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Ruy Lopez

Marshall Attack, Original Marshall Attack

C89gambitaggressivetactical

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bb5a6
  4. 4.Ba4Nf6
  5. 5.O-OBe7
  6. 6.Re1b5
  7. 7.Bb3O-O
  8. 8.c3d5
  9. 9.exd5Nxd5
  10. 10.Nxe5Nxe5
  11. 11.Rxe5Nf6
445 games36%62%

Frank Marshall's original 11...Nf6 in the Marshall Attack, retreating the knight to the kingside; a sharp gambit line now less common than 11...c6.

Train it in Theoria

About the Original Marshall Attack

With 11...Nf6, Black pulls the knight off d5, where White's bishop and rook attack it, and returns it to the kingside, where Black's attack is meant to unfold. Frank Marshall chose this move when he unveiled the gambit against José Raúl Capablanca in 1918. Practice has since shifted to 11...c6, but the original retreat remains playable. White usually answers 12. d4. Engines give White a slight edge, though Black scores well online.

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