Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. d4/2...d5/3. Nc3/3...c5

Marshall gambit C10 French defence → Paulsen variation 3...c5?! · Marshall gambit Black gambits the c-pawn in an attack on White's centre. While ...c5 is a common motif in the French defence, it is better for Black to wait until after White has played e5, as in this order White can play 4. exd5! exd5 5. dxc5 Bxc5 6. Qxd5++. Black is down a pawn for no compensation. If 5...d4!?, the knight can escape to 6. Ne4 and defend the pawn on c5. 4. Nf3, as in Levitsky v Marshall (below), is also good. It prepares to take back with the knight after 4...cxd4. 4. dxc5?! is less optimal because of the reply 4...d4!. 5. Nb5 Nc6 (necessary so that 6. Bf4 can be answered with 6...e5!) 6. Nf3 e5 7. c3 a6, and the best line is 8. Nbxd4 exd4 9. cxd4+. White has three pawns and a centre for the knight. History 1.d4 e6 2.e4 d5 3.Nc3 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.exd5 exd5 6.Be2 Nf6 7.O-O Be7 8.Bg5 O-O 9.dxc5 Be6 10.Nd4 Bxc5 11.Nxe6 fxe6 12.Bg4 Qd6 13.Bh3 Rae8 14.Qd2 Bb4 15.Bxf6 Rxf6 16.Rad1 Qc5 17.Qe2 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Qxc3 19.Rxd5 Nd4 20.Qh5 Ref8 21.Re5 Rh6 22.Qg5 Rxh3 23.Rc5 Qg3 23...Qg3!! threatens ...Qxh2#. The queen may be captured three ways, all of which fail. 1 right Some of Marshall's most sparkling moves look at first like typographical errors.―William Ewart Napier on Levitsky v Marshall, 1912.Paul Morphy and the golden age of chess Napier William David McKay Co. 1957 New York 151-2 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.32106012423189 Horowitz I. A. w:William Ewart Napier 1934 w:Israel Albert Horowitz Frank Marshall played this gambit against Stepan Levitsky in 1912 in the famous "gold coins game".Levitsky v Marshall, 1912. Chessgames.com The game concluded with an extraordinary queen "sacrifice". After 23...Qg3!! (diagram), Black threatens ...Qxh2#. The queen may be captured three ways, however they all lose: 24. hxg3 Ne2# 24. fxg3 Ne2+ 25. Kh1 Rxf1# 24. Qxg3 Ne2+ 25. Kh1 Nxg3+, Black recovers the queen and has a crushing endgame. 16. Kg1 is forced as the h-pawn is now pinned and 16. fxg3?? Rxf1#. Any attempt to make space for the king also fails. 24. f3 Ne2+ 25. Kh1 Qxh2# 24. Re1 (or any rook move) Qxh2+ 25. Kf1 Qh1# White resigns, and according to legend, spectators shower Black in gold coins. References See also