am by the
brooding knight pair's unfathomable gyrations? They remind me of truant
children, who ditch school for the day and, unsupervised, run wild through
town.} Bb5 62. Ra5 Bf1 63. Ra8 g5 $5 {QUESTION: Why did Black give away a
pawn? --- ANSWER: Two out of three voices in Yates' head told him to sac, so
he went with the majority. The superhuman knights violate all laws of decorum,
prancing about in an undignified but effective manner. Yates, by now, wrapped
in a gauze wrap of befuddlement, points his gun at shadows and fires without
any return on his rage.} 64. fxg5 hxg5 65. hxg5 Bg2 66. Re8 $1 Rc7 67. Rd8 $1 {
Threatening a fork on e8.} Nc6 68. Ne8+ {The colours run together and it's
getting hard to distinguish one knight from another. What a beautiful display
of controlled confusion. Have you ever seen knights work like this? After
playing through this game, I made a firm decision: If they don't have chess in
heaven, I'm not going!} Kf8 69. Nxc7+ Nxd8 70. Kc3 {White has passers on both
sides, while all Black has is his lack of counterplay and growing sense of
depression.} Bb7 71. Kd4 Bc8 72. g6 Nb7 {EXERCISE: (combination alert): Black
wants to activate his knight with ...Nd6 next. How can we prevent this? ---
ANSWER: The annoying knights have a nasty habit of popping up in places where
they are not welcome. Black swats and misses, unable to silence the mosquitoes.
} 73. Ne8 $1 {White knights appear everywhere, as if there are four of them.}
Nd8 (73... Kxe8 $2 74. g7 {queens at once.}) 74. b5 Kg8 75. g5 Kf8 {EXERCISE 
(planning): With quickened pulse and fire in his heart, Capa unleashes a
deadly endgame onslaught. How to engineer a mating next? --- ANSWER: Step 1:
Entomb the king on g8.} 76. g7+ $1 Kg8 77. g6 $1 ({Step 2: Cut off f7 and h7 by
} 77. g6 {. --- Step 3: Transfer the e5-knight to deliver checkmate:} Bb7 ({or
} 77... Nb7 78. Nc6 $1 {and mate on e7}) 78. Ng4 {mating on h6 or f6.}) 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1915.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Lasker, Ed"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C80"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "1915.??.??"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2012.12.21"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 exd4 7. Re1 d5 8.
Nxd4 Bd6 9. Nxc6 Bxh2+ 10. Kh1 Qh4 11. Rxe4+ dxe4 12. Qd8+ Qxd8 13. Nxd8+ Kxd8
14. Kxh2 {Apparently Capa overslept and appeared 59 minutes late for the game,
just one minute short of forfeiture! Even with an hour missing from his clock,
he manages to navigate a tricky opening and follow with a flawless ending. ---
QUESTION: I am not convinced Capablanca played the opening and middlegame all
that well. Isn't Black at least equal here? Two pawns and a rook are a lot for
two minor pieces. --- ANSWER: You would be right if Black's e-pawn still sat
on e5. But this isn't the case. Black's pawn on e4 weakens all his central
dark squares. That, coupled with his slight lag in development, should offer
White a clear advantage.} Be6 15. Be3 $1 ({Capa alertly prevents ...c7-c5!
which would endanger White's light-squared bishop. For example:} 15. Nc3 $6 c5
$1 16. Bg5+ Kc8 {, D.Adla-I.Barreto, Fortaleza 1994. Now Black has at least
equal chances after} 17. a3 c4 $1 18. Nxe4 b5 19. Nd6+ Kc7 20. Nxb5+ axb5 21.
Bxb5 {.}) 15... f5 16. Nc3 Ke7 17. g4 $1 {This disruptive move ensures Black
won't have time for ...h7-h6, ...g7-g5 and ...f5-f4 later.} g6 $2 {With this
move Black weakens his dark squares and soon ends up with fixed pawn targets.}
({His best shot at survival is to clear the centre with} 17... fxg4 18. Nxe4
Bd5 {.}) 18. Kg3 {Capa activates his king and sees a potential pocket for
himself on f4.} h5 ({Too late for} 18... fxg4 19. Nxe4 {since Black's earlier ...g7-g6 weakened multiple dark squares.}) 19. gxf5 h4+ 20. Kh2 {The young Capa
wasn't normally this meek but his intuition told him to back off. --- QUESTION:
What do you suggest?} ({ANSWER: Maybe I am crazy but I would rush in headlong
with} 20. Kf4 $5 gxf5 21. Ke5 {. --- QUESTION: Isn't that suicidal? --- ANSWER:
I'm not sure, but my intuition (not quite in the same league as Capa's!) says
White will survive the advanced outpost. If he does, the rewards are great.
The computers think it is okay, but they are not clairvoyant and don't know
what will happen 15 moves from now.}) 20... gxf5 (20... Bxf5 $2 {isn't
possible due to} 21. Nd5+ Kd8 22. Rd1 Kc8 23. Ne7+ Kb8 24. Nxf5 gxf5 25. Rd7 {
, when Black's game is not a pretty sight.}) 21. Ne2 $1 {Ensuring a
comfortable home on f4 for the knight.} b5 22. Bb3 Bxb3 23. axb3 Rhg8 {
EXERCISE (planning/combination alert): Unbelievable as this sounds, White has
a forcing way of picking off Black's central pawns. What would you play as
White in this position? --- ANSWER:} 24. Rd1 $3 {This move is
counter-intuitive but very strong - so strong that even the computers in their
confusion incorrectly assess the position as even. The truth is: Black is
busted after this move. --- QUESTION: Why counter-intuitive? --- ANSWER: After
Black challenges the d-file, a pair of rooks comes off the board. My
experience has been that the side with the minor pieces should keep a pair of
rooks on the board. But in this instance, Capa spotted an anomaly: Black is
unable to defend his kingside pawns if a pair of rooks are exchanged - or
indeed not exchanged! White's last move is proof that pure logic isn't a
dependable tool 100% of the time.} Rad8 {Black must challenge the open file.} (
24... Kf6 {fails to} 25. Rd5 $1 Rad8 26. Rc5 Rd7 27. Nd4 {when Black's pawns
dwindle and fall.}) 25. Rxd8 $1 Kxd8 (25... Rxd8 $4 {loses to} 26. Bg5+ {.})
26. Nd4 $1 {The venom in Capa's plan begins to take effect. Suddenly, f5
conveniently provides White with a stationary and undefendable target. Black's
entire structure, an old and weathered house in urgent need of repair, begins
to crumble.} Kd7 ({Now we see Capa's clever idea: f5 falls, since} 26... Rf8 $4
{loses to} 27. Ne6+ {.}) 27. Nxf5 a5 28. Nxh4 a4 29. bxa4 bxa4 30. Ng2 Rb8 31.
Bd4 Rb4 32. Bg7 Rc4 33. Ne3 {A vivid display of that familiar Capa perfection.
How incredibly annoying for Lasker. White's pieces always arrive on the right
square at the right time.} Rc6 34. c4 Rg6 {Cutting off White's king - for now.}
35. Bc3 Kd6 36. Bd4 Kd7 $2 (36... c5 {was forced.}) 37. Nd5 Rc6 38. c5 Rg6 39.
Be3 $1 {Computer precision.} ({The move is even stronger than the immediate} 
39. Nc3 Ke6 40. Nxa4 Kd5 {which allows Black's king to advance.}) 39... c6 ({
Black's king entry from either direction is closed:} 39... Ke6 $4 40. Nf4+) ({
and} 39... Kc6 $4 40. Ne7+ {.}) 40. Nc3 {Double attack. Black sheds pawns the
way an insect moults its husk. So habituated is Capa at cheating his opponent
out of pawns, that he regards the theft as his birthright.} Ke6 41. Nxa4 Rg8 (
41... Kd5 42. Nc3+ {keeps Black's king out of c4.}) 42. b4 Ke5 43. Nb6 Rg7 {
EXERCISE (planning): Come up with a multi-step plan for White to cast order on
the position and force the win. --- ANSWER: He must work to create a passed
pawn on the queenside. --- Step 1: Transfer the knight to its optimal post on
d6, where it prepares b4-b5, cuts Black's king off entry into c4, and also
keeps an eye on e4.} 44. Nc4+ $1 Kd5 45. Nd6 {Did I mention that the knight
also conveniently prevents ...Rb7?} Rg8 46. b5 $1 {Step 2: Erode Black's hopes
further by creating a passed pawn on the queenside.} cxb5 47. Nxb5 Rg6 48. Nc3+
Ke5 49. Ne2 $1 {Perfect timing. Now ...Kd5 isn't possible. --- Step 3: Support
the passed pawn down the board. White's bishop and knight work together as a
single sentient organism.} Ra6 50. Nd4 Kd5 51. c6 Ra7 52. Kg3 {Step 4: White's
long dormant king emerges.} Rg7+ 53. Kf4 Rf7+ 54. Kg5 Rg7+ 55. Kf6 Rh7 56. Kg6
Rc7 57. Bf4 Rc8 58. Be3 Rc7 59. Kf5 $5 {Remarkable patience. Capa heads back
into the ditch with his king with a change of plan.} ({Otherwise White has a
tricky, problem-like, computer win:} 59. Kf6 Rh7 60. Bf4 $3 Kxd4 61. c7 Rh8 62.
Ke6 Kc5 63. Be5 $1 Ra8 64. Kd7 Ra7 65. Kd8 Ra8+ 66. c8=Q+ Rxc8+ 67. Kxc8 Kc4
68. Bf4 {consolidating.}) 59... Rf7+ 60. Kg4 Rg7+ 61. Kh3 Rh7+ 62. Kg2 Rg7+ {
QUESTION: I don't understand all these voluntary king retreats. What is
Capablanca doing? --- ANSWER: While it is true that White is winning, the
king's extravagant, retro-march seems to exceed the elemental fact of his won
game. When the facts change, Capablanca's plan changes. The goal is to enable
White's king to help support his passed c-pawn. Lasker cut him off on the
kingside, so the king, roaming the board free as thought, enters the queenside
via f1, while Black's perplexed rook looks on helplessly.} 63. Kf1 $1 {The
plan revealed: White's king, finally resting at an oasis of tranquillity, away
from the pesky rook, soon approaches from the other direction.} Ra7 64. Ke2
Ra2+ 65. Kd1 Kc4 (65... Ra7 66. Kc2 Ra5 67. Kc3 Ra4 68. Kb3 Ra8 69. c7 Kd6 70.
Bf4+ Kd7 71. Nb5 Kc8 72. Nc3 {wins.}) 66. c7 Ra8 67. Nf5 {Threatening to help
the pawn to the queening square.} Kd3 68. Nd6 Rh8 $1 {EXERCISE: White to play
and win. Be careful. Don't blow this one! --- ANSWER:} 69. Kc1 $1 {Capa avoids
one last sneaky cheapo.} ({I sincerely hope you avoided the embarrassing} 69.
c8=Q $4 Rh1# {!}) 1-0

