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Classic game replay

Vera Menchik vs Jose Raul Capablanca, 1929

This replay preserves the complete 58-ply score of Capablanca playing Black across 29 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
Vera Menchik
Black
Jose Raul Capablanca
Event
Karlsbad
Year
1929
Result
0-1
Opening
A47 Marienbad System

Opening reference: Marienbad System (A47).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 38 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 10 captures and 1 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 40 legal choices. The source score ends after 29...h5 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. 11...Nxc4 — Exchange on c411...Nxc4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 13...Bc5 — Develop the bishop13...Bc5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 19...Qe8 — Create pressure on e519...Qe8 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 28...Qg6 — Create pressure on g428...Qg6 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.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Vera Menchik vs Jose Raul Capablanca, 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.d4 to 10...Ne5

  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...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 c4.

  5. 3.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 e6.

  6. 3...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.

  7. 4.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 c5 dxc5 bxc5.

  8. 4...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 O-O e6 c4.

  9. 5.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 cxd4 O-O g6.

  10. 5...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; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxd4 Qxd4 Nc6 Qd3.

  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 g6 Qxd4 Bg7.

  12. 6...Qc7 Create pressure on c4

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to c7; from c7 it attacks White's pawn on c4 and White's pawn on g3.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Bxf3 ranked higher · Qc7 Qxd4 Nc6 Qd3.

  13. 7.Qxd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: White's queen takes the pawn on d4; from d4 it attacks Black's knight on f6 and Black's pawn on b6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxd4 Nc6 Qd3 Na5.

  14. 7...Nc6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to c6; from c6 it attacks White's queen on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc6 Qd3.

  15. 8.Qf4 Create pressure on c7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d4 to f4; from f4 it attacks Black's queen on c7 and Black's knight on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qf4 e5.

  16. 8...e5 Create pressure on f4

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e7 to e5; from e5 it attacks White's queen on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5 Qh4.

  17. 9.Qd2 Create pressure on d7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from f4 to d2; from d2 it attacks Black's pawn on d7.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qd2 Bb4 Qd1 Na5.

  18. 9...e4 Create pressure on f3

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e5 to e4; from e4 it attacks White's knight on f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e4 Nh4 Qe5 Qg5.

  19. 10.Ng5 Create pressure on e4

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f3 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's pawn on e4 and Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nh4 ranked higher · Ng5 Bb4 Nc3 Na5.

  20. 10...Ne5 Create pressure on c4

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c6 to e5; from e5 it attacks White's pawn on c4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bb4 ranked higher · Ne5 Qf4.

Middlegame · 11.Nc3 to 29...h5

  1. 11.Nc3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to c3; from c3 it attacks Black's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qf4 ranked higher · Nc3 Nxc4 Qc2 d5.

  2. 11...Nxc4 Exchange on c4

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the pawn on c4; from c4 it attacks White's queen on d2 and White's pawn on b2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxc4 Qc2.

  3. 12.Qd4 Create pressure on c4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d2 to d4; from d4 it attacks Black's knight on c4 and Black's knight on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qf4 ranked higher · Qd4 d5.

  4. 12...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.

  5. 13.b3 Create pressure on c4

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

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qd1 ranked higher · b3 Bc5.

  6. 13...Bc5 Develop the bishop

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc5 Qd1 Ne5 Bb2.

  7. 14.Nb5 Create pressure on c7

    Board fact: White moves the knight from c3 to b5; from b5 it attacks Black's queen on c7 and Black's pawn on a7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nb5 Qd7 Qc3 Nd6.

  8. 14...Qc6 Create pressure on b5

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from c7 to c6; from c6 it attacks White's knight on b5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc6.

  9. 15.Qc3 Create pressure on c4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d4 to c3; from c3 it attacks Black's knight on c4 and Black's knight on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc3 Qxb5 bxc4 d4.

  10. 15...Qxb5 Exchange on b5

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the knight on b5; from b5 it attacks White's pawn on b3; black is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxb5 bxc4 d4 Qb3.

  11. 16.bxc4 Exchange on c4

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the knight on c4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c4 it attacks Black's queen on b5 and Black's pawn on d5; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · bxc4 d4 Qb3 Qc6.

  12. 16...Qxc4 Recapture on c4

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the pawn on c4; from c4 it attacks White's queen on c3 and White's pawn on a2; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; d4 ranked higher · Qxc4 Qe5+ Kf8 Bb2.

  13. 17.Qe5+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c3 to e5; the move checks Black's king; from e5 it attacks Black's knight on f6 and Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe5+ Kf8 Be3 d4.

  14. 17...Kf8 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from e8 to f8; from f8 it reinforces the pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf8 Bf4 Qa4 Rac1.

  15. 18.Bf4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to f4; from there it controls e5 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bf4 Qa4 Rfc1 Qc6.

  16. 18...Qa4 Create pressure on a2

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qa4 Rac1 Qc6 Qb2.

  17. 19.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 d1 it attacks Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rfd1 Qc6 Qb2 h6.

  18. 19...Qe8 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from a4 to e8; from e8 it attacks White's queen on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe8 Nh3 h6 a4.

  19. 20.Qb2 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from e5 to b2; from b2 it attacks Black's knight on f6 and Black's pawn on b6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qb2 Qe7 Nh3 h6.

  20. 20...h6 Create pressure on g5

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h7 to h6; from h6 it attacks White's knight on g5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h6 Nh3 Qe7 Be5.

  21. 21.Nh3 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from g5 to h3; from there it controls f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nh3 Qe7 Be5 Ba3.

  22. 21...Ng4 Create pressure on f2

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to g4; from g4 it attacks White's pawn on f2 and White's pawn on h2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Ng4 Bd2 Rc8 e3.

  23. 22.Rac1 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 c1 it attacks Black's bishop on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rac1 Qe7.

  24. 22...Bc6 Reposition the bishop

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

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bc6.

  25. 23.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: Recorded move; Bd2 ranked higher · e3 Kg8 Bc7 Rc8.

  26. 23...Kg8 Reposition the king

    Board fact: Black moves the king from f8 to g8; from g8 it reinforces the rook on h8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg8 Rxc5 bxc5 Bd6.

  27. 24.Qe2 Create pressure on g4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from b2 to e2; from e2 it attacks Black's knight on g4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe2 f5 Bc7 Rc8.

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

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

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qe6 ranked higher · f5 Bc7 Rc8 Nf4.

  29. 25.f3 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f2 to f3; the move changes the central pawn contact; from f3 it attacks Black's knight on g4 and Black's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f3 Nf6 fxe4 fxe4.

  30. 25...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 g4 Bd7 gxf5.

  31. 26.g4 Create pressure on f5

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g3 to g4; from g4 it attacks Black's pawn on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g4 exf3 Qxf3 fxg4.

  32. 26...exf3 Exchange on f3

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on f3; the pawn is now passed; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the f-file; from f3 it attacks White's queen on e2 and White's bishop on g2; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exf3 Bxf3 fxg4 Bxd5+.

  33. 27.Bxf3 Recapture on f3

    Board fact: White's bishop recaptures the pawn on f3; from f3 it attacks Black's pawn on d5; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf3 fxg4 Bg2 gxh3.

  34. 27...fxg4 Exchange on g4

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on g4; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the g-file; from g4 it attacks White's bishop on f3 and White's knight on h3; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · fxg4 Bg2 Rd8 Nf2.

  35. 28.Bxg4 Recapture on g4

    Board fact: White's bishop recaptures the pawn on g4; from g4 it reinforces the queen on e2; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bg2 ranked higher · Bxg4 Qg6 Nf2 h5.

  36. 28...Qg6 Create pressure on g4

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e8 to g6; from g6 it attacks White's bishop on g4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qg6 Nf2 h5 Qd3.

  37. 29.Nf2 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from h3 to f2; from there it controls e4 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf2 h5 Qc2 Ne4.

  38. 29...h5 Create pressure on g4

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

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · h5 Qd3.

PGN

[Event "Karlsbad"] [Site "?"] [Date "1929.??.??"] [White "Menchik, Vera"] [Black "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Result "0-1"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 c5 5. c4 cxd4 6. O-O Qc7 7. Qxd4 Nc6 8. Qf4 e5 9. Qd2 e4 10. Ng5 Ne5 11. Nc3 Nxc4 12. Qd4 d5 13. b3 Bc5 14. Nb5 Qc6 15. Qc3 Qxb5 16. bxc4 Qxc4 17. Qe5+ Kf8 18. Bf4 Qa4 19. Rfd1 Qe8 20. Qb2 h6 21. Nh3 Ng4 22. Rac1 Bc6 23. e3 Kg8 24. Qe2 f5 25. f3 Nf6 26. g4 exf3 27. Bxf3 fxg4 28. Bxg4 Qg6 29. Nf2 h5 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:bbd07e9bcf09f9c6cd4f168236d41bc82f998c59b7509673088122ee93a1524d and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Menchik, Vera"; Black="Capablanca, Jose Raul"; Event="Karlsbad"; Date="1929.??.??"; 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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