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Classic game replay

Jose Raul Capablanca vs Edward Lasker, 1926

This replay preserves the complete 59-ply score of Capablanca playing White across 30 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
Edward Lasker
Event
Lake Hopatcong
Year
1926
Result
1-0
Opening
D52 Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense

Opening reference: Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense (D52).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 39 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 16 captures and 3 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 38 legal choices. The source score ends after 30.Qxb5+ 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. 11.bxc3 — Recapture on c311.bxc3 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 15.Bxe6 — Exchange on e615.Bxe6 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 23.Qxc6+ — Capture with check on c623.Qxc6+ was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 30.Qxb5+ — Capture with check on b530.Qxb5+ 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 Edward Lasker, 1926

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.Nf3 to 10...Nxc3

  1. 1.Nf3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from g1 to f3; from there it controls d4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nf3 d5.

  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 c6 Qc2.

  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 e3 c5.

  4. 2...c6 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c7 to c6; from there it controls d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c6 d4.

  5. 3.d4 Claim central space

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d4 d5 e3 e6.

  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.

  7. 4.Nc3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to c3; from c3 it attacks Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc3 e6.

  8. 4...e6 Advance the e-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e7 to e6; from there it controls d5 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e6 e3 Nbd7 Bd3.

  9. 5.Bg5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's knight on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg5 dxc4 e4 b5.

  10. 5...Nbd7 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to d7; from there it controls e5, c5 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nbd7.

  11. 6.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 Qa5 Bxf6 Nxf6.

  12. 6...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 Bxf6 Nxf6 a3.

  13. 7.cxd5 Exchange on d5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the d-file; from d5 it attacks Black's pawn on c6 and Black's pawn on e6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxd5 Nxd5.

  14. 7...exd5 Recapture on d5

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the pawn on d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · exd5 Nd2 Ne4 Ndxe4.

  15. 8.Bd3 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to d3; from d3 it attacks Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd3.

  16. 8...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 bishop on g5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne4.

  17. 9.O-O Kingside castling

    Board fact: White castles kingside, moving the king to g1 and the rook to f1. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · O-O.

  18. 9...Ndf6 Improve the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d7 to f6; from there it controls d5 and e4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nxg5 ranked higher · Ndf6 Nxe4 Nxe4 Bf4.

  19. 10.Bxf6 Exchange on f6

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the knight on f6; from f6 it attacks Black's pawn on g7; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bh4 ranked higher · Bxf6.

  20. 10...Nxc3 Exchange on c3

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the knight on c3; from c3 it attacks White's queen on d1 and White's pawn on a2; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Nxf6 ranked higher · Nxc3 bxc3 gxf6 Qc2.

Middlegame · 11.bxc3 to 30.Qxb5+

  1. 11.bxc3 Recapture on c3

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the knight on c3; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c3 it reinforces the pawn on d4; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · bxc3 gxf6 Qc2 Be6.

  2. 11...gxf6 Exchange on f6

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the bishop on f6; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the f-file; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · gxf6 Qc2 Be6 a4.

  3. 12.Qc2 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to c2; from there it controls c3 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc2 Be6 Rfb1 Qc7.

  4. 12...Bd6 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to d6; from d6 it attacks White's pawn on h2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd6 Rfb1 Qc7 g3.

  5. 13.Bf5 Create pressure on c8

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from d3 to f5; from f5 it attacks Black's bishop on c8 and Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rfb1 ranked higher · Bf5 Be6 Rfb1 O-O-O.

  6. 13...Be6 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to e6; from e6 it attacks White's bishop on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be6 Rfb1 O-O-O Rb2.

  7. 14.Rab1 Rook on the semi-open b-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to b1; the rook now works on a semi-open b-file; from b1 it attacks Black's pawn on b7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rab1 Qc7 Bxe6 fxe6.

  8. 14...Qc7 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from a5 to c7; from there it controls c6 and d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc7 Rb2 b6 a4.

  9. 15.Bxe6 Exchange on e6

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the bishop on e6; from e6 it attacks Black's pawn on d5 and Black's pawn on f7; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxe6 fxe6 c4 Qd7.

  10. 15...fxe6 Recapture on e6

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the bishop on e6; the move changes the central pawn contact; from e6 it reinforces the pawn on d5; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · fxe6 c4 Qd7 c5.

  11. 16.e4 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e3 to e4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from e4 it attacks Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · e4 O-O-O.

  12. 16...O-O-O Queenside castling

    Board fact: Black castles queenside, moving the king to c8 and the rook to d8. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · O-O-O c4 dxc4 Qxc4.

  13. 17.c4 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c3 to c4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c4 it attacks Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c4 dxc4 Qxc4 e5.

  14. 17...Bf4 Create pressure on h2

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from d6 to f4; from f4 it attacks White's pawn on h2.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; dxe4 ranked higher · Bf4.

  15. 18.Rb3 Rook on the semi-open b-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from b1 to b3; the rook now works on a semi-open b-file; from b3 it attacks Black's pawn on b7.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; exd5 ranked higher · Rb3 dxc4.

  16. 18...dxc4 Exchange on c4

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on c4; the pawn is now passed; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the c-file; from c4 it attacks White's rook on b3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxc4 Qxc4 Rhe8 g3.

  17. 19.Qxc4 Recapture on c4

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the pawn on c4; from c4 it attacks Black's pawn on c6 and Black's pawn on e6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc4 Rhe8 g3 Bd6.

  18. 19...Qf7 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from c7 to f7; from there it controls e6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qf7 g3 Bb8 Rc1.

  19. 20.Rfb1 Rook on the semi-open b-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to b1; the rook now works on a semi-open b-file; from b1 it reinforces the rook on b3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfb1 Rd7 Qc5 Bb8.

  20. 20...Rd7 Rook on the semi-open d-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from d8 to d7; the rook now works on a semi-open d-file; from d7 it attacks White's pawn on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd7 g3 Bb8 a4.

  21. 21.e5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e4 to e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from e5 it attacks Black's pawn on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5 fxe5 dxe5 Rhd8.

  22. 21...fxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the e-file; from e5 it attacks White's pawn on d4; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · fxe5 dxe5 Rhd8 g3.

  23. 22.dxe5 Recapture on e5

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the pawn on e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxe5 Rhd8 g3 Bh6.

  24. 22...Rhd8 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from h8 to d8; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d8 it reinforces the rook on d7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rhd8 g3.

  25. 23.Qxc6+ Capture with check on c6

    Board fact: White's queen takes the pawn on c6; the move checks Black's king; from c6 it attacks Black's rook on d7 and Black's pawn on b7; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc6+ Kb8 g3 Ka8.

  26. 23...Kb8 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from c8 to b8; from b8 it reinforces the pawn on a7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kb8 g3 Rc8 Qe4.

  27. 24.g3 Create pressure on f4

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g2 to g3; from g3 it attacks Black's bishop on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g3 Rd1+ Rxd1 Rxd1+.

  28. 24...Rd1+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from d7 to d1; the move checks White's king; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d1 it attacks White's rook on b1.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd1+ Kg2 Rxb1 Rxb1.

  29. 25.Kg2 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from g1 to g2; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg2 Rxb1 Rxb1 Rd5.

  30. 25...Rxb1 Exchange on b1

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the rook on b1; from b1 it attacks White's rook on b3; black is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxb1 Rxb1 Rd5 Rb5.

  31. 26.Rxb1 Recapture on b1

    Board fact: White's rook recaptures the rook on b1; the rook now works on a semi-open b-file; from b1 it attacks Black's pawn on b7; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxb1 Rd5 h4 h5.

  32. 26...Rd5 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from d8 to d5; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd5 Qc3 h5 Rb4.

  33. 27.Qc3 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c6 to c3; from there it controls d4, e5 and c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc3 Bh6 Rb4 Qd7.

  34. 27...Qf5 Create pressure on b1

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from f7 to f5; from f5 it attacks White's rook on b1 and White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qf5 Qb4.

  35. 28.Qb4 Create pressure on f4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c3 to b4; from b4 it attacks Black's bishop on f4 and Black's pawn on b7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qb4 b6 Re1 Bh6.

  36. 28...b5 Advance the b-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from b7 to b5; from there it controls c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b5 Re1 Bh6 Qc3.

  37. 29.Nh4 Create pressure on f5

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f3 to h4; from h4 it attacks Black's queen on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nh4 Qc2.

  38. 29...a5 Create pressure on b4

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a7 to a5; from a5 it attacks White's queen on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qc2 ranked higher · a5 Qxb5+ Rxb5 Rxb5+.

  39. 30.Qxb5+ Capture with check on b5

    Board fact: White's queen takes the pawn on b5; the move checks Black's king; from b5 it attacks Black's rook on d5 and Black's pawn on a5; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxb5+ Rxb5 Rxb5+ Kc7.

PGN

[Event "Lake Hopatcong"] [Site "?"] [Date "1926.??.??"] [White "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Black "Lasker, Edward"] [Result "1-0"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bd3 Ne4 9. O-O Ndf6 10. Bxf6 Nxc3 11. bxc3 gxf6 12. Qc2 Bd6 13. Bf5 Be6 14. Rab1 Qc7 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. e4 O-O-O 17. c4 Bf4 18. Rb3 dxc4 19. Qxc4 Qf7 20. Rfb1 Rd7 21. e5 fxe5 22. dxe5 Rhd8 23. Qxc6+ Kb8 24. g3 Rd1+ 25. Kg2 Rxb1 26. Rxb1 Rd5 27. Qc3 Qf5 28. Qb4 b5 29. Nh4 a5 30. Qxb5+ 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:feae8729870f72d72f9d5bfc09f5ad89c7e2f7470462dd7fcd7e0664db441fbc and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Capablanca, Jose Raul"; Black="Lasker, Edward"; Event="Lake Hopatcong"; Date="1926.??.??"; 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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