The great game between Jose Capablanca (1888-1942) and Frank Marshall (1877-1944), in which Marshall introduced the Marshall Attack (8...d5), was played on Oct 23, 1918. It was played in the first round of the Manhattan Chess Club Masters (Manhattan Chess Club Championship) tournament. It is considered one of the greatest chess games ever played.
The move had been played by others earlier than Marshall. It was played in 1893 by four Cubans in consultation, in a game against Carl Walbrodt in Havana.
The tournament was played from October 23rd to November 9th, 1918. It was won by Capablanca with 10.5 out of 12 points (9 wins, 3 draws). Kostic took 2nd place with 9 points (6 wins, 6 draws. Marshall took 3rd place with 7 points (6 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses). Chajes took 4th, Janowsky took 5th, Black took 6th, and Morrison took 7th place.
The story goes that Marshall discovered this variation 9 years before he played it, and avoided defending with the Ruy Lopez for 9 years until he had a chance to spring it on Capablanca. Marshall had lost to Capablanca in 1909 and wanted revenge against Capablanca's favorite Ruy Lopez.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
[The Ruy Lopez]
3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d5
[The Marshall Attack or Marshall Gambit.]
9.exd5
[White can decline the pawn and play 9. d3 or 9.d4]
9...Nxd5
[9...e4 10.dxc6 exf3 11.d4 (11.Qxf3 Bg4 12.Qe3 Re8 13.d4 Bd6 14.Qd2 Bf4 15.Rxe8+ Qxe8 16.Qd3 Qe1+
17.Qf1 Bxh2+ 0-1, Calvo-Wall, Guam 1974) 11...fxg2 12.Bg5 (12.Bf4 Bg4 13.Qd3 Nh5 14.Bxc7 Qxc7 15.Qe4 Nf4
16.Qxe7 Qxe7 17.Rxe7 Bf3 0-1, Frere-Marshall, New York 1917) 12...Bg4 13.Qd3 Bh5 (13...Qd6) 14.Nd2 Qd6 15.Qg3 Rfe8 16.Re5
Stein-Zhanoyev, Tbilisi 1961]
10.Nxe5
[Winning a pawn. 10.a4 Be6 11.axb5 axb5 12.Rxa8 Qxa8 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 14.Rxe5 Nf4 15.f3 Nd3
16.Re2? (16.Rxe6) 16...Bxb3 0-1, Leuw-Zonneveld, Leeuwar 1992]
10...Nxe5 11.Rxe5
[White threatens to win the knight]
11...Nf6
[11...c6 12.d4 (12.Qf3 Bd6 13.Re1 Re8 14.Rf1 Qh4 15.g3 Qh3 16.Bxd5 cxd5 17.Qxd5 Qxf1+ 0-1,
Benshausen-Theil, Postal 1967) 12...Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Bxd5 cxd5 16.Qf3 Bf5
17.Qxd5 Rae8 18.Rxe8 Rxe8 19.Bd2 Be4 0-1, Mont Reynaud-Wall, Palo Alto 1991;
11...Bb7 12.Qf3 Bd6 13.Rxd5 Re8 14.Qd1 Qe7
15.Kf1 Qh4 16.d4 Qxh2 17.Qh5 Qg1+ 0-1, Gaiukov-Slutsker, USSR 1990]
12.Re1
[12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Ng4 14.h3 Qh4 15.Be3 (15.Qf3 Nxf2 16.Bd2 Bg3 17.Qxf7+ 1-0,
Iglesias-Maldonado, Argentina 1995 and Krajcovic-Mynar, Slovakia 1993) 15...Re8? (Wall-Metcho, Berkeley
1973) 16.Qf3! threatening 17.Qxa8 and 17.Qxf7; 15...Bh2+]
12...Bd6 13.h3
[13.g3 Bg4 14.f3 Bh3 15.d4 Nh5 16.f4 Nf6 17.Be3 Qd7 18.Qf3 Rae8 19.Nd2 Qf5
Dorin-Gimenez, Buenos Aires 1976; 13.f3 Nh5 14.d4 Qh4 15.h3 (15.g3) 15...Qg3 16.Kf1 Qh2
17.Be3?? (17.f4) 17...Bxh3 18.gxh3 Ng3 mate 0-1 Gifford-Jordan, Dayton 1976]
13...Ng4!? 14.Qf3
[Threatening 15.hxg4 and 15.Qxa8. 14.hxg4 Qh4 15.Qf3 Bh2+ 16.Kf1 Bxg4 17.Qe4 Kh8 18.d4 Qh5
19.Bd5 f5 20.Qd3 Bf4 21.g3 Bxc1 22.Rxc1 Rae8 23.Kg1 f4 24.c4? (24.Bg2) 24...Be2 25.Qa3 Rf6 26.Nd2 Rh6
27.Nf1 f3 0-1 Fink-Kantorovich, Postal 1960]
14...Qh4 15.d4
[Not 15.Qxa8?? Qxf2+ 16.Kh1 Qxe1 mate 0-1; 15.Re8 Bb7 16.Rxf8+ Rxf8 17.Qxg4 Re8 18.Kf1 (18.Qxh4??
Re1 mate) 18...Qe7 19.Be6 (19.Qd1 Qe5 20.f3 Qg3) 19...Bd5 20.d3 Bxe6 21.Qd1; 15.hxg4 Bh2+
16.Kf1 Bxg4 17.Qe4 Bf4 18.g3 Qh2 19.Bxf7+ Kxf7 20.Qd5+ Kg6 21.Re6+ Bxe6 22.Qxe6+ Kh5
23.g4 Kh4; 15.d3 Nxf2 16.Qxf2 Bh2+ 17.Kf1 Bg3 18.Qe2 Bxh3 Koskinen-Grawe, Postal 1965]
15...Nxf2!?
[15...h5 16.Bf4 (16.Qxa8?? Qxf2+ 17.Kh1 Qxe1 mate; 16.hxg4 Qh2+ 17.Kf1 Bxg4) 16...Nxf2 17.Bxd6 Nxh3+
18.Kf1 cxd6 19.Re4 Bg4 20.gxh3 Bxf3 21.Rxh4 g5 22.Nd2 gxh4 23.Nxf3 Rae8 24.Nxh4 Re4
25.Ng2 Rfe8 26.Bd1 R8e6 27.Bf3 Rf6 28.Kf2 Kg7 29.h4 Graves-Everett, Michigan 1985; 15...h5 16.Nd2 Bh2+ 17.Kf1 Bd6 18.Kg1 draw, Livshin-Shamkovich, Kharkiv 1956; 15...h5 16.Be3 Nh2 17.Qxa8 Bg4 18.Qe4 Nf3+
19.gxf3 Qxh3 20.f4 Bf3 21.Qxf3 Qxf3 22.Nd2 Qg4+ 23.Kf1 Re8
24.Bd5 Suetin-Witkowski, 1958]
16.Re2
[16.Re8 Nxh3+ 17.gxh3 Bb7 18.Rxf8+ Rxf8 19.d5 Qe1+ 20.Qf1 Qg3+ 21.Qg2 Bc5+ 22.Kf1 Qd3+ 23.Qe2 Qxh3+;
16.Qxf2 Bh2+ (16...Bg3?? 17.Qxf7+ Rxf7 18.Re8 mate Sery-Vecsey, Brunn 1921) 17.Kf1 Bg3 18.Qe2 (18.Qxf7+?? Rxf7 19.Bxf7+ Kxf7)
18...Bxh3 19.gxh3 Rae8 20.Kg2 (20.Qxe8? Qf6+ 21.Be2 Rxe8+) 20...Rxe2+ 21.Rxe2 Bd6; 16.Bd2 Bb7 17.Qxb7 Nd3 18.Re2 Qg3 19.Kf1 Nf4
Hansson-Westerinen, Esberg 1983]
16...Bg4!?
[16...Nxh3 17.gxh3 Bxh3 18.Re4 Qg3+ 19.Qxg3 Bxg3 20.Re3;
16...Bxh3 17.gxh3 Nxh3+ 18.Kf1 Ng5 19.Bxg5 Qxg5 20.Nd2;
16...Ng4 17.g3 Qxh3 (17...Bb7 18.Qxf7+ Rxf7 19.gxh4 Bf3 20.Rc2 Nf6 21.Bxf7+ Kxf7 22.Rf2 Bd5 23.Bg5) 18.Qxa8 Bxg3 19.Qg2 Bh2+ 20.Kf1 Qh4 21.Qf3; 16...Ng4 17.Qxa8 Qg3 18.hxg4 Qxh2+ 19.Kf1 Bg3 20.Re6? (20.Be3) 20...Bxe6 21.Qf3 Bxb3
22.Na3 Qh1+ 23.Ke2 Qd1+ 24.Ke3 Re8+ 0-1, Simoni-Balletti, Postal 1969]
17.hxg4
[If 17.Qxf2 Bg3 18.Qf1 (18.hxg4 Qh2+ 19.Kf1 Bxf2 20.Kxf2 Qh4+ or 20...Rfe8) 18...Bxe2 19.Qxe2 Rae8 20.Be3 Qe4 or 20...Qe7; or 17.Bxf7+ Kh8 18.hxg4]
17...Bh2+
[17...Nxg4 18.Qh3 or 18.Bf4]
18.Kf1 Bg3
[18...Nh1 19.Re3 (19.Be3 Ng3 20.Ke1 Nxe2+ 21.Kxe2 Rae8 22.Nd2 Bd6 23.Ne4) 19...Ng3+ 20.Ke1 Nf5+ 21.Kd1 Nxe3+ 22.Bxe3 Rae8 23.Bd2 Qe7 24.g3]
19.Rxf2
[19.Ke1 (19.Kg1?? Qh1 mate) 19...Nh3+ 20.Kd1 Ng1 21.Qf5 Nxe2 22.Kxe2 Qh1]
19...Qh1+
[19...Bxf2? 20.Qxf2 Qh1+ 21.Qg1]
20.Ke2 Bxf2
[20...Qxc1 21.Rf1 Rae8+ (Qxb2 22.Nd2 Bd6 23.Rb1 Qa3 24.Bxf7+ Kh8 25.Qh3 wins) 22.Kd3 Re3+
24.Qxe3 Qxf1 25.Kc2; or
20...Qxc1 21.Qxg3 Qxb2+ 22.Kd3 (22.Nd2 Qxa1 23.Qxc7, threatening 24.Rxf7) 22...Qxa123.Kc2 (23.Rxf7? Qxb1+
24.Kd2 Rxf7) 23...c5]
21.Bd2
[Threatening 22.Kxf2; 21.Qxf2 Qxc1 22.Kf3 Rae8; 21.Bxf7+ Kh8 22.Bd2]
21...Bh4
[21...Bg1 22.Bxf7+ Kh8 23.Bg5]
22.Qh3
[22.Bxf7+ Kh8 23.g5 (23.Be3 Rae8 and 24...Re7) 23...Rad8; 22.Bxf7+ Rxf7? 23.Qxa8+ Rf8 24.Qd5+ Kh8 25.Kd3 Qf1+ 26.Kc2]
22...Rae8+
[22...Qxh3 23.gxh3 Rae8+ 24.Kf3]
23.Kd3
[Not 23.Kf3?? Qf1 mate; 23.Be3? Qe1+ 24.Kd3 Bg5]
23...Qf1+
[23...Qxh3+ 24.gxh3 Rd8 25.Kc2]
24.Kc2 Bf2
[Threatening 25...Re2 and 26...Be3; 24...Be1 25.Qf3 Qe2 26.a4]
25.Qf3 Qg1
[If 25...Re2 26.a4 Qe1 27.axb5 Be3 (27...Rxd2+ 28.Nxd2 Qxa1 29.Qxf2 axb5 30.Nf3 Ra8 31.Ne5 wins)
28.Qxe3 (28.Bc4 Rf2 29.Qd1 Bxd2 30.Nxd2 Rxd2+ 31.Qxd2 Qxa1 32.bxa6 Rb8 33.b4 Qa4+ 34.Kb2;
28.Bc4 Rxd2+ 29.Nxd2 Qxd2+ 30.Kb3 and if 30...axb5 31.Qxf7+ Rxf7 32.Ra8 mate)
28...Rxe3 29.Bxe1 Rxe1 30.bxa6 wins;
25...Re2 26.Na3 Rxd2+ 27.Kxd2 Qxa1 28.Qxf2 Qxb2+ 29.Nc2 c5 30.Bd5 b4 31.cxb4 cxb4 32.g5 Qc3+
33.Kc1 a5]
26.Bd5
[Threatening 26.Qd1 and 27.Na3; If 26.a4 Be3 27.Bxe3 Rxe3 28.Nd2 Qxa1 29.Qxe3 bxa4 30.Bd5 a3
31.bxa3 Qxa3 32.Bb3]
26...c5 27.dxc5
[27.Bf4? cxd4 28.Bd6 d3+ 29.Qxd3 Re3 30.Qf5 Re2+ 31.Nd2 Qxa1
32.Bxf8 Rxd2+ 33.Kxd2 Qa1+ 34.Kc2 Qe2+ 35.Kb3 Qd1+ 36.Qc2 Qxd5+]
27...Bxc5 28.b4
[28.a4 Be3 29.Bxe3 (29.axb5 Bxd2 30.Kxd2 Re1 31.bxa6 Rxb1
32.Rxb1 Qxb1 33.b4 Qb2+ 34.Kd3 Qb1+ 35.Kd4 Qg1+ 36.Kc4 Rc8
37.Bc6 Qa1 38.b5) 29...Rxe3 30.Qd1? Qxd1+ 31.Kxd1 Rd3+]
28...Bd6
[If 28...Be3 29.Bxe3 Rxe3 30.Nd2 Qxa1 31.Qxe3 Qh1 32.Qb6]
29.a4 a5
[If 29...bxa4 30.Rxa4 Qb6 31.Bc4 Ra8 32.Bxf7+, since 32...Rxf7 fails to 33.Qxa8;
If 29...h6, perhaps 30.axb5 axb5 31.Ra6 Qh2 32.Na3;
If 29...Rc8 30.Be3]
30.axb5
[30.bxa5 bxa4 31.Rxa4 Rb8 32.Ra1 Qc5]
30...axb4 31.Ra6
[31.cxb4 Rc8+ 32.Bc6; 31.c4]
31...bxc3
[31...Bc5 32.cxb4 Bd4 33.Nc3 Rc8 34.Ra6]
32.Nxc3
[32.Bxc3 Re3 33.Qf5 Re2+ 34.Nd2]
32...Bb4
[32...Bc5 33.Ne4 (33.Qf5 Qd4 34.Ra4 Bb4 35.Be4 g6 36.Qf4 Rd8 37.Qe3 Qc4
38.Bf3 Rfe8 39.Qf2 Rd4 40.Kc1 Rd3) 33...Be7 34.Bc3 Rb8 35.Bc4 Rbc8
36.Rc6 Rxc6 37.bxc6 Qa7 38.Bd5 Qa4+ 39.Bb3 Qa7 40.Qf5]
33.b6
[Passed pawns must be pushed.]
33...Bxc3
[If 33...Re7 34.b7 Rc7 35.Ra8 Qb6 36.Rxf8+ Kxf8 37.Qf5 or 37.Be3]
34.Bxc3 h6
[Not 34...Re3?? 35.Qxf7+! Rxf7 36.Ra8+ Re8 37.Rxe8 mate]
35.b7 Re3
[If 35...Qc5 36.Rg6 and 37.Rxg7 wins]
36.Bxf7+! Rxf7
[If 36...Kh7 37.Qf5+ Kh8 38.Rxh6 mate; If 36...Kh8 37.Rxh6 mate]
37.b8=Q+ Kh7
[37...Re8 38.Qxe8+ Kh7 39.Qe4+ g6 40.Qxg6 mate]
38.Rxh6+ 1-0
[After 38...Kxh6 39.Qh8+ Kg6 40.Qh5 mate; If 38...gxh6 39.Qxf7 mate]
