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This game is all about the famous Marshall Gambit in the Ruy Lopez. The Gambit, introduced by marshall , allows black to quickly attack the white king for the price of a pawn. This game shows how the game can become an endgame where black has good drawing and even winning chances. |
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1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
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This is the Ruy , known for it's ability to maintain longterm pressure on the black position. |
 
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3... a6
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Known to be the best reply , after Bxc6 black will play dxc6 and after Nxe4 black will regain the pawn with Qd4 and an equal position. |
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4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O
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The only reply to try to retain the advantage as after Nc3 Black will play Bc5 with an easy game. |
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5... b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1
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Another idea is a4 trying to undermine the extended queenside. |
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7... O-O 8. c3
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Known as the classical ruy, this move allows the marshall gambit to be played. If someone wishes to avoid the gambit again a4 is the key. That is known as the antimarshall variation. |
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8... d5
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!? Black sacrifices a pawn due to white's weak development. The gambit must be accepted as black gets all the advantages of the gambit even without white taking on e5. |
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9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6
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A key move as this cements the knight on the great d5 square. |
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12. d4 Bd6
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Gaining time while attacking the rook. |
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13. Re1 Qh4
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Blck leaps to the attack and now 14.h3 looks very dangerous due to Bxh3 so g3 is virtually forced. But after g3 the light squares around the white king are very weak so black will have good play for the sacrificed pawn. |
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14. g3 Qh3 15. Be3 Bg4 16. Qd3
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A little trick in the marshall is when the queen moves to any other square other than d3 and black's plays Bf3 when mate can't be avoided on g2. |
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16... Rae8
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Now Bf3 loses time to Qf1 . |
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17. Qf1 Qh5
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Declining the exchange as this would kill black's intiative. |
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18. Nd2 Re6
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A common move in the marshall which prepares a rook swing to g6 or h6. Another idea is f5. |
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19. Bxd5 cxd5
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White eliminates the powerful knight and takes support away from the b5 pawn. |
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20. a4 f5
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Black ignores the threats to the queenside as winning another pawn doesn't help white with his kingside problems. |
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21. f3 Bh3 22. Qf2 g5
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Black prepares an eventual f4 push which would rip apart the kingside. |
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23. f4
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Stopping f4 but , pinning in the dark squared bishop; probably the best move. |
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23... Rg6
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Black goes for the all out kingside attack and also avoids the exchange of rooks that would happen if the e- file opened. Black will then play Qg4 and gxf4 with a big attack. |
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24. fxg5
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A move that wins a second pawn but allows a flury of tactics to arise to which are in black's favor . Still , it's hard to see a constructive plan for white. |
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24... f4
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!The key move as this blasts open the kingside. |
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