1.
e4
e5
2.
Nf3
Nc6
3.
Nc3
Nf6
4.
Bb5
Bb4
5.
O-O
O-O
6.
Bxc6
dxc6
7.
d3
Bd6
8.
Bg5
h6
9.
Bh4
c5
10.
Nd5
g5
11.
Nxf6+
Qxf6
12.
Bg3
Bg4
13.
h3
Bxf3
14.
Qxf3
Qxf3
15.
gxf3
f6
16.
Kg2
a5
17.
a4
Kf7
18.
Rh1
Ke6
19.
h4
Rfb8
20.
hxg5
hxg5
21.
b3
c6
22.
Ra2
b5
23.
Rha1
c4
24.
axb5
cxb3
25.
cxb3
Rxb5
26.
Ra4
Rxb3
27.
d4
Rb5
28.
Rc4
Rb4
29.
Rxc6
Rxd4
0-1
Opening Explorer
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Site
Hastings
Date
1919.08.15
Round
5
White
Winter, William
Black
Result
0-1
Winter–Capablanca, Hastings Victory Tournament 1919, Example 54 in Chess Fundamentals (1921).
- 6.Bxc6 Niemzowitch's variation, which I have played successfully in many a game. It gives White a very solid game. Niemzowitch's idea is that White will in due time be able to play P—K B 4, opening a line for his Rooks, which, in combination with the posting of a Knight at K B 5, should be sufficient to win. He thinks that should Black attempt to stop the Knight from going to K B 5, he will have to weaken his game in some other way. Whether this is true or not remains to be proved, but in my opinion the move is perfectly good. On the other hand, there is no question that Black can easily develop his pieces. But it must be considered that in this variation White does not attempt to hinder Black's development, he simply attempts to build up a position which he considers impregnable and from which he can start an attack in due course.
- 6…dxc6 The alternative, Kt P×B; gives White the best of the game, without doubt.
- 8.Bg5 This move is not at all in accordance with the nature of this variation. The general strategical plan for White is to play P—K R 3, to be followed in time by the advance of the K Kt P to Kt 4, and the bringing of the Q Kt to K B 5 via K 2 and K Kt 3 or Q 1 and K 3. Then, if possible, the K Kt is linked with the other Kt by placing it at either K R 4, K Kt 3, or K 3 as the occasion demands. The White King sometimes remains at Kt 1, and other times it is placed at K Kt 2, but mostly at K R 1. Finally, in most cases comes P—K B 4, and then the real attack begins. Sometimes it is a direct assault against the King, and at other times it comes simply to finessing for positional advantage in the end-game, after most of the pieces have been exchanged.
- 9…c5 To prevent P—Q 4 and to draw White into playing Kt—Q 5, which would prove fatal. Black's plan is to play P—K Kt 4, as soon as the circumstances permit, in order to free his Queen and Knight from the pin by the Bishop.
- 10.Nd5 White falls into the trap. Only lack of experience can account for this move. White should have considered that a player of my experience and strength could never allow such a move if it were good.
- 10…g5 After this move White's game is lost. White cannot play Kt×Kt P, because Kt×Kt will win a piece. Therefore he must play B—Kt 3, either before or after Kt×Kt, with disastrous results in either case, as will be seen.
- 15…f6 A simple examination will show that White is minus a Bishop for all practical purposes. He can only free it by sacrificing one Pawn, and possibly not even then. At least it would lose time besides the Pawn. Black now devotes all his energy to the Queen's side, and, having practically a Bishop more, the result cannot be in doubt. The rest of the game is given, so that the student may see how simple it is to win such a game.
- 19…Rfb8 There is no necessity to pay any attention to the King's side, because White gains nothing by exchanging Pawns and opening the King's Rook file.
- 23…c4 If White takes the proffered Pawn, Black regains it immediately by R—Kt 5, after P×B P.
[Event "Victory Congress Chief Tournament"] [Site "Hastings"] [Date "1919.08.15"] [Round "5"] [White "Winter, William"] [Black "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. d3 Bd6 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 c5 10. Nd5 g5 11. Nxf6+ Qxf6 12. Bg3 Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Qxf3 15. gxf3 f6 16. Kg2 a5 17. a4 Kf7 18. Rh1 Ke6 19. h4 Rfb8 20. hxg5 hxg5 21. b3 c6 22. Ra2 b5 23. Rha1 c4 24. axb5 cxb3 25. cxb3 Rxb5 26. Ra4 Rxb3 27. d4 Rb5 28. Rc4 Rb4 29. Rxc6 Rxd4 0-1