Botvinnik versus Capablanca, AVRO 1938

On 22 November 1938, Mikhail Botvinnik (playing white) defeated José Raúl Capablanca (playing black) in one of the most famous games in chess history.

[1] The game was played in round 11 of the AVRO tournament in Rotterdam.

The game was widely praised, including by Garry Kasparov who said: [...] Botvinnik played what was altogether the "game of his life" against Capablanca.

It was not just that it was judged the most brilliant in the tournament and to be worth two first prizes, but it was even suggested that, by analogy with the "immortal" and "evergreen" games, it should be called "peerless" or "classical"!

[3]This was the last game between the two before Capablanca's death in 1942; he was suffering poor health during the tournament.

Botvinnik and Capablanca had previously played seven other games of competitive tournament chess, including another game with the opposite colours at the same tournament a few days prior, which was drawn.

In 1925, Botvinnik (then aged 14) had beaten Capablanca in an exhibition simultaneous game.

White: Mikhail Botvinnik   Black: José Capablanca   Tournament: AVRO, Netherlands 1938   Opening: Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line (ECO E40) 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.