José Raúl Capablanca was a Cuban chess Grandmaster and the third official World Chess Champion. Born on November 19, 1888, in Havana, Cuba, Capablanca became known for his exceptional talent and intuitive playing style. He learned chess at the age of four and quickly rose to become one of the top players of his time.

Capablanca became the chess world champion in 1921 after defeating Emanuel Lasker for the title. He held the title until 1927 when he lost it to Alexander Alekhine. Capablanca was renowned for his deep strategic insights, excellent positional play, and ability to handle complex positions with simplicity.

Outside of chess, Capablanca was a versatile intellectual with interests in physics, mathematics, and languages. He contributed to the advancement of chess theory and authored several books on the game.

Capablanca died unexpectedly on March 8, 1942, in New York City, USA. He is regarded as one of the greatest chess players of all time and one of the most outstanding world champions in the history of chess. His games and contributions to chess theory continue to have a significant impact to this day.

José Raúl Capablanca was known for his preference for positions with clear, harmonious development and solid pawn structures. He favored openings that allowed for smooth development and aimed for simple yet powerful plans.

One of Capablanca’s favorite openings was the Ruy López, an opening characterized by its classical principles and sound development. He also excelled in endgames, where his deep understanding of pawn structures and piece coordination often led to favorable outcomes.

Overall, Capablanca’s playing style could be described as positional and strategic, with an emphasis on simplicity and efficiency. He preferred to maintain a firm grip on the center and gradually improve his position while patiently waiting for his opponent to make mistakes.