ECO C89 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Marshall Attack

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

9. exd5+0.59

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Marshall Attack (C89), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. exd5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.59).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.599. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nf6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Ng4
  2. +0.129. d4 dxe4 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Qxd1 12. Bxd1 Nd7 13. Rxe4 Nc5
  3. −0.149. d3 dxe4 10. dxe4 Qxd1 11. Bxd1 Be6 12. Bg5 a5 13. Bb3 Bxb3

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. a4 Bb7

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Marshall Attack?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. exd5 for White, continuing Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nf6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Ng4. White is slightly better (+0.59). The next best moves are 9. d4 (+0.12) and 9. d3 (−0.14).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Marshall Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.59: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Ruy Lopez: Marshall Attack?
C89. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).