The calm before the storm.
By now, you master this position and there is little that I can say to surprise you 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 Bd7 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.0-0 Be7 7.Re1 Nxd4 8.Nxd4 exd4 9.Qxd4 Bxb5 10.Nxb5 0-0 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bb4 Re8 (diagram). It makes you feel good when you read a game understanding both the moves played and the options that were not chosen, isn't it?
Think about this position for 5 minutes. White moves, how would you continue?
As we are playing a dynamic open position, the most sensible plan is to keep developing and activating your pieces playing flexible moves. I think that White maintains a small edge after 13.Rad1 a6 14.Nc3, and if you are given the chances you may play Re3 next trying to create some pressure on Black's king (after all, we have a nice queen in d4).
In the game, Capablanca tried a positional approach that although correct, does not really fit the requirement of the position. In fact, Black is going to equalise the game soon. The moral is that you should play dynamic positions for what they are: dynamic positions. There is rarely space for slow moves. 13.c4 Nd7 Black does what he was born for 14.Bxe7 Rxe7 15.Rad1 Re6 (diagram). Black prepares Qf6.
White continues with the idea of chocking Black, but without clear targets and almost only left with the heavy artillery, it is very difficult to play for anything else than the e-file. 16.f4 a6 17.Nc3 Nf6 the knight d7 ambition is to neutralise White's knight 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Re7 (diagram). Here, the two players agreed for the draw. White space advantage does not mean anything in this middlegame. White could have spiced the game with 19.cxd5 maintaining the possibility of a pawn break e5 and trying to target Black's queenside pawns.
Black should be able to hold the position, although against a strong player defending precisely is always an unpleasant experience. Eventually, Capablanca trusted Marshall's skills.
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