Marshall - Tarrasch Hamburg, 1910

Shortly before the date of the Hamburg tournament various chess players of

renown had been exercising their critical faculties on the familiar Max Lange

opening. Three distinguished foreign masters, after an exhaustive analysis, had

evolved a defence which they contended completely broke up the attack. As a

practical test of the analysis, a series of games at this opening was played in

London between Blackburne, Gunsberg and other experts, and in each game

the attack failed badly. The Max Lange had been proved an imposter, and was

promptly relegated to the limbo of exploded fallacies. The Hamburg tournament

arrived, and in the first round Marshall played the discredited Max Lange

opening against Dr. Tarrasch, the master of research.

1.e2–e4 e7–e5

2.d2–d4 e5xd4

3. g1–f3 b8–c6

4. f1–c4 f8–c5

This black move characterizes the starting

point of the Max Lange Attack. Black protects

the centre pawn d4 and gets ready for a

powerful counterattack. After 5... c5 we get

very unbalanced positions which you have to

know extremely well. Otherwise one

inaccurate move could cost the game.

4... g8–f6 Reti/Dubois variation, and then 5.0–0 e4: the Anti Max Lange or

5.e5 the Advanced variation.

5.0–0

The move from Paul Morphy in this position, but

in true gambit style is: 5.c2–c3! Staunton-Horwitz,

London 1846; 5. f3–g5?! Cochrane-

Deschapelles, Paris 1821.

5... g8–f6

Many believe that White cannot gain anything in

the Max Lange Attack, if Black makes good

moves and castles long side. White is put under

psychological pressure as he has to prove that he

has something to show for the pawn he has sacrificed. If White can't do this or

tries to hard he easily can drift into a losing game. So Black doesn't be afraid of

it.

6.e4–e5

The Max Lange Attack is an aggressive chess variation that can arise also from

other opening lines such as the Two Knights Defence and among others as

Petroff's defence and the Italian game.

6...d7–d5!

This is the key of the variation. Black allows

white to destroy the Kingside pawns. But Black

is getting a tremendous centre pawn pair which

should be a great compensation for the ruined

Kings Safety.

6... f6–g4?! Is the Spielmann defence (but also

been called the Steinitz variation) 7.c2–c3

Krause variation (and 7. c1–f4 0–0 Becker-

Spielmann, Vienna 1928) 7...d4xc3 (or 7...d7–

d5 Euwe-Bersma, Amsterdam 1925) 8. c4xf7+

e8xf7 9. d1–d5+!

(or 9. f3–g5+!? f7–f8 10. d1xg4+–) 9... f7–e8 10. d5xc5+–

7.e5xf6

White opens up the position, especially with the enemy King still in the middle.

White can also transpose to the Two Knights Modern with an extra move:

7. c4–b5 f6–e4 8. f3xd4 c8–d7 9. b5xc6= though this specific move order

is about equal.

7...d5xc4 8. f1–e1+

The classical main line of the Max Lange, a

different approach is: 8.f6xg7 h8–g8 9. c1–

g5! Fahrni-Tartakover, Baden Baden 1914.

Fahrni may have originated this approach,

which only appears in previous recorded

games that transpose to standard lines.

Horowitz's analysis, though, makes it a fully

viable weapon (or 9. f1–e1+ c8–e6 10. f3–g5 d8–d5 11. b1–c3 d5–f5

12. c3–e4 Louis Paulsen-Schwengers, blindsimul 1862.)

9... c5–e7 Horowitz analyzed the critical line 9...f6!? 10. h6 10. g5xe7 e8xe7

11. f1–e1+ c8–e6 12. e1–e4! Horowitz writes: "A quick appraisal indicates

various pluses and minuses for both sides.

8... c8–e6

In fact the only good move, if 8... e8–f8?! 9. c1–g5 g7xf6 10. g5–h6+ f8–g8

11. d1–d2 (if 11. b1–c3? c5–f8 12. h6xf8 g8xf8 13. c3–b5 c8–g4 )

11... c8–f5 12. d2–f4=

9. f3–g5

The main move from Steinitz (1860). A lesser played line is the Schlechter

variation: 9.f6xg7 although played by Max Lange, but if White captures the g7

pawn at this point then advantage goes to Black's side after 9... h8–g8 10. c1–

g5

(10. f3–g5 d8–e7? Lange-Von Schmidt 1853) 10... c5–e7 11. g5xe7

e8xe7 12. e1–e4 d4–d3?! (better is 12...f7–f5! 13. e4–h4 e7–f7

(or 13... g8xg7 14. f3xd4 d8–d5? 15.g2–g3 a8–d8 16. b1–c3+–

Euwe-Van Hooren, Amsterdam 1927)

13. b1–d2 d3xc2 14. d1xc2 d8–d3 the White player is the Man with the Plan

and he needs to remember each move precisely. Any other else one incorrect

move and the tables will turn towards the Black side.

9... d8–d5

About the only move, if: 9... d8xf6? 10. g5xe6

f7xe6 11. d1–h5+ g7–g6 12. h5xc5 is a

notorious trap 12... h8–f8 13.f2–f3 0–0–0 14. c1–

g5 d8–d5 15. c5xd5 e6xd5+–; 9...g7–g6

Loman defence 10. d1–g4 d8–d5= Dimer -

Van Foreest Arnold, Amsterdam 1899;

9... d8–d7? 10. g5xe6 f7xe6 11. d1–h5+

d7–f7 12. h5xc5+–

10. b1–c3

Kind of similar move as in the "Anti Max Lange" line, but the black Queen has

far less options here.

10... d5–f5

And not: 10...d4xc3?? 11. d1xd5 wins.

11. c3–e4

The Marshall variation.

11.g2–g4 Berger variation 11... f5xf6? (if 11... f5–g6! 12. c3–e4 c5–b6 13.f2–

f4–+ Berger variation) 12. c3–d5 f6–d8 13. e1xe6+ f7xe6 14. g5xe6 d8–d7

15. d1–e2 c5–e7 16. d5xc7+ e8–f7 17. e2xc4 c6–e5 18. c4–b3 1–0

Steinitz-Meitner, Vienna 1860.

11...0–0–0!

Black should try this castling Queen-side for sure, but with complicated play.

Black needs to be extra cautious to avert White's Activity. If now: 11... c5–f8?

Rubinstein variation 12. g5xf7 e8xf7 13. e4–g5+ f7–g8 and White regains

the piece with a winning attack;

11... c5–b6!? 12.f6xg7 h8–g8 13.g2–g4 f5–g6 14. g5xe6 f7xe6 15. c1–g5

g8xg7 16. e4–f6+ Marshall-Bampton, Saratoga 1899.

12. g5xe6

Technically, the Max Lange Gambit is not a

pure gambit and is also often called Max Lange

Attack. The reason is that White regain the

sacrificed pawn quite quickly in the majority of

cases.

12.g2–g4 f5–d5 (12... f5–e5! is the main line

since the other lines all lead to clear

advantages for white) 13.f6xg7 h8–g8 14. e4–

f6 d5–d6 15. g5–e4 d6–e5 16.f2–f4 d4–d3+

17. g1–g2 e5–d4 18.c2–c3 1–0 Chigorin -

Albin, Berlijn 1897.

12...f7xe6

13.g2–g4

The most aggressive line, and the one with advantage.13.f6xg7?! h8–g8

14. e4xc5 f5xc5 15. c1–h6 c5–f5 16. d1–e2 e6–e5

13... f5–e5

Here the game depends on who is the

better player. This is the main line

since the other lines all lead to clear

advantages for white: 13... f5–d5?

14.f6xg7 h8–g8 15. e4–f6+–

14.f6xg7 h8–g8

15. c1–h6!

This game represented an important improve for the Max Lange theory. Here

Marshall introduced the move 15. h6! for the first time, which happens to be

very strong, because it turns the white Pawns on the King side into a very

dangerous weapon.

15. c1–g5 d8–e8? (if 15... c5–e7=) 16. g5–f6+–

15...d4–d3

Shortly before departing for Europe, Marshall had examined the Scottish Gambit

and especially the Max Lange Attack. Marshall and Capablanca played some

training games to test out the variation.

15... c5–b4?! 16.f2–f4 e5–b5 (and not 16... e5–a5? 17. e4–f6 d4–d3+– (or

17... b4xe1 18. d1xe1+–) ) 17. e4–f6 g8xg7 18. h6xg7 b4xe1+–; 15... c5–

e7 16. e4–g5 e5–f4 17. e1–e4 f4–f6 Edward Lasker-Rotlevi, Hamburg

1910.

16.c2–c3 c5–d6?

Clearly not the best, if 16...d3–d2 17. e1–e2

d8–d3 18. d1–f1 ; 16... c5–b6?! 17. d1–f3

g8xg7! 18. e4–f6 (if 18. h6xg7 e5xg7=).

17.f2–f4

The old swindler Frank James Marshall make it

to work.

17... e5–d5

The attack is off, but no better is: 17... e5–b5?!

18.b2–b3

18. d1–f3!

White plans to play d6:+.

18... d6–e7?

A mistake, better is: 18... d8–d7 19. e4xd6+ d5xd6 20. a1–d1 e6–e5 21.g4–

g5 e5xf4 22. e1–e4 d6–c5+ 23. f3–f2 c5–d5 24. f2xf4

19.g4–g5

The correct move, 19. a1–d1? e7–f6 and Black is even

better.

19... d5–f5 20. e4–g3 f5–f7?

Another incorrect continuation, better is: 20... f5–b5!?

21.f4–f5

a) 21. e1xe6?! b5xb2 22. a1–d1 (22. a1–e1? b2xc3

black wins) ;

b) 21. a1–b1! passive but effective 21...d3–d2 22. e1–d1

d8–d3 23. f3–e4+–; 21...d3–d2 22. e1–f1 c6–e5

23. f3–e4=

21. f3–g4

Also 21. e4 is very good.

21... d8–e8

Indirect protection, but the position is hopeless.

22. e1–e4

And of course not: 22. e1xe6? e7–c5+–+

22...b7–b5 23.a2–a4 a7–a6 24.a4xb5 a6xb5

25. g1–g2

Going out of the check is a quiet but an effective

attacking move!

25... c6–d8 26. g4–f3 f7–g6

After this move the Black King is on his own and

he doesn't stand a change.

27. e4–d4

Mate in 10 (Stokfish 12)!

27...c7–c6 28. d4xd8+ c8xd8 29. f3xc6

And Black resign. Some openings are so unbalanced that one false move can

cost you the game. A prime example is the Max Lange attack, one of the

stormiest opening systems of the mid 19th century. This game was very

important for the theoretical development of the Max Lange attack.

1–0

Frank Marshall

Frank James Marshall (August 10, 1877 – November 9, 1944) was the U.S. Chess Champion from 1909

to 1936, and one of the world's strongest chess players in the early part of the 20th century.