A Window to the Smart Techniques of the Chess Maestros
José Raúl Capablanca, the child prodigy of the early twentieth century, is considered one of the greatest talents of the chess world.
The master player from Cuba stirred up as much admiration in chess players of successive generations as envy in his competitors. He ruled the world of chess unparalleled with his fantastic technique and inimitable talent. Capablanca stands out with his style that is easy and extremely flexible, something that grandmasters like Bobby Fischer studied in detail with verve.
The Chess Prodigy from Cuba
The third Official World Champion from Cuba, Capablanca was a child prodigy who began his rendezvous with chess at the age of 4. When he was 13, he defeated the Cuban chess champion and later, at the age of 18, defeated the US Champion Frank Marshall.
He became the World Chess Champion in 1921, overthrowing the famous Emanuel Lasker and retaining the title for another 6 years. A great feat of Jose Capablanca was playing simultaneously against 103 players in 1922. He won all the 102 games, drawing only 1!
Capablanca handed over his shield to the Russian prodigy Alexander Alekhine as the latter conquered the world of chess in 1927. Though Capablanca continued with tournaments, he couldn’t retrieve his essential vitality in the games. The grandmaster retired in 1931.
Jose Capablanca’s effortless game play
Capablanca had a style that looked too easy and simple. He preferred simplifying positions and would keep the exchange of pieces to the end when both sides were left with a few. The game that seems to end in a draw would eventually be won by the grandmaster!
With a very precise play Capablanca rarely lost his games and in a period of a decade was defeated only in two. In 1916, in an astounding performance in a New York tournament against thirteen leading players, Jose Capablanca won his first twelve games, that too in a row!
The great grandmaster, popularly known as the chess machine in his times, wielded a superb end game play.
When compared to his successor-geniuses, Capablanca was not a deep strategist. Instead of detailed planning, his moves were amazingly flexible, rearranging and re-adjusting to plans quite spontaneously. Though his style would give an impression that he played move-by-move, it wasn’t completely devoid of plans but leaned more towards a willingness to adapt to new frontiers and exploring them.
His flexible way of moving in response to the opponents’ game play is very much similar to today’s popular computer chess. It is amusing to note that though his contemporaries called him the chess machine owing to his smooth and perfect style, the nickname prophetically fits him to a tee in today’s machine world.
Capablanca's simple and seemingly easy opening play and style for riskless positional play was often considered boring and less challenging. But his tactful moves were clever in such a way to tease amateurs. Often his opponents would underestimate his moves and jump in only to succumb to fatal injuries! Like Alekhine, Capablanca perfected the art of attack, innovating spontaneously. Alekhine also trained in positional play thanks to Capablanca. Both great grandmasters’ remain inimitable in their perfection and the calculated attack on the castled king.
Jose Capablanca’s contributions to chess
Capablanca invented a new chess variant that was played on a 10x10 or 10x8 board. It was he who introduced two new pieces – the chancellor (that had a combination of the moves of a knight and a rook) and the archbishop (with the moves of a bishop and knight).
Jose Capablanca’s style inspired and influenced his successors like Bobby Fischer, Michael Botvinnik and Anatoly Karpov. Capablanca also contributed to chess literature through his works A Primer of Chess, My Chess Career and Chess Fundamentals.
Conclusion
As a beginner in chess, it is important to observe the patterns of the great exponents of the sport and learn from them as much as cultivating one’s individual style. The techniques of early veterans help you to explore the wider realms of the game and build confidence as you begin your little footsteps in the world of chess.
At MindMentorz, we train each student to tap into their innate potential while simultaneously keeping their eyes open to some of the master techniques of the game. We believe that learning in chess, like any other skill, is a balanced combination of both individual talent and an attitude to explore.
If you would like your child to be trained in the principles of chess with a strong foundation and help develop their mental, emotional and intellectual skills, please feel free to call us at 63664 48646
We are a crew of passionate chess players who love to nurture young talents and chisel the little minds towards utilizing their innate and full potential.