Frank James Marshall vs. Jose Raul Capablanca (1909, Queen's Gambit Declined)

Event "New York"]

[Date "1909.??.??"]

[Round "11"]

[White "Frank James Marshall"]

[Black "Jose Raul Capablanca"]

[Result "0-1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 {The queen's gambit declined (orthodox line 2__e6), blocks

the queen's bishop but builds a solid pawn structure. It is known that

taking the pawn at c4 (queen's gambit accepted) results in black's surrender

of the center. On the other hand, the slav defense (2.__c6) is another popular

alternative against this d4 opening.} 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Ne4 6. Bxe7

Qxe7 7. Bd3 Nxc3 8. bxc3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 b6 {Black intends to fianchetto his

bishop at the queenside. This reminds me of the queen's indian defense with

the intention of controlling the a8 to h1 diagonal.} 10. Qf3 {This move

momentarily prevents black's intention. But, as the game progresses

black is able to control that diagonal.} 10... c6 11. Ne2 Bb7 12. O-O O-O 13.

a4 c5 {Black now controls a8 to h1 diagonal. White however presses on with his

attack targeting the g7 square.} 14. Qg3 Nc6 15. Nf4 Rac8 16. Ba2 Rfd8 17.

Rfe1 Na5 18. Rad1 Bc6 {This weak pawn at a4 is an easy target for black.} 19.

Qg4 c4 20. d5 Bxa4 21. Rd2 e5 22. Nh5 g6 23. d6 Qe6 {It is a basic principle

that an attack can be made less effective with the exchange of pieces. Here

black offers the exchange of queens.} 24. Qg5 {White declines the exchange of

Marshall vs. Capablanca (after 28. Bf5) 

queens as black is already a pawn up and the pawn on d6 is very difficult to support.} 24... Kh8 25. Nf6 Rxd6 {The d6 pawn fell and now white is obligated to press on with his attack. Here you can see Capablanca again calmly refutes white's attack.} 26. Rxd6 Qxd6 27. Bb1 Nc6 {This knight may be needed on the defense of the king.} 28. Bf5 {Marshall presses on with his attack. Taking this bishop is of course a grave error as there would be no defense against Qh6 except to lose his queen.} 28... Rd8 29. h4 {It appears that this move is an error. Perhaps, retreating the bishop would have offered more resistance.} 29... Ne7 30. Ne4 Qc7 31. Qf6+ Kg8 32. Be6 fxe6 {White sacrifices the bishop for purposes of attack. But, black's accurate defense forces white's resignation.} 33. Qxe6+ Kf8 34. Ng5 Ng8 35. f4 Re8 36. fxe5 Re7 37. Rf1+ Kg7 38. h5 Be8 39. h6+ Kh8 40. Qd6 Qc5 41. Qd4 Rxe5 42. Qd7 Re7 43. Rf7 Bxf7 0-1