Strong players like Capa and the like (super GMs) the board is un-needed. When in a post-mortem with Shirov after a simul he hosted last year, when he was trying to recall opening lines or when calculating long variations he looked away from the board!
So to answer your question, Capa although he did not need a board to play, I doubt he studied anyway as he was known for his extreme laziness.
They lied about that. Also Capablanca' story about how he learned chess just from watching his father and uncle play exactly parallels Morphy's.
And, Capablanca may not have been a drinker but he was an avid cards player.
Capablanca's laziness probably lost him his World title against Alekhine-- he was nowhere near as well prepared opening wise etc.
Alekhine-- no matter where he went evidently always had a pocket chess set with him -- he lived for the game. Other things that have been said about him have perhaps denigrated him but looking at some of the combinations on the chess board he achieved he was one of the greatest masters to walk this earth.
Assuming that she is telling the truth...all addicts hide stuff from their loved ones...smoking, drinking, drugs...and even chess...he may have led her to believe this, but I am certain a master such as he was...had a set hidden away somewhere.
I read that during a break in a tournament Tartakower and other participants went to a nightclub and enjoyed the floor show on offer. He stated that Alekhine who was present spent all evening looking at his adjourned position from that day's game. He was the world's best but he worked at it. He was not distracted by anything else.
If anyone didnt need a chess set it was Fischer and yet Fischer always had a pocket chess set on his person. In fact, I think Fischer had a chess set in every room of his apt. He probably had a set in his bathroom.
I've read that other GMs say they didnt have a chess set in their home. Reshevsky said he didnt have a chess set. And yet, he was augmenting his income by playing postal chess which he advertised in Chess Life. How can one play postal chess without a chess set? Has anyone ever heard of blindfold postal chess?
I read that during a break in a tournament Tartakower and other participants went to a nightclub and enjoyed the floor show on offer. He stated that Alekhine who was present spent all evening looking at his adjourned position from that day's game. He was the world's best but he worked at it. He was not distracted by anything else.
Well Erniepear, thats only half the story. While Alekhine was looking at his pocket set---Capa was looking at the women! Capablanca liked the ladies. Did you ever hear the story of how he lost to Samisch at Carlsbad 1929?
CHERCHEZ LA FEMME
Some great players like to shroud themselves in myth. You know like---I learned to play chess one day just watching my dad play his friend. They had been playing each other for years but were still making silly mistakes and I had to correct them.
Or---I can honestly say I have never opened up a chess book in my life!---now thats a good one!
Bobby Fischer always carried is pocket set with him. He reminds me of Alekhine. At the victory party, following the 72' match, there is a photograph of Bobby and Boris sitting at the table. Everyone else is eating, drinking, dancing---having fun. Bobby is showing Boris a position on his pocket set saying---what would you do if I moved here? Boris is looking at the position with a bored expression on his face saying---Bobby the match is over---lets eat some cake!
The preface of Capablanca's Last Chess Lectures mentions that Capablanca bought a chess set just to prepare for these lectures.
Why does Capablanca suddenly need a chess set for these lectures when - as Olga states in the preface - this was the first set she knew him to possess.
It just does not make sense he could work without one his whole life and now needed one for these elementary lessons.
GM Alexander Ivanov, plays in Reno twice a year. He is fun to watch because when he is at the board, he stares at the ceiling during play, and does his analyzing while walking around.
There's the difference between me and a grandmaster! They look up at the ceiling and see a great move. I look up at the ceiling and see that it neeeds painting!
LOL...i start counting the holes in the ceiling tiles.
That would be interesting were it true, but is there any evidence that Capablanca was a liar? I forget who it was, but the story goes that someone took Capablanca and Alekhine to a show with music and dancers; Alekhine never took his eyes off his pocket chess set and Capablanca never took his eyes off the stage. Maybe apocryphal, but still...
Reading an interview that XX made to Olga, Capablanca´s second wife, she said that Capablanca never, she nade it clear, never had a chess set at home. He might have some books, but that is all.
In other words, when at home, in long periods of time between tournaments and the like. . . Did not Capablanca studied chess? Or practice?
(He and his wife were quite sociable people, He was not a drinker or a nightlife fan: on the contrary, he was good in tenis and swimming and could have been a fair musician)
For sure he had to "keep in form", but do you know how or where?