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Classic game replay

Abraham Kupchik vs Jose Raul Capablanca, 1926

This replay preserves the complete 78-ply score of Capablanca playing Black across 39 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
Abraham Kupchik
Black
Jose Raul Capablanca
Event
Lake Hopatcong
Year
1926
Result
0-1
Opening
A46 Yusupov-Rubinstein System

Opening reference: Yusupov-Rubinstein System (A46).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 58 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 11 captures and 0 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 33 legal choices. The source score ends after 39...a2 with the recorded result 0-1. 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...d5 — Claim central space8...d5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 12...Qxd7 — Recapture on d712...Qxd7 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 20...Rh6 — Improve the rook20...Rh6 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 30...a4 — Advance the a-pawn30...a4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  5. 33...Bb5 — Create pressure on f133...Bb5 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.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Abraham Kupchik vs Jose Raul Capablanca, 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.d4 to 10...Nxd2

  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.Nf3 Develop the knight

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf3 e6.

  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 c4 d5 Nc3.

  5. 3.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 d5 Be2 Be7.

  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: Ranked first · b6 c4 Be7 Be2.

  7. 4.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.

  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 c4 d5 cxd5.

  9. 5.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 c4 dxc4.

  10. 5...Ne4 Create pressure on f2

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to e4; from e4 it attacks White's pawn on f2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Ne4 a4.

  11. 6.Nbd2 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to d2; from d2 it attacks Black's knight on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nbd2 f5 Ne5 g6.

  12. 6...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 Ne5 Qh4 f4.

  13. 7.c3 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c2 to c3; from there it controls d4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Ne5 ranked higher · c3 Bd6 a4 a5.

  14. 7...Be7 Develop the bishop

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be7 a4.

  15. 8.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 d5 Ne5 O-O.

  16. 8...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 Ne5 O-O f3.

  17. 9.Ne5 Improve the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f3 to e5; from there it controls c4, c6 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne5 O-O f3 Nxd2.

  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: Ranked first · O-O f3 Nxd2 Bxd2.

  19. 10.f3 Create pressure on e4

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f2 to f3; from f3 it attacks Black's knight on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f3 Nd6.

  20. 10...Nxd2 Exchange on d2

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the knight on d2; from d2 it attacks White's rook on f1 and White's pawn on f3; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd2 Bxd2 Nd7 Nxd7.

Middlegame · 11.Bxd2 to 39...a2

  1. 11.Bxd2 Recapture on d2

    Board fact: White's bishop recaptures the knight on d2; from d2 it reinforces the pawn on c3; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd2 Nd7 Nxd7 Qxd7.

  2. 11...Nd7 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to d7; from d7 it attacks White's knight on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd7 Nxd7.

  3. 12.Nxd7 Exchange on d7

    Board fact: White's knight takes the knight on d7; from d7 it attacks Black's rook on f8 and Black's pawn on b6; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd7 Qxd7 Be1 c5.

  4. 12...Qxd7 Recapture on d7

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the knight on d7; from d7 it reinforces the bishop on e7; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxd7.

  5. 13.Rae1 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to e1; from there it controls e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rae1 c5 e4 c4.

  6. 13...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 e4 c4 Be2.

  7. 14.Qd1 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c2 to d1; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd1 Bd6 Qe2 Rad8.

  8. 14...Rf6 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to f6; from there it controls e6 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rf6 Qe2.

  9. 15.Qe2 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to e2; from there it controls d3, e3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe2 Raf8 b3 Qc7.

  10. 15...Raf8 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to f8; from there it controls f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Raf8 b3 Qc7 Rc1.

  11. 16.Bb5 Create pressure on d7

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from d3 to b5; from b5 it attacks Black's queen on d7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb5.

  12. 16...Qc7 Create pressure on h2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d7 to c7; from c7 it attacks White's pawn on h2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc7 f4 R6f7 Kh1.

  13. 17.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 R6f7 Rf2 c4.

  14. 17...c4 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c5 to c4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from there it controls d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c4 Ba4 Bc6 Bd1.

  15. 18.Kh1 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from g1 to h1; from h1 it reinforces the pawn on g2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kh1.

  16. 18...Bd6 Create pressure on f4

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from e7 to d6; from d6 it attacks White's pawn on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd6 Ba4 Bc6 Bc2.

  17. 19.Rf3 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to f3; from there it controls e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rf3 Bc6 Bxc6 Qxc6.

  18. 19...h5 Advance the h-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · h5.

  19. 20.Ref1 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from e1 to f1; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ref1 Bc6.

  20. 20...Rh6 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f6 to h6; from there it controls e6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rh6 Be1 Be7 Rh3.

  21. 21.Be1 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from d2 to e1; from there it controls c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be1 Be7 Rh3 g6.

  22. 21...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 Bh4 a6 Ba4.

  23. 22.Bh4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from e1 to h4; from there it controls f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bh4 Rh8 Ra1 Kf7.

  24. 22...Kf7 Reposition the king

    Board fact: Black moves the king from g8 to f7; from there it controls e6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf7 Ba4 Bc6 Bxc6.

  25. 23.Qe1 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from e2 to e1; from there it controls c3 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qe1 Bc6 Bxc6 Qxc6.

  26. 23...a6 Create pressure on b5

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a7 to a6; from a6 it attacks White's bishop on b5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a6.

  27. 24.Ba4 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from b5 to a4; from there it controls c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ba4 b5 Bc2 Rhh8.

  28. 24...b5 Create pressure on a4

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from b6 to b5; from b5 it attacks White's bishop on a4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b5.

  29. 25.Bd1 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from a4 to d1; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd1.

  30. 25...Bc6 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from b7 to c6; from there it controls d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc6.

  31. 26.Rh3 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f3 to h3; from there it controls e3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rh3.

  32. 26...a5 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a6 to a5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a5 Bg5 Rhh8 Qh4.

  33. 27.Bg5 Create pressure on h6

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from h4 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's rook on h6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg5 Rhh8.

  34. 27...Rhh8 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from h6 to h8; from h8 it reinforces the rook on f8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rhh8.

  35. 28.Qh4 Create pressure on h5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from e1 to h4; from h4 it attacks Black's pawn on h5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qh4 b4.

  36. 28...b4 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from b5 to b4; from b4 it attacks White's pawn on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b4 Rg1 bxc3 bxc3.

  37. 29.Qe1 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from h4 to e1; from there it controls c3 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qe1 Rb8 Qh4 bxc3.

  38. 29...Rb8 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to b8; from b8 it reinforces the rook on h8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rb8 Qh4 bxc3 bxc3.

  39. 30.Rhf3 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from h3 to f3; from there it controls e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rhf3 bxc3.

  40. 30...a4 Advance the a-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a4 h3 bxc3 Qxc3.

  41. 31.R3f2 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f3 to f2; from there it controls f3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · R3f2 Qa5 cxb4 Bxb4.

  42. 31...a3 Create pressure on b2

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a4 to a3; from a3 it attacks White's pawn on b2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a3 bxa3 bxa3 h3.

  43. 32.b3 Create pressure on c4

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from b2 to b3; from b3 it attacks Black's pawn on c4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · b3 cxb3 Bxb3 Bb5.

  44. 32...cxb3 Exchange on b3

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on b3; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the b-file; from b3 it attacks White's pawn on a2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · cxb3 Bxb3 Bb5 e4.

  45. 33.Bxb3 Recapture on b3

    Board fact: White's bishop recaptures the pawn on b3; from b3 it attacks Black's pawn on d5; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxb3 Bb5.

  46. 33...Bb5 Create pressure on f1

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb5 e4 Bxf1 Rxf1.

  47. 34.Rg1 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to g1; from g1 it reinforces the queen on e1.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; c4 ranked higher · Rg1 Qxc3 Qd1 Bd3.

  48. 34...Qxc3 Exchange on c3

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the pawn on c3; from c3 it attacks White's queen on e1 and White's bishop on b3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc3 Qd1 Bd3 Rd2.

  49. 35.Qxc3 Recapture on c3

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the queen on c3; from c3 it attacks Black's pawn on b4; white is ahead by 8 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc3 bxc3 Rc1 Rhc8.

  50. 35...bxc3 Recapture on c3

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the queen on c3; the pawn is now passed; the move changes the central pawn contact; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · bxc3 Rc1 Bb4 Rd1.

  51. 36.Rc2 Rook on the semi-open c-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f2 to c2; the rook now works on a semi-open c-file; from c2 it attacks Black's pawn on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rc2 Rhc8 Rd1 Bb4.

  52. 36...Rhc8 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from h8 to c8; from there it controls c3, c4 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rhc8 Rd1.

  53. 37.Bh4 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from g5 to h4; from there it controls f6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Rd1 ranked higher · Bh4 Bd3.

  54. 37...Bd3 Create pressure on c2

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from b5 to d3; from d3 it attacks White's rook on c2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd3 Rgc1 Bxc2 Rxc2.

  55. 38.Rcc1 Rook on the semi-open c-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from c2 to c1; the rook now works on a semi-open c-file; from c1 it attacks Black's pawn on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rcc1 Rxb3 axb3 c2.

  56. 38...Rxb3 Exchange on b3

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the bishop on b3; the rook now occupies the open b-file; from b3 it reinforces the pawn on a3; black is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bc4 ranked higher · Rxb3 axb3 c2 Be1.

  57. 39.axb3 Recapture on b3

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the rook on b3; the pawn is now passed; the move changes the central pawn contact; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · axb3 c2 Be1 g5.

  58. 39...a2 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a3 to a2; the pawn is now passed.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a2 Be1 Bb4 Bf2.

PGN

[Event "Lake Hopatcong"] [Site "?"] [Date "1926.??.??"] [White "Kupchik, Abraham"] [Black "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Result "0-1"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. O-O Ne4 6. Nbd2 f5 7. c3 Be7 8. Qc2 d5 9. Ne5 O-O 10. f3 Nxd2 11. Bxd2 Nd7 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Rae1 c5 14. Qd1 Rf6 15. Qe2 Raf8 16. Bb5 Qc7 17. f4 c4 18. Kh1 Bd6 19. Rf3 h5 20. Ref1 Rh6 21. Be1 g6 22. Bh4 Kf7 23. Qe1 a6 24. Ba4 b5 25. Bd1 Bc6 26. Rh3 a5 27. Bg5 Rhh8 28. Qh4 b4 29. Qe1 Rb8 30. Rhf3 a4 31. R3f2 a3 32. b3 cxb3 33. Bxb3 Bb5 34. Rg1 Qxc3 35. Qxc3 bxc3 36. Rc2 Rhc8 37. Bh4 Bd3 38. Rcc1 Rxb3 39. axb3 a2 0-1

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:d14deb64b522add0848d3388b913774044ff00c0c3596ab88eb00e7295229358 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Kupchik, Abraham"; Black="Capablanca, Jose Raul"; Event="Lake Hopatcong"; Date="1926.??.??"; Result="0-1". 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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