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Classic game replay

Jose Raul Capablanca vs P. Soler, 1929

This replay preserves the complete 63-ply score of Capablanca playing White across 32 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
P. Soler
Event
Barcelona
Year
1929
Result
1-0
Opening
A17 English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian Formation

Opening reference: English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian Formation (A17).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 20 middlegame and 23 endgame. The score contains 12 captures and 0 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 29 legal choices. The source score ends after 32.f4 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. 8.Nxd4 — Recapture on d48.Nxd4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 15.Qxb8 — Exchange on b815.Qxb8 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 23.a4 — Advance the a-pawn23.a4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 31.Rdc2 — Rook on the open c-file31.Rdc2 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 P. Soler, 1929

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...Be7

  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...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 d4.

  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 cxd5 exd5.

  6. 3...b6 Advance the b-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from b7 to b6; from there it controls c5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · b6 e4 Bb7 Qe2.

  7. 4.g3 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g2 to g3; from there it controls f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g3.

  8. 4...Bb7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to b7; from b7 it attacks White's knight on f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb7 Bg2 Bb4 Qc2.

  9. 5.Bg2 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to g2; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg2 Bb4 Qc2 O-O.

  10. 5...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 O-O.

  11. 6.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 Be7 d4 cxd4.

  12. 6...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 e4 d6 d4.

  13. 7.d4 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d2 to d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d4 it attacks Black's pawn on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d4 Nxd4 Nxd4 Bxg2.

  14. 7...cxd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn 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; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nxd4 ranked higher · cxd4 Nxd4 Be7 Ndb5.

  15. 8.Nxd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: White's knight recaptures the pawn on d4; from d4 it attacks Black's knight on c6 and Black's pawn on e6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd4.

  16. 8...Bc5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to c5; from c5 it attacks White's knight on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc5.

  17. 9.Ndb5 Create pressure on a7

    Board fact: White moves the knight from d4 to b5; from b5 it attacks Black's pawn on a7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ndb5 Na5.

  18. 9...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: Near the leading choice · O-O Nd6 Bxd6 Qxd6.

  19. 10.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 Na5 Bxb7 Nxb7.

  20. 10...Be7 Reposition the bishop

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be7 Nd6.

Middlegame · 11.Nd6 to 20...Bxb5

  1. 11.Nd6 Create pressure on b7

    Board fact: White moves the knight from b5 to d6; from d6 it attacks Black's bishop on b7 and Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd6 Bxd6 Qxd6 Na5.

  2. 11...Bxd6 Exchange on d6

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on d6; from d6 it attacks White's pawn on g3; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd6 Qxd6.

  3. 12.Qxd6 Recapture on d6

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the bishop on d6; from d6 it attacks Black's rook on f8 and Black's knight on c6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxd6 Na5 Bxf6 Qxf6.

  4. 12...Qb8 Create pressure on d6

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to b8; from b8 it attacks White's queen on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Na5 ranked higher · Qb8 Rad1 Rd8 Bxf6.

  5. 13.Rfd1 Rook on the semi-open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to d1; the rook now works on a semi-open d-file; from there it controls d4, d5 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rfd1 Na5 Qd4 Bxg2.

  6. 13...Na5 Create pressure on c4

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c6 to a5; from a5 it attacks White's pawn on c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Na5 Bxf6 Bxg2 Kxg2.

  7. 14.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: Ranked first · Bxf6 gxf6 Bxb7 Nxb7.

  8. 14...Bxg2 Exchange on g2

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the bishop on g2; from g2 it reinforces the rook on a8; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qxd6 ranked higher · Bxg2 Qxb8 Rfxb8 Be5.

  9. 15.Qxb8 Exchange on b8

    Board fact: White's queen takes the queen on b8; from b8 it attacks Black's rook on a8 and Black's rook on f8; white is ahead by 9 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxb8 Rfxb8 Be5 Rc8.

  10. 15...Raxb8 Recapture on b8

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the queen on b8; from b8 it reinforces the rook on f8; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Raxb8 Be5 Bc6 Bxb8.

  11. 16.Be5 Create pressure on b8

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from f6 to e5; from e5 it attacks Black's rook on b8 and Black's pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be5 Bc6 Bxb8 Rxb8.

  12. 16...Bc6 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from g2 to c6; from there it controls d5, e4 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc6 Bxb8 Rxb8 b3.

  13. 17.Bxb8 Exchange on b8

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the rook on b8; from b8 it attacks Black's pawn on a7; white is ahead by 5 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxb8 Rxb8 b4 Nxc4.

  14. 17...Rxb8 Recapture on b8

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the bishop on b8; from b8 it reinforces the pawn on b6; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxb8 b4 Nxc4 b5.

  15. 18.b3 Advance the b-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from b2 to b3; from there it controls c4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · b3 a6 f3 Kf8.

  16. 18...Kf8 Reposition the king

    Board fact: Black moves the king from g8 to f8; from f8 it reinforces the pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Kf8 b4.

  17. 19.Rd4 Rook on the semi-open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from d1 to d4; the rook now works on a semi-open d-file; from d4 it attacks Black's pawn on d7.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; b4 ranked higher · Rd4 Nb7 Nb5 Bxb5.

  18. 19...Nb7 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from a5 to b7; from there it controls c5 and d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nb7 Rb1 Ke7 g4.

  19. 20.Nb5 Create pressure on a7

    Board fact: White moves the knight from c3 to b5; from b5 it attacks Black's pawn on a7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nb5 Ra8 Rd2 d6.

  20. 20...Bxb5 Exchange on b5

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on b5; from b5 it attacks White's pawn on c4; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxb5 cxb5 d5 Rc1.

Endgame · 21.cxb5 to 32.f4

  1. 21.cxb5 Recapture on b5

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the bishop on b5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the b-file; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxb5 d5 Ra4 Nd6.

  2. 21...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 Rc1 Nc5 f3.

  3. 22.Rc1 Rook on the open c-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to c1; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from there it controls c3, c4 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rc1 Nc5 Rd2 Ke7.

  4. 22...Nd6 Create pressure on b5

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from b7 to d6; from d6 it attacks White's pawn on b5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd6 Rh4 h6 a4.

  5. 23.a4 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from a2 to a4; from a4 it reinforces the pawn on b5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a4 Rb7 Rg4 g6.

  6. 23...Rb7 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from b8 to b7; from b7 it reinforces the pawn on a7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rb7 Rd2 Ke7 g4.

  7. 24.f3 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f2 to f3; from there it controls e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f3 Ke7 Rd2 h6.

  8. 24...f5 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from f7 to f5; from there it controls e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f5 Rd3 Ke7 Rdc3.

  9. 25.Kf2 Activate the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from g1 to f2; from there it controls e3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf2 Rd7 g4 Ke7.

  10. 25...Ke7 Activate the king

    Board fact: Black moves the king from f8 to e7; from there it controls d6, e6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ke7 Rd2 Rd7 Rdc2.

  11. 26.h4 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from h2 to h4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h4 Rd7 Rdd1 Nb7.

  12. 26...h5 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h7 to h5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h5 Rdd1 Rd7 Rc2.

  13. 27.Rd2 Rook on the semi-open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from d4 to d2; the rook now works on a semi-open d-file; from d2 it attacks Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd2 Rd7 Rdc2 Nb7.

  14. 27...Kd7 Activate the king

    Board fact: Black moves the king from e7 to d7; from there it controls c6, d6 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Kd7 Rdc2 Ke7 Rc7+.

  15. 28.Ke3 Activate the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from f2 to e3; from there it controls d4, e4 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ke3 Kd8 Rdc2 Rd7.

  16. 28...Rb8 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from b7 to b8; from b8 it reinforces the pawn on b6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rc7 ranked higher · Rb8 Rdc2 Rb7 Kd4.

  17. 29.Kf4 Create pressure on f5

    Board fact: White moves the king from e3 to f4; from f4 it attacks Black's pawn on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Kf4 Ke7 Ke3 Rb7.

  18. 29...g6 Advance the g-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Ke7 ranked higher · g6 Rdc2 Ke7 Rc7+.

  19. 30.Ke5 Create pressure on d6

    Board fact: White moves the king from f4 to e5; from e5 it attacks Black's knight on d6 and Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ke5 Rf8 Rdc2 Ne8.

  20. 30...Rf8 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from b8 to f8; from there it controls f5 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rf8 Rdc2 Ne8 Kf4.

  21. 31.Rdc2 Rook on the open c-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from d2 to c2; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from there it controls c3, c4 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rdc2 Ne8 Kf4 Rf7.

  22. 31...Ne8 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d6 to e8; from there it controls d6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne8 Kf4 Rf6 b4.

  23. 32.f4 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f3 to f4; from there it controls e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f4 d4 Kxd4 Rg8.

PGN

[Event "Barcelona"] [Site "?"] [Date "1929.??.??"] [White "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Black "Soler, P."] [Result "1-0"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Ndb5 O-O 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Nd6 Bxd6 12. Qxd6 Qb8 13. Rfd1 Na5 14. Bxf6 Bxg2 15. Qxb8 Raxb8 16. Be5 Bc6 17. Bxb8 Rxb8 18. b3 Kf8 19. Rd4 Nb7 20. Nb5 Bxb5 21. cxb5 d5 22. Rc1 Nd6 23. a4 Rb7 24. f3 f5 25. Kf2 Ke7 26. h4 h5 27. Rd2 Kd7 28. Ke3 Rb8 29. Kf4 g6 30. Ke5 Rf8 31. Rdc2 Ne8 32. f4 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 sha256:13de6883b1209b7b5e5c53cf9d90d323e35ce682561fd1f5086cbaca5705e154 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Capablanca, Jose Raul"; Black="Soler, Placido"; Event="Barcelona"; Date="1929.??.??"; Result="1-0".
Reviewed display mapping: black Soler, Placido → Soler, P.. 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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