1.
d4
d5
2.
Nf3
Nf6
3.
c4
e6
4.
Nc3
Nbd7
5.
Bg5
Be7
6.
e3
c6
7.
Bd3
dxc4
8.
Bxc4
b5
9.
Bd3
a6
10.
e4
e5
11.
dxe5
Ng4
12.
Bf4
Bc5
13.
O-O
Qc7
14.
Rc1
f6
15.
Bg3
fxe5
16.
b4
Ba7
17.
Bxb5
axb5
18.
Nxb5
Qd8
19.
Nd6+
Kf8
20.
Rxc6
Nb6
21.
Bh4
Qd7
22.
Nxc8
Qxc6
23.
Qd8+
Qe8
24.
Be7+
Kf7
25.
Nd6+
Kg6
26.
Nh4+
Kh5
27.
Nxe8
Rxd8
28.
Nxg7+
Kh6
29.
Ngf5+
Kh5
30.
h3
Nc8
31.
hxg4+
Kxg4
32.
Bxd8
Rxd8
33.
g3
Rd2
34.
Kg2
Re2
35.
a4
Nb6
36.
Ne3+
Kh5
37.
a5
Nd7
38.
Nhf5
Nf6
39.
b5
Bd4
40.
Kf3
Ra2
41.
a6
Ba7
42.
Rc1
Rb2
43.
g4+
Kg6
44.
Rc7
Rxf2+
45.
Kxf2
Nxg4+
46.
Kf3
1-0
Opening Explorer
Explorer is loading.
Site
St Petersburg
Date
1914.05.01
Round
7
White
Black
Result
1-0
- 7…dxc4 Before initiating this manœuvre, which aims at the development of the Queen's wing, Black should castle, as otherwise the King is exposed to dangerous and immediate attacks in the centre.
- 9…a6 The system of opening chosen by Black has been tried frequently of late. It seems to be somewhat artificial, as the Q B Pawn takes two moves to get to his fourth. On the other hand the pawn formation at Q R 3, Q Kt 4, and Q B 4 is attained, whilst it can be prevented in other variations, e.g. 6 ..., Castles; 7 B - Q 3, P x P; 8 B x P, P - Q R 3; 9 P - Q R 4.
- 10…e5 Black's only plausible move here seems to be P - B 4, and many critics have remarked that after 11 P - K 5, P x P!; 12 Kt - K 4 (if P x Kt, P x Kt) Kt x Kt; 13 B x Kt, R - Q Kt 1; 14 B x B, Q x B; 15 Q x P, Q - B 4; the game would have been even. However, this is not the case, for on the 15th move White does not capture the pawn with the Q but with the Kt and Black has no satisfactory continuation. If he had castled he could play 15 ..., B - Kt 2 which now is not available because of: 16 Kt - B 6, B x Kt; 17 B x B, with an overwhelming advantage in position for White. White's refutation of the text move is above criticism.
- 12…Bc5 If Q - B 2, White would play R - B 1, after which Black could not recapture the K P yet, as the Q B P is en prise. 13 ..., K Kt x P; 14 Kt x Kt, Kt x Kt; 15 Kt - Q 5, Q - Q 3; 16 B x Kt, Q x B; 19 R x P, etc.
- 14…f6 Again Kt x P is not feasible on account of the loss of the Q B P, as can be easily seen.
- 15…fxe5 Black's game cannot be saved. If 15 ..., Kt (Kt 5) x K P there follows 16 Kt x Kt, Kt x Kt; 17 Kt - Q 5, Q - Q 3; 18 B x Kt, P x B; 19 R x B, or 16 ..., P x Kt; 17 Q - R 5 ch, P - Kt 3, 18 Q - R 6.
- 16.b4 Now White initiates a brilliant attack, driving it home without giving Black a moment's rest. If Black takes the pawn, White plays Kt - Q 4, with many threats, e.g. P - B 4; 18 Kt - Q 5, Q - Q 3; 19 Kt - K 6, or 17 ..., Kt (Kt 5) - B 3; 18 Kt - K 6, etc.
- 17.Bxb5 The sacrifice is fairly obvious, as White obtains three pawns for the piece, and moreover drives the King into the field of battle. However, this does not detract from the beauty of the game, which is full of brilliant phases.
- 18…Qd8 Or Q - Kt 3; 19 Kt - Q 6 ch, K - K 2; 20 Kt - B 5 ch, followed by Q - Q 6.
- 20…Nb6 The threat was: 21 Q - Q 5, Kt - R 3; 22 Kt x B, R x Kt; 23 R - Q 6, etc. 20 ..., Kt (Q 2) - B 3 is of no avail because of 21 Q - Kt 3, Kt - R 3; 22 Kt x P, or 21 ..., Q - Q 2; 22 K R - B 1, etc.
- 22…Qxc6 Not R x Kt because of 23 Q x Q. Now Black is a whole Rook ahead. But it is as much out of play as his Queen's side pieces. The King is driven into a mating net by the concentration of superior White forces, and only escapes by giving up the extra piece.
- 26…Kh5 If K - R 3 there follows mate in three by 27 Kt (Q 6) - B 5 ch; 28 Kt - Kt 3 ch; 29 B - Kt 5 mate.
- 30.h3 This threatens 31 P x Kt ch, K x P; 32 P - B 3 ch, followed by P - Kt 3 or Kt 4 mate. If Black plays 30 Q R - K Kt 1, White wins as follows: 31 P x Kt ch, R x P; 32 P - B 3, Kt - B 1 ch; 33 K - R 2, Kt x B; 34 P x R ch, K x P; 35 Kt x Kt, K x Kt; 36 R - B 7. If 30 ..., Kt - R 3; 31 Kt - Kt 7 mate.
[Event "St Petersburg International Preliminary"] [Site "St Petersburg"] [Date "1914.05.01"] [Round "7"] [White "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Black "Bernstein, Ossip Samuel"] [Result "1-0"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 c6 7. Bd3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 b5 9. Bd3 a6 10. e4 e5 11. dxe5 Ng4 12. Bf4 Bc5 13. O-O Qc7 14. Rc1 f6 15. Bg3 fxe5 16. b4 Ba7 17. Bxb5 axb5 18. Nxb5 Qd8 19. Nd6+ Kf8 20. Rxc6 Nb6 21. Bh4 Qd7 22. Nxc8 Qxc6 23. Qd8+ Qe8 24. Be7+ Kf7 25. Nd6+ Kg6 26. Nh4+ Kh5 27. Nxe8 Rxd8 28. Nxg7+ Kh6 29. Ngf5+ Kh5 30. h3 Nc8 31. hxg4+ Kxg4 32. Bxd8 Rxd8 33. g3 Rd2 34. Kg2 Re2 35. a4 Nb6 36. Ne3+ Kh5 37. a5 Nd7 38. Nhf5 Nf6 39. b5 Bd4 40. Kf3 Ra2 41. a6 Ba7 42. Rc1 Rb2 43. g4+ Kg6 44. Rc7 Rxf2+ 45. Kxf2 Nxg4+ 46. Kf3 1-0