(The annotations to this game, by J. R. Capablanca, appear in Shakhmaty v SSSR (№ 3, 1935).

The game is annotated by S. V. Belavenets in the tournament book, Vtoroi Mezhdunarodnyi

Shakhmatnyi Turnir, Moskva 1935 (Fizkultura i Turizm, 1936); variations and commentary from
this source have been incorporated to Capablanca's notes at critical points. In each case, the
translation from the Russian is by Douglas Griffin.)

Capablanca – Kan
8 round, 2 Moscow International, 24th February 1935
th nd

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 0–0 7.Rc1 c6 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 Nd5
10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.0–0 N5b6
This continuation was first employed by Levenfish in an informal tour game against Em. Lasker
in 1924. The present game causes one to strongly doubt its expediency.

12.Bb3 e5
XIIIIIIIIY
8r+l+-trk+0
7zpp+nwqpzpp0
6-snp+-+-+0
5+-+-zp-+-0
4-+-zP-+-+0
3+LsN-zPN+-0
2PzP-+-zPPzP0
1+-tRQ+RmK-0
xabcdefghy
13.Ne4
Hindering Black's development. If now, for example, 13...Kh8, then 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.dxe5
Qxe5 16.Qd6, and Black is forced into 16...Qe8, after which White can maintain an advantage in
various ways.

13...h6
A forced move, since Ng5 was threatened. (Translator’s note: Belavenets indicates the possible
variation 13...Kh8 14.Nfg5! h6 15.Qh5, and if 15...Kg8, then 16.Nxf7 Rxf7 17.Nd6 Qxd6
18.Qxf7+ Kh7 19.Qg8+ Kg6 20.f4 with a winning attack.)

14.Qd3
The idea of this move becomes clear from the following. Bad is 14...exd4, since after 15.Qxd4
White stands very enterprisingly and dominates the whole board.
14...Kh8
Threatening ...f7–f5. (Translator’s note: As Belavenets points out, 14...Re8 fails to 15.dxe5 Nxe5
16.Nxe5 Qxe5 17.Nd6 Rd8 (or 17...Rf8) 18.Nxf7!.)

15.Ng3 exd4 16.Bc2

This is why the queen went to d3.

16...Nf6 17.e4
Threatening 18.e5. Black's reply is forced. Now White gains a weakening of the king's flank,
to the exploitation of which he directs all of his forces.

17...g6 18.Qxd4 Be6 19.h4 Rad8 20.Qc3

XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-tr-tr-mk0
7zpp+-wqp+-0
6-snp+lsnpzp0
5+-+-+-+-0
4-+-+P+-zP0
3+-wQ-+NsN-0
2PzPL+-zPP+0
1+-tR-+RmK-0
xabcdefghy
Very exact play is necessary now. It is important to forestall Black's various counter-possibilities
and to prepare the attack well. The move in the text, for example, is better than 20.Qe3, on which
in some cases there follows ...Qb4.

20...Kh7 21.Rfe1 Nbd7 22.Bb1

Defending the a2–pawn and preventing ...Qc5.

22...Rfe8
In order on 23.Nf5 to play 23...Qf8.

23.a3
An important prophylactic move, preventing the lunge ...Qb4 in the event of the queen's
departure.

23...Bg4 24.Nh2 h5
If 24...Qe5, then 25.Qb3 wins a pawn. (Translator’s note: Belavenets considers that this was
perhaps all the same the best course of action for Black; after 25...Be6 26.Qxb7 Rb8 he obtains some
counter-play.)

25.f3 Be6 26.f4

XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-trr+-+0
7zpp+nwqp+k0
6-+p+lsnp+0
5+-+-+-+p0
4-+-+PzP-zP0
3zP-wQ-+-sN-0
2-zP-+-+PsN0
1+LtR-tR-mK-0
xabcdefghy
Now White gains a very strong attack.

26...Bg4 27.Qe3
Winning time for the transfer of the queen. Had White not played a2–a3, there could now
have followed 27...Qb4.

27...a6 28.Qf2 Kg7 29.e5 Nd5 30.Nxg4 hxg4 31.h5 Rh8 32.hxg6 fxg6 33.e6!
It was also possible to take immediately at g6, but the move in the text is stronger.

33...Nf8
XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-tr-sn-tr0
7+p+-wq-mk-0
6p+p+P+p+0
5+-+n+-+-0
4-+-+-zPp+0
3zP-+-+-sN-0
2-zP-+-wQP+0
1+LtR-tR-mK-0
xabcdefghy
34.Bxg6!
Black's game is hopeless - the result of his unsuccesful opening experiment.
34...Kxg6 35.Qc2+ Kf6 36.Qf5+ Kg7 37.Qxg4+ Kh7
XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-tr-sn-tr0
7+p+-wq-+k0
6p+p+P+-+0
5+-+n+-+-0
4-+-+-zPQ+0
3zP-+-+-sN-0
2-zP-+-+P+0
1+-tR-tR-mK-0
xabcdefghy
38.Kf2?
An impermissible mistake, distorting the logical course of the game. Correct was 38.Re5 Qg7
39.Rh5+ Kg8 40.Rg5, and Black must resign. Now the struggle begins anew.

38...Qg7!
White had overlooked that on this reply he cannot continue 39.Qh4+ Kg8 40.Qxd8 in view of
40...Qd4+ with a draw. (Translator’s note: In fact, here White is quite lost. As Belavenets points
out, 39.Rh1+ Kg8 40.Rxh8+ Kxh8 41.Qh4+ Kg8 42.Qxd8 Qd4+ offers Black at least a draw, for
example: 43.Ke1 Qe3+ 44.Ne2 Nxf4 45.Qg5+ N8g6!, etc.)

He is forced to transpose to an endgame that is won for him, but not without technical
difficulties. Also winning here is 39.Rh1+ Kg8 40.Qxg7+ Kxg7 41.Nf5+ Kf6 42.Rxh8 Kxf5
43.Kf3 Nxe6 44.g4+ Kf6 45.Rxd8 Nxd8 etc.

39.Qxg7+ Kxg7 40.e7 Re8 41.exf8=Q+ Rexf8 42.f5 Rh4 43.Rcd1

XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-+-tr-+0
7+p+-+-mk-0
6p+p+-+-+0
5+-+n+P+-0
4-+-+-+-tr0
3zP-+-+-sN-0
2-zP-+-mKP+0
1+-+RtR-+-0
xabcdefghy
 The two passed pawns secure the win for White, but Black can still resist tenaciously.

43...Rf4+ 44.Kg1 Rg4 45.Rd3 Kf7 46.Kf2 Rh8 47.Rb3

The rook must be moved away, in order to play Ne4. If immediately 47.Ne4, then 47...Rxg2+
48.Kxg2 Nf4+.

47...b5 48.Ne4 Rh6

Better is 48...b4, in order to exchange as many pieces as possible.

49.g3
After this move the win is simple, since the king quickly moves forward.

49...Rg8 50.Kf3 a5 51.Rd3 a4

If 51...b4, then 52.axb4 axb4 53.Ra1, and the rook invades the opponent's rear.

52.Rd2
XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-+-+r+0
7+-+-+k+-0
6-+p+-+-tr0
5+p+n+P+-0
4p+-+N+-+0
3zP-+-+KzP-0
2-zP-tR-+-+0
1+-+-tR-+-0
xabcdefghy
Black lost on time. Black's game is lost, since on 52...Rb8 there follows 53.Nc3 Nxc3 54.bxc3,
and Black's pawns are held up, while the white rooks invade the opponent's camp.