ONE BRILLIANT MOMENT
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Richard Réti vs José Raúl Capablanca · 1924 · move 16.
White is considering d4. Is the central break stronger than a patient knight or pawn improvement?
Réti begins this New York 1924 game by developing around the centre. The flank pawns and bishops are preparation for a later central break, not a reason to ignore the middle of the board. Follow the change from pawn pressure to rook activity, then notice how the knight gains time against a rook.
Before reaching for a move, identify the opponent’s immediate threat and the piece you most want to improve. Then compare checks, captures and quiet moves. The complete interactive lesson will let you test your answer without revealing the historical continuation first.
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