1.
e4
e5
2.
Nf3
Nc6
3.
Bb5
a6
4.
Bxc6
dxc6
5.
Nc3
Bc5
6.
d3
Bg4
7.
Be3
Bxe3
8.
fxe3
Qe7
9.
O-O
O-O-O
10.
Qe1
Nh6
11.
Rb1
f6
12.
b4
Nf7
13.
a4
Bxf3
14.
Rxf3
b6
15.
b5
cxb5
16.
axb5
a5
17.
Nd5
Qc5
18.
c4
Ng5
19.
Rf2
Ne6
20.
Qc3
Rd7
21.
Rd1
Kb7
22.
d4
Qd6
23.
Rc2
exd4
24.
exd4
Nf4
25.
c5
Nxd5
26.
exd5
Qxd5
27.
c6+
Kb8
28.
cxd7
Qxd7
29.
d5
Re8
30.
d6
cxd6
31.
Qc6
1-0
Opening Explorer
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Site
St Petersburg
Date
1914.05.03
Round
9
White
Result
1-0
Capablanca–Janowski, St. Petersburg 1914, an Exchange Ruy Lopez in which White's knight on the central d5-square becomes “a tower of strength.” Capablanca's own notes from Chess Fundamentals (1921), now public domain, follow.
- 5.Nc3 I played this move after having discussed it with Alechin on several occasions. Alechin considered it, at the time, superior to P - Q 4, which is generally played. He played it himself later on in the Tournament, in one of his games against Dr. E. Lasker, and obtained the superior game, which he only lost through a blunder.
- 5…Bc5 P - B 3 is probably the best move in this position. I do not like the text move.
- 7…Bxe3 This opens the K B file for White, and also reinforces his centre, but Black naturally did not want to make a second move with this Bishop.
- 9…O-O-O Bold play, typical of Janowski.
- 10…Nh6 The problem for White now is to advance his Q Kt P to Kt 5 as fast as he can. If he plays P - Q Kt 4 at once, Black simply takes it. As a matter of fact White played a rather unusual move, but one which, under the circumstances, was the best, since after it he could at once play P - Q Kt 4 and then P - Q R 4 and P - Kt 5.
- 13…Bxf3 He simplifies, hoping to lighten White's attack, which will have to be conducted practically with only the heavy pieces on the board.
- 14.Rxf3 Taking with the Pawn would have opened a possibility for a counter attack.
- 18.c4 The White Knight is now a tower of strength. Behind it White will be able to prepare an attack, which will begin with P - Q 4, to drive away the Black Queen and thus leave himself free to play P - B 5.
- 20…Rd7 Had White on his 19th move played K R - B 1 instead of R - B 2, Black could have played now, instead of the text move, R x Kt; K P x R, Q x P ch; followed by Kt - B 4 with a winning game.
- 21…Kb7 It would have been better for Black to play K - Q 1. The text move loses very rapidly.
[Event "St Petersburg International Preliminary"] [Site "St Petersburg"] [Date "1914.05.03"] [Round "9"] [White "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Black "Janowski, Dawid Markelowicz"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. Nc3 Bc5 6. d3 Bg4 7. Be3 Bxe3 8. fxe3 Qe7 9. O-O O-O-O 10. Qe1 Nh6 11. Rb1 f6 12. b4 Nf7 13. a4 Bxf3 14. Rxf3 b6 15. b5 cxb5 16. axb5 a5 17. Nd5 Qc5 18. c4 Ng5 19. Rf2 Ne6 20. Qc3 Rd7 21. Rd1 Kb7 22. d4 Qd6 23. Rc2 exd4 24. exd4 Nf4 25. c5 Nxd5 26. exd5 Qxd5 27. c6+ Kb8 28. cxd7 Qxd7 29. d5 Re8 30. d6 cxd6 31. Qc6 1-0