Frank J. Marshall: The Great Swindler

Frank James Marshall (August 10, 1877 – November 9, 1944), was born in New York City, and lived in Montreal, Canada from ages 8 to 19. His father taught him chess when he was eight years old. During the period from 1904 to 1909, Marshall won four or five International Chess tournaments. In 1904 he won the Cambridge Springs event by 1.5 points over Emanuel Lasker, the first time that the World Champion had been beaten in a tournament in nearly ten years. He was obviously one of the best players in the world, and also one of the most brilliant. He was the U.S. Chess Champion from 1909-1936.

Marshall was best known for his great tactical skill. One aspect of this was the "Marshall swindle," where a trick would turn a lost game around. Not so well known now, but appreciated in his day, was his endgame skill!

Frank Marshall has a number of chess opening variations named after him, but the most outstanding is the Marshall Attack in the Ruy Lopez: 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!

In 1915 Marshall opened the Marshall Chess Club in New York, today one of the oldest chess clubs in the world.

Today I want to share with my dear readers two moments in the Marshall’s life. Two pearls of chess!

This article pretends to be a small homage for his birth’s anniversary.

The following combination is very famous, and deserving of further recognition.