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Classic game replay

Jose Raul Capablanca vs Salo Flohr, 1938

This replay preserves the complete 73-ply score of Capablanca playing White across 37 numbered moves. The board can be advanced one ply at a time; the notes stick to observable board changes rather than guessing at the players’ intentions.

On this page
  1. Practice positions
  2. Replay with move-by-move board facts
  3. PGN
  4. Sources and checking
  5. Continue with another game
White
Jose Raul Capablanca
Black
Salo Flohr
Event
AVRO
Year
1938
Result
1-0
Opening
D83 Grünfeld Defense: Brinckmann Attack, Grünfeld Gambit

Opening reference: Grünfeld Defense: Brinckmann Attack, Grünfeld Gambit (D83).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 39 middlegame and 14 endgame. The score contains 19 captures and 3 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 39 legal choices. The source score ends after 37.Bd4 with the recorded result 1-0. Its termination tag was not retained, so this record does not infer whether the game ended by resignation, time or another cause.

Practice positions

The daily trainer uses a short set of positions from this complete score. Each link goes to the exact half-move rather than only the numbered move.

  1. 10.Qc4 — Create pressure on c510.Qc4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 17.Qb4 — Create pressure on a517.Qb4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 21.e4 — Claim central space21.e4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 25.Rxe7 — Exchange on e725.Rxe7 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  5. 35.Ra8 — Rook on the semi-open a-file35.Ra8 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.

Replay with move-by-move board facts

The board, fact panel and transcript use the same legal score. “Fixed engine check” means Stockfish 17.1, one thread, a fixed 25,000-node search and 3 candidate lines. It compares moves under one reproducible setting; it does not claim to reconstruct a player’s thoughts.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Jose Raul Capablanca vs Salo Flohr, 1938

Start position

Use Previous and Next on the board, or select a move in the transcript. The board fact and fixed engine check remain visible until you choose another move.

Opening · 1.d4 to 10...Nba6

  1. 1.d4 Claim central space

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d2 to d4; from there it controls e5 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · d4 Nf6 Nf3 e6.

  2. 1...Nf6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from g8 to f6; from there it controls d5 and e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf6 c4 e6 Nf3.

  3. 2.c4 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c2 to c4; from there it controls d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c4 e6.

  4. 2...g6 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g7 to g6; from there it controls f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g6 Nf3 Bg7 Nc3.

  5. 3.Nc3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to c3; from there it controls d5 and e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc3 d5.

  6. 3...d5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d7 to d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d5 Nf3 Bg7 Qa4+.

  7. 4.Bf4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to f4; from f4 it attacks Black's pawn on c7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bf4 Bg7.

  8. 4...Bg7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to g7; from there it controls f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg7 Nf3 O-O Rc1.

  9. 5.e3 Advance the e-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e2 to e3; from there it controls d4 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e3 O-O.

  10. 5...O-O Kingside castling

    Board fact: Black castles kingside, moving the king to g8 and the rook to f8. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · O-O.

  11. 6.Qb3 Create pressure on b7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to b3; from b3 it attacks Black's pawn on b7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qb3 c5.

  12. 6...c5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c7 to c5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c5 it attacks White's pawn on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c5 cxd5 cxd4 exd4.

  13. 7.dxc5 Exchange on c5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on c5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the c-file; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; cxd5 ranked higher · dxc5 Ne4.

  14. 7...Ne4 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to e4; from e4 it attacks White's knight on c3 and White's pawn on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Ne4 Qa3.

  15. 8.cxd5 Exchange on d5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qa3 ranked higher · cxd5 Qa5.

  16. 8...Qa5 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to a5; from a5 it attacks White's knight on c3 and White's pawn on a2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qa5 Rc1 Nd7 f3.

  17. 9.Ne2 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from g1 to e2; from there it controls d4, c3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rc1 ranked higher · Ne2 Nxc5 Qd1 e5.

  18. 9...Nxc5 Exchange on c5

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the pawn on c5; from c5 it attacks White's queen on b3; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxc5 Qd1 Rd8 Qd2.

  19. 10.Qc4 Create pressure on c5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from b3 to c4; from c4 it attacks Black's knight on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc4 Nba6 Nd4 Bd7.

  20. 10...Nba6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to a6; from there it controls c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nba6 Nd4 Bd7 Be2.

Middlegame · 11.Nd4 to 30.Rxf6

  1. 11.Nd4 Improve the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from e2 to d4; from there it controls c6, e6 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd4 Bd7 Be2 Na4.

  2. 11...Bd7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to d7; from there it controls c6, e6 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd7 Be2 Na4 O-O.

  3. 12.Rb1 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to b1; from b1 it reinforces the pawn on b2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rb1 Rfc8 b4 Qa3.

  4. 12...Rfc8 Rook on the open c-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to c8; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from there it controls c5 and c6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; e5 ranked higher · Rfc8 b4.

  5. 13.b4 Create pressure on a5

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from b2 to b4; from b4 it attacks Black's queen on a5 and Black's knight on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b4 Qd8.

  6. 13...Qd8 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from a5 to d8; from d8 it reinforces the rook on c8.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qd8 bxc5 Rxc5 Qd3.

  7. 14.bxc5 Exchange on c5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the knight on c5; the move changes the central pawn contact; white is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · bxc5 Rxc5.

  8. 14...Rxc5 Recapture on c5

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the pawn on c5; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from c5 it attacks White's queen on c4 and White's pawn on d5; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxc5 Qd3 Rac8 Qd2.

  9. 15.Qb3 Create pressure on b7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c4 to b3; from b3 it attacks Black's pawn on b7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qb3 Qa5 Bxa6 Rxc3.

  10. 15...Qa5 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to a5; from a5 it attacks White's knight on c3 and White's pawn on a2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qa5 Bxa6 Rxc3 Qb4.

  11. 16.Bxa6 Exchange on a6

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the knight on a6; from a6 it attacks Black's pawn on b7; white is ahead by 6 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxa6 Rxc3.

  12. 16...Rxc3 Exchange on c3

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the knight on c3; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from c3 it attacks White's queen on b3 and White's pawn on e3; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxc3 Qb4.

  13. 17.Qb4 Create pressure on a5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from b3 to b4; from b4 it attacks Black's queen on a5 and Black's rook on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qb4 Rc1+.

  14. 17...Qxb4 Exchange on b4

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the queen on b4; from b4 it attacks White's rook on b1 and White's knight on d4; black is ahead by 6 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxb4 Rxb4 Rc1+ Kd2.

  15. 18.Rxb4 Recapture on b4

    Board fact: White's rook recaptures the queen on b4; the rook now works on a semi-open b-file; from b4 it attacks Black's pawn on b7; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxb4.

  16. 18...bxa6 Exchange on a6

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the bishop on a6; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the a-file; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rc1+ ranked higher · bxa6 O-O Rc5 Rfb1.

  17. 19.Ke2 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from e1 to e2; from there it controls d3, e3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Ke2 a5.

  18. 19...Rc5 Rook on the open c-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from c3 to c5; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from c5 it attacks White's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; a5 ranked higher · Rc5 Rhb1.

  19. 20.Rhb1 Rook on the open b-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from h1 to b1; the rook now occupies the open b-file; from b1 it reinforces the rook on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rhb1 Rac8 e4 Bxd4.

  20. 20...h6 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h7 to h6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · h6 e4.

  21. 21.e4 Claim central space

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e3 to e4; from there it controls d5 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e4.

  22. 21...Rac8 Rook on the open c-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to c8; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from there it controls c5 and c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rac8.

  23. 22.Be3 Create pressure on h6

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from f4 to e3; from e3 it attacks Black's pawn on h6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be3 R5c7.

  24. 22...Ra5 Create pressure on a2

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from c5 to a5; from a5 it attacks White's pawn on a2 and White's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Ra5 Rb8.

  25. 23.Rb7 Rook on the open b-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from b4 to b7; the rook now occupies the open b-file; from b7 it attacks Black's bishop on d7 and Black's pawn on a7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rb7 Bxd4.

  26. 23...Rxa2+ Capture with check on a2

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the pawn on a2; the move checks White's king; the rook has reached the opponent’s second rank; from a2 it reinforces the pawn on a6; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxa2+ Kf3 e5 dxe6.

  27. 24.Kf3 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from e2 to f3; from there it controls e4, e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf3 e5 dxe6 Bxe6.

  28. 24...Ba4 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from d7 to a4; from there it controls c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ba4 Rxe7 Bf6 Rxa7.

  29. 25.Rxe7 Exchange on e7

    Board fact: White's rook takes the pawn on e7; the rook has reached the opponent’s second rank; from e7 it attacks Black's pawn on a7 and Black's pawn on f7; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe7 Bf6.

  30. 25...Ra3 Create pressure on e3

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a2 to a3; from a3 it attacks White's bishop on e3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Ra3 e5 Bf8 Rxa7.

  31. 26.Nc6 Create pressure on a7

    Board fact: White moves the knight from d4 to c6; from c6 it attacks Black's pawn on a7.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; e5 ranked higher · Nc6.

  32. 26...Bxc6 Exchange on c6

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on c6; from c6 it attacks White's pawn on d5; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxc6 dxc6 Bf6 Rd7.

  33. 27.dxc6 Recapture on c6

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the bishop on c6; the pawn is now passed; the move changes the central pawn contact; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxc6 Bf8 Rd7 Rc3.

  34. 27...Rc3 Rook on the semi-open c-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a3 to c3; the rook now works on a semi-open c-file; from c3 it attacks White's bishop on e3 and White's pawn on c6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bf6 ranked higher · Rc3 Rbb7 Bd4 Rxf7.

  35. 28.Rbb7 Rook on the open b-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from b1 to b7; the rook now occupies the open b-file; from b7 it attacks Black's pawn on a7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rbb7 Bd4 Rxf7 R8xc6.

  36. 28...R8xc6 Exchange on c6

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the pawn on c6; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from c6 it reinforces the rook on c3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · R8xc6 Re8+.

  37. 29.Rxf7 Exchange on f7

    Board fact: White's rook takes the pawn on f7; the rook has reached the opponent’s second rank; from f7 it attacks Black's bishop on g7; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; e5 ranked higher · Rxf7 Bd4 Rfd7 Rf6+.

  38. 29...Rf6+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from c6 to f6; the move checks White's king; the rook now works on a semi-open f-file; from f6 it attacks White's rook on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rf6+ Rxf6 Bxf6 Rxa7.

  39. 30.Rxf6 Answering the check

    Board fact: White's rook takes the rook on f6; from f6 it attacks Black's pawn on a6 and Black's pawn on g6; white is ahead by 5 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxf6 Bxf6.

Endgame · 30...Bxf6 to 37.Bd4

  1. 30...Bxf6 Recapture on f6

    Board fact: Black's bishop recaptures the rook on f6; from f6 it reinforces the rook on c3; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf6 Rxa7 Ra3 Ke2.

  2. 31.Rxa7 Exchange on a7

    Board fact: White's rook takes the pawn on a7; the rook now works on a semi-open a-file; from a7 it attacks Black's pawn on a6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxa7 Ra3 Ke2 g5.

  3. 31...Ra3 Create pressure on e3

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from c3 to a3; from a3 it attacks White's bishop on e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ra3 Ke2.

  4. 32.Ke2 Activate the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from f3 to e2; from there it controls d3, e3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ke2 g5 h3 h5.

  5. 32...Bg7 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from f6 to g7; from there it controls d4, e5 and c3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Ra4 ranked higher · Bg7 f4 Bf8 Ra8.

  6. 33.f4 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f2 to f4; from there it controls e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f4 Bf8 Ra8 Ra2+.

  7. 33...h5 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h6 to h5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bf8 ranked higher · h5 e5 Ra2+ Kf3.

  8. 34.e5 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e4 to e5; the pawn is now passed; from there it controls d6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5 Ra4 Kd3 h4.

  9. 34...Bf8 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from g7 to f8; from there it controls c5 and d6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Ra4 ranked higher · Bf8 Ra8 Ra2+ Kf3.

  10. 35.Ra8 Rook on the semi-open a-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a7 to a8; the rook now works on a semi-open a-file; from a8 it attacks Black's bishop on f8 and Black's pawn on a6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ra8 Ra4 e6 Kg7.

  11. 35...Ra2+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a3 to a2; the move checks White's king; the rook has reached the opponent’s second rank; from a2 it reinforces the pawn on a6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ra2+ Kf3 Kf7 e6+.

  12. 36.Kf3 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from e2 to f3; from there it controls e4, e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf3 Kf7 e6+ Kxe6.

  13. 36...Kg7 Activate the king

    Board fact: Black moves the king from g8 to g7; from there it controls f6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Kg7 Ra7+ Kh6 Rf7.

  14. 37.Bd4 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from e3 to d4; from there it controls e5, c3 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Ra7+ ranked higher · Bd4 Ra4 Ra7+ Kg8.

PGN

[Event "AVRO"] [Site "?"] [Date "1938.??.??"] [White "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Black "Flohr, Salo"] [Result "1-0"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Qb3 c5 7. dxc5 Ne4 8. cxd5 Qa5 9. Ne2 Nxc5 10. Qc4 Nba6 11. Nd4 Bd7 12. Rb1 Rfc8 13. b4 Qd8 14. bxc5 Rxc5 15. Qb3 Qa5 16. Bxa6 Rxc3 17. Qb4 Qxb4 18. Rxb4 bxa6 19. Ke2 Rc5 20. Rhb1 h6 21. e4 Rac8 22. Be3 Ra5 23. Rb7 Rxa2+ 24. Kf3 Ba4 25. Rxe7 Ra3 26. Nc6 Bxc6 27. dxc6 Rc3 28. Rbb7 R8xc6 29. Rxf7 Rf6+ 30. Rxf6 Bxf6 31. Rxa7 Ra3 32. Ke2 Bg7 33. f4 h5 34. e5 Bf8 35. Ra8 Ra2+ 36. Kf3 Kg7 37. Bd4 1-0

Sources and checking

Score source: Chess Database, version 1 by Ana Schaigorodsky (2016), licensed under CC BY 4.0. LibreChess selected the exact score identified by sha256:41cea17eb37ac95a382de37c322809db7e29a83dae5b5569654386c7c1607f85 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Capablanca, Jose Raul"; Black="Flohr, Salo"; Event="AVRO"; Date="1938.??.??"; Result="1-0". LibreChess parsed the main line with chess.js and stores normalised SAN. Source comments, side variations and termination detail were not retained.

LibreChess checks every SAN move with chess.js and compares the result and move sequence with a stored reference. The engine comparison was calculated offline from the fixed settings above; it is not a source for historical claims. No termination is inferred where the imported score does not preserve one.

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