Louis Eisenberg vs Frank Marshall (1902)

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Louis Eisenberg vs Frank Marshall
Monte Carlo (1902), Monte Carlo MNC, rd 7, Feb-15
Russian Game: Classical Attack (C42) · 0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Apr-30-22		KEG: This was a replay of Marshall's 7th round draw with Eisenberg. At the time this game was played, Marshall stood in fourth place. His win here (though only worth 1/2 point under the replay rules used at Monte Carlo 1902) brought him nearly equal with Pillsbury and not too far behind Janowski and Maroczy. Though Marshall eventually finished in 9th place, at this point in the tournament it appeared he might duplicate his fabulous tie for third at Paris 1900 and recover from the doldrums in his play and results during 1901. The game itself became a blow-out when Eisenberg lost his way beginning on his 17th move. By move 23 and certainly by move 25, he was quite lost, and Marshall polished Eisenberg off aided by further blunders by his opponent on moves 30 and 32. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 The Petroff. A Marshall favorite. 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 Bg4?! click for larger view Usual and better is 5...d5. 5...Be7 is also a popular line. The questionable text was nonetheless a line Marshall--especially after this game--came to employ. It later became a favorite of Holmov. 6. h3 The Tournament Book claimed that 6. Bd3 was better, but the text--which was a novelty at the time of this game--is probably the simplest way to deal with Black's pesky Bishop (although the suggested 6. Bd3 is also strong). 6... Bh5 A further small inaccuracy by Marshall in this one of his favorite openings as Black. 7. Qd3 click for larger view The Tournament Book claimed this was "Eisenberg's system." However, I can find no source indicating that Eisenberg played this move on any other occasions The move does create an immediate tactical threat (8. Qb5+ winning the Bishop on h5, and if 7...Nf6 to protect the Bishop winning the Black b-pawn). But, as Marshall showed, Black has an effective counter to these threats, so Eisenberg should have forgotten about any "system" he might have had and just continued to build up his already superior position with 7. Bd3. 7... Qe7 "!"--(Tournament Book) 8. Be3 Since in some variations the Bishop will want to go to f4, 8. Be2 (which also has the virtue of preparing to castle) was much better. 8... d5 "Protecting the Knight and intending the thrust Qb4+." (Tournament Book) click for larger view 9. a3? This forfeited whatever edge Eisenberg had enjoyed as White. With 9. Qb3 or 9. Nbd2, and maybe also the arguably unsound 9. g4?!, White would still be slightly for choice. 9... Nc6 10. Nbd2 0-0-0 click for larger view Eisenberg had pretty much botched the opening, but he was still only slightly worse and would have been fine with prudent play. But beginning on his next move Eisenberg messed up his game good and proper. It was only because of some upcoming unsound play by Marshall that Eisenberg was able to remain in the game for another 22 moves.

Apr-30-22		KEG: Post II 11. b4? "?"--(Tournament Book) This decision to attempt a Queen-side attack back-fired. 11. 0-0-0 or 11. Be2 or 11. Rg1 were much better. But the Tournament Book's proposed 11. 0-0 was even more misguided. If 12. Be2 (the other move suggested by the Tournament Book) Black would be better after 12...g5 . 11... Bg6 Capitalizing on Eisenberg's poor last move and arranging to deny White the chance to castle. 12. Qb3 Am unhappy necessity. Anything else loses instantly because of the White Queen Black g6 Bishop alignment. "The only move, but White loses the right to castle." (Tournament Book) 12... NxN Even stronger was 12...f5, but Marshall like to attack the enemy King, and having this target in the center suited his style. 13. KxN 13. NxN?? would get crushed by 13...Nxd4 After 13. KxN, the position was: click for larger view 13... f6 This needlessly gave Eisenberg chances. Marshall could have just played 13...Qe6. From a different perspective, Marshall could have anticipated White's scheme with 13...Kb8 (not exactly a Marshall move). 14. Qa4 All of a sudden, Eisenberg's Queen-side attack began to look plausible thanks to Marshall's questionable play. 14... Qe4 A superficial move characteristic of much of Marshall's play in 1901-1902 when he was trying to live up to the reputation he had made for himself in Paris 1900 and before he hit his stride at Cambridge Springs 1904. It now appeared that Eisenberg might actually have winning chances: click for larger view 15. Bd3 Not terrible, but this was the time for 15. b5. 15... Qe8 16. b5 One move too late, and no longer as strong with Black's Queen on e8. 16. BxB was perhaps best. 16... BxB click for larger view 17. bxN? The first indication that Eisenberg did not understand the position. He would have had the superior game with 17. cxB. 17... Be4 Marshall's play was also far from accurate. He should have played 17...Bc4. 18. cxb7+ Eisenberg apparently thought this would give him the edge. If anything, the White awn on b7 helped protect the Black King, and was sure to fall in the fullness of time. 18... Kb8 click for larger view Eisenberg here might have played for a draw by trading Queens. Instead, he gave Marshall a chance to fight a tactical middle-game. This did not work out well for Eisenberg. 19. Qa5 Rd6 Well-played by Marshall. The Rook was now poised to gobble up the White pawn on b7 and also to participate in the attack Marshall was now hatching. 20. Rhb1 Rd6 click for larger view Despite his various transgressions, Eisenberg still had an entirely playable position. In his next few moves, however, Eisenberg managed to run his position into the ditch and was soon hopelessly lost.

Apr-30-22		Granny O Doul: The old ECO rated 6. h3 Bh5 7. Qe2 Qe7 8. Be3 as plus over minus, but "=" would be much nearer the mark. I tried it against Kamsky once; I think he played 6. Bd3. In any case, I didn't get to do what I was planning.

Apr-30-22		KEG: <Granny O Doul> 7. Qe2 in this line is solid but unambitious. Eisenberg's 7. Qd3 is surely better, and 7. Bd3 looks strongest. In your game against Kamsky, 6. Bd3 is a good alternative to 6. h3, and White has about as much of an edge as did Eisenberg after 6. h3.

May-01-22		KEG: Post III 21. RxR Very weak. White would be basically OK with 21. Ne1 or 21. Bf4. Among other things, the text allowed Marshall to connect his Queen-side pawns and give his King fine shelter. 21... cxR 22. Qa6 Bd6 click for larger view 23. c4? What was Eisenberg thinking? He would still have had a likely salvageable position with 23. Ne1. 23. Rb1 or 23. a4 were also far superior to the text. 23... dxc4 24. Qxc4 click for larger view 24... Kxb7? Typically of Marshall's impulsive play in 1901 and 1902. There was no rush to grab the White b-pawn, and certainly no reason to expose the King in this way. Black would have a won game with 24...Qd7 or--if he wanted to take the pawn immediately--24...Bxb7. After Marshall's misguided move, Eisenberg had a chance--his last chance--to save the game, the position after 24. Kxb7 being: click for larger view 25. Rc1? Eisenberg had to try 25. d5. His position would still have been difficult after 25...BxN 26. gxB Qd7 27. a4 Rc8 28. Qb3, but it at least would have been a game. The text hangs the a-pawn, and the game was pretty much over. 25... Qd7 Marshall could also (and more simply) just have taken the a-pawn. In either case, White is busted. 26. d5 Again one move late. 26. Qb3 was the closest White had to being able to offer serious resistance. Now, Marshall cleaned up. 26... BxN 27. gxB Bxa3 click for larger view Marshall was now a pawn up and White's pawn structure had more holes than swiss cheese. The game was as good as over. 28. Ra1 Rc8 29. Qb3 Bc5 click for larger view 30. Ke2? More a death rattle than an effort to hang on. 30. Rc1 was the only way to try to prolong the game. 30... BxB 31. fxB Qxh3 32. d6? This hangs his Rook, but the game was over anyway. 32... Qh2+ click for larger view White resigns If 33. Kf1 or 33. Kd1, then 33...Qh1+ wins the Rook. And if 33. Kd3, White loses a pawn as well after 33...Qxd6+ 34. Ke2 Qh2+ since 35. Kd3 would run into 35...Rd8+ and White gets mated in a few moves (and loses his Queen along the way).

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