1.
d4
d5
2.
Nf3
Nf6
3.
c4
e6
4.
Nc3
Nbd7
5.
Bg5
Be7
6.
e3
O-O
7.
Rc1
c6
8.
Qc2
dxc4
9.
Bxc4
Nd5
10.
Bxe7
Qxe7
11.
O-O
Nxc3
12.
Qxc3
b6
13.
e4
Bb7
14.
Rfe1
Rfd8
15.
d5
Nc5
16.
dxe6
Nxe6
17.
Bxe6
Qxe6
18.
Nd4
Qe5
19.
Nxc6
Qxc3
20.
Rxc3
Rd2
21.
Rb1
Re8
22.
e5
g5
23.
h4
gxh4
24.
Re1
Re6
25.
Rec1
Kg7
26.
b4
b5
27.
a3
Rg6
28.
Kf1
Ra2
29.
Kg1
h3
30.
g3
a6
31.
e6
Rxe6
32.
g4
Rh6
33.
f3
Rd6
34.
Ne7
Rdd2
35.
Nf5+
Kf6
36.
Nh4
Kg5
37.
Nf5
Rg2+
38.
Kf1
h2
39.
f4+
Kxf4
0-1
Opening Explorer
Explorer is loading.
Site
New York
Date
1918.??.??
White
Black
Result
0-1
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…c6 This 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…b6 This 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…Rfd8 The 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…Nc5 Against 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…Qe5 Of 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.Rb1 A 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…Re8 With 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…g5 To prevent P - B 4. The White Knight is practically pinned, because he does not dare move on account of R x K P.
- 23…gxh4 Though 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…Re6 Much 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…Ra2 Notice 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…Kxf4 An ending worth very careful study.
[Event "Manhattan CC International"] [Site "New York"] [Date "1918.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Marshall, Frank James"] [Black "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Result "0-1"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Rc1 c6 8. Qc2 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O Nxc3 12. Qxc3 b6 13. e4 Bb7 14. Rfe1 Rfd8 15. d5 Nc5 16. dxe6 Nxe6 17. Bxe6 Qxe6 18. Nd4 Qe5 19. Nxc6 Qxc3 20. Rxc3 Rd2 21. Rb1 Re8 22. e5 g5 23. h4 gxh4 24. Re1 Re6 25. Rec1 Kg7 26. b4 b5 27. a3 Rg6 28. Kf1 Ra2 29. Kg1 h3 30. g3 a6 31. e6 Rxe6 32. g4 Rh6 33. f3 Rd6 34. Ne7 Rdd2 35. Nf5+ Kf6 36. Nh4 Kg5 37. Nf5 Rg2+ 38. Kf1 h2 39. f4+ Kxf4 0-1