I'm at a crossroad, my opening of choice when playing 1.e4 e5 is the Ruy Lopez, and I love most variations, most sidelines, aswell as the mainlines, what I hate however, is the Marshall Attack, and I'm getting more and more people using the Marshall move order, forcing me to make a choice, go in for an anti marshall, or risk it and hope that he wont play the marshall attack, which for obvious reasons, won't do it.

I usually play the a4, which I'm not really happy with either, how sound are the other options considered to be?

Could you maybe post a game or two? I am just starting to learn how to play the Ruy Lopez, and I have heard about the Marshall Attack but have not seen it in a game yet, (obviously because my opponents and I aren't quite that good yet) but I would love to take a look at a few games where it plays out, and if they could maybe be your games as opposed to grandmaster games, so that I would have a better chance at grasping the motivations that would be much appreciated. I completely understand that you aren't looking to play teacher with this post as you are asking a question, but I thought that perhaps this post could turn into a multi faceted one where multiple people get help :)

Thanks much, if you get around to it.

If your opponent chooses the marshall move order play 8.h3 instead of 8.c3 or 8.a4. This gives you the best chance of staying in closed Ruy territory because if they play 8...d6 now then you play 9.c3 and transpose. They can still play 8...d5?! but it is much worse here as 8.h3 is much more useful than 8.c3 in the Marshall attack as you will see if you study it. If black wants to stay out of closed Ruy territory he will probably try 8...Bb7, planning to meet 9.c3?! with 9...d5! with good compensation. Therefore you should play 9.d3 which leads to a quiet Ruy position where white might be able to get a slight plus, I am not sure though. Black may have other 8th moves that are significant but I cannot remember what they are off the top of my head.

Thanks alot BigTy, I hadn't really given the h3 option alot of thought, but it seems like a fairly good try to get back into the mainlines. The h3 anti-marshall mainline doesn't look boring either.

Are there any books on the Anti-Marshalls out? Preferably aimed at the white side, but that's not to important.

The only book that I know of is 'Opening for White according to Anand volume 2', which provides a repertoire for white in the Ruy for all lines after 3...a6. It covers the 8.h3 anti-marshall in good depth, but perhaps too much depth for most club players and is a little bit dated to say the least (2003 I think). Not that being up to date in every line is a must for most of us though. Overall I think it is a good book, but the depth of analysis is more than I will ever need unless I make it to 2300+ strength one day.

Thanks BigTy, since the library has the book I might aswell take a look at it.

Thanks for your help, you've shed some light on this whole subject, atleast untill I get crushed in the h3 anti-marshall and dark clouds gather around again.

Well, some of my opponents just play d4 (instead of c3) and I haven't figured out how that should be refuted yet.

With a response to d4: