GAME 7. RUY LOPEZ

(San Sebastian, 1911)

White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: A. Burn

1. P - K 4 P - K 4 2. Kt - K B 3 Kt - Q B 3 3. B - Kt 5 P - Q R 3 4. B - R 4 Kt - B 3 5. P - Q 3

This is a very solid development, to which I was much addicted at the time, because of my ignorance of the multiple variations of the openings.

5. ........ P - Q 3 6. P - B 3 B - K 2

In this variation there is the alternative of developing this Bishop via Kt 2, after P - K Kt 3.

7. Q Kt - Q 2 O - O 8. Kt - B 1 P - Q Kt 4 9. B - B 2 P - Q 4 10. Q - K 2 P P 11. P P B - Q B 4

Evidently to make room for the Queen at K 2, but I do not think the move advisable at this stage. B - K 3 is a more natural and effective move. It develops a piece and threatens B - B 5, which would have to be stopped.

12. B - Kt 5 B - K 3

{198} Now it is not so effective, because White's Q B is out, and the Knight, in going to K 3 to defend the square Q B 4, does not block the Q B.

13. Kt - K 3 R - K 1 14. O - O Q - K 2

This is bad. Black's game was already not good. He probably had no choice but to take the Knight with the Bishop before making this move.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

15. Kt - Q 5 B Kt 16. P B Kt - Kt 1

in order to bring it to Q 2, to support the other Knight and also his King's p.a.w.n. White, however, does not allow time for this, and by taking advantage of his superior position is able to win a p.a.w.n.

17. P - Q R 4 P - Kt 5

Since he had no way to prevent the loss of a p.a.w.n, he should have given it up where it is, and played Q Kt - Q 2, in order to make his position more solid. {199} The text move not only loses a p.a.w.n, but leaves Black's game very much weakened.

18. P P B P 19. B Kt Q B 20. Q - K 4 B - Q 3 21. Q P ch K - B 1

[Ill.u.s.tration]

With a p.a.w.n more and all his pieces ready for action, while Black is still backward in development, it only remains for White to drive home his advantage before Black can come out with his pieces, in which case, by using the open K R file, Black might be able to start a strong attack against White's King. White is able by his next move to eliminate all danger.

22. Kt - R 4 Q - R 3

This is practically forced. Black could not play P - Kt 3 because of B P, and White meanwhile threatened Q - R 8 ch followed by Kt - B 5 ch and Q P. {200}

23. Q Q P Q 24. Kt - B 5 P - K R 4 25. B - Q 1 Kt - Q 2 26. B P Kt - B 3 27. B - K 2 Kt P 28. K R - Q 1 Kt - B 5 29. B - B 4 K R - Q 1 30. P - R 4 P - R 4

Black must lose time a.s.suring the safety of this p.a.w.n.

31. P - Kt 3 Kt - K 3 32. B Kt P B 33. Kt - K 3 K R - Kt 1 34. Kt - B 4 K - K 2

Black fights a hopeless battle. He is two p.a.w.ns down for all practical purposes, and the p.a.w.ns he has are isolated and have to be defended by pieces.

35. Q R - B 1 R - R 2

White threatened Kt B, followed by R - B 7 ch.

36. R - K 1 K - B 3 37. R - K 4 R - Kt 5 38. P - Kt 4 R - R 3

If R R P; Kt B of course would win a piece

39. R - B 3 B - B 4 40. R - B 3 ch K - Kt 2 41. P - Kt 3 B - Q 5 42. K - Kt 2 R - R 1 {201} 43. P - Kt 5 R - R 3 44. P - R 5 R Kt 45. P R R - B 3 46. P - Kt 6 Resigns.

GAME 8. CENTRE GAME

(Berlin 1913)

White: J. Mieses. Black: J. R. Capablanca.

1. P - K 4 P - K 4 2. P - Q 4 P P 3. Q P Kt - Q B 3 4. Q - K 3 Kt - B 3 5. Kt - Q B 3 B - Kt 5 6. B - Q 2 O - O 7. O - O - O R - K 1

In this position, instead of the text move, P - Q 3 is often played in order to develop the Q B. My idea was to exert sufficient pressure against the K P to win it, and thus gain a material advantage, which would, at least, compensate whatever slight advantage of position White might have.

The plan, I think, is quite feasible, my subsequent difficulties being due to faulty execution of the plan.

8. Q - Kt 3 Kt P 9. Kt Kt R Kt 10. B - K B 4

{202}

[Ill.u.s.tration]

10. ........ Q - B 3

White's threat to regain the p.a.w.n was merely with the idea of gaining time to develop his pieces. Black could have played P - Q 3; opening the way for his Q B, when would have followed, 11 B - Q 3, R - K 1; 12 Kt - B 3, and White would soon start a powerful direct attack against Black's King. With the text move Black aims at taking the initiative away from White in accordance with the principles laid down in this book.

11. Kt - R 3

If B P, P - Q 3; and White's Bishop would be completely shut off, and could only be extricated, if at all, with serious loss of position. The text move aims at quick development to keep the initiative.

11. ........ P - Q 3

This now is not only a developing move, but it also threatens to win a piece by B Kt. {203}

12. B - Q 3 Kt - Q 5

This complicates the game unnecessarily. R - K 1; was simple, and perfectly safe.