Re: Letsplaychess.com: The most talented player of all time?! - Petrov Defence

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[Event "Friendly game"]
[Site "Havana Chess Club"]
[Date "1893.09.17"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ramon Iglesias"]
[Black "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[Result "0-1"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNB1KBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[TimeControl "300"]

{He was given queen odds and defeated a leading player, but his level of play
was astonishing for a four year old, even given the queen odds.[1] In December
1901, just turned 13, he defeated the leading Cuban player, Juan Corzo, by the
score of four wins, three losses, and six draws. But later in April 1902 he
only came fourth in the National Championship. Capablanca later began a
semester as an undergraduate student of chemical engineering at Columbia
University in New York City, but did not complete it, and chess became his
profession} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4 4. d4 d6 5. Nf3 Be7 6. Bd3 Nf6 7.
c4 O-O 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. a3 a6 10. Bd2 b6 11. O-O-O Bd7 12. Kb1 Na5 13. Rc1 Nb3 14.
Rc2 c5 15. d5 Re8 16. h4 b5 17. g4 Nd4 18. Nxd4 cxd4 19. Ne4 bxc4 20. Nxf6+
Bxf6 21. Bxc4 Bxg4 22. Bd3 Bf3 23. Rh3 Bxd5 24. h5 Be6 25. Rg3 g6 26. f4 Bh4
27. Rg1 Kh8 28. f5 Bxf5 29. Bxf5 gxf5 30. Bh6 Rg8 31. Rcg2 Rxg2 32. Rxg2 Qf6
33. Bg7+ Qxg7 34. Rxg7 Kxg7 35. Kc2 Kf6 36. Kd3 Ke5 37. h6 f4 38. Ke2 Ke4 0-1

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• chess
• letsplaychess.com
• chessworld.net
• annotated
• grandmaster
• game
• capablanca
• 1897
• Havana
• Cuba
• queen
• odds
• Petrov
• defence

[trixapete]

hmm its a great win at that age but i think it is a bit much to give him credit for thinking positionally when making his moves. i mean its still good that he can do this at 4 but i think youre being a bit biased here tyfon.

it would have been impressive if he'd played a simple combination or something - like taking away a defender to win a pawn.

i think this shows understanding of taking pieces but little more.

[kingscrusher]

I think there was clear evidence of positional understanding, and actually *NOT* playing too "concretely" (tactically). E.g. not playing Nxd2, but instead playing Nd4. It was the positional moves which impressed me, and at the very end, the central king, is a clue to the hallmark of Capablanca's later endgame genius. It is evidence he knew when the king was becoming strong, and was quick to activate it. The positional stuff impressed me, especially the final king activation.

[undeadnightorc]

When I was four I swallowed 2 pawns and was working on a rook when my parents stopped me.

[ulujm]

4 years old. impressive!

[bistnenutte]

4 yrs old?? no way! really???

[buzzbox2nd]

amazing

[thegreatsolar]

hm i don't think he was very good.

[Lbezhanishvili]

Very good game!

btw, I think Capa could have avoided the use of Queen at all. If he played Bf3 instead of Qf3, it would have been same situation. Though it seems Capa wanted to end the game quickly with encouraging Ramon to trade material and secure the win.

[mckill2007]

people, the point of this is that even at the age of four, capablanca understands how to use his pieces.

[mckill2007]

capa was the most talented in his time, as well as fischer, kasparov, etc...in theire respective era...

now i think magnus carlsen is the best...

[QuakePhil]

Actually, capa did have a queen; his opponent did not.

For 4 years old, it is very impressive play anyway. Most 4 year olds couldn't even ride a bike...

[IHATENEDAH]

yes but you cant say capa was the most talented i mean you are right this was incredible, but i dont know when fisher started but when he would have done exactly the same as capa i think fisher would have been as good, i think even better.... but i dont know why you said capa created counterplay white didnt have any play at all, and i have no clue why he gave up the queen he didnt seem to be able to do anything without it but you are still right capa was incredible

[untouchable58]

how do yoiu know?

[mavaddat]

That's totally a mismatch. Capablanca was already four years old. Ramon Iglesias should have challenged him when he was two or at least while he was still unable to speak Spanish.