Ruy Lopez Opening Original Marshall Attack
Ruy Lopez Opening
Definition
The Ruy Lopez, also called the Spanish Game, is a chess opening that arises after the moves
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5.
It is named after the 16th-century Spanish priest and chess author Ruy López de Segura, who
analyzed the line in his 1561 treatise Libro de la invención liberal y arte del juego del
axedrez. White immediately puts pressure on Black’s central pawn on e5 and
simultaneously prepares to castle, aiming for long-term positional pressure rather than a
direct tactical assault.
How the Opening Is Used
• Piece activity and central control. 3.Bb5 indirectly attacks the e5-pawn because after
…a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O, White threatens Bxc6 followed by Nxe5.
• Strategic flexibility. The Ruy Lopez can lead to slow maneuvering battles (e.g.,
the Closed Ruy) or sharp tactical duels (e.g., the Open Ruy, Marshall Attack, Anti-Marshall,
Archangelsk, Schliemann).
• King-side safety. Both sides usually castle early, which means the middlegame
revolves around pawn breaks in the center (d4 or d5) and on the wings (c3–d4 for White,
…c5 or …f5 for Black).
Strategic & Historical Significance
• One of the oldest and most deeply analyzed chess openings; nearly every World Champion
from Steinitz to Carlsen has relied on it.
• It serves as a laboratory for fundamental chess concepts: outposts, minority attacks,
prophylaxis, pawn breaks, and long-term bishop pair versus knight pair imbalances.
• The Ruy Lopez was the battleground for many historical clashes, such as the Lasker–Capablanca
World Championship match (1921) and the Fischer–Spassky match (1972).
Canonical Example
Below is a brief main-line fragment illustrating typical ideas in the Closed Ruy Lopez:
• White prepares the central push d4 and keeps the option of c3–d4.
• Black’s …Re8, …Bf8–g7 plans or the …c5 Marshall-style breaks are ever-present.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Although the opening honors Ruy López, his own recommended line (an early c3 and d4) is now considered suboptimal because Black can equalize with precise play.
- Bobby Fischer famously called the Ruy Lopez "the Cadillac of openings" because of its smooth, well-engineered structure.
- An entire subculture of anti-Ruy sidelines—such as the Berlin Defense (…Nf6) nicknamed the “Berlin Wall”—sprang up mainly to neutralize its potent endgame pressure.
Original Marshall Attack (in the Ruy Lopez)
Definition
The Original Marshall Attack is a dynamic pawn sacrifice introduced by the American grandmaster Frank J. Marshall against José Raúl Capablanca at New York 1918. It begins from the Closed Ruy Lopez after the sequence:
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6
5. O-O Be7
6. Re1 b5
7. Bb3 O-O
8. c3 d5! ← the Marshall thrust
9. exd5 Nxd5
10. Nxe5 Nxe5
11. Rxe5 c6 (modern move order varies)
Black offers a pawn (or sometimes two) for a swift initiative, open lines toward the white king, and enduring pressure on the f-file and dark squares.
Strategic Themes
- Pawn Sacrifice for Activity. 8…d5 opens the center while White’s pieces are still undeveloped on the queenside.
- King-side Assault. Black’s queen usually enters on h4 or g5, rooks swing to e8 and f8, and dark-square bishop targets h2.
- Long-Term Compensation. Even if the direct attack fizzles, Black enjoys harmonious piece coordination and often recovers the pawn in the endgame.
- Theoretical Debate. Modern theory shows the line to be sound; many elite grandmasters willingly enter the Marshall as Black (e.g., Aronian, So, Nakamura).
Historical Context
Frank Marshall unveiled the gambit at the New York 1918 exhibition game against Capablanca, hoping to unsettle the future World Champion. Despite achieving a ferocious attack, Marshall ultimately lost after Capablanca’s precise defense, particularly the paradoxical retreat 18.h3!. Legend says Marshall had studied the idea for eight years but kept it secret until that moment.
Famous Game
Capablanca vs. Marshall, New York 1918 (annotated miniature of the critical phase):
In the actual game Capablanca navigated the onslaught and won, but the opening’s reputation survived and flourished.
Modern Move Orders & Deviations
• Many White players avoid the Marshall by playing 8.a4, 8.h3, or 8.d4, collectively dubbed
“Anti-Marshall” lines.
• Black can delay …d5 until move 9 (after 9…d5) or choose the “Modern Marshall” where
…d5 is prepared by …c6.
• There are sub-lines such as the “Marshall with …Bd6” or the “Motylev
Variation” (allowing White to capture on e5 with 12.d4).
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Rumor holds that when Marshall played …d5, the spectators showered the board with gold coins—a romantic embellishment, but emblematic of the gambit’s dazzling flair.
- Garry Kasparov employed the Marshall with great success in the 1980s and 1990s, forcing opponents to switch to Anti-Marshall lines.
- Engine evaluations hover around 0.00 despite Black’s pawn deficit, underscoring the gambit’s theoretical soundness.