Let Him Eat the Pawns: Capablanca at San Sebastian

Good day, chess world!

This is game 11 of Capablanca's My Chess Career, from San Sebastian 1911.

Capablanca's participation was controversial as several masters said he was not good enough to be invited. He answered that in the best way available. He beat one of his major critics in a brilliancy prize winning games.
The lesson here is one of the simplest and most useful in chess: play where you stand better and do not get dragged into playing where you do not. Bernstein spends moves 22 and 23 eating pawns on a2 and c2 with his queen. Capablanca does not chase the queen and does not defend the pawns. Instead he uses the tempi gained grow his strengths on the kingside. He keeps piling pieces at the kingside where he has a majority of pieces and then lands the decisive blow.

If you are enjoying my posts take a look at the lesson link on my website and consider signing up for the free daily lessons with the links below.
Join the the Capablanca series for the daily lessons with the link below.

Four exercises from the game

Try to solve each before you watch. Capablanca is White here and he wins, so every exercise asks for White's move. The first one is the hardest to play in a real game, because at that moment the engine says you are slightly worse. The answers are in the full game at the bottom, in the video, and in the website lesson linked below.

Exercise 1. White to play (move 25). Bernstein's queen has taken on a2 and c2 and sits on b2. You are two pawns down and the engine rates this a shade in his favour. Do not go after the queen. Which knight move keeps building where you are strong?

Exercise 2. White to play (move 27). The black queen has come back to e5 to defend. This is the moment the game turns. Which pawn move drives her away and opens the attack?

Exercise 3. White to play (move 28). Both knights are poised and the black king sits on h7 behind a pawn on g7. Which capture rips that shelter away?

Exercise 4. White to play (move 31). Black has blocked with f6 and his king is on h7. Which capture breaks through and forces the finish?

Play through the full game with my notes here:

Questions, or a move you would have played differently? Tell me in the comments. Good day, chess world.

If you want more of my teaching join the Capablanca series links below.

Watch the video and go deeper

Youtube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YYMYDoxfiw

The full chess lesson on my website. https://chessexcellence.com/f/play-where-you-stand-better-capablanca-vs-bernstein.html

Join the free daily Capablanca strategy course: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfVtlFBDTaYahWI-VcpZOUIGn7ly5R4mYnjoEgg2OOgHn1tzQ/viewform

Join the free logical chess course: https://forms.gle/nEt1DWY5pKGq7T3n6

The full list of lessons : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPOO5Irce4Zw