Capablanca in Belfast, December 1919

Jose Raoul Capablanca visited Belfast in December 1919 as part of a major tour giving simultaneous displays. During his stay in Belfast, Capablanca not only gave a simultaneous exhibition against 39 opponents on Wednesday 10th December, but also lectured to the local chess-players the following evening. The arrangements for the visit had been undertaken by a committee representing the local clubs, consisting of Harold Thomas (Belfast), W. Leslie (Strandtown), James Bennett (C.I.Y.M.S.) and D. Tedford (Victoria).

The chess column in the Belfast News-Letter for the 11th December gave the following account of the simultaneous exhibition:

Under the auspices of the Belfast chess clubs, Senor Jose R. Capablanca, the famous chess master, gave an exhibition of simultaneous chess last night in Clarence Place Hall, which attracted a large gathering of the chess enthusiasts of Belfast and district. Mr. James Bennett opened the proceedings by calling the players to their allotted places, and 39 in all took their seats to await the arrival of their distinguished opponent. Senor Capablanca's entrance into the hall shortly before seven o'clock was greeted with a round of applause. Mr. W. Leslie, who acted as secretary of the Arrangements Committee, then announced the rules govern8ing the proceedings and expressed the hope, which unfortunately was not fulfilled, that the Belfast players would give a good account of themselves. `The youthful Cuban wizard - who is but a boy in appearance with a very pleasing expression - then took up his position inside the square of chess tables, and, taking the white in every case, made his first move at all the boards. Whenever his opponent replied promptly, Senor Capablanca responded without hesitation, and took the opening as far as the defence was willing to go. At the second board there was a lightning exchange of half a dozen moves before Mr. O'Hanlon (the Irish chess champion) allowed the chess master to pass on. Throughout the four hours or so that play lasted there was seldom much hesitation on the part of the single player, and for the first hour he played the thirty-nine boards regularly once in five minutes and made on the average about ten moves per minute. Several of the local players secured an advantage early in the game, but as the weaker players began to be weeded out Senor Capablanca was able to devote greater time to his more difficult problems. In the end the rapidity of play proved too much for the local players, and all save one were compelled to resign. The exception was Mr. A. Orr, to whom a draw was conceded. At the conclusion of proceedings Senor Capablanca left with Mr. H. L. McCready, M. A., president of the C.I.Y.M.S. Chess Club, whose guest he is for the night.

J. R. Capablanca- A. Orr: Simultanous exhibition Belfast 10th December 1919
[Notes from the Belfast News-Letter for 8th January 1920]
Play through the game in our viewer

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Nf3 Nc6 
Either Bg4 or Bb4 is more usual.
6.Bb5 Nxc3
The exchange of Knights is rather doubtful.
7.bxc3 Be7 8.d4 0-0 9.0-0 f6 10.exf6 Bxf6 11.Bf4 Bf5 12.Qd2
And yet White seems to have got nothing out of the opening. The Black Bishop which now becomes established at e4 proves useful.
12...Be4 13.Rae1 Qd7 14.Ne5 Bxe5 15.Bxe5 Rxf1+ 16.Rxf1 Qe7 17.Bxc6
Nxe5 was threatened with the loss of a pawn for White. The game is now perfectly equal.
17...bxc6 18.c4 c5 19.cxd5 Bxd5 20.Qa5
A move that looks bad, and is worse than it looks. There is no recovery from Black's immediate threat of mate. 20.c3 was good enough.
20...Qg5 21.Bg3 Qe3+ 22.Kh1 Qe2 23.Rg1

Diagram after White's 23rd move

23...Bxg2+
As was pointed out when the game was finished 23...Rf8 would have won, as if 24.Qe1 24...Bxg2+ 25.Rxg2 Rf1+ etc.; and if 24.h3 Rf1 wins.
24.Rxg2 Qf1+ drawing by perpetual check.

Here is the full list of players who opposed Capablanca, with in most cases the openings played.

1	S. Robinson		Ruy Lopez
2	J. J. O'Hanlon		Queen's Gambit Declined
3	H. Thomas		Philidor's Defence
4	R. M. Steele		 
5	H. Levy 		Queen's Pawn
6	A. Orr			Vienna
7	H. P. Pinkerton 	Sicilian Defence
8	Professor Williams	 
9	A. Shaw			Queen's Pawn
10	G. Simpson		 
11	J. M. Haig		Center Counter
12	W. R. Foster		Four Knights
13	W. Y. Chamberlain	French Defence
14	J. W. Carey		Queen's Pawn
15	H. Dickson		King's Gambit
16	W. H. F. Patterson	Danish Gambit
17	R. Kirk			 
18	S. H. McQuitty		Vienna
19	J. Martin		 
20	Joseph Montgomery	King's Gambit Declined
21	A. MacDonald		Center Counter
22	A. S. Roper		Queen's Pawn
23	Rev. J. K. L. McKean	Ruy Lopez
24	J. McMeekin		Queen's Pawn
25	James M. Burns		Irregular
26	T. E. Morton		Queen's Pawn
27	W. H. Williamson	Irregular
28	F. H. Purdy		Queen's Pawn
29	Dr. G. Clarke		Ruy Lopez
30	D. Tedford		French Defence
31	H. R. Rogers		Ruy Lopez
32	W. J. Allen		QP Tchigorin Defence
33	Capt. Monard		Ruy Lopez
34	T. L. Moodie		Queen's Pawn
35	W. McCaughan		Queen's Pawn
36	B. Allen		French Defence
37	F. Sloss, LL.B. 	Ruy Lopez
38	A. H. Summers		King's Knight
39	James Bennett		 

The Northern Whig for the 12th December gave an account of Capablanca's chess lecture:

Senor Capablanca, the Cuban chess master, concluded his arrangements in Belfast last evening, when he delivered a lecture in the Hewitt Memorial Hall, Donegall Square East, on the general principles of chess. Professor Williams occupied the chair, and there was again a good attendance of those interested in the game.

In introducing the lecturer, the chairman said the chess players in Belfast were under a debt of gratitude to those whose enterprise had brought about that visit, and they congratulated themselves on the fact that Senor Capablanca had been able to accept their invitation in spite of the many claims on his time. They had a good example of his genius the previous night, when he defeated many of their best players, but notwithstanding that he assured the lecturer that he had a friendly and sympathetic audience.

Senor Capablanca, who was received with hearty applause, began by explaining the proper way to study the game and improve one's play. There was little use in memorising openings. They should study the reasons for the moves, but that was difficult for a beginner. He advised the beginners to study the best and quickest way of p[laying simple end games, as in this way they would learn the powers of the pieces and how to use them to the best advantage. This would be useful to them throughout the game. Then they should study how to develop the pieces at the beginning in the fewest possible moves. Eight or nine, or at most eleven, moves should be sufficient for complete development. In practice they should examine their lost games and find out the reason for their defeat, and so turn them into useful lessons. Let them make the most attacking moves, and not simply wait for the other fellow to make a mistake. Waiting was very bad policy. In the middle game the one thing of importance was the co-ordination of pieces, to use the whole forces together, and not attack with one piece here and another there. There should be no lone pieces. Such positions were generally bad. As to end games, the main point was the saving or gaining of time. The best players were all strong in the endings. The lecturer instanced Lasker, Rubinstein, and the late Herr Schlechter as almost perfect end game players, while the young Russian Alechine, though strong in the opening and very good in the middle game, was - in comparison with those others - weak in the ending. He advised players to try to be equally good in all three parts, or their opponents would find out their weakness and play accordingly. By means of a large demonstration board the lecturer illustrated the various points by examples from master play in a way that was exceedingly interesting and entirely convincing. The lecturer concluded with a very pretty instance of the importance of the "opposition" in a pawn ending, showing how to retain the "opposition", which in the particular example, as well as in many others, meant winning the game.

On the motion of Mr. Harold Thomas, seconded by Mr. W. Steen, B.L., a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer. In acknowledging the compliment, Senor Capablanca advocated the study of chess as a help to train the mind, a s a means of social enjoyment, and as a bond between all classes. Wherever they went chess was played, and the stranger who played the game would receive a cordial welcome. He expressed the hope that his visit would be the means of stirring up fresh interest iin chess in Belfast.