The Guardian London, Greater London, England Thursday, June 01, 1961
The Marshall Attack
The Ruy Lopez has proved to be one of the most consistent ways of maintaining the advantage of the first move, and it is little wonder that many frustrated gambit players have been ready to chance their arms with one of the risky variations whereby Black aims to seize the initiative.
The Marshall is the best known of these counter-attacks, and it reaps a steady annual haul of victims in club and county chess. However, it rarely catches grandmasters, most of whom regard it as unsound. This week's game, taken from the 1961 United States championship, shows a typical failed Marshall.
Robert James Fischer vs Herbert Seidman
United States Championship (1960/61), New York, NY USA, rd 6, Dec-26
Spanish Game: Marshall Attack. Steiner Variation (C89) 1-0
1. Marshall's original idea of 9. … NxP; 10. NxP, NxN; 11. RxN N-B3 (11.… P-QB3; 12. P-Q4 B-Q3 gives a more prolonged but also insufficient attack); 12. P-Q4 B-Q3 allows White to consolidate by 13. R-K2 N-R4; 14. Q-Q3 Q-R5; 16. P-KN3 Q-R6; 16. B-Q5 followed by B-N2 (Tal-Witkowski, Riga 1959).
2. Probably safer than 11. P-Q4 PxP; 12. B-N5 B-N5; 13. Q-Q3 B-R4; 14. N-Q2 R-K1; when White's king's position remains shaky.
3. A violent innovation which aims to break up White's king's side but in fact does more damage to Black's. This particular subvariation of the Marshall stands or falls by 13. … R-K1; 14. RxRch (weak is 14. R-K5? BxR; 16. PxB N-R4; 17. QxB RxP with a winning attack—” Modern Chess Openings” gives a fuller analysis.) QxR; 15. P-Q4 N-R4; 16. Q-B2 (but not 16. QxB? Q-K8 mate) QxP (best); 17. P-KR3 B-K3; 18. B-K3 R-K1; 19. N-Q2 B-Q4; 20. BxB QxB; 21. N-B1 P-KB4 when Black's initiative just about compensates for White's extra pawn.
Bobby Fischer is a keen student of the Ruy Lopez—his favourite opening—and presumably had an improvement ready over the recognized play. What it was we may see next time someone tries the Marshall against him.
4. The exchange sacrifice is much better here than in the previous note in view of Black's loose pieces on the King's side.
5. Stronger than 17. QxB NxB; 18. QxN P-B3; when Black wins the exchange in more favourable circumstances.
6. Not 16. … R-KN1; 19. B-K5ch when White wins material; but now White remains with two pawns for the exchange and a solid position.
7. A useful simplification which eliminates Black's pair of bishops.
8. The vestiges of Black's attack have disappeared, and he has to try his luck in an ending of disconnected rooks against White's ranging queen.
9. If 26. … RxP; 27. QxP and White's united pawns win easily; but the actual continuation is no better for Black.
10. If 29. … K-B2; 30. Q-R5ch wins a rook.
11. And here is 32. … RxQP; 33. Q-K5ch.
12. For if 36. … R-QB7; 37. P-Q5 and the QP runs through.
