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Capablanca's Active-King Endgame

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Jose Raul Capablanca returns the Budapest Gambit pawn, simplifies and then treats the king as an active piece. The final phase centres on two separated passed pawns on the f- and h-files.

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
Saviely Tartakower
Event
Bad Kissingen
Year
1928
Result
1-0
Opening
A52 Indian Defense: Budapest Gambit Accepted, Main Line, Alekhine Variation, Tartakower Defense

Opening reference: Indian Defense: Budapest Gambit Accepted, Main Line, Alekhine Variation, Tartakower Defense (A52).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 21 middlegame and 38 endgame. The score contains 21 captures and 3 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 30 legal choices. The source score ends after 40.f7 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. 11.Nd5 — Create pressure on e711.Nd5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 19.Bxf5+ — Moves 16-22 — simplify into a better ending19.Bxf5+ was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 21.Rxd8 — Exchange on d821.Rxd8 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 32.Kf3 — Move 32 — the king joins the fight32.Kf3 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  5. 38.f6 — Moves 36-40 — the passers reach h7 and f738.f6 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 Saviely Tartakower, 1928

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...Nc6

  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.

    Moves 2-3 — the Budapest GambitThe Budapest Gambit begins 2...e5 3.dxe5 Ng4. After 4.e4 d6 5.exd6 Bxd6, Black has recovered the pawn and both sides can develop.
  4. 2...e5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e7 to e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from e5 it attacks White's pawn on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · e5 dxe5 Ng4 e3.

  5. 3.dxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the e-file; from e5 it attacks Black's knight on f6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxe5 Ng4 e4 Nxe5.

  6. 3...Ng4 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to g4; from g4 it attacks White's pawn on e5 and White's pawn on f2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ng4 e4 Nxe5 a3.

  7. 4.e4 Claim central space

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

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · e4 Nxe5.

  8. 4...d6 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d7 to d6; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d6 it attacks White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nxe5 ranked higher · d6 Be2 Nxe5 f4.

  9. 5.exd6 Exchange on d6

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on d6; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d6 it attacks Black's pawn on c7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Be2 ranked higher · exd6 Bxd6 Be2 Bc5.

  10. 5...Bxd6 Recapture on d6

    Board fact: Black's bishop recaptures the pawn on d6; from d6 it attacks White's pawn on h2; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd6 Be2 Bb4+ Bd2.

  11. 6.Be2 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to e2; from e2 it attacks Black's knight on g4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be2 Bb4+.

  12. 6...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: Playable; Bb4+ ranked higher · f5.

  13. 7.exf5 Exchange on f5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on f5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the f-file; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exf5 Nf6 Bh5+ Kf8.

  14. 7...Qe7 Create pressure on e2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to e7; from e7 it attacks White's bishop on e2.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Ne5 ranked higher · Qe7 c5.

  15. 8.Nf3 Develop the knight

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

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; c5 ranked higher · Nf3 Nc6.

  16. 8...Bxf5 Exchange on f5

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the pawn on f5; from f5 it attacks White's knight on b1; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf5 Bg5 Nf6 Nc3.

  17. 9.Bg5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's queen on e7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg5 Nf6 O-O h6.

  18. 9...Nf6 Improve the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from g4 to f6; from there it controls d5 and e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf6 Nc3 Nc6 Nd5.

  19. 10.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 Nc6 Nd5 Qf7.

  20. 10...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 O-O O-O-O Qa4.

Middlegame · 11.Nd5 to 21.Rxd8

  1. 11.Nd5 Create pressure on e7

    Board fact: White moves the knight from c3 to d5; from d5 it attacks Black's queen on e7 and Black's knight on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd5 Qf7 Nh4 Be4.

  2. 11...Qf7 Create pressure on d5

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e7 to f7; from f7 it attacks White's knight on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qf7 Nh4 Be4 Bxf6.

  3. 12.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 O-O-O Bd3 Be6.

  4. 12...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 Bd3 Bg4 h3.

  5. 13.Nd4 Create pressure on c6

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f3 to d4; from d4 it attacks Black's knight on c6 and Black's bishop on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd4 Nxd4 Qxd4 Rhe8.

  6. 13...Nxd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the knight on d4; from d4 it attacks White's bishop on e2; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd4 Qxd4 Kb8 Bf3.

  7. 14.Qxd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the knight on d4; from d4 it attacks Black's knight on f6 and Black's pawn on a7; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxd4 Kb8 Rad1 Qg6.

  8. 14...c6 Create pressure on d5

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c7 to c6; from c6 it attacks White's knight on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Kb8 ranked higher · c6 Qxa7.

  9. 15.Bxf6 Exchange on f6

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the knight on f6; from f6 it attacks Black's rook on d8 and Black's pawn on g7; white is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bxf6 gxf6 Qxa7 cxd5.

  10. 15...gxf6 Recapture on f6

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the bishop on f6; the move changes the central pawn contact; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · gxf6 Qxa7 Be4 Qa8+.

  11. 16.Qxf6 Recapture on f6

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the pawn on f6; from f6 it attacks Black's queen on f7 and Black's rook on d8; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qxa7 ranked higher · Qxf6 Qxf6 Nxf6 Be5.

    Moves 16-22 — simplify into a better ending16.Qxf6 Qxf6 17.Nxf6 removes the queens. The rook exchange on d8 and 22.Bxh7 leave White a pawn ahead, but Black's active rook still requires accurate play.
  12. 16...Qxf6 Recapture on f6

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the queen on f6; from f6 it attacks White's pawn on b2; black is ahead by 7 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qg6 ranked higher · Qxf6 Nxf6.

  13. 17.Nxf6 Recapture on f6

    Board fact: White's knight recaptures the queen on f6; from f6 it attacks Black's pawn on h7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxf6 Be5 Bg4 Bxg4.

  14. 17...Be5 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from d6 to e5; from e5 it attacks White's knight on f6 and White's pawn on b2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be5 Bg4 Bxg4 Nxg4.

  15. 18.Bg4 Create pressure on f5

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from e2 to g4; from g4 it attacks Black's bishop on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg4 Bxg4 Nxg4 Bxb2.

  16. 18...Bxf6 Exchange on f6

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on f6; from f6 it attacks White's pawn on b2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Bxg4 ranked higher · Bxf6 Bxf5+ Kc7 Rad1.

  17. 19.Bxf5+ Capture with check on f5

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the bishop on f5; the move checks Black's king; from f5 it attacks Black's pawn on h7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf5+ Kc7 Rad1 h5.

  18. 19...Kc7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from c8 to c7; from there it controls c6 and d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kc7 Rad1 h6 b3.

  19. 20.Rad1 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to d1; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d1 it attacks Black's rook on d8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rad1 h5 b3 Bd4.

  20. 20...Bxb2 Exchange on b2

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the pawn on b2; from b2 it reinforces the rook on h8; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bxb2 Rxd8.

  21. 21.Rxd8 Exchange on d8

    Board fact: White's rook takes the rook on d8; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d8 it attacks Black's rook on h8; white is ahead by 6 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxd8 Rxd8 Bxh7 Rd4.

Endgame · 21...Rxd8 to 40.f7

  1. 21...Rxd8 Recapture on d8

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the rook on d8; the rook now occupies the open d-file; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxd8 Bxh7 Rd4 g3.

  2. 22.Bxh7 Exchange on h7

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the pawn on h7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxh7 Rd4 g3 Rxc4.

  3. 22...Rd4 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from d8 to d4; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d4 it attacks White's pawn on c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd4 g3 c5 Kg2.

  4. 23.g3 Advance a passed pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g3 Rxc4 f4 c5.

  5. 23...Rxc4 Exchange on c4

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the pawn on c4; from c4 it reinforces the pawn on c6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxc4 Kg2 b5 f4.

  6. 24.h4 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from h2 to h4; the pawn is now passed.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h4 Rd4 Kg2 b5.

  7. 24...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 Kg2.

  8. 25.Kg2 Activate the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from g1 to g2; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg2 a5 f4 c5.

  9. 25...a5 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a7 to a5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a5 f4 a4 g4.

  10. 26.h5 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from h4 to h5; the pawn is now passed.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h5.

  11. 26...Bg7 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from b2 to g7; from there it controls d4, e5 and c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg7 f4.

  12. 27.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: Near the leading choice · f4 Bh6 Re1 Rc5.

  13. 27...Bh6 Create pressure on f4

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from g7 to h6; from h6 it attacks White's pawn on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bh6 Re1 Rc5 Re6.

  14. 28.Re1 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 · Re1 Rc5 Re6 Rxh5.

  15. 28...Ra4 Create pressure on a2

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from c4 to a4; from a4 it attacks White's pawn on a2 and White's pawn on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Ra4 Bb1 Rb4 Kf3.

  16. 29.Bg8 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from h7 to g8; from there it controls d5, c4 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg8 Kd7 Kh3 Ra3.

  17. 29...Rd4 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a4 to d4; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d4 it attacks White's pawn on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd4 Re7+ Kb6 Re6.

  18. 30.Re7+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the rook from e1 to e7; the move checks Black's king; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from there it controls e4, e5 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re7+ Kb6 Re6 Rd2+.

  19. 30...Rd7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the rook from d4 to d7; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d7 it attacks White's rook on e7.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rd7 Rxd7+ Kxd7 Kf3.

  20. 31.Rxd7+ Capture with check on d7

    Board fact: White's rook takes the rook on d7; the move checks Black's king; the rook now occupies the open d-file; white is ahead by 6 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxd7+ Kxd7 Kf3 c5.

  21. 31...Kxd7 Recapture on d7

    Board fact: Black's king recaptures the rook on d7; from d7 it reinforces the pawn on c6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kxd7 Kf3 a4 g4.

  22. 32.Kf3 Activate the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from g2 to f3; from there it controls e4, e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf3 Ke7 Bh7 a4.

    Move 32 — the king joins the fight32.Kf3 centralises the king and protects the g3-pawn. White can then advance with g4-g5 while the king remains close enough to support both passers.
  23. 32...c5 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c6 to c5; the pawn is now passed; from there it controls d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c5 g4 a4 g5.

  24. 33.g4 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g3 to g4; the pawn is now passed; from there it controls f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g4.

  25. 33...c4 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c5 to c4; the pawn is now passed; from there it controls d3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · c4 g5 Bf8 h6.

  26. 34.g5 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g4 to g5; the pawn is now passed; from g5 it attacks Black's bishop on h6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g5 Bg7 h6 Bf8.

  27. 34...Bf8 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from h6 to f8; from there it controls c5 and d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bf8 h6 a4 Ke4.

  28. 35.h6 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from h5 to h6; the pawn is now passed.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h6 a4 Ke4 a3.

  29. 35...a4 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a5 to a4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Kd6 ranked higher · a4 Ke4 c3 Kd3.

  30. 36.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 Kd8 Ke4 c3.

    Moves 36-40 — the passers reach h7 and f7White's h-pawn reaches h7 on move 37 and the f-pawn reaches f7 with 40.f7. The stored score ends with both passers one step from the eighth rank.
  31. 36...Kc6 Activate the king

    Board fact: Black moves the king from d7 to c6; from there it controls d5, c5 and d6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Kc6 Ke4 c3 Kd3.

  32. 37.h7 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from h6 to h7; the pawn is now passed; from h7 it reinforces the bishop on g8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h7 Bg7 f6 Bh8.

  33. 37...Bg7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to g7; from there it controls d4, e5 and c3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bg7 f6 Bh8 f7.

  34. 38.f6 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f5 to f6; the pawn is now passed; from f6 it attacks Black's bishop on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f6 Bh8 f7 Bg7.

  35. 38...c3 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c4 to c3; the pawn is now passed.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · c3 fxg7 c2 Bd5+.

  36. 39.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: Recorded move; fxg7 ranked higher · Ke2 Bh8 f7 c2.

  37. 39...Bh8 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from g7 to h8; from h8 it attacks White's pawn on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bh8 f7 c2 Kd2.

  38. 40.f7 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f6 to f7; the pawn is now passed; from f7 it reinforces the bishop on g8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f7 c2 Kd2 b4.

PGN

[Event "Bad Kissingen"] [Site "?"] [Date "1928.??.??"] [White "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Black "Tartakower, Saviely"] [Result "1-0"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 d6 5. exd6 Bxd6 6. Be2 f5 7. exf5 Qe7 8. Nf3 Bxf5 9. Bg5 Nf6 10. Nc3 Nc6 11. Nd5 Qf7 12. O-O O-O-O 13. Nd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 c6 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Qxf6 Qxf6 17. Nxf6 Be5 18. Bg4 Bxf6 19. Bxf5+ Kc7 20. Rad1 Bxb2 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Bxh7 Rd4 23. g3 Rxc4 24. h4 b5 25. Kg2 a5 26. h5 Bg7 27. f4 Bh6 28. Re1 Ra4 29. Bg8 Rd4 30. Re7+ Rd7 31. Rxd7+ Kxd7 32. Kf3 c5 33. g4 c4 34. g5 Bf8 35. h6 a4 36. f5 Kc6 37. h7 Bg7 38. f6 c3 39. Ke2 Bh8 40. f7 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 sha256:9177c446450f2fe403f2e12651db8920748dab1cc530ce4e5f34529856af2465 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Capablanca, Jose Raul"; Black="Tartakower, Saviely"; Event="Bad Kissingen"; Date="1928.??.??"; 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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