Capablanca's Freeing Maneuver
The Orthodox variation with ...Nbd7 and ...c6: after White has lost a tempo with Rc1 and Bd3, Black captures on c4 and with ...Nd5 exchanges pieces to push ...e5.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.Rc1 c6 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 Nd5 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.O-O Nxc3 12.Rxc3 e5
Move by move
- 1.d4 – White takes the center with the queen's pawn and opens the diagonal for the c1 Bishop. It usually continues with c4 to attack the d5 pawn.
- 1...d5 – Black contests the center with a pawn and prevents e4. This is the basis of the Queen's Gambit Declined: d5 will be defended at all costs.
- 2.c4 – The Queen's Gambit: White attacks d5 with the c-pawn to draw it away from the center. If we took it, White would regain the pawn with e3 and Bxc4.
- 2...e6 – Black declines the gambit and supports d5 with the e-pawn: a rock-solid structure. The price is the c8 Bishop shut in behind e6, the problem to be solved throughout the course.
- 3.Nc3 – The Knight attacks d5 a second time and controls e4. Black must add a defender to the central pawn.
- 3...Nf6 – The Knight defends d5 a second time, controls e4 and prepares short castling. It is Black's most natural development.
- 4.Bg5 – The Bishop pins the f6 Knight to the Queen and reduces its control of d5 and e4. Black must break the pin.
- 4...Be7 – Black breaks the pin in the simplest way and prepares castling. Now an exchange on f6 is recaptured with the Bishop.
- 5.e3 – White opens the f1 Bishop's diagonal and consolidates d4. Its position is solid, but the g5 Bishop has no target yet.
- 5...O-O – The King is safe and the f8 Rook connects. Black can now think about how to free the c8 Bishop.
- 6.Nf3 – White develops the Knight toward the center, controls e5 and prepares Rc1 or Bd3.
- 6...Nbd7 – Classical development of the Orthodox: the Knight supports the ...c5 and ...e5 pushes and leaves the c-pawn free.
- 7.Rc1 – The Rook takes position on the c-file, which could open. White waits for Black to take on c4.
- 7...c6 – Black reinforces d5 and prepares ...dxc4 followed by ...Nd5. This is the start of Capablanca's maneuver.
- 8.Bd3 – The Bishop goes to d3 and aims at the kingside. Now, however, Black can take on c4 and force it to move again.
- 8...dxc4 – Black captures at the right moment: the Bishop has already moved and must recapture, losing a tempo.
- 9.Bxc4 – The Bishop recaptures on c4. Black has gained a tempo and can now start Capablanca's maneuver.
- 9...Nd5 – The Knight goes to d5 and offers an exchange of Bishops and Knights: it is the key to Capablanca's freeing maneuver.
- 10.Bxe7 – White exchanges the dark-squared Bishops. Black recaptures with the Queen, which stays well placed.
- 10...Qxe7 – The Queen recaptures and stays well placed, ready to support ...e5.
- 11.O-O – White castles and puts the King safe. Black can continue with the exchange of Knights.
- 11...Nxc3 – Another exchange eases the position: Black now has enough space for the remaining pieces.
- 12.Rxc3 – The Rook recaptures on c3 and stays on the c-file. White has left Black the freeing push.
- 12...e5 – The freeing push: now the c8 Bishop also enters the game and Black has equalized.
How to exploit the position
Black has completed the liberation: the c8 Bishop is free and the position is equal.
- If White plays dxe5, recapture with ...Nxe5 and exchange the Knights: a very simple position remains.
- With ...exd4 followed by ...Nb6 or ...Nf6 the remaining isolated d4 pawn becomes the target.
- Develop the c8 Bishop to g4 or f5 and connect the Rooks.
- Beware of the c4 Bishop's pressure on f7: ...Nb6 chases it away with tempo.
Master tips
The ...e5 push
In this structure the freeing move is ...e5: it opens the c8 Bishop's diagonal and exchanges the d4 pawn.