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Capa-Alek (1-6)

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Jose R. Capablanca (2775) - Alexander A. Alekhine (2745) 

[D52]

World Championship Match in Buenos Aires, 
Argentina. (Game # 11), 1927.

So far we have looked at the moves:
1. d4, d5; 2. c4, e6; 3. Nc3, Nf6; 4. Bg5, Nbd7; 5. e3, c6; 6. Nf3, Qa5; ('!')
7. Nd2, Bb4; 8. Qc2, dxc4; 9. Bxf6 Nxf6; 10. Nxc4 Qc7; 11. a3!, Be7; 
12. Be2 0-0; 13. 0-0 Bd7; 14. b4, b6; 15. Bf3, Rac8; 16. Rfd1, Rfd8; 
17. Rac1 Be8; 18. g3, Nd5; 19. Nb2!?, Qb8; 20. Nd3 Bg5!;
21. Rb1 Qb7 22. e4!?, Nxc3; 23.Qxc3, Qe7; 24. h4, Bh6; 25. Ne5, g6;
26. Ng4, Bg7; 27. e5!?, h5; 28. Ne3, c5; ('!') 29. Bxc5?!, bxc5;
30. d5, exd5; 31. Nxd5, Qe6;

32. Nf6+ Bxf6; 33. exf6 Rxd1+;

White exchanges down to try to reduce material and relieve a little of the pressure.
(The actual position after 33...Rxd1+.)

***

White is attacking. So Black, with this move and his next, reduces the material. The general rule of thumb is the Defender should always try to exchange pieces. This will lessen the strength of the opponent's attack and reduce the number of targets available. In addition, the defender many times suffers from a lack of co-ordination amongst his pieces; 
- usually brought on by a lack of space. 
Exchanges will greatly ease this problem also.

***

 

34. Rxd1 Bc6;

 

Black challenges down the control of the long diagonal.
(The actual game position after 34...Bc6.)

***

(Possibly - '!')  Black neutralizes the long diagonal.  {A.J.G.}

 

35. Re1,

White is ... kinda ... looking for a little play - something constructive to do here.
(The actual game position after 35. Re1.)

***

White has few viable choices hereabouts. 
[ Not 35. Qxc5?? Bxf3; "-/+" ]

***

35...Qf5 ;

Black begins a long series of maneuvers.
(The actual game position after 35...Qf5.)

***

Black has broken free and all the exchanges 
have  considerably  improved his chances.

***

36.  Re3 c4!; 37. a4?!, (Maybe - '?')

 

White just pushed his QRP forward. This is an innaccuracy. Can you figure out what is wrong with this move?
(The actual game position after 37. a4.)

***

This looks like a bad idea. In the long-term, it is very difficult to 
defend this pawn.  {A.J.G.}  In fact, this could be the losing move!!  
And I am the first annotator to point out that this move is 
even wrong, to the best of my knowledge!


Even the mighty Cuban, (Capablanca); did not [correctly] 
criticize this move! {A.J.G.}  [ Maybe better was: 37. Bg2!? ]

***

37...a5!;

Black makes a move that isn't very spectacular looking. Yet it is a KEY move, of great strategical importance.
(Actual game position after 37...a5!)

***

Fixing the White a-pawn permanently on the light squares. 
Dr. Alekhine shows great positional understanding here.
(Many annotators have missed the LONG-TERM 
importance of this move!)

***
[ Definitely not: 37...Bxa4; - '?!/?'  38. Re7 Qd3; 
39. Qxd3 cxd3; 40. Rxa7, and White has great counterplay. ]

***

 38. Bg2, 

It is hard to come up with a really constructive plan here for White. Perhaps a sign something is amiss?
(Actual game position after 38. Bg2.)

***

[ Definitely NOT - 38. Qxc4?? Bxf3; 39. Rxf3 Rxc4; 40.Rxf5 gxf5; ("-/+") ]

***

 

 

38...Bxg2; 39. Kxg2 Qd5+;

Black is making progress. The exchange of Bishops has weakened White considerably on the light squares.

(Game position after Black's 39th move, 39...Qd5+.)

***

Black has broken free of most of his chains and exploits the fact that 
the White King is also a target in this position! In this position, there 
are several key factors. Obviously King safety will play an important 
role. The other two key factors have to be piece co-ordination and 
that Black has a passed pawn and White does not.  
Also the initiative plays a very important role.

***

He who has the move will often win!

***

40. Kh2 Qf5; 

( "Black is slightly better," or "=/+". )

Black begins the long process of slowly tying up the entire Black army.

(Game position after 40...Qf5; by Black.)

***

(Perhaps a, "plus under a line." - A.J.G.)  Now the game looks fairly level. White even thought he had the advantage, because of his pawn on f6! To me, it is amazing that a player as strong as Capablanca could so greatly misevaluate a position as he did this one. In actuality, Black has a clear advantage. He has a passed pawn, while White does not. But it takes brilliant and inspired play, tremendously deep maneuvers, and very accurate technique for Alekhine to realize his advantage.

***

 

41. Rf3,

White is a little tied up, and is having difficulty finding good moves. (Its almost hard to believe in this position, isn't it?)
(Game diagram, just after White plays 41. Rf3.)

***

White tries to maneuver for advantage.

(Or at least tries to keep Black at bay.)

***

***

OR: 41. Kg2 Rc6; 42. Rf3 Qd5; 43. Kg1, 
 (43. Kh2 Rc5; 44. Rf4 Rc8; 45. Rd4 Qf5; 46. Rd2 Kh7!; "-/+") 
43...Rb6; 44.Kg2 Rb3;  ("-/+")

(See the diagram below.)

 

Analysis diagram. White is busted.
(Analysis Diagram. 
Black has just played 44...Rb3. White can resign.)

***

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  Copyright (c) {LM} A.J. Goldsby I 

  Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 1995-2008. 
  Copyright © A.J. Goldsby, 2009.  All rights reserved.  

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