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Chess Mon, Jun 12, 1972 – 17 · The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.com
“Wonder child” was the description used of José Raoul Capablanca when he won the championship of his native Cuba in 1901 at the ripe age of 12. Capablanca was not the first nor the last child prodigy; Morphy at the same age had already beaten the master player Loewenthal, while later Reshevsky was to astonish European amateurs with his simultaneous performances when only 8 years old.
The difference about Capablanca was that from his earliest years he showed the sureness of touch and freedom from error which was his latest hallmark as world champion. He studied the game less than any world champion before or since and in this context his career total of only 35 recorded defeats is remarkable. Wade and O'Connell's new book, The Games of Robert J. Fischer, tots up 78 losses for Bobby, but most of these occur in the early years while Fischer was still learning tournament techniques, and Fischer's overall percentage since 1962 is higher than Capa's in his peak period.
Capablanca used to say that until he became world champion he never read a chess book. While this is an index of his great talent, it also explains why he lost the title to the more dedicated Alekhine and why Fischer has surpassed him in the all-time chess ratings. During the London tournament of 1922, Capablanca and Alekhine were taken to a variety show by a patron who later recalled Capablanca never took his eyes off the chorus while Alekhine never looked up from his pocket chess set.
The mixture of natural gifts and Southern laziness in Capablanca party accounts for his preference for simple positions and endgames, where his reputation was greatest. Interestingly, Fischer challenges this widely accepted view of Capablanca as an outstanding endgame player in an article in the magazine Chessworld in 1965 he called it “totally undeserved … Capablanca was among the greatest of chess players but not because of his endgame. His trick was to keep his openings simple, and then play with such brilliance in the middle game that the game was decided—even though his opponent didn't always know it—before he arrived at the ending”
This week's game, taken from the 1901 Cuban championship match when Capablanca was 12 was the most famous of his boyhood. He played the 13-game match at an average speed of 92 moves an hour.
Juan Corzo vs Jose Raul Capablanca
Capablanca - Corzo (1901), Habana CUB, rd 8, Dec-06
Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit. Hamppe-Allgaier-Thorold Gambit (C25) 0-1
(a) Such romantic openings have virtually disappeared from modern chess. Improved defensive technique means that speculative attacks have practical chances of success only if the opponent is completely surprised and fails to return the sacrificed material for positional advantage.
(b) Simplifying combinations were one of Capablanca's specialties. If 13. QxQ BxQ ch and mate follows.
(c) It seems that White is getting some play with his bishops, but now comes a fine finish.
(d) After 27. K-Q1 NxB Black has a material advantage in addition to his winning attack.
