Capablanca – Nimzovich

This game was played in the next to last round at the New York 1927 tournament. Each player met his opponent four times and the final standings were:

1.Capablanca 14-6
2.Alekhine 11.5-8.5
3.Nimzovich 10.5-9.5
4.Vidmar 10-10
5.Spielmann 8-12
6.Marshall 6-14

After 17 rounds the scores were Capa 12-1/2, Alekhine 9, Nimzovich 9, Vidmar 8-1/2, so Capa had already clinched the tournament. In 1949 the tournament director, Norman Lederer, wrote a letter to Chess Review magazine and explained what happened during the last three rounds. Capablanca didn’t want to have a say in who took second and third place so he agreed to accept draws in his last three games against Vidmar in Rd.18, Nimzovich in Rd.19 and Alekhine in Rd.20.

Lederer said he was aware of the arrangement but there really wasn’t anything he could do about it. A problem arose in round 19 when Capa and Nimzo met. Capa summoned Lederer and advised him that Nimzo was playing so badly that he would be forced to win. According to Lederer Capa then decided to dictate the next 4-5 moves which Nimzovich only played reluctantly because he was thinking Capa was trying to fool him. As it turned out, Capa’s suggested moves were good for the draw. Alekhine took a draw in 27 moves against Capa in the last round because that was all he needed to assure himself of 2nd place.