The Immortal Games of Capablanca

by Fred Reinfeld

Overview

We are pleased to release another book in the Fred Reinfeld Chess Classics series. The Immortal Games of Capablanca was – and continues to be – one of Reinfeld’s most popular books. A detailed biography of the third world chess champion introduces the 113 games. They are presented chronologically, with clear and instructive annotations.

This 21st century edition has been revised and reformatted to meet the expectations of the modern chessplayer. This includes:

(a) The original English descriptive notation has been converted to modern figurine algebraic notation;
(b) Over 200(!) diagrams have added, along with more than a dozen archival photos; and
(c)The Index of Openings now has ECO codes.

Reinfeld’s annotations were also cross-checked by Stockfish 14, one of the most powerful engines available. When Stockfish had a different, meaningful evaluation from that of Reinfeld’s, the engine’s suggestion is indicated by “S14:” followed by the specific line.

As in our other “21st Century Editions,” and with the exception of the occasional supplement by Stockfish, Reinfeld’s original text has been preserved.

Follow the life and games of the brilliant Cuban world champion in Reinfelds’s timeless classic The Immortal Games of Capablanca.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781949859461
Publisher:	Russell Enterprises, Incorporated
Publication date:	07/14/2022
Series:	Fred Reinfeld Chess Classics
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Fred Reinfeld was one of the most prolific and popular chess authors of the twentieth century.

Read an Excerpt

(45) Capablanca – Bogoljubow
Ruy Lopez [C91]
London 1922

This great fighting game reveals the true stature of a world champion. Capablanca’s victory not only disposed of a formidable rival in the tournament, it also took on genuine historical importance. This magnificent struggle, so taxing in all its phases, was Capablanca’s first encounter with an outstanding hypermodern master.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0

It is more customary to continue with 8...Na5 9.Bc2 c5 as for example in game 40. However Black has a new continuation in mind.

9.d4

As Black is now able to secure a good game, it subsequently became customary to preface the advance of the d-pawn with h3, preventing the annoying ...Bg4.

9...exd4

More exact is 9...Bg4 10.Be3 exd4 11.cxd4 Na5 leading into the text continuation.

10.cxd4 Bg4

The inexactitude of Black’s opening play could now be demonstrated by 11.Nc3! (the early exchange of pawns has made this effective development possible) as played by Lasker against the same opponent a year later at Maehrisch-

11.Be3 Na5 12.Bc2 Nc4 13.Bc1 c5 14.b3 Na5
[Diagram]
White’s losses of time have been more apparent than real, as Black’s a5-knight has also lost time. But it cannot be denied that Black has obtained a satisfactory position.

15.Bb2 Nc6 16.d5 Nb4 17.Nbd2 Nxc2

It is indicative of the tense character of the coming struggle that this exchange is advantageous for both (!) players: It rids Black of the useless knight, while it removes White’s c2-bishop, which could have little value while hemmed in by White pawns. Furthermore, Black’s queenside majority of pawns is compensated by White’s preponderance in the center. Finally, Black has two bishops, but his best course is to exchange one or both of them!

18.Qxc2 Re8 19.Qd3

In order to play Nf1, but Capablanca now considers that 19.a4 at once would have been more exact (see Black’s 24th move). Black likewise would have continued more effectively by playing ...Nd7 immediately.

19...h6 20.Nf1 Nd7 21.h3 Bh5?!

Table of Contents

BIOGRAPHY OF JOSE RAOUL CAPABLANCA CAPABLANCA'S TOURNAMENT AND MATCH RECORD INDEX OF OPENINGS THE BOY PRODIGY BECOMES A MASTER, 1902-1909. GRANDMASTER, 1910-1914. CHALLENGER, 1914-1920. WORLD CHAMPION, 1921-1927. EX-CHAMPION, 1927-1942.