Sally Simpson: ***
The best and worst of Marshall.
Honestly when you play through his games, and his losses/draws can be just as much fun as his wins, you very often do not know what is coming next. That is a tribute I've seen labelled on Tal, but in Marshall's case you really don't. ( see the above comment and move 26 below.) The fun starts here.
 click for larger viewMarshall, no doubt lured in by Black's time wasting opening moves, calmly played 13.Re1 if 13...hxg5 14.Nd6+ and Nxf7 a position that had me busting my head for an hour trying to eek out a win. I got a perpetual. The board is loaded with plausible mistakes but a perpetual. Later Marshall missed a good move when going for the same idea.  click for larger view He played 22.Qd2 aiming at Rxg7+ Qxh6+
But Teichmann replied 22...Ne4 hitting the Queen and h6 is also defended. 22.Qc1 is the same idea but here 22...Ne4 does not hit the Queen and White still has the makings of a good attack. Then onto here.
 click for larger viewMarshall had tried to fan the flames with an exchange sac but now it's looking pretty hopeless. There is still a wee trick left on the board and Marshall felt honour bound to keep trying until all hope was lost. 25.Bc4+ Kh7
Pity Black never played 25...Kh8 then 26. Nf7+ wins the Queen 1-0. Marshall must have thought the King had gone to h8 because he played.  click for larger view26.Nf7
It does infact win the Queen. The White Queen. 1-0 after Black's next move. *** |