Answers.Body: <p>Stockfish says Black is crushed after <code>49. ... Nbc8</code> even though this is black's best move.  White is up by 17 points.</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN "kq3r2/p1r1n2p/Pn1QPp1P/1P2pP1B/2p1P3/2P1B1R1/8/2KR4 b - - 2 49 "]
  [StartFlipped "0"]
  
  1...Nbc8 2. Qb4 Rh8 3. Rg7 Nc6 4. bxc6 Qxb4 5. cxb4 Rxc6 1-0
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>A variation. After black's 50th move the wheels come off the wagon.</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN "kq3r2/p1r1n2p/Pn1QPp1P/1P2pP1B/2p1P3/2P1B1R1/8/2KR4 b - - 2 49 "]
  [StartFlipped "0"]
  
  1...Nbc8 2. Qb4 Rg8? 3. Rxg8 Nxg8 4. Rd8 Nge7 5. Bf3 Rb7 6. axb7+ Qxb7 7. Rd7 Kb8 8. Rxb7+
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Why <code>5. Rb7</code>?  Black is in zugzwang.  Black is down by 100 pts.</p>
  
  <p>Another variation:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN "kq3r2/p1r1n2p/Pn1QPp1P/1P2pP1B/2p1P3/2P1B1R1/8/2KR4 b - - 2 49 "]
  [StartFlipped "0"]
  
  1...Nbc8 2. Qb4 Nb6? 3. Rg7 Nbc8 4. Bc5 Rh8 5. Rd7 Nb6 6. Rxc7 Qxc7 7. Bxe7 Na4 8. Bxf6 Qb6 9. Qxa4 Qe3+ 10. Kb2 Qc5 11. e7 Rb8 12. e8=Q Rxe8 13. Bxe8 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>and black is down 30 points.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-13T02:56:05.040Z
Answers.Text: The current implementation of the replayer on the site will always display from the POV of the side to move first (here Black). The replayer does have a (currently dormant as far as this site goes) option to force it to display from a particular POV. I inserted the code `[StartFlipped "0"]` here, so if a site rebuild implements that option, the above will display from White's POV. (So remove that line if you don't want it to behave that way down the road.)
Answers.UserDisplayName: ETD
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-13T02:57:32.117Z
Answers.Text: Thanks Ed.  What did you do to make the moves playable?  Everything I did just broke the replayer.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-13T03:06:07.290Z
Answers.Text: Ah yes, well, you'll notice that even though we're talking about a game where `...Nbc8` would be move 49, it's listed above as `1...Nbc8`. At the moment at least, we have to start numbering moves at 1 for the replayer to display correctly (even though you indicated move 49 in the FEN string). If you want to voice support for the kind of behavior you tried for, the matter was raised in a meta post: http://meta.chess.stackexchange.com/q/181/167
Answers.UserDisplayName: ETD
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-13T03:07:14.593Z
Answers.Text: Thanks.  I just tried to fix it, lol.  Now I'll go post on that meta...
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-13T05:02:41.377Z
Answers.Text: Errr, I'm sorry, what sense does `Rh8` or `Nc6` make ? I don't doubt they lose, but… Black please at least try for real (`Ng6`, say).
Answers.UserDisplayName: Nikana Reklawyks
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-13T06:20:25.893Z
Answers.Text: What is your suggested move and when?  We'll see what Stockfish says.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-13T06:25:59.460Z
Answers.Text: Stockfish is a GM-strengthed program, by the way.  So unless I'm operating it incorrectly, there is likely method to the madness.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-13T13:22:27.003Z
Answers.Text: @NikanaReklawyks ooops, I think I have to put this Nikana's name in here to ensure he gets a notification.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-13T13:28:24.727Z
Answers.Text: Yup yup. To Stockfish, all Black's moves are probably equivalent, as he is completely lost, but `Rh8` really is the kind of moves you'd rather resign already than play. I suggest `50... Nb6` or `50... Rg8`
Answers.UserDisplayName: Nikana Reklawyks
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-14T02:05:06.127Z
Answers.Text: The moves are not equivalent.  `50. ... Rh8` is a better move than either.  `50. ... Rg8` is a blunder with the score flying up into the 100s from about 20.  `50. ... Nb8` is less bad, dropping 'only' 10 additional points off with respect to the computer's move.  These moves remove any fight remaining in black's position.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-13T02:22:56.467Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-12-14T02:15:46.917Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2012-12-14T02:15:46.917Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.Body: <p>Black is down 2 pawns, pieces completely passive, the pawn on e6 is impossible to get rid of, pawn on h6 is also important, creating potential outpost on g7 for rook. White also has two bishops and controls both open files. There is no need for White to prove anything by concrete analysis. Unless Black has some immediate way to get material back - he might as well resign and save energy for next round.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-14T19:47:54.077Z
Answers.Text: I agree with your assessment that black's position is dismal.  But having a dismal position is not a good reason to resign a game.  (Of course the definition of a 'resignable game' depends upon the level of the players involved.)  To satisfy the OP's question, we should demonstrate the win.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-14T20:24:52.193Z
Answers.Text: if someone is up a piece - is there "the win"? or just an observation that any moves by the weaker side would lead them to a loss - through many various paths, with both sides having choices that don't change the outcome ...
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joe
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-14T20:45:46.397Z
Answers.Text: I believe winning a piece signifies a won game as long as there's no balancing compensation. But, there's a big difference between having a won game, and *winning* the game.  How many won games have been lost to blunders, swindles, and perpetual checks?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-14T21:47:45.673Z
Answers.Text: The OP question of "Why" is a subjective and rhetorical one anyway. When to resign - is a matter of threshold that depends on many things - including respect for the former world champion and his ability to convert the position in question.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joe
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-11T05:39:10.580Z
Answers.Text: haven't you seen GM games, they resign many times what we would say way too early, some times even with equal material they resign because positionally they are crushed
Answers.UserDisplayName: relipse
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-13T20:11:13.913Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-12-13T20:11:13.913Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joe
Answers.Body: <p>I can understand fresh eyes still wanna fight this, but after 50 moves of despair, once the main diagonal and the <code>d</code> file are so open, I can't help but support his resignation. Just flip the board, take the black pieces, and search for moves. Almost none are playable, as every piece already defends various threats, white still having 2 pieces with which to pile on more threats.</p>
  
  <p>This looks like a reasonable analysis. Basically, Black has no moves, while White roams around <code>e6</code>.</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN "kqn2r2/p1r1n2p/P2QPp1P/1P2pP1B/2p1P3/2P1B3/8/2KR2R1 w - - 0 50"]
  
  1. Qb4 Rg8 2. Rxg8 (2. Rg7 and Black has no good moves) Nxg8 3. Rd7 (3... Rxd7 4. exd7 Nce7 5. Qxc4  $18) Nge7 4. Bc5 Ng8  $7 5. Bd6 Nxd6 6. Qxd6 Rxd7 7. Qxd7 Qb6 8. Qe8+ Qb8 9. Qc6+ Qb7 10. Qxb7#
  </code></pre>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-12T16:33:22.637Z
Answers.Text: So, basically, after `49... Nbc8 50. Qd2 {so he can play 52 Qd5+}`, then `50... Rg8` would be a mistake.  It's actually worse than the loss of a rook, it's either the queen or checkmate. (`52 Qd5+ Rc6 53. Qxc6+ Qb7 54. Qxb7#` or else simply `52... Qb7 53. axb7+ Rxb7`). I almost want to  challenge this into an analysis of whether Black has another move to save himself (instead of `50... Rg8`), but I take your point: it's not that White has any brilliant moves I'm missing, it's just that Black has no tenable moves.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Daniel
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-12T19:37:17.543Z
Answers.Text: Exactly, Black can probably hold it a few moves more, but he excessively lacks mobility, and counterplay of any kind. `Rg8` is indeed what looks like the only sparkle of hope, but it completely fails (precisely because Black's pieces are completely overloaded).
Answers.UserDisplayName: Nikana Reklawyks
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-12T21:53:37.617Z
Answers.Text: But I still see an apparent loophole: `49... Nbc8 50. Qd2 Qxb5`  Doesn't this mean that `50. Qd2` is unfeasible and hence `50. Qb4` is necessary?  What can white do after `50. Qd2 Qxb5`?  And if `50. Qb4`, then `50... Rg8` becomes possible again, since white cannot answer with the crushing `51. Qd5+`.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Daniel
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-13T05:28:18.167Z
Answers.Text: Ok, you're right, `50. Qb4`. Still, all is just too easy for White. Do the new lines please you ? :·) `Qxc7` looks like a way to make this game interesting again, but I guess Capablanca would've just gone for the win.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Nikana Reklawyks
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-13T15:29:19.590Z
Answers.Text: @Nikana, Minor pedantry, but did you mean `57. Qe8+`? `57. Qd8+` is replied to by `57. . .Qxd8`. I must be missing something, but what?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Jonathan Garber
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-13T17:25:02.200Z
Answers.Text: @JonathanGarber: My bad, thanks. Fixed. (The replayer is an awesome tool, but I forget to check some of what I have to write blinfold :/) Hopefully, the whole still stands.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Nikana Reklawyks
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-12T16:09:05.613Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-09-02T10:27:21.417Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-09-02T10:27:21.417Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Nikana Reklawyks
Answers.Body: <p>Lost is relative to the skill levels of the players.</p>
  <p>That game is clearly lost for black.
  Black was good enough to realize it and not a glutton enough for punishment to play it out and hope for a blunder.  Especially if white was a world class GM.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-08-03T20:34:26.210Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-08-03T20:34:26.210Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: edwina oliver
Body: <p>This is a <a href="http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1116418" rel="noreferrer">game between Jose Raul Capablanca and Viacheslav Ragozin, Moscow 1935</a>:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  
  1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 d6 6.Qc2 O-O 7.e4 e5 8.Bd3 c5 9.Ne2 Nc6 10.d5 Ne7? 11.f3 Nd7 12.h4! Nb6 13.g4 f6? 14.Ng3 Kf7 15.g5! Ng8 16.f4! Ke8 17.f5 Qe7 18.Qg2 Kd8 19.Nh5 Kc7 20.gxf6 gxf6 21.Ng7 Bd7 22.h5 Rac8 23.h6 Kb8 24.Rg1 Rf7 25.Rb1 Qf8 26.Be2! Ka8 27.Bh5 Re7 28.Qa2 Qd8 29.Bd2 Na4 30.Qb3 Nb6 31.a4! Rb8 32.a5 Nc8 33.Qa2 Qf8 34.Be3 b6 35.a6 Qd8 36.Kd2 Qf8 37.Rb2 Qd8 38.Qb1 b5 39.cxb5 Nb6 40.Qa2 c4 41.Qa3 Qc7 42.Kc1 Rf8 43.Rbg2 Qb8 44.Qb4 Rd8 45.Rg3 Rf8 46.Ne6! Bxe6 47.dxe6 Rc7 48.Qxd6 Ne7 49.Rd1  1-0
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I understand that Black is in a bad spot, being two pawns down and almost the epitome of cramped (not to mention the promotion possibilities for White), but the game doesn't look obviously lost to me yet.  My suggestion would be <code>49... Nbc8</code> forcing the White queen back and then <code>50... Rg8</code> countering the sting of White's g-rook.  I've played several variations from this point and all of them end up with White keeping the two-pawn advantage, but not a quick win.  Am I missing a certain move by White to refute anything Black could do here?  How did Ragozin know that there was no chance of a draw?</p>
  
  <p>Edit: It has been shown that after <code>49... Nbc8 50. Qd2 Rg8? 51. Rxg8 Nxg8</code> White wins at least the Black queen with <code>52. Qd5+</code>.  However, if White plays <code>50. Qd2</code>, Black has <code>50... Qxb5</code> winning a Pawn and considerably uncramping himself (or so it seems to me):</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN "k1n2r2/p1r1n2p/P3Pp1P/1q2pP1B/2p1P3/2P1B3/3Q4/2KR2R1 w - - 0 50"]
  </code></pre>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2019-09-02T17:50:31.440Z
Comments.Text: Maybe the black player noticed who was sitting across the board from him. An endgame which is bad against an ordinary chess player would be quite hopeless against Capablanca. Perhaps the real question is why Black didn't resign sooner.
Comments.UserDisplayName: John Coleman
Tags: <master-games><capablanca>
Title: Why did Black resign this game?
ThreadText: # Why did Black resign this game?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2012-12-12)
  
  This is a [game between Jose Raul Capablanca and Viacheslav Ragozin, Moscow 1935](http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1116418):
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  
  1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 d6 6.Qc2 O-O 7.e4 e5 8.Bd3 c5 9.Ne2 Nc6 10.d5 Ne7? 11.f3 Nd7 12.h4! Nb6 13.g4 f6? 14.Ng3 Kf7 15.g5! Ng8 16.f4! Ke8 17.f5 Qe7 18.Qg2 Kd8 19.Nh5 Kc7 20.gxf6 gxf6 21.Ng7 Bd7 22.h5 Rac8 23.h6 Kb8 24.Rg1 Rf7 25.Rb1 Qf8 26.Be2! Ka8 27.Bh5 Re7 28.Qa2 Qd8 29.Bd2 Na4 30.Qb3 Nb6 31.a4! Rb8 32.a5 Nc8 33.Qa2 Qf8 34.Be3 b6 35.a6 Qd8 36.Kd2 Qf8 37.Rb2 Qd8 38.Qb1 b5 39.cxb5 Nb6 40.Qa2 c4 41.Qa3 Qc7 42.Kc1 Rf8 43.Rbg2 Qb8 44.Qb4 Rd8 45.Rg3 Rf8 46.Ne6! Bxe6 47.dxe6 Rc7 48.Qxd6 Ne7 49.Rd1  1-0
  
  ```
  
  I understand that Black is in a bad spot, being two pawns down and almost the epitome of cramped (not to mention the promotion possibilities for White), but the game doesn't look obviously lost to me yet. My suggestion would be `49... Nbc8` forcing the White queen back and then `50... Rg8` countering the sting of White's g-rook. I've played several variations from this point and all of them end up with White keeping the two-pawn advantage, but not a quick win. Am I missing a certain move by White to refute anything Black could do here? How did Ragozin know that there was no chance of a draw?
  
  Edit: It has been shown that after `49... Nbc8 50. Qd2 Rg8? 51. Rxg8 Nxg8` White wins at least the Black queen with `52. Qd5+`. However, if White plays `50. Qd2`, Black has `50... Qxb5` winning a Pawn and considerably uncramping himself (or so it seems to me):
  
  ```
  [FEN "k1n2r2/p1r1n2p/P3Pp1P/1q2pP1B/2p1P3/2P1B3/3Q4/2KR2R1 w - - 0 50"]
  
  ```
  
  **Tags:** master-games, capablanca
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Maybe the black player noticed who was sitting across the board from him. An endgame which is bad against an ordinary chess player would be quite hopeless against Capablanca. Perhaps the real question is why Black didn't resign sooner.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 4 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2012-12-13. Score: 2 | Accepted answer
  
  Stockfish says Black is crushed after `49. ... Nbc8` even though this is black's best move. White is up by 17 points.
  
  ```
  [FEN "kq3r2/p1r1n2p/Pn1QPp1P/1P2pP1B/2p1P3/2P1B1R1/8/2KR4 b - - 2 49 "]
  [StartFlipped "0"]
  
  1...Nbc8 2. Qb4 Rh8 3. Rg7 Nc6 4. bxc6 Qxb4 5. cxb4 Rxc6 1-0
  
  ```
  
  A variation. After black's 50th move the wheels come off the wagon.
  
  ```
  [FEN "kq3r2/p1r1n2p/Pn1QPp1P/1P2pP1B/2p1P3/2P1B1R1/8/2KR4 b - - 2 49 "]
  [StartFlipped "0"]
  
  1...Nbc8 2. Qb4 Rg8? 3. Rxg8 Nxg8 4. Rd8 Nge7 5. Bf3 Rb7 6. axb7+ Qxb7 7. Rd7 Kb8 8. Rxb7+
  
  ```
  
  Why `5. Rb7`? Black is in zugzwang. Black is down by 100 pts.
  
  Another variation:
  
  ```
  [FEN "kq3r2/p1r1n2p/Pn1QPp1P/1P2pP1B/2p1P3/2P1B1R1/8/2KR4 b - - 2 49 "]
  [StartFlipped "0"]
  
  1...Nbc8 2. Qb4 Nb6? 3. Rg7 Nbc8 4. Bc5 Rh8 5. Rd7 Nb6 6. Rxc7 Qxc7 7. Bxe7 Na4 8. Bxf6 Qb6 9. Qxa4 Qe3+ 10. Kb2 Qc5 11. e7 Rb8 12. e8=Q Rxe8 13. Bxe8 
  
  ```
  
  and black is down 30 points.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: The current implementation of the replayer on the site will always display from the POV of the side to move first (here Black). The replayer does have a (currently dormant as far as this site goes) option to force it to display from a particular POV. I inserted the code `[StartFlipped "0"]` here, so if a site rebuild implements that option, the above will display from White's POV. (So remove that line if you don't want it to behave that way down the road.)  
  > **username_2**: Thanks Ed.  What did you do to make the moves playable?  Everything I did just broke the replayer.  
  > **username_3**: Ah yes, well, you'll notice that even though we're talking about a game where `...Nbc8` would be move 49, it's listed above as `1...Nbc8`. At the moment at least, we have to start numbering moves at 1 for the replayer to display correctly (even though you indicated move 49 in the FEN string). If you want to voice support for the kind of behavior you tried for, the matter was raised in a meta post: http://meta.chess.stackexchange.com/q/181/167  
  > **username_2**: Thanks.  I just tried to fix it, lol.  Now I'll go post on that meta...  
  > **username_4**: Errr, I'm sorry, what sense does `Rh8` or `Nc6` make ? I don't doubt they lose, but… Black please at least try for real (`Ng6`, say).  
  > **username_2**: What is your suggested move and when?  We'll see what Stockfish says.  
  > **username_2**: Stockfish is a GM-strengthed program, by the way.  So unless I'm operating it incorrectly, there is likely method to the madness.  
  > **username_2**: @username_4 ooops, I think I have to put this username_4's name in here to ensure he gets a notification.  
  > **username_4**: Yup yup. To Stockfish, all Black's moves are probably equivalent, as he is completely lost, but `Rh8` really is the kind of moves you'd rather resign already than play. I suggest `50... Nb6` or `50... Rg8`  
  > **username_2**: The moves are not equivalent.  `50. ... Rh8` is a better move than either.  `50. ... Rg8` is a blunder with the score flying up into the 100s from about 20.  `50. ... Nb8` is less bad, dropping 'only' 10 additional points off with respect to the computer's move.  These moves remove any fight remaining in black's position.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2012-12-13. Score: 7
  
  Black is down 2 pawns, pieces completely passive, the pawn on e6 is impossible to get rid of, pawn on h6 is also important, creating potential outpost on g7 for rook. White also has two bishops and controls both open files. There is no need for White to prove anything by concrete analysis. Unless Black has some immediate way to get material back - he might as well resign and save energy for next round.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: I agree with your assessment that black's position is dismal.  But having a dismal position is not a good reason to resign a game.  (Of course the definition of a 'resignable game' depends upon the level of the players involved.)  To satisfy the OP's question, we should demonstrate the win.  
  > **username_5**: if someone is up a piece - is there "the win"? or just an observation that any moves by the weaker side would lead them to a loss - through many various paths, with both sides having choices that don't change the outcome ...  
  > **username_2**: I believe winning a piece signifies a won game as long as there's no balancing compensation. But, there's a big difference between having a won game, and *winning* the game.  How many won games have been lost to blunders, swindles, and perpetual checks?  
  > **username_5**: The OP question of "Why" is a subjective and rhetorical one anyway. When to resign - is a matter of threshold that depends on many things - including respect for the former world champion and his ability to convert the position in question.  
  > **username_6**: haven't you seen GM games, they resign many times what we would say way too early, some times even with equal material they resign because positionally they are crushed  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2012-12-12. Score: 5
  
  I can understand fresh eyes still wanna fight this, but after 50 moves of despair, once the main diagonal and the `d` file are so open, I can't help but support his resignation. Just flip the board, take the black pieces, and search for moves. Almost none are playable, as every piece already defends various threats, white still having 2 pieces with which to pile on more threats.
  
  This looks like a reasonable analysis. Basically, Black has no moves, while White roams around `e6`.
  
  ```
  [FEN "kqn2r2/p1r1n2p/P2QPp1P/1P2pP1B/2p1P3/2P1B3/8/2KR2R1 w - - 0 50"]
  
  1. Qb4 Rg8 2. Rxg8 (2. Rg7 and Black has no good moves) Nxg8 3. Rd7 (3... Rxd7 4. exd7 Nce7 5. Qxc4  $18) Nge7 4. Bc5 Ng8  $7 5. Bd6 Nxd6 6. Qxd6 Rxd7 7. Qxd7 Qb6 8. Qe8+ Qb8 9. Qc6+ Qb7 10. Qxb7#
  
  ```
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: So, basically, after `49... Nbc8 50. Qd2 {so he can play 52 Qd5+}`, then `50... Rg8` would be a mistake.  It's actually worse than the loss of a rook, it's either the queen or checkmate. (`52 Qd5+ Rc6 53. Qxc6+ Qb7 54. Qxb7#` or else simply `52... Qb7 53. axb7+ Rxb7`). I almost want to  challenge this into an analysis of whether Black has another move to save himself (instead of `50... Rg8`), but I take your point: it's not that White has any brilliant moves I'm missing, it's just that Black has no tenable moves.  
  > **username_4**: Exactly, Black can probably hold it a few moves more, but he excessively lacks mobility, and counterplay of any kind. `Rg8` is indeed what looks like the only sparkle of hope, but it completely fails (precisely because Black's pieces are completely overloaded).  
  > **username_0**: But I still see an apparent loophole: `49... Nbc8 50. Qd2 Qxb5`  Doesn't this mean that `50. Qd2` is unfeasible and hence `50. Qb4` is necessary?  What can white do after `50. Qd2 Qxb5`?  And if `50. Qb4`, then `50... Rg8` becomes possible again, since white cannot answer with the crushing `51. Qd5+`.  
  > **username_4**: Ok, you're right, `50. Qb4`. Still, all is just too easy for White. Do the new lines please you ? :·) `Qxc7` looks like a way to make this game interesting again, but I guess Capablanca would've just gone for the win.  
  > **username_7**: @username_4, Minor pedantry, but did you mean `57. Qe8+`? `57. Qd8+` is replied to by `57. . .Qxd8`. I must be missing something, but what?  
  > **username_4**: @username_7: My bad, thanks. Fixed. (The replayer is an awesome tool, but I forget to check some of what I have to write blinfold :/) Hopefully, the whole still stands.  
  
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  ### Answer by username_8 on 2020-08-03. Score: 0
  
  Lost is relative to the skill levels of the players.
  
  That game is clearly lost for black.
  Black was good enough to realize it and not a glutton enough for punishment to play it out and hope for a blunder. Especially if white was a world class GM.
  
  
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