Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Marshall Variation
- 1.e4e5
- 2.Nf3Nc6
- 3.Nc3Nf6
- 4.Bb5Nd4
- 5.Nxe5Bc5
- 6.O-OO-O
109 games
A pawn sacrifice in the Rubinstein Four Knights where Black ignores the e5 pawn and castles quickly, relying on active pieces for compensation.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Marshall Variation
The Marshall Variation is a branch of the Bogoljubov line of the Rubinstein Variation. Black meets 5. Nxe5 with 5...Bc5 and, after 6. O-O, castles with 6...O-O, leaving the e5 pawn lost. In return Black has fast development, a knight posted on d4 and a bishop aimed at f2. Engines give White a slight edge. The usual reply is 7. d3, while 7. Bc4 is the engine's preference. Black has scored well in the small online sample.