Its a very interesting game ... and can be found in dozens of sources. (See the DEC. 2004 issue of 'Chess Life,' Pal Benko's column. See also the book: "Bobby Fischer, The Greatest," by Max Euwe.)

This is a game ... full of fight. ALSO - the 'experts' have yet to agree on the analysis of this game! Did you check out my page?

But the comment I found most interesting was to <8...0-0>:

<"As White's extra pawn is doubled and will not count until the ending is reached, Black is justified, considering his development, in permitting this material advantage.">

No analysis or lines, just a general positional judgment. Marshall wrote notes to all his Cambridge Springs games in the ACB, and this theme of the positional, intuitive pawn sacrifice comes up often. Perhaps that explains why the famous Marshall Gambit in the Spanish, despite reams of analysis, essentially rests on the positional basis of superior development.

Marshall's notes can be found here, starting on p.1 of the magazine:

Nothing, although SF thinks 39.Kxd5 is even stronger.

White would have had good winning chances in either case, though it would have been difficult in practice, since not even Lasker is a chess engine.

For example, 39.Kxd5 Qxc3 40.c6 Qa5 41.c7! b4+ 42.Kc4 Qa6+ 43.Kxb4 Qb6+ 44.Kc4 Qc6+ 45.Kd3 Qd5+ 46.Qd4 Qxf3+ 47.Kc4 Qc6+ 48.Qc5 Qe4+ 49.Kb5. A computer says yes, that's a win, but not so easy for a human.

Or 39.Qb8+ Kh7 40.Qxb5 Qf2+ 41.Kxd5 Qxf3+ 42.Kd6 Qf4+ 43.Kd7. Black can push the king in front of the pawn and give lots of checks, or start pushing his f-pawn. An engine has no trouble seeing that White is nevertheless winning, but again, very tough for a human being.

39.c6 was a mistake, but why?

Because after 39....Qa4+ 40.Ke3 Qa7+ 41.Kd3

click for larger view

41....b4!!

SF confirms that everything else loses, e.g. 41....Qg1 42.Qb8+ Kh7 42.c7 Qd1+ 44.Ke3 and the king escapes after a million checks.

But now 42.cxb4 Qa6+ picks up the c-pawn (42....Qa3+ also draws). And 42.c7 draws as seen in the game.