In brief
Our editor-in-chief and specialist in the history of chess Georges Bertola brings you back to life the prodigious rise of Cuban champion José Raúl Capablanca. In the book you will find commented sections, beautiful archive photos and anecdotes: an ideal book for history enthusiasts and for amateurs who wish to progress!
Shipments will begin on October 17, with receipt the week of October 21.
Capablanca, the rise of a rough diamond
This first volume reveals the rise of the young prodigy, José Raúl Capablanca, who learned the game around the age of 4 and a half by watching his father play. He did not belong to any school, did not study the game of chess other than by practicing it intensely. It is sometimes said that he studied chess little, or that he did not have a chessboard at home! Difficult to believe, as his parts reveal, from childhood, a breathtaking mastery.
It was quickly considered a phenomenon and his illustrious predecessor, the 2nd world champion in history Emanuel Lasker, had to admit: “I have known many chess players but only one genius: Capablanca. »
Georges Bertola therefore retraces the journey of the young Capablanca to explain this progression which astounded his contemporaries.
A champion at eye level
“Through his games, I tried to bring Capablanca back to life in his time by emphasizing his human qualities.” Chess is not a hard science performed by robotsalthough Capablanca was sometimes considered “a gambling machine”. This is why the work emphasizes Capablanca’s personal history.
Thanks to the numerous archival documents and the historical research carried out by Georges Bertola, you will discover the personality of the champion, with his strengths, his moments of glory but also his disillusionments. Richly illustrated, this book offers you a true immersion in the life of the Cuban genius.
Progress with one of the best players in history
This book is not just for history buffs. Georges Bertola traces the Cuban’s career by analyzing no less than 111 partiesalways informative, and deciphered by prestigious players including Capablanca himself!
The author strives to translate the brilliant intuitions of Capablanca into educational language adapted to amateur players. So, by reading this work, you will discover the many contributions of the championwhich undoubtedly brought chess into a new era.
A high-end work, for the pleasure of reading
Because the pleasure of reading a book is, in the digital age, an unrivaled delight, we have decided to offer you a high-end work:
- The cover is cardboard.
- The paper is thick, with a heavy weight.
- The print quality is superior, to take advantage of archival documents.
A book prefaced by Vasyl Ivanchuk
Photo Lennart Ootes
The Ukrainian genius, who was a candidate for the world title, agreed to preface this work. It highlights the incredible intuition of Capablanca, capable of identifying in the blink of an eye the deep roots of the position:
“Throughout its long history, chess has been considered a game of logic. That, at least until the appearance of José Raúl Capablanca y Graupera, who amazed the whole world with his phenomenal intuition! Capablanca, in his own words, was looking for “the foundations of the position”. He knew, in no time, what was important in this or that position and what was not, and how to choose from it. the right move without making a mistake.”
Ivanchuk, considered one of the most creative players in the world, invites you to rediscover the Cuban games to progress, but also to feel emotions that only chess can offer. We thank Vasyl Ivanchuk for his extremely accurate text, which will speak to all enthusiasts!
Browse before you buy!
As in all good bookstores, you can leaf through the book before buying it: 10 pages are freely accessible to allow you to discover the work online. And when you have it in your hands, you will have more than 340 pages left to read!
