When Capablanca refuted Marshall’s countergambit in the same game: Capablanca-Marshall, 1918

The match took place at the Manhattan Chess Club in New York on October 23, 1918. Frank Marshall, one of the leading American Grandmasters, had been preparing a special surprise against José Raúl Capablanca, the Cuban prodigy who was already renowned for his almost flawless endgame technique and solid positional understanding. Marshall had kept the novelty in the Ruy Lopez, now known as the Marshall Attack, in reserve for years, hoping to catch Capablanca off-guard.

Marshall’s plan involved a pawn sacrifice with 8…d5, aimed at generating active piece play and a kingside assault. However, Capablanca’s calm calculation and exceptional defensive skills allowed him not only to neutralize the attack but also to seize the initiative and eventually win convincingly.

This game is historically significant because it marked Capablanca’s ability to refute one of the most feared prepared lines of the time, establishing his reputation as a master of precise defensive play and counterattack.

White: José Raúl Capablanca (Cuba, 1888–1942). Known as the “Human Chess Machine,” Capablanca was celebrated for his intuitive positional understanding, endgame mastery, and minimalistic, efficient style.

Black: Frank James Marshall (USA, 1877–1944). Famous for his tactical brilliance and aggressive style, Marshall was the U.S. Champion for many years and had a penchant for dangerous gambits.