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Classic game replay

Mario Monticelli vs Jose Raul Capablanca, 1929

This replay preserves the complete 66-ply score of Capablanca playing Black across 33 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
Mario Monticelli
Black
Jose Raul Capablanca
Event
Barcelona
Year
1929
Result
0-1
Opening
A47 Marienbad System

Opening reference: Marienbad System (A47).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 46 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 16 captures and 0 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 36 legal choices. The source score ends after 33...Rb2 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. 7...Bg7 — Develop the bishop7...Bg7 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 18...Qc7 — Reposition the queen18...Qc7 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 24...e5 — Create pressure on f424...e5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 33...Rb2 — Rook on the open b-file33...Rb2 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.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Mario Monticelli 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...Ne4

  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.dxc5 Exchange on c5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on c5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the c-file; from c5 it attacks Black's pawn on b6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxc5 bxc5 O-O g6.

  10. 5...bxc5 Recapture on c5

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the pawn on c5; the move changes the central pawn contact; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · bxc5 Bg5 e6 Bxf6.

  11. 6.c4 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c2 to c4; from there it controls d5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · c4 g6 Nc3 Bg7.

  12. 6...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 Nc3 Bg7 O-O.

  13. 7.b3 Advance the b-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b3 Bg7 Bb2 Qa5+.

  14. 7...Bg7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to g7; from there it controls f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg7 Bb2 Qa5+ Bc3.

  15. 8.Bb2 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to b2; from b2 it attacks Black's knight on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb2 Qa5+ Bc3 Qa6.

  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 O-O a5 Nc3.

  17. 9.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 a5 Nc3 d6.

  18. 9...d6 Advance the d-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d7 to d6; from there it controls e5 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d6 Nc3 Ne4 Na4.

  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 Qc8 Na4 d5.

  20. 10...Ne4 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to e4; from e4 it attacks White's knight on c3 and White's pawn on f2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne4 Na4.

Middlegame · 11.Qc1 to 33...Rb2

  1. 11.Qc1 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to c1; from there it controls c3, e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc1.

  2. 11...Nxc3 Exchange on c3

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the knight on c3; from c3 it attacks White's pawn on a2 and White's pawn on e2; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxc3 Bxc3 Nd7 h4.

  3. 12.Bxc3 Recapture on c3

    Board fact: White's bishop recaptures the knight on c3; from c3 it attacks Black's bishop on g7; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxc3 Nd7.

  4. 12...Bxc3 Recapture on c3

    Board fact: Black's bishop recaptures the bishop on c3; from c3 it attacks White's rook on a1; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxc3 Qxc3 Nd7 Rad1.

  5. 13.Qxc3 Recapture on c3

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the bishop on c3; from c3 it reinforces the rook on a1; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc3 Nd7 Qe3 Kg7.

  6. 13...a5 Advance the a-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a5 h4 h5 Rad1.

  7. 14.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 d6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rfd1 Nd7.

  8. 14...Nd7 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to d7; from there it controls e5, c5 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd7 a4 Rb8 Rd3.

  9. 15.Qe3 Create pressure on c5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c3 to e3; from e3 it attacks Black's pawn on c5 and Black's pawn on e7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe3 Nf6 Rab1 Qc7.

  10. 15...Kg7 Reposition the king

    Board fact: Black moves the king from g8 to g7; from there it controls f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg7 Ne1 Bxg2 Nxg2.

  11. 16.h3 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from h2 to h3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h3 Re8 Qc3+ Kg8.

  12. 16...Nf6 Improve the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d7 to f6; from there it controls d5 and e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf6 Ne5.

  13. 17.g4 Advance the g-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g4 Qc7.

  14. 17...h6 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h7 to h6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h6 Ne1 Qc7 Rd3.

  15. 18.Ne1 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f3 to e1; from there it controls d3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne1 Qc7 Bxb7 Qxb7.

  16. 18...Qc7 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to c7; from there it controls c5, c6 and d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc7 Bxb7 Qxb7 f3.

  17. 19.Nd3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from e1 to d3; from d3 it attacks Black's pawn on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd3.

  18. 19...Bxg2 Exchange on g2

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the bishop on g2; from g2 it attacks White's pawn on h3; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bxg2 Kxg2 a4 f3.

  19. 20.Kxg2 Recapture on g2

    Board fact: White's king recaptures the bishop on g2; from g2 it reinforces the pawn on f2; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kxg2.

  20. 20...a4 Create pressure on b3

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a5 to a4; from a4 it attacks White's pawn on b3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a4 Nb2 d5 cxd5.

  21. 21.Nf4 Create pressure on g6

    Board fact: White moves the knight from d3 to f4; from f4 it attacks Black's pawn on g6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; f3 ranked higher · Nf4 Qb7+ Kg1 Rfb8.

  22. 21...Rfb8 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 b3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rfb8 Rab1.

  23. 22.f3 Advance the f-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Rab1 ranked higher · f3 e5 Nd3 axb3.

  24. 22...axb3 Exchange on b3

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

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; e5 ranked higher · axb3 axb3 Rxa1 Rxa1.

  25. 23.axb3 Recapture on b3

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the pawn on b3; the move changes the central pawn contact; from b3 it reinforces the pawn on c4; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · axb3 e5 Nd5 Nxd5.

  26. 23...Rxa1 Exchange on a1

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the rook on a1; the rook now occupies the open a-file; from a1 it attacks White's rook on d1; black is ahead by 5 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxa1 Rxa1 e5 Nd5.

  27. 24.Rxa1 Recapture on a1

    Board fact: White's rook recaptures the rook on a1; the rook now occupies the open a-file; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxa1.

  28. 24...e5 Create pressure on f4

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5 Nd5 Nxd5 cxd5.

  29. 25.Nd5 Create pressure on c7

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f4 to d5; from d5 it attacks Black's queen on c7 and Black's knight on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd5.

  30. 25...Nxd5 Exchange on d5

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the knight on d5; from d5 it attacks White's queen on e3; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd5 cxd5 Rb6 Qd3.

  31. 26.cxd5 Recapture on d5

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the knight on d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxd5.

  32. 26...Rb4 Rook on the semi-open b-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from b8 to b4; the rook now works on a semi-open b-file; from b4 it attacks White's pawn on b3 and White's pawn on g4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rb4 Ra4 Rb6 Qd3.

  33. 27.Qd3 Create pressure on g6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from e3 to d3; from d3 it attacks Black's pawn on g6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Ra4 ranked higher · Qd3 Qb8.

  34. 27...Qb7 Create pressure on d5

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from c7 to b7; from b7 it attacks White's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qb7 Qa6 Qxd5 Qc8.

  35. 28.Qa6 Create pressure on b7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d3 to a6; from a6 it attacks Black's queen on b7 and Black's pawn on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qa6 Qxd5 Qc8 Qd2.

  36. 28...Qxd5 Exchange on d5

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the pawn on d5; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on b3 and White's pawn on f3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxd5 Qc8 Qd2 Ra8.

  37. 29.Qc8 Create pressure on c5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from a6 to c8; from c8 it attacks Black's pawn on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc8 Qd2 Ra8 Qxe2+.

  38. 29...Qb7 Create pressure on c8

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d5 to b7; from b7 it attacks White's queen on c8 and White's pawn on f3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qd2 ranked higher · Qb7 Qxb7 Rxb7 Ra6.

  39. 30.Qd8 Create pressure on d6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c8 to d8; from d8 it attacks Black's pawn on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd8 Qb8 Qxb8 Rxb8.

  40. 30...Qb8 Create pressure on d8

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from b7 to b8; from b8 it attacks White's queen on d8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qb8 Qxb8 Rxb8 Ra6.

  41. 31.Qd7 Create pressure on d6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d8 to d7; from d7 it attacks Black's pawn on d6 and Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qxb8 ranked higher · Qd7 Rb7 Qc6 Rxb3.

  42. 31...Rb7 Rook on the semi-open b-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from b4 to b7; the rook now works on a semi-open b-file; from b7 it attacks White's queen on d7 and White's pawn on b3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rb7 Qc6 Rxb3 Ra6.

  43. 32.Qc6 Create pressure on b7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d7 to c6; from c6 it attacks Black's rook on b7 and Black's pawn on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc6 Rxb3 Rd1 Rb2.

  44. 32...Rxb3 Exchange on b3

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the pawn on b3; the rook now occupies the open b-file; from b3 it attacks White's pawn on f3; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxb3.

  45. 33.Ra6 Rook on the open a-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to a6; the rook now occupies the open a-file; from there it controls c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ra6 Rb2 Qxd6 Rxe2+.

  46. 33...Rb2 Rook on the open b-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from b3 to b2; the rook now occupies the open b-file; from b2 it attacks White's pawn on e2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rb2 Qxd6 Rxe2+ Kg3.

PGN

[Event "Barcelona"] [Site "?"] [Date "1929.??.??"] [White "Monticelli, Mario"] [Black "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Result "0-1"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 c5 5. dxc5 bxc5 6. c4 g6 7. b3 Bg7 8. Bb2 O-O 9. O-O d6 10. Nc3 Ne4 11. Qc1 Nxc3 12. Bxc3 Bxc3 13. Qxc3 a5 14. Rfd1 Nd7 15. Qe3 Kg7 16. h3 Nf6 17. g4 h6 18. Ne1 Qc7 19. Nd3 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 a4 21. Nf4 Rfb8 22. f3 axb3 23. axb3 Rxa1 24. Rxa1 e5 25. Nd5 Nxd5 26. cxd5 Rb4 27. Qd3 Qb7 28. Qa6 Qxd5 29. Qc8 Qb7 30. Qd8 Qb8 31. Qd7 Rb7 32. Qc6 Rxb3 33. Ra6 Rb2 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 sha256:748d6345d22f953b59ee1ff59159fafb23ca56762fd27d3873e8b083538ae3b9 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Monticelli, Mario"; Black="Capablanca, Jose Raul"; Event="Barcelona"; 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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