Lesson
White to move. Main line: 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. b4 Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. g3 b6 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. O-O d6 8. d3 Nbd7 9. Nbd2 e5 10. Qc2 Re8 11. Rfd1 a5 12. a3 h6 13. Nf1 c5 14. b5 Nf8 15. e3 Qc7 16. d4 Be4 17. Qc3 exd4 18. exd4 N6d7 19. Qd2 cxd4 20. Bxd4 Qxc4 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Qb2+ Kg8 23. Rxd6 Qc5 24. Rad1 Ra7 25. Ne3 Qh5 26. Nd4 Bxg2 27. Kxg2 Qe5 28. Nc4 Qc5 29. Nc6 Rc7 30. Ne3 Ne5 31. R1d5
Réti begins with Nf3, c4, b4 and a queenside fianchetto instead of occupying the center with pawns. The pieces pressure e5 and d4 from a distance, inviting Capablanca to build a broad center that later becomes a target.
The position opens after 16.d4. Réti exchanges on g7, invades with Rxd6 and doubles rooks on the d-file. His knights reach c4, c6 and e3, where they support the rook penetration and leave Black’s queen short of useful checks.
The post-worthy lesson is bigger than the upset: this game made hypermodern ideas visible against the era’s most difficult player to beat. Space is valuable only when it can be maintained; pressure against the center can be a form of control too.