One of the things I hadn’t thought about before I started collecting games for this series, is how amusing the most famous games in chess often are. In this very well known finish, Capablanca exploits White’s weak back rank by … not going there.
O. Bernstein - Capablanca
Exhibition Game, Moscow 1914
1 d4 d5
2 c4 e6
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Nf3 Be7
5 Bg5 0-0
6 e3 Nbd7
7 Rc1 b6
8 cxd5 exd5
9 Qa4 Bb7
10 Ba6 Bxa6
11 Qxa6 c5
12 Bxf6 Nxf6
13 dxc5 bxc5
14 0-0 Qb6
15 Qe2 c4
16 Rfd1 Rfd8
17 Nd4 Bb4
18 b3 Rac8
19 bxc4 dxc4
20 Rc2 Bxc3
21 Rxc3 Nd5
22 Rc2 c3
23 Rdc1 Rc5
24 Nb3 Rc6
25 Nd4 Rc7
26 Nb5 Rc5
27 Nxc3 Nxc3
28 Rxc3 Rxc3
29 Rxc3 Qb2
0-1
So, why did white resign?
BONUS QUESTIONS
BQ1: Ensure you have an answer to 30 Qxb2; 30 Qe1; 30 Qc2 and 30 Rc2.
BQ2: Bernstein probably expected 29 … Qb1+ from Capablanca. What happens then? Evaluate the position.
BQ3: How does Black finish off if White tries 22 Rxc4 instead of retreating from the knight’s attack with 22 Rc2?
BQ4: Capablanca played 9 … Bb7 possibly fearing that Black drops a pawn after 10 Qc6 gaining a tempo on the rook and hitting d5. However it was later discovered that after a line like 10 Qc6 Rb8, 11 Nxd5 Nxd5, 12 Qxd5 Bb7, 13 Bxe7 Qxe7. White’s queen is attacked. Analyse a bit further to show Black’s compensation.
Awesome! What a way to finish the game! Any tips for remembering positions at a move number? I find I have to restart the whole game to work with the last question. I assume it is something that will develop over time. Thanks for the article!
Nice! Another classic...Enjoying a lot with the bonus questions! there’s a little typo though; I think it’s 8.... exd5 ínstead of cxd5