C89 Ruy Lopez: Marshall Attack

ECO code C89 covers the Marshall Attack of the Ruy Lopez, reached after 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. Black gives up the e-pawn for rapid development: after 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 the bishop comes to d6 and the queen heads for h4 and h3, aiming at the white king. The main line continues 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3, where White must defend carefully before the extra pawn counts. A quieter choice is 12.d3, which keeps the c1-bishop's diagonal open and prepares to bring the queenside pieces out quickly.