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Capablanca vs Marshall: Meeting the Schliemann

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This game comes from the 1909 match that established Jose Raul Capablanca as an international contender. Frank Marshall chooses the sharp 3...f5; Capablanca replies in the centre.

On this page
  1. Critical decisions
  2. Replay with move-by-move board facts
  3. PGN
  4. Sources and checking
  5. Continue with another game
White
Jose Raul Capablanca
Black
Frank James Marshall
Event
USA m
Year
1909
Result
1-0
Opening
C63 Ruy Lopez: Schliemann Defense, Dyckhoff Variation

Opening reference: Ruy Lopez: Schliemann Defense, Dyckhoff Variation (C63).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 29 middlegame and 14 endgame. The score contains 17 captures and 3 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 32 legal choices. The source score ends after 32.Rxc5 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.

Critical decisions

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. 8.Ne4 — Create pressure on f68.Ne4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 12.Qh5 — Move 12 — Qh5, hitting the loosened king12.Qh5 was playable in the fixed engine check, although another move scored a little higher.
  3. 21.f6 — Moves 20-21 — Rxe7! and f621.f6 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 30.f5 — Advance a passed pawn30.f5 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 Frank James Marshall, 1909

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.e4 to 10...d5

  1. 1.e4 Claim central space

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e2 to e4; from there it controls d5 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6.

  2. 1...e5 Claim central space

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e7 to e5; from there it controls d4 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5 Nf3 Nc6 d4.

  3. 2.Nf3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from g1 to f3; from f3 it attacks Black's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf3 Nc6 d4 exd4.

  4. 2...Nc6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to c6; from there it controls d4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc6 d4 exd4 Nxd4.

  5. 3.Bb5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to b5; from b5 it attacks Black's knight on c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb5 a6.

    Move 3 — the Schliemann, 3...f5Marshall plays the Schliemann move 3...f5. Capablanca answers 4.Nc3 and opens the centre with 7.exf5+; Black meets the check by developing the f8-bishop to e7.
  6. 3...f5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from f7 to f5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from f5 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · f5.

  7. 4.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 fxe4 Nxe4 Nf6.

  8. 4...Nf6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from g8 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nf6 exf5 e4 Ng5.

  9. 5.Qe2 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to e2; from there it controls e4, c4 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qe2 Be7 exf5 O-O.

  10. 5...Nd4 Create pressure on e2

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c6 to d4; from d4 it attacks White's queen on e2 and White's bishop on b5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd4 Nxd4.

  11. 6.Nxd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: White's knight takes the knight on d4; from d4 it attacks Black's pawn on f5; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd4 exd4.

  12. 6...exd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the knight on d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the d-file; from d4 it attacks White's knight on c3; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exd4 exf5+.

  13. 7.exf5+ Capture with check on f5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on f5; the move checks Black's king; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the f-file; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exf5+ Be7 Ne4 O-O.

  14. 7...Be7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to e7; from there it controls c5, d6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be7 Ne4 Nxe4 Qxe4.

  15. 8.Ne4 Create pressure on f6

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne4 O-O.

  16. 8...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.

  17. 9.Nxf6+ Capture with check on f6

    Board fact: White's knight takes the knight on f6; the move checks Black's king; from f6 it attacks Black's pawn on d7 and Black's pawn on h7; white is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxf6+ Rxf6 Bd3 d5.

  18. 9...Bxf6 Recapture on f6

    Board fact: Black's bishop recaptures the knight on f6; from f6 it reinforces the queen on d8; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf6 O-O d5 Bd3.

  19. 10.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 d5 Bd3 c5.

  20. 10...d5 Claim central space

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d7 to d5; from there it controls e4 and c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d5 Qh5.

Middlegame · 11.Bd3 to 25.Rxe8

  1. 11.Bd3 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from b5 to d3; from there it controls e4, c4 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd3 c5 b3 b5.

  2. 11...c5 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c7 to c5; from there it controls d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c5 b3 b5 Qf3.

  3. 12.Qh5 Create pressure on h7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from e2 to h5; from h5 it attacks Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; b3 ranked higher · Qh5 c4.

    Move 12 — Qh5, hitting the loosened king12.Qh5 attacks h7 and keeps pressure on the kingside squares weakened by ...f5. Black replies 12...Qc7 and meets 14.Bxc4+ by moving the king to h8.
  4. 12...Qc7 Create pressure on h2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to c7; from c7 it attacks White's pawn on h2.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; c4 ranked higher · Qc7.

  5. 13.c4 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c2 to c4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c4 it attacks Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c4 Kh8.

  6. 13...dxc4 Exchange on c4

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on c4; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the c-file; from c4 it attacks White's bishop on d3; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bd7 ranked higher · dxc4.

  7. 14.Bxc4+ Recapture on c4

    Board fact: White's bishop recaptures the pawn on c4; the move checks Black's king; from c4 it reinforces the rook on f1; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxc4+ Kh8 d3 Qd7.

  8. 14...Kh8 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from g8 to h8; from h8 it reinforces the pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kh8 d3 Qd7 Be6.

  9. 15.d3 Advance the d-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d2 to d3; from there it controls e4 and c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d3 Qd7 Be6 Qe8.

  10. 15...Qe5 Create pressure on f5

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from c7 to e5; from e5 it attacks White's pawn on f5 and White's pawn on h2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe5.

  11. 16.g4 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g2 to g4; from there it controls f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g4 Bd7 a4 Rae8.

  12. 16...Bd7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to d7; from d7 it attacks White's pawn on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd7 Rb1 b5 Bf7.

  13. 17.a4 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from a2 to a4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a4 Bc6.

  14. 17...Be7 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from f6 to e7; from there it controls c5, d6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rae8 ranked higher · Be7 f3 Rae8 Qh3.

  15. 18.Bd2 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to d2; from there it controls c3, e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd2.

  16. 18...Qe2 Create pressure on f1

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e5 to e2; from e2 it attacks White's rook on f1 and White's bishop on d2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe2 Rae1.

  17. 19.Rae1 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to e1; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e1 it attacks Black's queen on e2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rae1 Qxd2 Rxe7 Bc6.

  18. 19...Qxd2 Exchange on d2

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the bishop on d2; from d2 it attacks White's rook on e1 and White's pawn on b2; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxd2 Rxe7.

  19. 20.Rxe7 Exchange on e7

    Board fact: White's rook takes the bishop on e7; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e7 it attacks Black's bishop on d7 and Black's pawn on g7; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe7 Bxa4 Bd5 Bc6.

    Moves 20-21 — Rxe7! and f6After Black's queen takes the bishop on d2, 20.Rxe7 takes Black's e7-bishop. Then 21.f6 Qh6 22.Qxh6 gxh6 advances the attack and removes the queens.
  20. 20...Be8 Create pressure on h5

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from d7 to e8; from e8 it attacks White's queen on h5 and White's pawn on a4.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Bxa4 ranked higher · Be8 f6.

  21. 21.f6 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f5 to f6; the move changes the central pawn contact; from f6 it attacks Black's pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f6 Qh6 Qxh6 gxh6.

  22. 21...Qh6 Create pressure on h5

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d2 to h6; from h6 it attacks White's queen on h5 and White's pawn on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qh6 Qxh6 gxh6 Rfe1.

  23. 22.Qxh6 Exchange on h6

    Board fact: White's queen takes the queen on h6; from h6 it attacks Black's pawn on g7 and Black's pawn on h7; white is ahead by 10 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; fxg7+ ranked higher · Qxh6 gxh6 Rfe1 Rb8.

  24. 22...gxh6 Recapture on h6

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the queen on h6; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the h-file; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · gxh6 Rfe1 Rb8 h4.

  25. 23.Rfe1 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to e1; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from there it controls e4, e5 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfe1 Rb8 h4 Bxa4.

    Move 23 — rooks doubled on the e-fileAfter 22.Qxh6 gxh6 23.Rfe1, the queens are gone and both white rooks occupy the e-file. Capablanca later wins pawns on b7, a7 and c5 while keeping the rooks active.
  26. 23...Bxa4 Exchange on a4

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the pawn on a4; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; a6 ranked higher · Bxa4 Rxb7 Bc6 Rc7.

  27. 24.Rxb7 Exchange on b7

    Board fact: White's rook takes the pawn on b7; the rook has reached the opponent’s second rank; from b7 it attacks Black's pawn on a7 and Black's pawn on h7; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxb7 Bc6 Rc7 Rac8.

  28. 24...Rae8 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to e8; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e8 it attacks White's rook on e1.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Be8 ranked higher · Rae8 Rxe8 Rxe8 f4.

  29. 25.Rxe8 Exchange on e8

    Board fact: White's rook takes the rook on e8; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e8 it attacks Black's rook on f8; white is ahead by 6 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe8 Rxe8 f4 Bc6.

Endgame · 25...Rxe8 to 32.Rxc5

  1. 25...Rxe8 Recapture on e8

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the rook on e8; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e8 it reinforces the king on h8; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe8 Rxa7 Re1+ Kg2.

  2. 26.Rxa7 Exchange on a7

    Board fact: White's rook takes the pawn on a7; the rook now occupies the open a-file; from a7 it attacks Black's bishop on a4 and Black's pawn on h7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxa7 Bd1 Re7 Rf8.

  3. 26...Bd1 Create pressure on g4

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from a4 to d1; from d1 it attacks White's pawn on g4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd1 Re7 Ra8 Bd5.

  4. 27.h3 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from h2 to h3; from h3 it reinforces the pawn on g4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · h3 Bf3 f7 Re1+.

  5. 27...h5 Create pressure on g4

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h6 to h5; from h5 it attacks White's pawn on g4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h5 Re7 Rxe7 fxe7.

  6. 28.g5 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g4 to g5; from there it controls f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g5 Bf3 Re7 Ra8.

  7. 28...h4 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h5 to h4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h4 Bf7 Rb8 f4.

  8. 29.f4 Advance a passed pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f4 Bh5 f5 Re1+.

  9. 29...Bh5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from d1 to h5; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bh5 f5 Re1+ Kf2.

  10. 30.f5 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f4 to f5; the pawn is now passed; from there it controls e6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f5 Rc8 Re7 Ra8.

  11. 30...Rf8 Rook on the semi-open f-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from e8 to f8; the rook now works on a semi-open f-file; from f8 it attacks White's pawn on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rf8 Rc7 Re8 Rxc5.

  12. 31.Rc7 Rook on the semi-open c-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a7 to c7; the rook now works on a semi-open c-file; from c7 it attacks Black's pawn on c5 and Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rc7 Ra8 Rxc5 Re8.

  13. 31...Rb8 Rook on the semi-open b-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to b8; the rook now works on a semi-open b-file; from b8 it attacks White's pawn on b2.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Ra8 ranked higher · Rb8 Rxc5 Rf8 b3.

  14. 32.Rxc5 Exchange on c5

    Board fact: White's rook takes the pawn on c5; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from c5 it reinforces the bishop on c4; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxc5 Be2 b4 Bxd3.

PGN

[Event "USA m"] [Site "?"] [Date "1909.??.??"] [White "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Black "Marshall, Frank James"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Qe2 Nd4 6. Nxd4 exd4 7. exf5+ Be7 8. Ne4 O-O 9. Nxf6+ Bxf6 10. O-O d5 11. Bd3 c5 12. Qh5 Qc7 13. c4 dxc4 14. Bxc4+ Kh8 15. d3 Qe5 16. g4 Bd7 17. a4 Be7 18. Bd2 Qe2 19. Rae1 Qxd2 20. Rxe7 Be8 21. f6 Qh6 22. Qxh6 gxh6 23. Rfe1 Bxa4 24. Rxb7 Rae8 25. Rxe8 Rxe8 26. Rxa7 Bd1 27. h3 h5 28. g5 h4 29. f4 Bh5 30. f5 Rf8 31. Rc7 Rb8 32. Rxc5 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:b4b44739216878b4537f34aac9a4aa6b5125876235b7c013e9449143222ca835 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Capablanca, Jose Raul"; Black="Marshall, Frank James"; Event="USA m"; Date="1909.??.??"; 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 or a substitute for the authored notes. No termination is inferred where the imported score does not preserve one.

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