Customer Reviews

The Immortal Games of Capablanca (Dover Chess)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

José Raúl Capablanca (1888-1942) is widely regarded as one of the all-time great chess players, and possibly the greatest natural chess genius in history. World champion from 1921-1927, he is the only player to have won the world title by defeating the incumbent in a match without losing a game. Grandmaster Robert Byrne, in his foreword, pointed how Capablanca's games were the greatest influence on the modern great world champion Bobby Fischer, and Anatoly Karpov is another disciple.

Mikhail Botvinnik (three times world champ) also related how much he learned from Capablanca, and pointed out that even his successor Alexander Alekhine received much schooling from him in positional play, before the struggle for the world title made them bitter foes.

Once players have read all the introductory books about endgames, openings, tactics and basic strategy, to improve, they must study master games. Capablanca's crystal clarity of style makes his an ideal object of study.

Reinfeld does a good job here, as he did with his collection of Tarrasch's games. There are plenty of fine endgames, Capa's forté, but lots of brilliancy prize games as well. By the time Capa had won the world title, he had a unique record - winning a brilliancy prize at every master tournament he had played in where one was awarded.

In his biographical sketch of Capa, Reinfeld states his belief in Alekhine's superiory. But Byrne's foreword points out that Alekhine never fulfilled his obligation to play a return match, and selected weaker opponents instead of facing him again. In fact, their first game after their world championship match was nine years later at the great Nottingham 1936 tournament - Capa won both the game and the first prize (with Botvinnik).

The games in this book naturally overlap the ones in Golombek's book, but why not get both at such a bargain price?

I, personally, hate long reviews of books, so I'm going to make this short and sweet! Capablanca was one of the greatest players of all time. Mr. Reinfeld (the author) adds stunning history behind the games and tells the reader what to expect of certain games in the intro of each chapter. The only bad mark that I can give this book is that the annotations seem a little brief at times; however, this book will teach you so much about the game of chess that one bad mark should never prevent a serious player from getting this classic!

No other collection of Capablanca's best games even begins to rival this one. I believe the annotation to be a little lighter at times than it could be, but the work is---nonetheless---excellent. If you have not yet become familiar with the Cuban's best games, buy and read this book!

Capablanca plays enchanting chess. He plays chess like no other else, making the strongest players of his time look like beginners. The simplicity and the economy with how he wins is brought to life by such a good author in Fred Reinfeld.

Simply put, you CANNOT go wrong buying this book! Many of my students find Capa's game to be the BEST for instruction! (Capa is in practically everybody's list of the "Ten Best Players Who Ever Lived!" His games are timeless!)

Positional players will profit from the clarity of the models and the way chess is played in this book. Tactical players will profit from a look at a completely different way of playing chess. (Capa was also an EXCELLENT tactician!) I have recommended this book to dozens of people ... NOT ONE PERSON WHO PLAYED THROUGH MOST OF THE GAMES ... had ANYTHING negative to say about this book! Practically every kind of middle-game position is seen; MANY DIFFERENT openings are played. The notes are VERY clear and insightful. The average player will not feel over-burdened by tons of really unnecessary variations. (The only knock on this book is that it is in descriptive notation.)

Just $6.36 for a book that may influence the style of playing for your whole life! From the view of quality/price, this book ranks the top. If you like positional play, you can find a lot of instructive games. If you are crazy about combinations, there are also tons of sparkling moves! Who said Capablanca is famous for driness?

Fred Reinfeld showed here that he could write good chess books when the subject interested him. The games of Capablanca are of interest to all serious players, and the author does a good job of annotating some of the Cuban genius's very best.

Most of the games of Capablanca show his brillient positional play style. Especialy the end games are superbs. So anyone who wants to understand chess better should examine these games and i can say that best way to understand chess is by means of examining chess endings and best way to do is to examine Capablanca's games...

For people not familiar with Jose Capablanca, he is generally considered to have been more talented than Bobby Fischer, but didn't posses Bobby's CRAZY work ethic.
Many people do not realize to what extremes bobby pushed himself to be the best.. he had NO contact with the opposite sex, no social life really, all he did was study the game.. Capablanca is referred by fischer himself as the glamour boy of the game.. He Socialized with kings and Queens. He had a small part in one of the first ever black and white films. And generally loved and respected around the world. Which for a chess player is incredible! Capablanca never studied, so his games usually have simple, or safe openings. But like Fischer says. "Capablanca played brilliantly in the middlegame".

The sophistication of his games are not quite appreciated by the beginner. When Capablanca saw, or got an advantage he would just sqeeze it to the very end. Some players do not realize that when you complicate things you can accidentaly give your opponent a way back into the game. As an example just think of GMs going against computers. There is no way they will complicate things because they know they will loose!

Each of his games are a GREAT lesson to anyone who wants to get better. Even his games as a 12 year old phenom going against the Cuban champion are VERY good so donot pass them up!

About the book. Reinfeld doesn't seem to be too fond of Capa. I know he idalized the less perfect play of Alekhine (he was more exciting, and more beatable)

The reason being that he seems to make up excuses for many his opponents. Some being incredibly ridiculous.. My favorite being an excuse he gives alekhine "He got a bad case of capa fright!" ooohhh scarry... O.K Alekhine was going against the "Babe Ruth" of chess. But what kind of man makes up excuses like that in this game? You need Ice in your veins to be succesful (Which I am sure Alekhine being one of the greats had!)

Another thing. He over criticisez his opponents mistakes. I think Lasker once said. "without mistakes we have drawn games". Reinfeld was a solid player in his day, and he should know better! He says little ridiculous stuff like that, and really its not all that bad. Its just stuff thats not necessary! He highlights that dum stuff in some games, and when he reaches some of the greatest games of all time... He doesnt do them any justice whatsoever!!! NONE.

That is why its only 3 stars.

That and the book is not in algebraic, like Irving Chernevs Capa book.
And the other more expensive one that I cannot seem to remember its name.

This book is still worth checking out.

Very nice book on Capablanca . Fred's reviews are quite enjoyable . Play through Capablanca's games and increase your chess level and way of thinking about chess . For the price , this book is a bargain . Buy this book please !