Playing chess with the devil? Help me find the story please?

Capa (José Raúl Capablanca) and the Devil

http://blog.chess.com/Dozy/capa-and-the-devil

During the 1920s when Capa reigned supreme there were always people wanting to test themselves against the world champion. Had he taken on all comers, he would have had little time to himself. So, when one day a stranger challenged him to play,

he immediately refused. The visitor then said, “I understand your time is valuable

and I would not waste it; but if you play me a game of chess—and win—I will donate $10,000 to any charity you name.” It was an enormous amount of money in those pre-inflationary days and Capa felt he could not refuse.

As they sat down to play the man said, “The commitment so far has been all mine.

Let us agree that, should I win, I may take for myself any one possession of yours.”

That this challenger might win was unthinkable, so Capa readily agreed.

As the game went on, Capa found his position slowly worsening as the stranger played with unearthly accuracy. Little by little he built up a significant positional advantage and Capa's game was on the verge of collapse when he realized who he was playing. This was none other than the Devil, and the thing they were playing for was Capablanca's soul.

His hand shook with emotion as he played his next move but his voice remained firm.

“Who are you?” he demanded,

“You know who I am. You know what I want.”

“Prove it!” said Capablanca. “If you're really the Devil, with a touch of your finger turn your king into a golden piece with a jewelled crown.”

Smugly the Devil did as he was bidden and Capablanca smiled.

“You touched the king,” he said. “Now move it!”

Chagrined the Devil did as he was bidden, and soon fell to a clever

Capablanca combination before vanishing in a flash of black light.

It was the first time he had lost a game of chess since that wily bishop, Ruy Lopez (Rodrigo López de Segura), had trounced him almost four centuries earlier.

♗ The Green Bishop <>:-)

☮ "Peace be upon you."

Not sure, but I think this story was collected in "The Chess Companion" by Irving Chernev.

Reminds me of the film " the Seventh Seal" - but it is an awful long time since I saw it.