A brief biography of José Raúl Capablanca

José Raúl Capablanca was born on November 19, 1888, in Havana, Cuba, and he’s remembered as one of the most naturally gifted chess players in history. According to legend, he learned the rules of the game at age 4 just by watching his father play. His style was incredibly clean and logical — Capablanca was a true master of simplicity, positional understanding, and especially the endgame. In 1921, he defeated Emanuel Lasker to become the third World Chess Champion. At that time, he was almost unbeatable — for about 8 years, no one could defeat him in a serious game. Beyond his chess skills, he was a charming and elegant man, with interests in literature, music, and diplomacy. Capablanca had the rare ability to make the complex look effortless. He passed away in 1942, but his legacy lives on, especially as a role model for how beautiful simple, strategic chess can be.