The first thirty moves left Capablanca with a clear advantage, but converting the position to a win would require precision. Of course, we know that Capablanca pulled it off and this game is often cited as a model of patience and accuracy. Capablanca's play in this second session deserves extended study.
This post is number 17 in a series that is following this historic match on the anniversary of each game or related event. See "Lasker -- Capablanca, Game 10" for the first thirty moves, as well as general discussion concerning the significance of the game.
As noted in the first segment on this game, Capablanca's annotations to this game in A Chess Primer (1935) are exceptional. Earlier this year, I expanded my collection of books by and about Capablanca. They are not gathering dust. Rather, I am reading all of them with diligent attention.
Lasker,Emanuel -- Capablanca,José Raúl [D61]
World Championship 12th Havana (10), 08.04.1921
[Capablanca/Lasker/others]
White to move
31.Kg1
"This was White's sealed move. It was not the best move, but it is doubtful if White has any good system of defense" (Capablanca 1921, 22).
31...a5
"Now Black exchanges the pawn and leaves White with a weak, isolated b-Pawn, which will fall sooner or later" (Capablanca 1921, 22).
In A Primer, the annotation mentions the same ideas, adding that there is a threat to bring the rook to the third rank and win the b-pawn (213).
33.Qd2
Capablanca indicates in A Primer that Lasker seeks a queen exchange to increase hope of a draw (214).
33...Qxd2 34.Rxd2 axb3 35.axb3
"This was White's sealed move. It was not the best move, but it is doubtful if White has any good system of defense" (Capablanca 1921, 22).
31...a5
"That takes care of the game. Black now wins in a pretty way. From now until the end Black plays with straightforward consistency. The logic of the following maneuvers is appealing. They speak for themselves, clarification is unnecessary" (Lasker, 22).
"This game has to be one of the earliest and most clear examples of how to conduct a minority attack successfully" (Lakdawala, Capablanca: Move by Move).
32.Qb2 a4
32.Qb2 a4
"Now Black exchanges the pawn and leaves White with a weak, isolated b-Pawn, which will fall sooner or later" (Capablanca 1921, 22).
In A Primer, the annotation mentions the same ideas, adding that there is a threat to bring the rook to the third rank and win the b-pawn (213).
33.Qd2
Capablanca indicates in A Primer that Lasker seeks a queen exchange to increase hope of a draw (214).
33...Qxd2 34.Rxd2 axb3 35.axb3
Black to move
This position is the starting point in the last illustrative game in Mikhail Shereshevsky's, Endgame Strategy (1985), chapter 5, "Do Not Hurry." Because White's two isolated pawns are near each other, they are more difficult to exploit, he points out. But if the kings were on d3 and d6, the position would be drawn. "Therefore, Black must all the time maintain the initiate, attacking White's weaknesses and trying not to allow the White king to come to their defense" (53).
35...Rb6
"In order to force Rd3 and thus prevent the White rook from supporting his b-pawn by Rb2 later on. It means practically tying up the White rook to the defense of his two weak pawns" (Capablanca 1921, 22).
This move was far from obvious to me. Once I understood its dual purpose, however--making White's rook passive while maintaining a clear initiative through penetration by the rook--I sensed that I was making progress understanding the logic and clarity of Capablanca's play that was noted so often by Lasker. Daniel King's explication was helpful.
36.Rd3
"If Rb2, Rb4 would win a pawn" (A Primer, 214).
36...Ra6 37.g4
"Without queens on the board the disrupting of the kingside is not so dangerous. Besides White had to give his king some breathing space" (A Primer, 214).
37...hxg3 38.fxg3 Ra2 39.Nc3 Rc2
White to move
40.Nd1
"The alternative Na4, was not any better. White's game is doomed" (Capablanca 1921, 22).
40...Ne7
"Now the knight comes to the other side to win one of the two weak isolated pawns. White cannot advance his pawn to b4 because of Rc1 followed by Rb1" (A Primer, 214).
41.Ne3 Rc1+ 42.Kf2 Nc6 43.Nd1
"The alternative Na4, was not any better. White's game is doomed" (Capablanca 1921, 22).
40...Ne7
"Now the knight comes to the other side to win one of the two weak isolated pawns. White cannot advance his pawn to b4 because of Rc1 followed by Rb1" (A Primer, 214).
41.Ne3 Rc1+ 42.Kf2 Nc6 43.Nd1
Black to move
43...Rb1
"Not Nb4 because of 44.Rd2 Rb1 45.Nb2 Rxb2 46.Rxb2 Nd3+ 47.Ke2 Nxb2 48.Kd2, and Black could not win" (Capablanca 1921, 22). He repeats this notation in A Primer (214).
Lasker, in his annotations offers: "Avoid the trap", the same moves, and "the knight cannot be saved" (23).
Annotations in the ChessBase DVDs offer Hugh Myers: "Burgess call this a trap, but it leads directly to White's defeat, since Black now wins even if he falls for the 'trap'. Better was patient defense with 43 Ke2."
Myers offers the line 43...Nb4 44.44. Rd2 Rb1 45.Nb2 Nc6 (deviating from Capablanca's analysis) 46.Ke3 Kg7 47.Rc2 Re1+ 48.Kd2 Nxd4 49.Kxe1 Nxc2+ 50.Kd2 Nd4.
The resulting knight ending appears easier for Black than the one Capablanca shows in his annotation to the next move.
Prior to 43.Nd1, evaluations in the ChessBase DVDs show that Black has the upper hand; after that move, these shift to decisive advantage.
44.Ke2
"Not a mistake, but played deliberately. White had no way to protect his b-pawn" (Capablanca 1921, 22). He notes in A Primer, White could have tried 44.Ke1 Na5 45.Kd2 Rxb3 46.Rxb3 Nxb3 "and there would have resulted a rather difficult knight ending, which should nevertheless be won for Black" (215). Graham Burgess carries the analysis out to move 50.
Commentators split on whether they agree that 44.Ke2 was not a mistake. The disagreement hinges on whether an ending without rooks increases White's drawing chances. King points out in his YouTube video, "Majestic," that there are no weak points among Black's pawns.
44...Rxb3 45.Ke3
Of course not 45.Rxb3 Nxd4+
45...Rb4
"Having his choice, Black prefers this ending to the more simple knight ending" (A Primer, 215).
Wait a minute! You just told us the knight ending was "difficult", and now it is "simple". What changed?
"Not Nb4 because of 44.Rd2 Rb1 45.Nb2 Rxb2 46.Rxb2 Nd3+ 47.Ke2 Nxb2 48.Kd2, and Black could not win" (Capablanca 1921, 22). He repeats this notation in A Primer (214).
Lasker, in his annotations offers: "Avoid the trap", the same moves, and "the knight cannot be saved" (23).
Annotations in the ChessBase DVDs offer Hugh Myers: "Burgess call this a trap, but it leads directly to White's defeat, since Black now wins even if he falls for the 'trap'. Better was patient defense with 43 Ke2."
Myers offers the line 43...Nb4 44.44. Rd2 Rb1 45.Nb2 Nc6 (deviating from Capablanca's analysis) 46.Ke3 Kg7 47.Rc2 Re1+ 48.Kd2 Nxd4 49.Kxe1 Nxc2+ 50.Kd2 Nd4.
The resulting knight ending appears easier for Black than the one Capablanca shows in his annotation to the next move.
Prior to 43.Nd1, evaluations in the ChessBase DVDs show that Black has the upper hand; after that move, these shift to decisive advantage.
44.Ke2
"Not a mistake, but played deliberately. White had no way to protect his b-pawn" (Capablanca 1921, 22). He notes in A Primer, White could have tried 44.Ke1 Na5 45.Kd2 Rxb3 46.Rxb3 Nxb3 "and there would have resulted a rather difficult knight ending, which should nevertheless be won for Black" (215). Graham Burgess carries the analysis out to move 50.
Commentators split on whether they agree that 44.Ke2 was not a mistake. The disagreement hinges on whether an ending without rooks increases White's drawing chances. King points out in his YouTube video, "Majestic," that there are no weak points among Black's pawns.
44...Rxb3 45.Ke3
Of course not 45.Rxb3 Nxd4+
45...Rb4
"Having his choice, Black prefers this ending to the more simple knight ending" (A Primer, 215).
Wait a minute! You just told us the knight ending was "difficult", and now it is "simple". What changed?
White to move
46.Nc3 Ne7 47.Ne2 Nf5+ 48.Kf2 g5 49.g4 Nd6 50.Ng1 Ne4+
White to move
51.Kf1 Rb1+ 52.Kg2 Rb2+ 53.Kf1 Rf2+ 54.Ke1 Ra2
"All these moves have a meaning. The student should carefully study them" (Capablanca 1921, 22).
This phrase importuning the student to study occurs with some frequency in Capablanca's writing. I trust that move sequences so noted are worth the effort.
"All these moves with the rook have had for object to obtain this particular position" (A Primer, 216). I am reminded of another Capablanca ending in the next chapter of Shereshevsky's, Endgame Strategy: "schematic thinking". He begins that chapter with Janowski -- Capablanca, New York 1916.
55.Kf1 Kg7
"The White pieces are practically tied up as a result of the last few moves. Black can now take his time in arriving with his king at the place where he may want to go" (A Primer, 216). Shereshevsky makes this point after 45...Rb4. Up to that point, the initiative was vital to Black. After that point, "the rhythm of the play changes sharply, and the principle of 'do not hurry' comes into force" (54).
56.Re3 Kg6 57.Rd3 f6
Only now does Capablanca begin to bring his pawns forward. The technique is marvelous to observe.
"All these moves have a meaning. The student should carefully study them" (Capablanca 1921, 22).
This phrase importuning the student to study occurs with some frequency in Capablanca's writing. I trust that move sequences so noted are worth the effort.
"All these moves with the rook have had for object to obtain this particular position" (A Primer, 216). I am reminded of another Capablanca ending in the next chapter of Shereshevsky's, Endgame Strategy: "schematic thinking". He begins that chapter with Janowski -- Capablanca, New York 1916.
"Capa messes with his opponent's head a while before taking action, allowing Lasker to stew in the memory of errors and regrets" (Lakdawala). King employs a similar phrase. I would add that he is making moves that get closer to the next time control, potentially buying more time on the clock.
"The White pieces are practically tied up as a result of the last few moves. Black can now take his time in arriving with his king at the place where he may want to go" (A Primer, 216). Shereshevsky makes this point after 45...Rb4. Up to that point, the initiative was vital to Black. After that point, "the rhythm of the play changes sharply, and the principle of 'do not hurry' comes into force" (54).
56.Re3 Kg6 57.Rd3 f6
Only now does Capablanca begin to bring his pawns forward. The technique is marvelous to observe.
White to move
58.Re3 Kf7 59.Rd3 Ke7 60.Re3 Kd6 61.Rd3 Rf2+
"Again the rook moves have a definite object, and that is to have the same position as before but with the White rook at e3, so as to facilitate the advance of the pawns. Black could, of course, have won without these moves, but it would have taken longer" (A Primer, 216).
62.Ke1 Rg2 63.Kf1 Ra2 64.Re3
"Again the rook moves have a definite object, and that is to have the same position as before but with the White rook at e3, so as to facilitate the advance of the pawns. Black could, of course, have won without these moves, but it would have taken longer" (A Primer, 216).
62.Ke1 Rg2 63.Kf1 Ra2 64.Re3
Black to move
Comparing the last two diagrams, it appears that over the past seven moves, only Black's king has moved.
Here, the game was adjourned for a second time. Because the final moves were played on a third evening of play, I present the conclusion of the game in "Lasker -- Capablanca, Game 10 (concluded)" (will be posted tomorrow).
Works Cited
Yesterday's post has a longer list of resources consulted. Here, I list only those quoted in today's post.
Here, the game was adjourned for a second time. Because the final moves were played on a third evening of play, I present the conclusion of the game in "Lasker -- Capablanca, Game 10 (concluded)" (will be posted tomorrow).
Works Cited
Yesterday's post has a longer list of resources consulted. Here, I list only those quoted in today's post.
Burgess, Graham, John Nunn, and John Emms. The World's Greatest Chess Games. New York: Carroll and Graf, 1998, pp. 96-103.
Capablanca, José Raúl. World's Championship Matches, 1921 and 1927. New York: Dover, 1977, pp. 20-23.
_______. A Primer of Chess. New York: Harcourt, 1977, pp. 208-216.
Chess Base. José Raúl Capablanca: Master Class, vol. 04 (2015). DVD.
_______. Emanuel Lasker: Master Class, vol. 05 (2015). DVD.
King, Daniel. "Majestic" YouTube (7 April 2021), https://youtu.be/rZwtcJ8mpSs.
Lakdawala, Cyrus. Capablanca: Move by Move. London: Gloucester, 2012, Everyman ebook.
Lasker, Emanuel. Mein Wettkampf mit Capablanca. Berlin and Leipzig: Walter de Gruyter, and Co., 1922.
Shereshevsky, Mikhail. Endgame Strategy, trans. Ken Neat. London: Cadogan, 1985, pp. 53-54.
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