1.e4
e5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.Bc4
Bc5
Frank Marshall playing a Giuoco Piano? There's a contradiction in terms here somewhere. But fear not, Marshall quickly steers these innocent beginnings into turbulent waters.
4.c3
Nf6
5.d4
Marshall bui lds a big center, yet it appears that he has left himself open to a tactic.
5...exd4
6.cxd4
Bb4+
7.Kf1
An interesting response. Marshall knows that any piece he puts on c3 or d2 will be subject to pressure once Black captures the pawn, so he relinquishes the castling privilege to avoid this.
7...Nxe4
So White's perfect center has been destroyed, his King is dislocated, his d-pawn is isolated, and Black's pieces are annoyingly active. What to do?
8.d5!
What else? Attack! Now one of Black's Knights is embarrassed.
8...Ne7
9.Qd4!
Now the other! According to Fritz, White's dynamic compensation is enough to achieve equality here.
9...Nf6
10.Bg5
Note the economy of Marshall's play. He knows that all his chances rest on making the most of his active pieces here and now. Consequently, he wastes no time: every move makes a new threat, forces a new concession.
10...Ng6
11.Nbd2
h6
12.Re1+!
Again, Marshall wrings every last drop of play out of this position, gaining tempo after tempo. Now Black is forced to dislocate his King.
12...Kf8
12...Be7?
fails miserably to 13.Bxf6!
gxf6
14.d6!
The point of this move becomes apparent after 14...cxd6
15.Qxf6!
Notice now how the Queen and Bishop converge on f7. If White had instead taken here right away, the d-pawn would be in the Bishop's way. 15...Rh7
(15...Rf8
16.Ne4!
nails the sore point at d6.) 16.Bxf7+!
And White has regained his material with an overwhelming positional edge.
13.Bd3
Be7?
13...hxg5
14.Qxb4+
is slightly better for White.; Best was 13...Bd6
at which point Fritz declares the position completely equal.
14.Bxg6!
Marshall wants the e5 square, so he first removes Black's only defender of it.
14...hxg5
15.Ne5!
White's pieces are walking on air! Marshall tosses both Bishops to the winds, knowing that he still has a big enough army to launch a serious King hunt.
15...fxg6
16.Nxg6+
Kf7
17.Rxe7+
Kxg6
And there goes a Knight, but does anyone care? Black's options are very limited. For example, 17...Kg8
18.Ne4!!
and Black must give up his Queen to stop mate.; 17...Qxe7
is best according to Fritz, bailing out into into a worse endgame.
18.Qd3+
Kh6
19.h4!
Open lines are us!
19...g4
Desperately trying to keep the file closed, but it's too late anyway.
20.h5
Focal point at g6.
20...Nxh5
21.Qf5!
And mate cannot be stopped. A true Marshall!
1-0