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Classic game replay

Murray Smith vs Jose Raul Capablanca, 1911

This replay preserves the complete 50-ply score of Capablanca playing Black across 25 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
Murray Smith
Black
Jose Raul Capablanca
Event
New York
Year
1911
Result
0-1
Opening
B18 Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation

Opening reference: Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation (B18).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 30 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 13 captures and 2 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 37 legal choices. The source score ends after 25...Qb6 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. 10...Nxe5 — Exchange on e510...Nxe5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 12...Nc5 — Create pressure on b312...Nc5 remained close to the leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 17...Bd6 — Develop the bishop17...Bd6 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 22...Rxd1+ — Capture with check on d122...Rxd1+ 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.

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Murray Smith vs Jose Raul Capablanca, 1911

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.e4 to 10...Nxe5

  1. 1.e4 Claim central space

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6.

  2. 1...c6 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c7 to c6; from there it controls d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c6 d4 d5 e5.

  3. 2.d4 Claim central space

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d2 to d4; from there it controls e5 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d4 d5 e5 Bf5.

  4. 2...d5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d7 to d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d5 Nc3 dxe4 Nxe4.

  5. 3.Nc3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to c3; from c3 it attacks Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nc3 dxe4 Nxe4 Nf6.

  6. 3...dxe4 Exchange on e4

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on e4; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the e-file; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxe4 Nxe4 Nf6 Nxf6+.

  7. 4.Nxe4 Recapture on e4

    Board fact: White's knight recaptures the pawn on e4; from e4 it reinforces the pawn on f2; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxe4 Nf6 Nxf6+ exf6.

  8. 4...Bf5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to f5; from f5 it attacks White's knight on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bf5 Nc5 e6 Nxb7.

  9. 5.Ng3 Create pressure on f5

    Board fact: White moves the knight from e4 to g3; from g3 it attacks Black's bishop on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ng3 Bg6.

  10. 5...Bg6 Create pressure on c2

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from f5 to g6; from g6 it attacks White's pawn on c2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg6 N1e2 Nd7 Nf4.

  11. 6.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 Nd7.

  12. 6...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 h4.

  13. 7.Be2 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to e2; from there it controls c4, d3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Be2.

  14. 7...Nbd7 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 · Nbd7 O-O Qc7.

  15. 8.c3 Advance the c-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c3 e6 Nh4 Bd6.

  16. 8...Qc7 Create pressure on g3

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc7 Nh4 e6 Bf3.

  17. 9.Qb3 Create pressure on b7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to b3; from b3 it attacks Black's pawn on b7 and Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qb3 a5.

  18. 9...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 Nh4 Bd6 O-O.

  19. 10.Ne5 Create pressure on d7

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f3 to e5; from e5 it attacks Black's knight on d7 and Black's bishop on g6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nh4 ranked higher · Ne5 Nxe5 dxe5 Nd7.

  20. 10...Nxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the knight on e5; from e5 it reinforces the bishop on g6; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxe5 dxe5.

Middlegame · 11.dxe5 to 25...Qb6

  1. 11.dxe5 Recapture on e5

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the knight on e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from e5 it attacks Black's knight on f6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxe5 Nd7.

  2. 11...Nd7 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to d7; from d7 it attacks White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd7 h4 h5 Bg5.

  3. 12.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 h5.

  4. 12...Nc5 Create pressure on b3

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d7 to c5; from c5 it attacks White's queen on b3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nc5 Qc4.

  5. 13.Qd1 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from b3 to d1; from there it controls d4, d5 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd1 Rd8.

  6. 13...Rd8 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to d8; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d8 it attacks White's queen on d1.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rd8 Qc1 h5 h4.

  7. 14.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 h5 h4 Be7.

  8. 14...Nd7 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c5 to d7; from d7 it attacks White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; h5 ranked higher · Nd7 O-O.

  9. 15.b4 Advance the b-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from b2 to b4; from there it controls c5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; h4 ranked higher · b4 Nxe5.

  10. 15...a5 Create pressure on b4

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a7 to a5; from a5 it attacks White's pawn on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · a5 h4.

  11. 16.a3 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from a2 to a3; from a3 it reinforces the pawn on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; h4 ranked higher · a3 Nxe5 O-O Bd6.

  12. 16...Nxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the pawn on e5; from e5 it reinforces the bishop on g6; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxe5 Qe3.

  13. 17.Qe3 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c1 to e3; from e3 it attacks Black's knight on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe3 Bd6 Bg5 f6.

  14. 17...Bd6 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to d6; from d6 it attacks White's pawn on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd6 Bg5.

  15. 18.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: Near the leading choice · O-O Nf3+ Qxf3 Bxf4.

  16. 18...Nf3+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from e5 to f3; the move checks White's king; from f3 it attacks White's pawn on h2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf3+ Qxf3 Bxf4 bxa5.

  17. 19.Qxf3 Answering the check

    Board fact: White's queen takes the knight on f3; from f3 it attacks Black's pawn on c6; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxf3 Bxf4.

  18. 19...Bxf4 Exchange on f4

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the bishop on f4; from f4 it attacks White's knight on g3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf4 bxa5 Ra8 a6.

  19. 20.bxa5 Exchange on a5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on a5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the a-file; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · bxa5 Ra8 a6 bxa6.

  20. 20...Bxg3 Exchange on g3

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on g3; from g3 it attacks White's pawn on f2 and White's pawn on h2; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; h5 ranked higher · Bxg3 hxg3.

  21. 21.hxg3 Recapture on g3

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the bishop on g3; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the g-file; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · hxg3 Qxa5 Qf4 O-O.

  22. 21...Qxa5 Exchange on a5

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the pawn on a5; from a5 it attacks White's pawn on a3 and White's pawn on c3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxa5 Qf4 O-O Qb4.

  23. 22.Rfd1 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to d1; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d1 it attacks Black's rook on d8.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qf4 ranked higher · Rfd1 Rxd1+ Rxd1 Qxa3.

  24. 22...Rxd1+ Capture with check on d1

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the rook on d1; the move checks White's king; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d1 it attacks White's rook on a1; black is ahead by 6 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxd1+ Rxd1 Qxa3 Qe3.

  25. 23.Bxd1 Recapture on d1

    Board fact: White's bishop recaptures the rook on d1; from d1 it reinforces the queen on f3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd1 O-O.

  26. 23...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 a4 h6 Qe3.

  27. 24.Ra2 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to a2; from a2 it reinforces the pawn on a3.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Be2 ranked higher · Ra2 Rd8.

  28. 24...Rd8 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to d8; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d8 it attacks White's bishop on d1.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd8 Rb2 b5 Rb3.

  29. 25.Be2 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from d1 to e2; from there it controls c4, d3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be2 Qb6.

  30. 25...Qb6 Create pressure on f2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from a5 to b6; from b6 it attacks White's pawn on f2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qb6 Ra1 Qb2 Rd1.

PGN

[Event "New York"] [Site "?"] [Date "1911.??.??"] [White "Smith, Murray"] [Black "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. c3 Qc7 9. Qb3 e6 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Nd7 12. Bf4 Nc5 13. Qd1 Rd8 14. Qc1 Nd7 15. b4 a5 16. a3 Nxe5 17. Qe3 Bd6 18. O-O Nf3+ 19. Qxf3 Bxf4 20. bxa5 Bxg3 21. hxg3 Qxa5 22. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 O-O 24. Ra2 Rd8 25. Be2 Qb6 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 sha256:4e450e3000bdaaa61279452cc5c9a9c37b2c980153fc3cb0c857b40c01f80cb3 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Smith, Murray"; Black="Capablanca, Jose Raul"; Event="New York"; Date="1911.??.??"; 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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