Jose Raul Capablanca vs Emanuel Lasker (1921)

Jose Raul Capablanca vs Emanuel Lasker
Lasker-Capablanca World Championship Match (1921) · Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense. Capablanca Variation (D63) · 1/2-1/2

[Event "Habana, WCH"]
[Site "Habana, WCH"]
[Date "1921.03.15"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "1"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[Black "Emanuel Lasker"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "100"]

1.d4 {Notes by J. R. Capablanca} d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Bg5
Be7 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Rc1 b6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bb5 {A new move
which has no merit outside of its novelty. I played it for the
first time against Teichmann in Berlin in 1913. The normal
move is Bd3, but Qa4 may the best, after all.} Bb7 10.Qa4 a6 {
c5 at once is the proper continuation.} 11.Bxd7 Nxd7 12.Bxe7
Qxe7 13.Qb3 { With the idea of preventing c5, but still better
would have been to castle.} Qd6 { Black could have played
c5. In the many complications arising from this move. I think,
Black would have come out all right.} 14.O-O Rfd8 15.Rfd1 Rab8
16.Ne1 { The object was to draw the Knight away from the line
of the Bishop, which would soon be open, as it actually
occurred in the game.} Nf6 17.Rc2 c5 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.Ne2 Ne4 {
All the attacks beginning either with Ng4 or d4 would have
failed.} 20.Qa3 Rbc8 21.Ng3 Nxg3 22.hxg3 Qb6 23.Rcd2 { Rdc1
would not have been better, because of the rejoinder d4, etc.}
h6 24.Nf3 d4 25.exd4 Bxf3 26.Qxf3 Rxd4 27.Rc2 Rxd1+ 28.Qxd1
Rd8 29.Qe2 Qd6 30.Kh2 Qd5 31.b3 Qf5 32.g4 Qg5 33.g3 Rd6 {
Unquestionably the best move; with any other move Black would,
perhaps, have found it impossible to draw.} 34.Kg2 g6 35.Qc4
Re6 36.Qxc5 Qxg4 37.f3 Qg5 38.Qxg5 hxg5 39.Kf2 Rd6 40.Ke3 Re6+
41.Kd4 Rd6+ 42.Ke3 { K-c5 was too risky. The way to win was
not at all clear and I even thought that with that move Black
might win.} Re6+ 43.Kf2 Rd6 44.g4 Rd1 45.Ke2 { Ke3 was the
right move. It was perhaps the only chance White had to win,
or at least come near it.} Ra1 46.Kd3 { Had the King been at
e3 he could go to d4, which would have gained a very important
move.} Kg7 47.b4 Rf1 { Best. Black, however, would have
accomplished nothing with this move, had the white King been
at d4.} 48.Ke3 { The remainder of the game needs no comments.}
Rb1 49.Rc6 Rxb4 50.Rxa6 Rb2 1/2-1/2

To move:

Last move:

Annotations by Jose Raul Capablanca. [26 more games annotated by Capablanca]

explore this opening	find similar games	23 more Capablanca/Lasker games
	PGN: download \| view	Help: general \| java-troubleshooting

TIP: If you do not want to read posts by a certain member, put them on your ignore list.

For help with this chess viewer, please see the Pgn4web Quickstart Guide.

< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 3 OF 3 · Later Kibitzing>
Jul-21-05		sneaky pete: For a better understanding of the last sentence: "Scheinen" can be translated as both "to seem" and "to shine" (like a star), which scheint to be meant here. "Altmeister" is simply "old master", not specifically ex-champion, might be applied to any player around 60 or older. If I remember right, Altmeister Korchnoi played a match against Jungmeister Bacrot a few years ago.

Jul-30-05		paladin at large: <tamar> I have been away - Golden Knight's translation is good. Lasker and the chess player Schlechter, of course, were conspicuous by their absence. schlecht= bad / schlechter= worse /Schlachter or Schlächter = butcher. Cheers.

Jan-27-06		offramp: After 41...Rd6+ click for larger view Capablanca writes, "Kc5 was too risky. The way to win was not at all clear and I even thought that with that move Black might win." Perhaps it would have won for white. Here is a possible line: 42. Kc5 Rd3 43. Kb6 Rxf3 44. Kxa6 Rxg3 45. b4 Ra3+ 46. Kb7 g4 47. b5 g3 48. b6 f5 49. Kc6 Ra8 50.b7 Rb8 51. Kc7 Rf8 52. Kd6 Kg7 53. Rc7+ Kh6 54. Rc8 Rf6+ 55. Ke5 Rb6 56. b8=Q Rxb8 57. Rxb8 Kg5 58. Rb2 Kg4 59. a4 f4 60. Ke4 winning.

May-10-06		offramp: Before this game, Lasker's previous serious game had been Lasker vs Schlechter, 1918 - which was Schlechter's last game of all. He had, however, played some simulteous games and consultation games in those years. Capablanca had played in a match v Kostich and the Hastings Victory Congress - to which Lasker as a German was not invited.

Mar-02-08		Knight13: <Capablanca writes, "Kc5 was too risky. The way to win was not at all clear and I even thought that with that move Black might win." Perhaps it would have won for white. Here is a possible line: 42. Kc5 Rd3 43. Kb6 Rxf3 44. Kxa6 Rxg3 45. b4 Ra3+ 46. Kb7 g4 47. b5 g3 48. b6 f5 49. Kc6 Ra8 50.b7 Rb8 51. Kc7 Rf8 52. Kd6 Kg7 53. Rc7+ Kh6 54. Rc8 Rf6+ 55. Ke5 Rb6 56. b8=Q Rxb8 57. Rxb8 Kg5 58. Rb2 Kg4 59. a4 f4 60. Ke4 winning.> I doubt Capablanca would've saw that many moves ahead and calculated it that accurately. He wasn't a computer.

Nov-27-08		slowlylearner: I found a nice video version of this game on YouTube. http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=-KnAG...

Sep-22-10		soothsayer8: <Knight13> It's possible Capablanca was the closest there ever was to a human chess computer ;)

Oct-10-10		MindCtrol9: Knight13:Yes,he was not a computer,but remember he was called "The Chess Machine".He could calculate many moves ahead,and different variations.

Jan-01-11		Rook e2: Maybe 42 Kc5 Rd3 43 Rf2 g4 44 Kb6 I haven't checked with a computer yet but it might win

Apr-08-11		bronkenstein: Ty for link , slowlylearner :) nice vid.

May-24-11		madlydeeply: AH c'mon now! No more of this "Capa was a natural player"! He clearly analyzed this opening at home, no? I say all his comments up to move sixteen were a result of opening prep. I think he would say he "didn't prepare" as a way to psych out his opponents. His Capa cult of personality.

Oct-24-12		sillybilly47: I know how it ends but not a bad start for the good doctor.

Oct-31-12		Conrad93: Lasker had a chance for a better game with either 19...c4! or 19...d4!

Dec-19-12		Conrad93: Capablanca's comments are so biased.

Dec-19-12		beatgiant: <Conrad93> <19...c4!> What's the follow-up after 19...c4 20. Qc3? Looks to me like this helps White more than Black. <19...d4!> This actually does look pretty interesting. Capa claims it would have failed, but 19...d4 20. Qa3 Ng4 21. Ng3 Rbc8 looks fine for Black.

Dec-19-12		Conrad93: BeatGiant, the analysis was done by Rybka. The advantage goes to black after 19...c4. After 20.Qc3 white's position is cramped.

Dec-19-12		Conrad93: click for larger view 19...c4! 20.Qc3 Ne4 21.Qa5!Rdc8 22.Nc3 f5 23.Nf3 Rc5 24.Qa3 Qc7 25.Na4 Ra5! click for larger view

Dec-19-12		beatgiant: <Conrad93> Thanks, but I wasn't convinced by a few of White's moves in Rybka's line. Why not simply 19...c4 20. Qc3 Ne4 <21. Qd4>, for example?

Dec-19-12		Conrad93: click for larger view 21.Qd4 Bc6! 22.b3 Rb4 23.Qb2 Rb8 24.Qc1 Qf6! 25.Nf3 g5!? click for larger view I think black is much better off.

Dec-19-12		beatgiant: <Conrad93> I remain unconvinced. On 19...c4 20. Qc3 Ne4 21. Qd4 Bc6, simply <22. Rb1> appears to parry all threats.

Dec-20-12		Conrad93: Apparently not. 22.Rb1 is countered by 22...a5 or 22...Ba4 when black is doing much better. It's a very passive move.

Dec-20-12		beatgiant: <Conrad93> I don't see why <black is doing much better> in the line you posted. True, Black has the momentary appearance of some piece activity, but I don't see any major follw-up. Meanwhile, the c-pawn and d-pawn are a frozen weakness.

Dec-20-12		Conrad93: Giant, the c and d pawn are very strong. You are looking at the game like a patzer.

Dec-21-12		beatgiant: <Conrad93> <c and d pawn are very strong> Could you post something informative about your reasons? Do you say that just because <Rybka> gave Black a plus there? I'll post a sample line illustrating my belief about the position: 19...c4 20. Qc3 Ne4 21. Qd4 Bc6 22. Rb1 a5 <23. Nc3> Nxc3 24. Qxc3 Bd7 25. Rd2 Bf5 26. Rbd1 White has visible pressure on the c and d pawns (<27. Qxc4> is a threat).

Dec-21-12		Conrad93: Your line is faulty. I'll analyze later. Too tired for now.

Jump to page # (enter # from 1 to 3)
< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 3 OF 3 · Later Kibitzing>

from the Chessgames Store

NOTE: You need to pick a username and password to post a reply. Getting your account takes less than a minute, totally anonymous, and 100% free--plus, it entitles you to features otherwise unavailable. Pick your username now and join the chessgames community!

If you already have an account, you should login now.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
No spamming, advertising, or duplicating posts.
No personal attacks against other users.
Nothing in violation of United States law.

See something which violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform an administrator.

NOTE: Keep all discussion on the topic of this page. This forum is for this specific game and nothing else. If you want to discuss chess in general, or this site, you might try the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.

Spot an error? Please submit a correction slip and help us eliminate database mistakes!
This game is type: CLASSICAL (Disagree? Please submit a correction slip.)

Featured in the Following Game Collections [what is this?]

On the shoulders of giants
by ughaibu

R+4ps vs R+4ps
by Pawsome

50
from Match Lasker-Capablanca by Nobis

Round 1,Match tied 1/2-1/2
from 1921 World Chess Championship by Penguincw

Nietzowitsch's favorite games no 2
by Nietzowitsch

rook ending
from jsteward's favorite games by jlsteward

José Capablanca's Rook Endings
by Knight Pawn

+0 -4 =10 vs. Capablanca (Havana, 1921)
from Match Lasker! by amadeus

02 The Unbearable Lightness of rook endgames
by whiteshark

+4 -0 =10 vs. Lasker (World Match, Havana)
from Match Capablanca! by amadeus

Aurora's favorite games
by Aurora

Capablanca
by 67JediChessMaster

rook ending queens gambit
from jsteward's favorite games by jsteward

Annotated by Capablanca !
from Chess gives joy and insight ......... by arielbekarov

51c Middlegames - Black's Hanging Pawns
by whiteshark

All Hail Emanuel
by iron maiden

j.r.capablanka
from gopi2004's favorite games by gopi2004

World Championship Game #1
from WCC Index [Lasker-Capablanca 1921] by suenteus po 147