Openings for Tactical Players: Ruy Lopez, Marshall Attack
Long gone are the days when the words "Marshall Attack" would make the chess fans' hearts beat faster. These days it is a weapon of choice for many 2700+ GMs looking to make a quick draw. Using their computers, they have analyzed the Marshall Attack to almost a forced draw. Does it mean that a once a favorite of chess daredevils has quietly died? I don't think so. Maybe we just need to start looking in a different direction. If we manage to find a new path (or a well forgotten one!), then we'll get a lot of room for our imagination and creativity to prosper. Besides, such a switch could be an unpleasant surprise for our opponent who is well prepared to repeat the moves he just saw played in a game from a recent category XX tournament. Suddenly he is on his own and these days it is very uncomfortable for many players who rely too much on the computers and databases. Let's see what happens if after the initial moves of the Marshall Attack:
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 9. exd5, instead of automatic 9...Nxd5 we play 9...e4!?
Of course this ultra-sharp move was played before, but these days is almost forgotten. And as the next game shows, it can be a very unpleasant surprise, even for strong players. GM Almira Skripchenko is one of the World's leading female players and yet, facing an unknown situation, she played the most natural move 10.Ng5 which is probably the worst of White's options. The punishment was swift. I recommend that you analyze the whole Black attack, since it is very typical for this variation.
