Learn · master endgames · Famous endgames
Alexander Alekhine – José Raúl Capablanca
World Championship 13th 1927 · Queen and rook vs. queen and rook · 1-0
Start of the endgame, move 35
The story
The 34th and last game of the world championship match in Buenos Aires. After the exchange of queens 49…♕xd4 50.♖xd4 Alekhine is a pawn up, the a-pawn. It ties down the black rook while the white king walks via d4, e5 and f4 to h6 on the kingside. When Capablanca finally takes the a-pawn with 76…♖xa5, h5 and f7 fall there. With this win Alekhine became world champion.
The value along the endgame
↑ above: White better ↓ below: Black better
The moves from the start of the endgame
Values: Stockfish 19 at depth 24 with a time limit, for White in pawns; from five men or fewer the verdict of the Syzygy tablebase. A measurement that did not reach the depth does not count.
