Theoretical Thursday: The Marshall Gambit Part 1

Theoretical Thursday: The Marshall Gambit 

This Theoretical Thursday, I am returning to the Semi-Slav. I will be discussing my favorite way of reaching the Semi-Slav via the Triangle System move order which can lead to the Marshall Gambit (not to be confused with the Marshall in the Spanish). I used to play the Semi-Slav via the Slav move order but switched to this move order for a few reasons. 

• Flexibility - Using a move order with e6 allows me to answer the English with 1...e6. You can also play 1...c6 against the English but I find that both Anglo-Reti setups and the Caro-Kann Sidelines/Panov-Botvinnik very annoying against this Slav setup. 
• Interesting and sharp positions - The Marshall Gambit fits well in a repertoire that includes the Botvinnik Variation and sharp systems in the Meran/Anti-Meran. 
• Avoiding the Slav Sidelines - The Slav has a number of unique sidelines that tend to be annoying for black to play against. In modern play the line with 3. Nf3/4. e3 has become very popular and attempting to transpose into a Semi-Slav in that particular variation is not as strong as white can play with b3 and Nbd2. In addition, 4. Qc2 is quite annoying as after 4...e6 white can answer with 5. g3 and we get a poor version of the Closed Catalan. And last but not least there is the annoying Exchange Slav which doesn't quite fit our desire for a fighting game All of these annoying Slav sidelines relegated the Slav move order to my backup weapon.

This week we are going to focus on some of the sidelines available to white in the Marshall Gambit. We will focus on a few different lines. The first is the exchange of pawns on move three which, although not critical is somewhat annoying for the black player who wants to drum up some play in the position. The second variation of note is the variation Carlsen played against Anand in their WCC match by avoiding the mainline Marshall Gambit via 6. Nc3. Once again this is somewhat annoying as it doesn't offer a very complicated game but black should not be worse here. The last lines we will examine involve 8. Ne2 the main alternative to the mainline Marshall with 8. Be2. The mainline will be dealt with next week. 

The exchange system should really pose no threat to black. I would encourage those who wish to play this line to also take a look at QGD Exchange Systems where white plays with an early Nf3. These lines are not particularly critical but are useful as a backup to the Ne7 systems discussed above and are also useful for the generally understanding of these structures and endgames that can arise. We will now examine the line that Carlsen played against Anand.