Jose Raoul Capablanca is widely regarded as the strongest chess player who ever lived prior to Bobby Fischer. The authoritative work, "The Rating of Chess Players Past and Present" by Arpad Elo, inventor of the modern rating system, ISBN 0923891277, rates Capablanca as 2725, higher than any other player in history prior to Fischer. The great thing about Capablanca's style of play is he tended to play simple, direct moves, moves that even an amateur player can find over the board. Jose Raul Capablanca y Graupera was the third World Champion, reigning from 1921 until 1927. Renowned for the simplicity of his play, his legendary endgame prowess, accuracy, and the speed of his play, he earned the nickname of the "Human Chess Machine." Jose Raul Capablanca (Havana, November 19, 1888 - New York, March 8, 1942) was a Cuban chess player, world chess champion from 1921 to 1927. Capablanca's ideas are still relevant on the world stage of chess. His images are a powerful aid to the student board secrets. Jose Raoul Capablanca one of the outstanding players of all time became world's chess champion in 1921 when he defeated Lasker by 4 to 0. During his lifetime he held all the world's major records. In twenty five years of tournament play he lost less than twenty-five games, while between 1916 and 1924 he lost not a single one."