Marshall Attack

Play as BlackCounter-gambit

Black gives a pawn in the Ruy Lopez for a strong attack on the white king.

The main line, move by move

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6

1. 1. e4 — Claim the center and open lines for the queen and bishop.
2. 1... e5 — Black claims the center too.
3. 2. Nf3 — Brings the knight into the game.
4. 2... Nc6 — Brings the knight into the game.
5. 3. Bb5 — Brings the bishop into the game.
6. 3... a6 — Ask the bishop what it wants to do.
7. 4. Ba4 — Keep the pin on the knight: retreat but stay on the diagonal.
8. 4... Nf6 — Brings the knight into the game.
9. 5. O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
10. 5... Be7 — Brings the bishop into the game.
11. 6. Re1 — Defend the e4 pawn with the rook.
12. 6... b5 — Chase the bishop away.
13. 7. Bb3 — Keep the bishop on the diagonal, aimed at f7.
14. 7... O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
15. 8. c3 — Prepare d4 and give the bishop a retreat.
16. 8... d5 — The Marshall Attack: give a pawn for a powerful attack on the king.
17. 9. exd5 — Takes the pawn on d5.
18. 9... Nxd5 — Takes the pawn on d5.
19. 10. Nxe5 — Takes the pawn on e5.
20. 10... Nxe5 — Takes the knight on e5.
21. 11. Rxe5 — Takes the knight on e5.
22. 11... c6 — Support the d5 pawn and open lines for the pieces.

Related openings

• Albin Counter-Gambit
• Budapest Gambit
• Latvian Gambit
• Englund Gambit
• Elephant Gambit

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