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. 15 … Nc6 16 d5 Nb4 17 Nbd2 Nxc2 18 Qxc2 Re8 19 Qd3 h6 20 Nf1 Nd7 21 h3 Bh5 It was quite unnecessary to hold on to the bishop, and by 21 … Bxf3! 22 Qxf3 Bf6 Black would have achieved the dream of any Modern Benoni devotee. 22 N3d2 Bf6 23 Bxf6 Qxf6 24 a4 c4 This move gives Black a passed pawn, but on the other hand it helps White to carry out his purpose of blocking off the bishop at h5. 25 bxc4 Nc5 26 Qe3 bxa4 (see diagram 1) 27 f4 The consistent implementation of the plan — Capablanca’s iron principle. 27 … Qe7 28 g4 Bg6 29 f5 Capa cuts off the bishop from the main battlefield, but it can after all come into play, and in addition Black has a strong passed pawn. The evaluation of the position is as yet far from clear.