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(1) R. Lopez Martinez – J. Capablanca [C64]
Buenos Aires, 1911
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.c3 Qf6!?

The strongest players are still trying to find the best defense to the Ruy Lopez. Let us not concern ourself with this rarified level as it is not every day that we will have to face Leko or Kasparov. Instead, I want to suggest an interesting line of play that isn't easy to meet and gives Black active counterchances. Furthermore, as you'll see, it has been extensively used by grandmasters, some of whom are very old indeed.

I was talking to Capa just the other day. After congratulating him on his 157th birthday, I asked him to explain the thinking behind 4...Qf6. “Well, you know” he drawled. “Get the Queen out and go for the goodies on the kingside. Chess is a very simple game Andrew.”

I couldn't agree more.

5.0–0

Time to rewind 97 years now and see how Lopez Martinez deals with the early Queen excursion. Energetic play will be needed to expose the defects of this sortie. Oh, and thinking for oneself at move five. Not everyone is geared up for that.

5...Nge7

The Knight might be heading to g6 and maybe even to f4.

6.d3

Too much respect. White has to sac a pawn somewhere with d4; we'll see that later.

6...h6

It is necessary to prevent Bg5.

7.Be3 d6 8.Nbd2 0–0 9.Re1 g5!

Black has been allowed to develop in peace and now he starts the charge. it could be a club game between you and me. Hopefully, I will be playing Black!

10.Nf1 Bg4

Preparing for Winter-Capablanca 1919, a game everyone knows. If you are feeling left out at this point, your knowledge of the classics is deficient.

11.Ng3 Ng6 12.b4 Bb6 13.Bxb6 axb6 14.h3 Bxf3 15.gxf3 Nf4

A dream position for Black from this line. His Queen stands on just the right square, teaming up with the Knight magnificently. Of course White is pussyfooting around, but this is simply what a lot of players will do.

16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Kh2 Ra3 18.Qd2 Rfa8

Very good indeed. Black controls the whole board.

19.Nf5 c5 20.bxc5

20.b5 d5 21.h4?! d4 22.hxg5 hxg5 23.cxd4 Qh8+ wins for Black.

20...dxc5