Jose Raul Capablanca

Biography (1888–1942)

José Raúl Capablanca y Graupera (1888 –1942).A Cuban chess Prodigy, he beat in matches a Cuban chess champion in age 12 and in 21 – US champion and World chess title challenger F. Marshall. Entering the Europe in 1911 Capablanca showed outstanding chess results and challenged World chess champion E. Lasker, who was ready to resign without a match, but later agreed to play. In 1921 in Habana Capablanca beat Lasker without losses (+4, –0 =10). In subsequent years, Capablanca showed outstanding results, he did not lose a single serious game since 1916 to 1924 (and in total as an adult, he lost only 34 serious games), and they had called him a chess genius and a chess machine (that is, playing without errors). Nevertheless, in 1927, Capablanca lost his title to another chess genius – A. Alekhine, and the match between them to the disappointment of the fans did not take place. Despite these excellent results in late 1920s–1930s, Capablanca's play showed signs of decline, though at the Moscow International Tournament 1936 he was the first, and at the Chess Olympics in 1939 he showed the best result on 1 board.

Want chess advice?

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You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win. You will have to lose hundreds of games before becoming a good player

In order to improve your game, you must study the endgame before anything else; for, whereas the endings can be studied and mastered by themselves, the middlegame and the opening must be studied in relation to the endgame

People who want to improve should take their defeats as lessons, and endeavor to learn what to avoid in the future

You must have the courage of your convictions. If you think your move is good, make it

On Capablanca

Capablanca's play produced and still produces an irresistable artistic effect. In his games a tendency towards simplicity predominated, and in this simplicity there was a unique beauty of genuine depth

Without technique it is impossible to reach the top in chess, and therefore we all try to borrow from Capablanca his wonderful, subtle technique

The ideal in chess can only be a collective image, but in my opinion it is Capablanca who most closely approaches this

Capablanca really was fantastic… Everyone I’ve spoken to who saw Capablanca play still speak of him with awe