Marshall–Capablanca, New York 1918, a Queen's Gambit Declined whose ending Capablanca calls “worth very careful study” — a textbook demonstration of the bishop's superiority over the knight with pawns on both wings. His public-domain notes from Chess Fundamentals (1921) follow.
7…c6This is one of the oldest systems of defence against the Queen's Gambit. I had played it before in this Tournament against Kostic, and no doubt Marshall expected it.
12…b6This is the key to this system of defence. Having simplified the game considerably by a series of exchanges, Black will now develop his Q B along the long diagonal without having created any apparent weakness. The proper development of the Q B is Black's greatest problem in the Queen's Gambit.
14…Rfd8The developing stage can now be said to be complete on both sides. White, as is generally the case, has obtained the centre. Black, on the other hand, is entrenched in his first three ranks, and if given time will post his Q R at Q B 1 and his Knight at K B 3, and finally play P - Q B 4, in order to break up White's centre and give full action to the Black Bishop posted at Q Kt 2.
15…Nc5Against Kostic in a previous game I had played Kt - B 1. Black now threatens not only B P x P; but also Kt x P; followed by B P x P. The position is very interesting and full of possibilities.
18…Qe5Of course, if 18...Q x R P; 19 R - R 1 would win the Queen. The text move is probably the only satisfactory move in the position. The text move assures Black an even game at the very least, as will soon be seen.
21.Rb1A very serious error of judgment. White is under the impression that he has the better game, because he is a Pawn ahead, but that is not so. The powerful position of the Black Rook at Q 7 fully compensates Black for the Pawn minus. Besides, the Bishop is better with Rooks than the Knight, and with Pawns on both sides of the board the Bishop is superior because of its long range. White's best chance was to take a draw at once.
21…Re8With this powerful move Black begins, against White's centre, an assault which will soon be shifted against the King itself. White is afraid to play 22 P - B 3 because of P - B 4.
22…g5To prevent P - B 4. The White Knight is practically pinned, because he does not dare move on account of R x K P.
23…gxh4Though doubled and isolated this Pawn exercises enormous pressure. Black now threatens R - K 3; to be followed by R - Kt 3 and P - R 6 and R 7 at the proper time.
24…Re6Much better than taking Pawns. This forces White to defend the Knight with the Rook at K 1, because of the threat R - Kt 3.
28…Ra2Notice the remarkable position of the pieces. White cannot move anything without incurring some loss. His best chance would have been to play 29 P - K 6, but that would only have prolonged the game, which is lost in any case.
39…Kxf4An ending worth very careful study.
José Raúl Capablanca, Chess Fundamentals (1921) · Public domain · source