London greats

This Christmas and New Year I am publishing a series of tributes to players in great London games. This week, examples of play by Capablanca, who won the great tournament at London in 1922, and Lasker, who stormed to victory in London 1899. The Capablanca game in particular is a mighty struggle which still causes controversy to the current day, in view of his bold attempt to exclude Black’s queen’s bishop from active operations.
 
Capablanca-Bogoljubow: London 1922; Ruy Lopez
 
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0–0 Be7 6 Re1 b5 7 Bb3 d6 8 c3 0-0 9 d4 exd4 10 cxd4 Bg4 11 Be3 Na5 12 Bc2 Nc4 13 Bc1 c5 14 b3 Na5 15 Bb2 Much stronger is Fischer’s plan 15 d5! Nd7 16 Nbd2 Bf6 17 Rb1. Now, however, Black is able to exchange the formidable ‘Spanish’ bishop and to gain the advantage of the two bishops.