It resembles the Marshall Gambit, where White plays 6.Re1 and captures the pawn with 11.Rxe5. That's considered even; the line with the queen is generally shunned by White since his development is even further behind and the queen even more vulnerable to persecution.

We have hundreds of examples of the Marshall Gambit, but only five with 11.Qxe5--and Black scores 3 wins, 2 draws in those games. A small sample, but indicative of why White avoids the whole mess.

From my personal notebook . . . .

Alex Shabalov - Giovanni Vescovi
Pan-American Championship, Round 8
São Paulo, 31 July 2009

<1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3>

The Marshall Gambit is easily evaded. Common moves to veto the Marshall Gambit are 8...a4, 8...d4 and 8...h3. Former world champion Garry Kasparov paid the Marshall his greatest compliment by never allowing it to be played against him.

<8...d5>

click for larger view

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Marshall Gambit.

<9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6>

11...Nf6 12.Re1 Bd6 13.h3 Ng4 14.Qf3 Qh4 15.d4 Nxf2 16.Re2 Bg4 17.hxg4 Bh2+ 18.Kf1 leaves White up by a Bishop, but his King is badly exposed and under attack (Capablanca-Marshall, Manhattan CC Ch, New York, 1918).

<12.d4>

If 12.d3 Bd6 13.Re1 then:

...If 13...Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Re4 then:

......If 15...Qf5 16.Nd2 Qg6 17.Re1 f5 then:

.........18.Qf3 Kh8 19.Bd1 f4 20.g4 h5 21.h3 Nf6 22.Qg2 hxg4 23.hxg4 White maintains the extra pawn (J. Polgar-Adams, IT, Dos Hermanas, 1999).

.........18.a4 Rb8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Ne4 fxe4 21.dxe4 Bg4 22.Qd4 Bf3 23.exd5 c5 24.Qh4 Rbe8 25.Be3 Qf5 26.Rac1 Be4 27.Bd1 Bxd5 28.Bc2 White retains the extra pawn (Anand-Adams, IT, Dortmund, 2000). :

......15...Qd7 16.Nd2 Bb7 17.Re1 c5 18.Ne4 Be7 19.a4 b4 20.Bg5 Bxg5 21.Nxg5 bxc3 22.bxc3 Rad8 23.Ne4 Qc6 24.Qh5 gives White the extra pawn and the advantage in space (J. Polgar-Adams, IT, Tilburg, 1997). :

...13...Bf5 14.Qf3 then:

......If 14...Qh4 15.g3 Qh3 16.Bxd5 cxd5 17.Qxd5 Rad8 18.Qg2 Qxg2+ 19.Kxg2 Bxd3 20.Be3 then:

.........20...Rfe8 21.Nd2 b4 22.Bb6 Rxe1 23.Rxe1 Rb8 24.Ba5 White retains the pawn (Shirov-Leko, IT. Morelia/Linares, 2008). :

.........20...Be4+ 21.f3 Bc6 22.Nd2 Rfe8 23.Bd4 Rxe1 24.Rxe1 White retains the pawn (Leko-Naiditsch, IT, Dortmund, 2008). :

......14...Re8 15.Rxe8+ Qxe8 16.Nd2 Qe1+ 17.Nf1 Bg6 18.g3 Re8 19.Bd1 Qe6 20.Bd2 Qh3 21.a4 b4 22.Rc1 h6 23.c4 Ne7 24.d4 Qd7 25.Be3 c5 26.dxc5 Be5 27.Qe2 Nc6 28.a5 Nxa5 is equal (Dolmatov-Kamsky, IT, Dortmund, 1993).

If the move order introduced by Anand 12.Re1 Bd6 13.g3 then:

...13...Bf5 14.d4 Qd7 15.Be3 Rae8[/i][/font] is stereotypically unclear for the Marshall: White has the pawn and Black has better development, more space and the initiative (Anand-Svidler, World Ch Trmt, Mexico City, 2007).

...13...Re8 14.d4 Rxe1+ 15.Qxe1 Ra7 16.Be3 Re7 17.Nd2 Qe8 18.Nf1 is also unclear (Anand-Aronian, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2008).

<12...Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Re4>

If 15.Qe2 Bg4 16.Qf1 then:

...If 16...Qh5 17.Nd2 Rae8 then:

......If 18.f3 Rxe1 19.Qxe1 Bxf3 20.Nxf3 Qxf3 21.Bd2 then:

.........21...Qg4 22.Qd1 Qd7 23.Qf3 Nb6 24.Rf1 Nc4 25.Bc1 c5 26.Bxc4 bxc4 is equal (Volokitin-Kurnosov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).

.........21...h5 22.Qd1 Qf5 23.Bc2 Qh3 24.Qf3 g6 25.Bh6 Re8 26.Rf1 is equal (Caruana-Negi, Corus C, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).

......18.Rxe8 Rxe8 19.f3 Bf5 20.Ne4 Bc7 21.Bd2 Qg6 22.Re1 Bxe4 23.Rxe4 Rxe4 24.Bc2 f5 25.fxe4 fxe4 26.Qg2 Nf6 is equal (Svidler-Leko, World Ch Trmt, Mexico City, 2007).

...16...Rae8 17.Rxe8 Qxf1+ 18.Kxf1 Rxe8 gives White an extra pawn, but Black bewtter development and the more active game (Volokitin-Inarkiev, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).

15.Be3 Bg4 16.Qd3 Rae8 17.Nd2 Re6 18.a4 Qh5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Qf1 Bh3 21.Qe2 Bg4 22.Qf1 Bh3 23.Qe2 Bg4 draw (J. Polgar-Dr. Nunn, Munich, 1991).

<15...g5 16.Qf1 Qh5 17.Nd2 f5>

17...Bf5 18.f3 Nf6 19.Qg2 Qg6 20.Re3 Nd5 21.Re1 Rae8 22.Qf2 Nf4!! 23.gxf4 gxf4+ 24.Kh1 Rxe1+ 25.Qxe1 Kh8 26.Qg1 Qh5 27.Qf2 Rg8 28.Bd1 Bh3 29.Be2 Be7 30.Bd3 Bh4 31.Qe2 Qg5 32.Qe5+ Qxe5 33.dxe5 Bf2 White resigns (Shomoev-Grischuk, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).

<18.Bd1>

Move order can be important here.

18.Re1 f4 19.Bd1? f3! 20.Ne4 Bh3 21.Qd3 Rae8 22.Bd2 Rxe4!! 23.Qxe4 Bxg3 24.Bxf3 Bxh2+ 25.Kxh2 Bg4+ 26.Kg1 Bxf3 27.Qe6+ Kg7 28.Qe5+ Rf6 29.Qh2 Rh6 White resigns (Vachier Lagrave-Svidler, IT, San Sebastián, 2009).

<18...Qh6 19.Re1 f4 20.Ne4 Bh3> (N)

If 20...Bc7 then:

...21.Bf3 Bh3 22.Qd3 Rf7 23.Bd2 Raf8 24.Bh1 Rg7 25.Bf3 Rgf7 26.Bh1 Rg7 27.Bf3 Rgf7 draw (Svidler-Leko, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2007).

...21.Bd2 Bf5 22.Nc5 Bd6 23.Bf3 Kh8 24.Nb7 Bb8 25.a4 WHite retains the extra pawn (Galkin-Nielsen, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

...21.f3 Bh3 22.Qf2 g4 23.fxg4 Qg6 24.Qc2 Rae8 White has two extra pawns but Black has the active game [i](Negi-Kosteniuk, Rpd, Cap d'Agde, 2006).

<21.Qe2>

The game has developed into the usual unclear battle between White's extra pawn and Black's initiative.

White won in 52 moves.

It has been played by Geller already, some 57 years ago:

[Event "Budapest"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1952.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Keres, Paul"]
[Black "Geller, Efim P"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C86"]

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[html]
[title]Spanish Game: Worrell Opening, Marshall Gambit[/title] [body style="margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 1in;"]
[b][center][br]

Rainer Polzin (Berlin) - Zahar Efimenko (Bremen)[br]
Bundesliga 0910, Round 2[br]
Hamburg, 18 October 2009[/center][/b][br][br]

[b]1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Qe2[/b][br]

[ul][li]This is the Worrell Opening, a good alternative to the Main Line [i]6.Re1.[/i] The idea is to bring the Rook to d1, giving White a queenside setup.[/li][li]It should be noted that the Worrell loses a move over the Main Line by putting the Queen behind the e-pawn and then moving the King's Rook, while in the Main Line only the Rook is moved. For that reason Black is more likely to get in [i]9...Bg4[/i] after [i]8...d6[/i] (see next note).[/li][/ul] [b]6...b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5[/b][br]

[ul][li]The Worrell Marshall Gambit is usually declined, but it can be accepted.[li]If [font color="red"][i]9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5[/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li]If [font color="red"][i]10...Nxe5 11.Qxe5 Bb7 12.d4 a5 13.Be3 Ra6 14.Bc2 Re6 15.Qh5 g6 16.Qh3 Nxe3 17.fxe3 Bg5[/i][/font] is equal [i](Kashdan-Bisguier, Manhatten CC, New York, 1948).[/i][/li][li]If [font color="darkred"][i]10...Nf4!? 11.Qe4 Nxe5[/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li]If [font color="darkred"][i]12.d4![/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li][font color="darkred"][i]12...Bb7! 13.Qxb7 Ne2+ 14.Kh1 Nxc1 15.dxe5 Nxb3 16.axb3 Qd3 17.Kg1[/i][/font] gives White an extra pawn and Black the initiative [i](Dimitrijevic-Fr. Lombardy, Op, New York, 1987)[/i][/li][li]If [font color="magenta"][i]12...Ne2+?! 13.Qxe2! Ng6 14.Nd2 Bb7 15.Nf3 Bd6 16.Ne5 Qh4 17.f4 Rae8 18.Bd2 c5 19.Qf2[/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li]If [font color="magenta"][i]19...cxd4? 20.cxd4 Qxf2+ 21.Rxf2 Nh4 22.Nd7 Nxg2 23.f5[/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li]If [font color="magenta"][i]23...Nh4 24.Bf4 Bxf4 25.Rxf4 Re2 26.Rxh4[/i][/font] Black resigns [i](Brinkmann-Schlage, IT, Berlin, 1928).[/i][/li][li]No better is [font color="purple"][i]23...Ne3 24.Nxf8 Kxf8 25.f6 Nc4 26.Bg5 gxf6 27.Rxf6.[/i][/font][/li][/ul][li]A more stubborn defense is [font color="darkorange"][i]19...c4 20.Bc2 Qh5 21.Qg3 Re7 22.Nxg6 fxg6,[/i][/font] but Black still stands much better.[/li][/ul][/ul][li]If [font color="magenta"][i]12.Qxa8? Qd3![/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li]If [font color="magenta"][i]13.Bd1[/i][/font] then after [font color="magenta"][i]13...Bh3 14.Qxa6 Bxg2 15.Re1 Qf3!![/i][/font] White resigns as mate is certain [i](Roesch-Schlage, Hamburg, 1910).[/i][/li][li]If [font color="darkorange"][i]13.Re1 Nh3+ 14.Kh1 Nxf2+ 15.Kg1 Nh3+ 16.Kh1 Bh4![/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li]If [font color="darkorange"][i]17.Qd5[/i][/font] then after [font color="darkorange"][i]17...Bxe1 18.Qxd3 Nxd3 19.gxh3 Bb7+ 20.Kg1 Bf2+ 21.Kf1 Re8[/i][/font] White cannot avoid mate with the Rook on e1.[/li][li]If [font color="purple"][i]17.g3[/i][/font] then after [font color="purple"][i]17...c6!! 18.Re2 Qf3+ 19.Rg2 Qf1+[/i][/font] Black mates on the next move.[/li][/ul][/ul][/ul][/ul][/ul] [b]9...Bb7[/b][br]

[ul][li][font color="red"][i]9...d4 10.cxd4 Nxd4 11.Nxd4 Qxd4 12.Be3 Qd6 13.Rc1 Rd8 14.Nd2 Qxd3 15.Qxd3 Rxd3 16.Rxc7 Bd7[/i][/font] is equal [i](Tiviakov-Morovic, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1994).[/i][/li][/ul] [b]10.Nbd2[/b][br]

[ul][li][font color="red"][i]10.Rd1 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.Nf1 Na5 13.Bc2 c5 14.Ng3 Qb6 15.a3 c4 16.dxc4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 Nxc4[/i][/font] is equal [i](Mamedov-Akopian, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).[/i][/li][/ul][/ul] [b]10...Re8 11.Re1!?[/b][br]

[ul][li][font color="red"][i]11.a3 Bf8 12.Rd1 Nb8 13.Nf1 Nbd7 14.Ne3 c6 15.Nf5 Qc7 16.h3 Rad8[/i][/font] leaves Black at least equal [i](J. Polgar-Grischuk, TT, Moscow, 2002).[/i][/li][/ul] [b]11...Qd7!?[/b][br]

[ul][li][font color="red"][i]11...Bf8 12.a3 h6 13.Ba2 Qd7 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Ne4 Nf4 16.Bxf4 exf4 17.Qd2 Qf5 18.Re2 Ne5 19.Nxe5 Rxe5 20.f3 Re7 21.b4 Bd5 22.Rae1 Bxa2 23.Qxa2 a5 24.Qd2[/i][/font] draw [i](Reinderman-van der Werf, Corus C, 2008).[/i][/li][/ul] [b]12.exd5!?[/b][br]

[ul][li]If [font color="red"][i]12.Nf1 Rad8 13.Bg5 Na5 14.Bc2 dxe4 15.dxe4 Nc4 16.Ne3[/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li]If [font color="red"][i]16...Nxb2!? 17.Nxe5! Qe6 18.Nxf7 Qxf7 19.Bb3 Nc4 20.Nxc4 bxc4 21.Bxc4[/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li][font color="red"][i]21...Nd5 22.Bxe7 Qxe7 23.exd5 Qxe2 24.Rxe2 Rxe2 25.Bxe2 Bxd5 26.a4[/i][/font] gives White an extra pawn [i](Keres-Geller, IT, Budapest, 1952).[/i][/li][li][font color="magenta"][i]21...Bd5? 22.exd5! Bd6 23.Qf3 a5 24.Re6 Rxe6 25.dxe6[/i][/font] gives White two extra pawns.[/li][/ul][li][font color="darkred"][i]16...Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Ng4 18.Qa7 Qc6 19.Bxe7 Rxe7[/i][/font] gives Black the advantage in space.[/li][/ul][/ul] [b]12...Nxd5[/b][br]

[ul][li]The game is equal.[/li][/ul]
[b]13.Ne4 h6 14.Bd2 Rad8 15.Rad1 Qg4 16.h3[/b][br]

[ul][li]The e4 square should be overprotected on principle. The pawn at g2 is in no real danger.[/li][li]If [font color="red"][i]18.Bc2![/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li][font color="red"][i]18...f5 19.Ng3 Bf6 20.b4 Re7 21.Qf1 Na7 22.h4[/i][/font] remains equal.[/li][li][font color="darkred"][i]18...Bf8 19.Nh4 Qe6 20.Qf3 Bc8 21.d4[/i][/font] remains equal.[/li][/ul][/ul] [b]18...f5![/b][br]

[ul][li]White's inaccuracy makes this move more effective than it would have been otherwise.[/li][/ul] [b]19.Ng3 Bf6 20.h4[/b][br]

[ul][li]If [font color="red"][i]20.Bc2 Kh7 21.b4 Nb8 22.c4 Nb6[/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li]If [font color="red"][i]23.d4 e4[/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li]If [font color="red"][i]24.c5 Nc4 25.Bc1 Bd5! 26.h4 Kg8 27.h5 Qf7 28.Nh2 Be6[/i][/font] gives Black the advantage in space and pressure on weak pawns.[/li][li]If [font color="darkred"][i]25...exf3? 26.Bxf5! Qxf5 27.Nxf5![/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li][font color="darkred"][i]27...Rxe1 28.Qxe1 fxg2 29.Bf4 Rd7 30.Qe8[/i][/font] gives White a decisive material advantage.[/li][li][font color="magenta"][i]27...fxg2 28.Qd3 Kg8 29.Rxe8+ Rxe8 30.Qg3[/i][/font] wins for White.[/li][/ul][/ul][li][font color="purple"][i]24.cxb5 axb5 25.Qxb5 Rd5[/i][/font] gives White an extra pawn, but White has more but Black has the active game, more space in the center, more freedom overall and the initiative.[/li][li][font color="darkorange"][i]23.cxb5 axb5 24.Qe2 Nc6 25.h4 Nd4[/i][/font] gives White the initiative.[/li][/ul][/ul] [b]20...f4[/b][br]

[ul][li]If [font color="red"][i]20...Qg4 21.h5![/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li][font color="red"][i]21...f4! 22.Re4 Qd7 23.Ne2 Nb6 24.Bc2 Nb8[/i][/font] puts White's Rook in a bad spot.[/li][li][font color="darkred"][i]21...Nf4? 22.Nh2! Qg5 23.Nf3 Qg4 24.Nh2 Qg5[/i][/font] draws,[/li][/ul][/ul] [b]21.Ne4 Bc8 22.Bc2[/b][br]

[ul][li]If [font color="red"][i]22.c4[/i][/font] Black builds pressure on White's position with [font color="red"][i]22...Nde7 23.cxb5 axb5 24.Rc1 Bg4.[/i][/font][/li][/ul] [b]22...Bg4 23.Qe2 Nde7 24.d4[/b][br]

[ul][li][font color="red"][i]24.b4 Nf5 25.Rc1 Nfd4 26.cxd4 Nxd4 27.Nxd4 Bxe2[/i][/font] Black gets a Queen for three minor pieces and is still a pawn to the good.[/li][/ul] [b]24...exd4 25.Bxf4 Nf5![/b][br]

[ul][li]White attacks the h-pawn.[/li][li]If [font color="red"][i]25...Nd5 26.Nxf6 Rxe2 27.Bxg6 Rxe1+ 28.Rxe1 gxf6[/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li][font color="red"][i]29.Be4 Nxf4 30.Bxc6[/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li][font color="red"][i]30...d3! 31.Nd2 Ne2+[/i][/font] Black still has the initiative, but there is no win in sight.[/li][font color="magenta"][i]30...dxc3?! 31.bxc3! Rd3 32.Re8+[/i][/font] is equal.[/li][/ul][li][font color="darkorange"][i]29.Bg3 Bxf3 30.gxf3 dxc3 31.bxc3 Ne5[/i][/font] Black is a long ways from winning.[/li][/ul][/ul] [b]26.Bxc7?[/b][br]

[ul][li]The final nail goes into White's coffin.[/li][li]If [font color="red"][i]26.h5 Qxh5 27.Qd3 Bxf3[/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li][font color="red"][i]28.Nxf6 gxf6 29.Rxe8+ Rxe8 30.Qxf3 Qxf3 31.gxf3 Nd6[/i][/font] gives Black healthier pawns, but White still has hope of counterplay.[/li][li][font color="darkred"][i]28.Qxf3? Qxf3 29.gxf3 Nh4 30.Re2 Be5 31.Bg3 Nxf3+[/i][/font] wins for Black.[/li][/ul][/ul] [b]26...Rc8![/b][br]

[ul][li]White has few options.[/li][/ul]
[b]27.Bb6[/b][br]

[ul][/li][li]If [font color="red"][i]27.Qd3 Rxc7 28.h5 Bxh5 29.Nxf6 Rxe1+ 30.Rxe1 gxf6[/i][/font] doesn't give White much hope, either.[/li][/ul] [b]27...dxc3 28.Qd3 Ne5 29.Nxe5 Bxe5 30.f3[/b][br]

[ul][li]If [font color="red"][i]30.Bc5 Nxh4 31.Nd6 Bf5[/i][/font] then:[/li][ul][li]If [font color="red"][i]32.Qh3 Bxc2 33.Nxe8 Bxd1 34.Rxd1 cxb2[/i][/font] is lights out.[/li][li][font color="darkred"][i]32.Qd5 Bxc2 33.Nxc8 Bxd1 34.Ne7 Rxe7 35.Bxe7 Nf3+[/i][/font] leaves Black with an easy win.[/li][/ul][/ul] [b]30...Qxb6+ 0-1[/b]

[ul][li]Black has won a piece.[/li][li]Herr Polzin resigns.[/li][/ul]