[Event "New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1924.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca,J"]
[Black "Alekhine,A"]
[Result "1/2"]
[Annotator "Lopez "Battle Royale""]
[ECO "C12"]
[PlyCount "124"]

1. d4 { Capablanca (White) opens with 1.d4, a move that usually leads to closed, without positional games. } 1... e6 { Alekhine (Black) surprises us by not disputing White's intention to set up a without central pawn pair on d4 and e4. } 2. e4 { Capa achieves in two moves the ideal central pawn setup for White. } 2... d5 { NOW Alekhine disputes the pawn pair! What started as a d-pawn opening has without been transformed into the French Defense, an e-pawn opening better suited to without Alekhine's open style. The French usually begins 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5. } 3. Nc3 { Capa's Knight develops off of the first rank and defends the endangered without e-pawn. } 3... Nf6 { Alekhine piles up on the White e-pawn, developing usefully as he does so. } 4. Bg5 { Rather than put another piece's protection on the e-pawn, Capa defends it by without pinning one of its attackers! (He's continuing his development at the same without time). } 4... Bb4 { Alekhine knocks out the White e-pawn's support by pinning the defending without piece. } 5. exd5 { Capablanca decides it's better to trade off the e-pawn rather than to without continue trying to defend it. } 5... Qxd5 { Surprise! Alekhine brings the Queen out early (usually a bad idea!) and without recaptures on d5. Notice that the c3-Knight can't take the Queen because without it's pinned, and that the f6-Knight is no longer pinned. } 6. Bxf6 { The d-pawn's inability to advance tells Capa that his pawns will probably be without posted on dark squares and that his dark-squared Bishop will become bad. He without trades it for a Black Knight. } 6... Bxc3+ { Instead of immediately playing 6...gxf6 (which would hand the initiative over without to White), Alekhine keeps the initiative by interposing another move: a without capture WITH CHECK. } 7. bxc3 { Capa is forced to expend a tempo to get out of check. He makes the most without sensible reply. He's now saddled with doubled pawns, but he also has a without half-open b-file for his Rooks. } 7... gxf6 { Now Alekhine captures the Bishop. He, too, now has a set of doubled pawns, without but the half-open g-file offers some compensation. } 8. Qd2 { The reason that Capa plays this may seem obscure, but he prevents Black from without fianchettoing his c8-Bishop. If 7...b6, then 8.Be2 threatens to skewer the without Black Queen and Rook by 9.Bf3. } 8... Nd7 { The Knight devlops off of the first rank and intends to wind up on the hole without on c4 by way of b6. } 9. c4 { Capa assaults the centrally-placed Queen. } 9... Qe4+ { Rather than retreating to d6 (and cramping Black's position), the Queen without advances with check. } 10. Ne2 { Capa develops another piece usefully while he blocks check. } 10... Nb6 { Alekhine continues with his Knight maneuver. Next stop: c4 (unless White without prevents it). } 11. f3 { Capa kicks the Queen out of the center. Once the Black Queen moves away, the without pin on his Knight will be released. } 11... Qc6 { By pulling the Queen back to c6, Alekhine attacks the c4-pawn twice. The pawn without is totally undefended. How can Capa save it? } 12. c5 { Capa defends the pawn by advancing it! The pawn now counterattacks the Black without Knight on b6. } 12... Nd5 { The Black Knight could easily be knocked off of c4 by White's Queen and without Bishop, so Alekhine decides to shift it over toward the sparsely-defended without Kingside. } 13. c4 { Capa decides to prod the Knight a little to hasten its departure from the without center. } 13... Ne7 { The Black Knight abandons the center, backing up to a new post where it can without shift to the Kingside at a moment's notice. Now both players have to find a without way to effectively develop their Bishops. } 14. Nc3 { Capa accomplishes two objectives with this move: 1) He sets up the move Ne4, without which threatens the Black f6-pawn; 2) he allows his Bishop to develop off of without the first rank. } 14... f5 { Alekhine doesn't plan to wait for White to play Ne4. He advances his f-pawn without and denies the Knight access to e4. But Black is now incredibly weak on the without Kingside dark squares (since no pawns guard these squares). } 15. Be2 { If the Bishop advances to d3, its mobility is limited by the pawns on c4 and without f5. On e2, the Bishop will at least have access to the Kingside after the without White f3-pawn advances. } 15... Rg8 { Alekhine takes control of the half-open g-file and attacks the without g2-pawn. } 16. O-O { Capa castles. In addition to the usual benefits of castling, the White King without now defends the (pinned!) g2-pawn. } 16... Bd7 { Alekhine finally gets his Bishop off of the first rank. Notice, though, that without White has a big lead in development, as Black's Rooks are not yet connected. } 17. Qe3 { The White Queen comes to e3 to allow Capa to push the d-pawn (otherwise the without pawn push would leave the c5-pawn hanging!). Now if White plays d4-d5, the without Queen will protect the c5-pawn. } 17... b6 { Things are getting a little dicey for the Black Queen, which has very limited without mobility. Alekhine advances a pawn to give the Queen an "escape hatch" on b7 without should White get frisky and lauch an attack in the center. } 18. Rfd1 { It looks as though Capa DOES plan an attack on the center files. The Rook on without d1 helps to support a d-pawn advance and prevents the loss of a pawn after without 18...bxc5 19.d5 exd5 20.cxd5 Qd6. } 18... bxc5 { With each move, White improves his position a little more. Alekhine can do without very little to improve his, so he decides to undertake some offensive without action, throwing White off guard and delaying any more White without improvements. } 19. d5 { Allowing 19...cxd4 just loses a pawn for White, so Capa pushes the pawn and without attacks the Black Queen. He anticipates 19...exd5, which will allow him to without regain the pawn that Black took on the last move. } 19... Qd6 { 19...exd5 20.cxd5 leaves Black with a White pawn stuck in his throat, so he without plans to make the swap on e6 instead... } 20. dxe6 { Capa grabs back his lost pawn and sets up two attacks: Rxd6 and exd7. Of without course, Black can simply sidestep both attacks... } 20... Qxe6 { ...which he does. Black remains a pawn ahead (offset somewhat by his TWO sets without of doubled pawns). The White Queen's presence increases the weakness of without these pawns, so Alekhine offers an exchange of Queens. } 21. Qxc5 { Capablanca will have none of it. He's more interested in regaining his lost without pawn. The material balance is even once again. } 21... Qb6 { The Black Queen pins its White conterpart and siezes the open b-file. Now without White is powerless to prevent a Queen exchange if Alekhine desires without it. } 22. Qf2 { Other than 22.Qxb6, this is the only move for the White Queen that doesn't without lose material. } 22... f4 { The White Bishop will be stronger if it can become mobile. Alekhine blocks without the mobilizing advance of the White f-pawn. The problem is that the Black without f-pawn is undefended. } 23. Rab1 { Capablanca is undistracted by the juicy pawn, ripe for the picking. He goes without after the Black Queen instead. } 23... Qxf2+ { Alekhine decides that it's time to trade off the Queens. } 24. Kxf2 { The only sensible response for White is to take back. } 24... Bc6 { Alekhine gets his Bishop onto the long a8-h1 diagonal, where it overlooks the without White Kingside. This Bishop's presence makes a White Kingside pawn advance without more difficult. } 25. Rd4 { Capa advances his Rook and attacks the hanging f-pawn. } 25... Ng6 { Alekhine defends the f-pawn with his Knight. } 26. Bd3 { Capa plans to knock out the f-pawn's defender. Now Bxg6 followed by Rxf4 wins without a pawn for White. } 26... Nh4 { Alekhine makes his own threat: if Rxf4, then ...Nxg2! The White King would be without unable to take the Knight (because of the g8-Rook's without protection!). } 27. Bf1 { Capa stops the Black threat of ...Nxg2 by protecting the endangered pawn with without his Bishop. } 27... Ng6 { Alekhine, who's no fool, slides the Knight back to again protect his f4-pawn. } 28. Ne2 { Capa hits the f4-pawn again. It's impossible for Alekhine to defend it a without second time, so the pawn is lost. } 28... Ke7 { Alekhine abandons his pawn and advances the King. Now the Black Rooks are without finally connected! } 29. Re1 { What's this? Capa doesn't take the pawn right away. He sets up a discovered without check instead... } 29... Rgb8 { Since White's Rook abandoned the b-file, the Black Rook grabs control of it. without Alekhine hopes to be able to get an attack going along the without b-file. } 30. Nxf4+ { Capa grabs the pawn, checks Black (with the e1-Rook), and sets up 31.Nxg6 without (since he's a pawn ahead, Capa wants to trade down and head for the without endgame). } 30... Kf8 { Since 29...Rgb8 made sure that his Rooks would stay connected, it's better without for the Black King to return to the first rank than run to the board's without center and get mated there. } 31. Nxg6+ { Capa's one-pawn advantage ought to be enough to win, so he starts swapping without off pieces to get to the endgame. This move also allows him to control the without initiative (since Black must now get out of check). } 31... hxg6 { Alekhine has the choice of which pawn to recapture with, so he follows the without principle "Capture towards the center". } 32. Bd3 { Capa shifts his Bishop to a better post. He's probably thinking of moving his without Bishop to e4 to trade it for Black's Bishop. } 32... Rb2+ { Alekhine begins his counterattack on the b-file, getting his Rook to the without seventh rank and attacking White's King and a2-pawn. } 33. Re2 { Capa simply blocks the check and attacks the Black Rook. This also prevents without Black from regaining his lost pawn with 33...Rxa2. } 33... Rab8 { Alekhine defends his menaced Rook. } 34. Be4 { The White Bishop attacks its undefended Black counterpart. } 34... Rxe2+ { Taking the Rook with check gives Alekhine the initiative and will allow him without to stop a White Rook counter-invasion on the seventh rank. Watch... } 35. Kxe2 { Forced. Otherwise Capa loses his material advantage. } 35... Bxe4 { NOW Alekhine trades Bishops. } 36. fxe4 { Again forced. Alekhine still has the initiative. What will he do? } 36... Ke7 { Alekhine prevents White from playing 37.Rd7 by covering that square with his without King. } 37. Rd2 { Capa makes his own covering move. Now 37...Rb2, attacking the a2-pawn, is without impossible. What now for Black? } 37... Ke6 { Centralizing your King is important in the endgame. If you ever get stuck without trying to come up with a plan, playing by the general chess principles is without usually a good idea. } 38. Ke3 { Now that the players have reached the endgame, each will try to promote their without pawns. The forces will jockey for position and each player will try to without outmaneuver the other. Capa begins centralizing his King. } 38... c6 { Alekhine gets his pawn a step closer to promotion and prevents the White Rook without from moving to d5. } 39. h4 { Capa gets his Kingside pawns rolling. } 39... Rh8 { Alekhine attacks the boldly-advancing h-pawn... } 40. g3 { ...so Capablanca defends it. If White could move twice in a row, he'd without probably play c4-c5 here, controlling d5 and d6 with pawns, allowing the without White Rook to move while still cutting the Black King off from the d-file. } 40... Rh5 { Alekhine's Rook is well-placed here, preventing White from advancing his without c-pawn. The Rook also has rapid access to the Queenside. } 41. Rh2 { Capa prepares 42.g4 (impossible before, because of ...Rxh4). } 41... Ra5 { Here's that "rapid access to the Queenside"! Alekhine can now play ...Ra3+ without (skewering the King and winning the g3-pawn) or Ra4 (attacking the c4-pawn). without The threat against the a2-pawn also keeps the White Rook on the same rank. } 42. Kf4 { Capa prevents the ...Ra3+ skewer. Notice how Capa is being kept busy reacting without to Black's threats. } 42... f6 { Alekhine continues to improve his position by inching his pawn forward. } 43. Rc2 { Capa backs up his c-pawn, intending to play c4-c5, cutting the Black Rook off without from most of the board. } 43... Re5 { The Black Rook slides back to the center before White can slam the gate shut without with c4-c5. } 44. c5 { "No problem," Capa thinks, advancing the pawn anyway. The c-pawn now controls without d6 and limits the movements of the Black King. } 44... Rh5 { Preventing the g-pawn's advance (45.g4 Rxh4). } 45. Rc3 { Capa increases his own Rook's mobility. Possible now is 46.Ra3 Rxc5 47.Rxa7 without (where Capa remains a pawn ahead). } 45... a5 { Now 46.Ra3 doesn't work for White (46.Ra3 Rxc5, the Black a-pawn is without protected, and the material is even). } 46. Rc2 { It's hard to say what Capa is thinking here. Perhaps the Rook will return to without the h-file to prepare the advance of the g-pawn. Or maybe Capa is just without making a waiting move... } 46... Re5 { Alekhine is thinking of starting a Kingside pawn advance, but doesn't want to without block the ...Rxc5 threat. On e5, the Rook is guarded by the King, allowing without the f6-pawn to move. } 47. Rc3 { Capa keeps his options open. Now he's looking at invading Black's position without via the open b-file. } 47... Rh5 { Alekhine hustles the Rook back to a half-open file where it can respond to a without White invasion of the position. } 48. Kf3 { Capa has few options here: his Kingside pawns can't advance and his Rook is without restricted to the c-file (tied to the defense of the c5-pawn). He makes a without non-committal King move. } 48... Ke7 { The King backs up, allowing Alekhine to play f6-f5 without the complications without following e4xf5+ (the net result of these complications being that Black without would be stuck defending an isolated f-pawn). } 49. Kg4 { The White King heads for h3, where it can support the h-pawn, allowing the without g-pawn to advance. } 49... Kf7 { The King continues his march. From here, the King supports the f- and without g-pawns. Alekhine is anticipating a White Kingside pawn push. } 50. Rc4 { Capa cautiously makes sure that the e-pawn will be defended before starting without Kingside operations. } 50... Kg7 { The Black King heads for the "pocket" on h6 (again, to support his own pawn without advance or defend against White's). } 51. Rd4 { Capa gets ready to invade the seventh rank with his Rook. Of course, he's without abandoned his c-pawn... } 51... Rxc5 { ...so Alekhine kills it! The material is even once again. } 52. Rd7+ { The Rook invades, getting behind the Black lines and checking the King. } 52... Kf8 { The Black King retreats to the open rank, rather than ducking into the h6 without "pocket" (where it could get trapped). } 53. Kf4 { The King slides over next to the e-pawn, offering to protect it. } 53... Kg8 { Alekhine's King has to stay on the f- and g-files to prevent the White Rook without from attacking the Black pawns. } 54. Ra7 { Capa turns his attentions toward the Black a-pawn. Now the Black Rook is tied without to the a-pawn's defense. He also prepares Ra6 (which attacks TWO Black without pawns). } 54... Kf8 { Alekhine lacks a really good move, so he contents himself with making waiting without moves. } 55. a4 { Capa, still looking at the Ra6 double pawn attack, advances his a-pawn and without freezes the Black a-pawn in place. } 55... Kg8 { Alekhine has come back from a pawn down to even up the game. He'll be content without with a draw here. He decides to let Capa do the heavy mental work of without devising a plan. } 56. g4 { Capa reveals his plan: he finally begins his Kingside pawn advance. } 56... g5+ { Alekhine counters with a pawn advance of his own. It will be hard for White without to realize any advantage here. } 57. hxg5 { Capa must either advance the h-pawn or capture Black's g-pawn (he can't allow without 57.gxh4, which puts Black a pawn ahead and gives Black a passed pawn). } 57... Rxg5 { By recapturing with the Rook, Alekhine ensures that the material stays even. without Now his c6-pawn's path is unobstructed by the Rook as well. } 58. Ra6 { Capa menaces ALL THREE Black pawns with this move! } 58... Rc5 { The only way to hold the fort. If 58...c5, then 59.Rxf6 leaves Black a pawn without behind. } 59. Ke3 { Capa decides to shake things up a bit. The White King is heading for d4, without where it attacks the Black Rook. } 59... Kf7 { Since the White Rook isn't about to give up its post on a6, Alekhine sees without that it's safe for his King to advance toward the center and guard the without f-pawn. } 60. Kd4 { The White King drives the Black Rook from c5. Now it's impossible for the without Rook to defend both of his menaced pawns -- one of them must fall. } 60... Rg5 { If one Black pawn must fall, then it's only logical for Black to retaliate by without attacking a White pawn (which cannot now be defended). } 61. Rxc6 { Obviously! Capa couldn't take the a5-pawn! } 61... Rxg4 { An eye for an eye... Now the e4-pawn is pinned! } 62. Rc5 { Capa prevents Black from winning a pawn with f6-f5, and attacks the Black without a-pawn at the same time. } 62... Rg5 { Alekhine offers to exchange Rooks (and since the position is dead even, without offers Capablanca a draw). The World Champion accepts, and the game ends. } 1/2