Capablanca's Blindfold Immortal

JOSE RAUL CAPABLANCA vs. JAIME BACA ARUS
Havana Blindfold Exhibition, 1922

Queen's Pawn Game

1. d4, d5
2. e3, e6
3. Bd3, c6
4. Nf3, Bd6
5. Nbd2, f5
6. c4, Qf6
7. b3 ....

This move has a dual purpose.  It supports the c4 pawn and at the same time giving a way for the c1 Bishop.

7. ... Nh6
8. Bb2, 0-0
9. Qc2, Nd7
10. h3, g6
11. 0-0-0, e5?

This opens the long diagonal, in which White has a better control.

12. dxe5, Nxe5
13. cxd5 ....

Better than 13. Nxe5 Bxe5, 14. Bxe5 Qxe5.  The latter gives Black the opportunity to neutralize the a1-h8 diagonal.

13. .... cxd5

Better than 13....Nxd3, 14. Qxd3 Qe7.

14. Nc4 ....

Remember that Capablanca played this game blindfolded.  Could any other player visualize this move blindfolded?

White's aim is to open the d file, and he has to sacrifice a piece to do that.

14. .... dxc4
15. Bxc4+, N6f7

If 15....Kg7 or Kh8, then 16. Rxd6 Qxd6, 17. Nxe5 with a strong attack.

16. Rxd6!!, Qxd6
17. Nxe5, Be6
18. Rd1, Qe7
19. Rd7!!, Bxd7
20. Nxd7, Rfc8

If 20....Qxd7 then 21. Qc3 and mate next move.  Black thought that his last move (Rfc8) would pin White's Queen.

21. Qc3, Rxc4
22. bxc4,  Resigns
(1:0)

There is no more hope.  After 22....Ng5, then 23. Qh8+ Kf7, 24. Ne5+ Ke6, 25. Qxa8 and White has a tremendous positional and material advantage.

A gem of a game. One of Capa's finest.

The Smothered Mate

The Smothered Mate is the jewel of chess tactics.  In chess, a smothered mate is a checkmate delivered by a knight in which the mated king is unable to move because he is surrounded (or smothered) by his own pieces.  It is usually necessary to sacrifice material to compel pieces to smother the king.  In the following game, Capablanca, playing White, takes advantage of his opponent's poor development to brew a subtle but amazing attack.

CAPABLANCA vs. MATTISON
Carlsbad, Spain, 1929
Queen's Pawn Opening

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, e6
3. Nc3, Bb4
4. Qc2, c5

Normal move in this type of opening; attempts to undermine White's strong center.

5. dxc5 .....

The move opens the d file to White's benefit.

5. ..... Nc6
6. Nf3, Bxc5
7. Bf4 .....

Developing the Bishop to a strong square where it attacks key central squares.

7. ..... d5?!

8. e3 .....

White protects the d4 square and provides support for the c-pawn.

8. ..... Qa5
9. Be2, Bb4
10. 0-0, Bxc3
11. bxc3, 0-0
12. Rab1 .....

This is an elegant move. Develops the rook to a file where it PINS the black bishop to holding onto b7. Later, black will have to waste a move to protect this pawn so that he can develop his c8 bishop.

12. .....  Qa3
13. Rfd1, b6

Necessary for Black in order to develop his c8 Bishop.

14. cxd5, Nxd5
15. Ng5! .....

With the Knight no longer protecting h7, White moves his Knight into an attacking position.

15. ..... f5
16. Bf3, Qc5
17. c4, Ndb4
18. Qb3, e5
19. a3 .....

Now,  Black loses two pieces if he plays 19. ..... exf4, 20. axb4 Qe7, 21. Bxc6.

19. ..... Na6
20. Bxc6, Qxc6
21. c5+!!, Kh8
22. Nf7+, Kg8
23. Nh6+, Kh8
24. Qg8+ !!!, Rxg8
25. Nf7 mate.

The smothered mate.