Capablanca vs. Kevitz, 1924

Here we see a Manhattan Chess Club Champion trouncing a World Champion who has a career tournament loss record of only 35 games.

White: Jose Raoul Capablanca
Black: Alexander Kevitz
Simultaneous Exibition, Brooklyn, 1924
Polish Opening

1.b4 d5 2.Bb2 Bf5

Black releases the Bishop first before closing the diagonal with …e6. Post your pieces in active positions.

3.e3 e6 4.f4

White now has to be on guard against the check …Qh4+. Capa is trying to strengthen his control of the dark squares (a1-a8 diagonal, e5, d4).

5.Nf6 Nf3

A deliberate invitation to take the b-pawn. White hopes to use the half-open b-file later. Surely, Capa must have been relying on his superior technique and experience to make the gambit pay off later.

6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.Ne2

It may have been better to develop the Bishop 7.Be2 then castle 8.O-O. Don’t move a piece twice in the opening unless there is a good reason to do so. Develop first.

7…Ng4 8.c3

White now has a weak d3.

8…Be7 9.h3

Now, the dark square g3 is weakened as well. OK. 1)Black has a check at h4. 2) The Knight’s attack on e3 is our red flag. 3. There is a threat to occupy the “hole” at d3, or exploit the one at g3. Consider the undefended Bishop on b2. On the other hand, Black’s Knight is attacked. What do you do?

9…Nc5!

Indirect defense! The Knight attacks the hole at d3, on which he can mate 10…Nd3++!.

10.Ng3

If 10.Nc1, there is no way to plug the other gap at g3.

10…Bh4
To answer 11.hxg4 with 11.Bxg3+ 12.Ke2 Bd3 mate!

11.Nxh4 Qxh4 12.Qf3
Our tactical red flags: 1)White’s attack on the Knight, 2)Black’s attack and pin on the g3 Knight, 3) the Knight’s attack on e3, 4)the threats to occupy the weaknesses at d3 and e4, 5) the undefended Bishop on b2. Put them all together and they spell…

12…Nxe3!

Examine ALL possible captures, no matter how silly-looking.

13.Qf2?

Better was to accept 13.Qxe3 or 13.dxe3 Ne4 regaining the piece with two pawns up.

13…Nxf1 0-1

Doom will come to White on d3.