[Date "1909"]
[White "Frank James
Marshall"]
[Black "Jose Raul
Capablanca"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 {This is
one rare game where Marshall beats Capablanca after a
somewhat "rare" case of
carelessness on the latter's part.} 2... e6 3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Bg5 {The bishop
momentarily pins the knight. White still invites black to
continue with the queen's
gambit declined set-up.} 4... Be7 {Black unpins the
knight. A common move in
this type of opening.} 5. e3 Ne4 {Black unpins the
knight and offers an
exchange of bishop. The exchange is, of course,
practically forced,
otherwise white will lose the very important tempo.} 6.
Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Bd3 Nxc3 {Now
black exchanges with the knight creating a
.png) |
| Marshall v. Capablanca (After 25. Qxb6) |
temporary doubled pawn on
white's position. The b file however is now open for white to exploit.} 8. bxc3
Nd7 9. Nf3 {A simple review of the position would show that white seems to
have the advantage. White has the b file for his rook and the c4 pawn can be
easily exchanged. Black's position appears to be cramped as evidenced by
the bishop on c8.} 9... O-O 10. cxd5 {White now removes his only
disadvantage - the doubled pawn on the c file.} 10... exd5 11. Qb3 Nf6 12. a4 c5 13.
Qa3 {This is a good move on the part of white preventing that nasty fork
and at the same time the advance of the c5 pawn.} 13... b6 {This is forced.
Black has to support that pawn on c5.} 14. a5 {White forces the issue with this
very logical move given the prevailing position on the board.} 14... Bb7 15.
O-O {The king castles for purposes of security given the brewing storm on the
queenside.} 15... Qc7 {Black frees his c5 pawn and his queen from a very
uncomfortable position.} 16. Rfb1 {White now seizes theb file. Here it is clear
that white has gained domination of the game. Black is on the defensive
without any counter-play. Worse, his bishop at b7 is blocked by the d5 pawn.}
16... Nd7 {Black desperately strengthens the b6 pawn but white intends to
remove that knight from the board.} 17. Bf5 Rfc8 18.Bxd7 {White takes the
knight which seems to be the only active piece in black's kingdom.} 18...
Qxd7 19. a6 {White further forces the bishop to go into a useless square.}
19... Bc6 20. dxc5 bxc5 {White has now succeeded in taking full control of the
b file.} 21. Qxc5 Rab8 {Of course black would not allow white to totally
control the b file without a fight.} 22. Rxb8 Rxb8 23.Ne5 {This is a very good
move - forking the queen and the bishop and forcing black to go to f5 to prevent the
lose of a piece.} 23... Qf5 24. f4 {The best move. Of course taking the
bishop would result to a back rank mate.} 24... Rb6 {This is the losing move. } 25.
Qxb6 {Marshall takes the rook and forced black to resign. If the queen is
taken, there is no way for black to prevent the a pawn from graduating into another
queen without great material loss.} 1-0
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