White: Capablanca. Black: Bernstein.

Queen's

Gambit Declined.

1. P-Q4 P-Q4

2. Kt-KB3 Kt-KB3

3. P-B4 P-K3

4. Kt-B3 QKt-Q2

5. B-Kt5 B-K2

6. P-K3 P-B3

7. B-Q3 PxP

Before initiating this manoeuvre, which aims at the

development of the Queen's wing, Black should

castle, as otherwise the King is exposed to dangerous

and immediate attacks in the centre.

8. BxBP P-Kt4

9. B-Q3 P-QR3

The system of opening chosen by Black has been

tried frequently of late. It seems to be somewhat

artificial, as the QB Pawn takes two moves to get to

his fourth. On the other hand the pawn formation at

QR3, QKt4, and QB4 is attained, whilst it can be

prevented in other variations, e.g. 6. ... Castles; 7. BQ3, PxP;

8. BxP, P-QR3; 9 P-QR4.

10. P-K4 P-K4

Diagram 161.

Black's only plausible move here seems to be P-B4, and

many critics have remarked that after 11. P-K5, PxP!;

12. Kt-K4 (if PxKt, PxKt) KtxKt; 13. BxKt, R-QKt1;

14. BxB, QxB; 15. QxP, Q-B4; the game would have

been even. However, this is not the case, for on the 15th

move White does not capture the pawn with the Q but

with the Kt and Black has no satisfactory continuation.

If he had castled he could play l5. ... B-Kt2 which now is

not available because of: 16. Kt-B6, BxKt; 17. BxB, with

an overwhelming advantage in position for White.

White's refutation of the text move is above criticism.

11. PxP Kt-Kt5

12. B-KB4 B-B4

If Q-B2, White would play R-B1, after which Black

could not recapture the KP yet, as the QBP is en

prise. 13. ... KKtxP; 14. KtxKt, KtxKt; 15. Kt-Q5,

Q-Q3; 16. BxKt, QxB; 19. RxP, etc.

13. Castles Q-B2

14. R-B1 P-B3

Again KtxP is not feasible on account of the loss of

the QBP, as can be easily seen.

15. B-Kt3 PxP

Black's game cannot be saved. If l5. ... Kt(Kt5)xKP

there follows 16. KtxKt, KtxKt; 17. Kt-Q5, Q-Q3;

18. BxKt, PxB; 19. RxB, or 16. ... PxKt; 17. Q-R5ch,

P-Kt3, 18. Q-R6.

16. P-Kt4!

Now White initiates a brilliant attack, driving it

home without giving Black a moment's rest. If Black

takes the pawn, White plays Kt-Q4, with many

threats, e.g. P-B4; 18. Kt-Q5, Q-Q3; 19. Kt-K6, or l7.

... Kt(Kt5)-B3; 18. Kt-K6, etc.

16. ... B-R2

17. BxKtP

The sacrifice is fairly obvious, as White obtains three

pawns for the piece, and moreover drives the King

into the field of battle. However, this does not

detract from the beauty of the game, which is full of

brilliant phases.

17. ... RPxB

18. KtxKtP Q-Q1

Or Q-Kt3; 19. Kt-Q6ch, K-K2; 20. Kt-B5ch,

followed by Q-Q6.

19. Kt-Q6ch K-B1

20. RxP Kt-Kt3

The threat was: 21. Q-Q5, Kt-R3; 22. KtxB, RxKt;

23. R-Q6, etc. 20. ... Kt(Q2)-B3 is of no avail because

of 21. Q-Kt3, Kt-R3; 22. KtxP, or 21. ... Q-Q2; 22.

KR-B1, etc.

21. B-R4 Q-Q2

22. KtxB! QxR

Not RxKt because of 23. QxQ. Now Black is a whole

Rook ahead. But it is as much out of play as his

Queen's side pieces. The King is driven into a

mating net by the concentration of superior White

forces, and only escapes by giving up the extra piece.

23. Q-Q8ch Q-K1

24. B-K7ch K-B2

25. Kt-Q6ch K-Kt3

26. Kt-R4ch K-R4

If K-R3 there follows mate in three by 27. Kt(Q6)-

B5ch; 28. Kt-Kt3ch; 29. B-Kt5 mate.

27. KtxQ RxQ

28. KtxPch K-R3

29. Kt(Kt7)-B5ch K-R4

30. P-KR3!

This threatens 31. PxKtch, KxP; 32. P-B3ch,

followed by P-Kt3 or Kt4 mate. If Black plays 30.

QR-KKt1, White wins as follows: 31. PxKtch, RxP;

32. P-B3, Kt-B1ch; 33. K-R2, KtxB; 34. PxRch,

KxP; 35. KtxKt, K x Kt; 36. R-B7. If 30. ... Kt-R3;

31. Kt-Kt7 mate.

30. ... Kt-B1

31. PxKtch KxP

32. BxR RxB

33. P-Kt3 R-Q7

34. K-Kt2 R-K7

35. P-R4 Kt-Kt3

36. Kt-K3ch K-R4

37. P-R5 Kt-Q2

38. Kt(R4)-B5 Kt-B3

39. P-Kt5 B-Q5

40. K-B3 R-R7

41. P-R6 B-R2

42. R-B1 R-Kt7

43. P-Kt4ch K-Kt4

44. R-B7 RxPch

45. KxR KtxKtPch

46. K-B3 Resigns.