The Marshall Attack is the sharpest idea in the Ruy Lopez: in the Closed Variation Black sacrifices a pawn with ...d5 (after 8...d5) and gets a strong attack on the kingside (ECO C89). On the board is a position in the thick of that attack.
For the pawn Black gets a powerful initiative: the queen, a rook and the minor pieces come down on White's king. White has to defend very accurately, and many players simply sidestep the Marshall with anti-Marshall moves such as a4.
The attack was invented by Frank Marshall; today it is a fully worked-out and formidable system. It remains one of the most principled ways for Black to fight the Spanish.
Drag a piece onto the board, or click a piece and then click the squares. The cross beside the pieces sweeps every piece of that colour off the board, and a single piece can be dragged off the edge.
The pieces will be arranged into the chosen pattern.
It is the mating side to move. Find mate in one.
Openings, endgame positions and breakthrough studies - the set-up appears on the board.
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