Marshall Gambit

The Marshall Gambit is White's most direct answer to Black's triangle move order. Black has not yet developed a piece and has placed every central pawn on a light square, so 4. e4 claims the center at once and leaves the c8-bishop shut in. The usual reply is 4...dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+, after which White must choose how to meet the check. The Main Line, 6. Bd2, offers the d-pawn: 6...Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+ forces White to interpose a piece on e2, and White relies on the bishop pair, dark-square control and faster development to compensate. The Tolush Variation, 8. Be2 c5 9. Bxc5 Qxg2, has Black grab a second pawn at the cost of further exposing the queen, producing sharp, heavily calculated positions.

The Forgotten Variation, 6. Nc3, declines to sacrifice. Play can continue 6...c5 7. a3 Ba5, and Carlsen used this line against Anand in their 2013 World Championship match. Black can also answer 4. e4 with 4...Nf6 or 4...Bb4, though the latter is thought to favor White. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced, while White scores well in Lichess games.