After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3  Nc6 3.Bb5  f5 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4  Nf6 6.Nxf6+ Qxf6  7.Qe2 Be7  8.Bxc6 bxc6 the Sweedish GM Emanuel Berg tried 9.d4 in Gibraltar this month. Something went wrong with his preparation and he had to fight for a draw. When looking at the game that went 9...Qg6 10.O-O d6 11.dxe5 the move 11.Qc4 looked like a good alternative.


I analyzed this a bit but are new to this opening so there is probably something wrong in my analysis but for me it looks like Black have problem getting any play.
The best line I found (with computer help, 11.Qc4 haven't been played as far as I know) was 11...d5 12.Qc3 e4 13.Ne5 Qe6 14.Qxc6 Qxc6 15.Nxc6 and White is a healthy pawn up. I tried many other lines for Black but all seems to be even worse to me, then I have never played the Black side of the Schliemann and have no idea how he expect to counterattack.

2nd norm for Sabino

Will it add confidence to potential buyers with this piece of news:
http://tournaments.chessdom.com/cannes-chess-festival-2009

IM Sabino Brunello achieves GM norm (1st? 2nd? 3rd?)

Thanks Toppy for those insights, though it'll be a strange day for chess when 3...f5 is held to be adequate against 3.Bb5.  If it's anywhere near as challenging as you say, 1...e5 and 3...f5 should be in everyone's repertoire, just to threaten the occasional rip-off.

micawber wrote on 02/11/09 at 08:05:34:


You are refering to http://www.everymanchess.com/chess/books/Fighting_the_Ruy_Lopez

Fighting the Ruy Lopez
by Milos Pavlovic

The Ruy Lopez is incredibly common at all levels of chess, and everyone who plays 1 e4 e5 as Black needs to have a reliable antidote to this powerful opening. In this book, Grandmaster and Lopez expert Milos Pavlovic provides the answer. Drawing upon his many years of experience facing the Lopez, Pavlovic devises a sound and yet ambitious repertoire for Black, the basis of which is provided by the legendary and ever-popular Marshall Attack. The Marshall is a perfect weapon, as it avoids passive positions and the so-called 'Spanish torture'of many other variations. Furthermore, Black's tactical and positional objectives are usually clear-cut, and often involve a plan of direct attack against the white king.

*A complete repertoire against the Ruy Lopez

*Covers the typical plans for both sides

*Emphasizes crucial tactical ideas

*Packed with original analysis.

Published March 2009 EU, April 2009 US | ISBN 9781857445909
Format Paperback, 192 pages

 I too dabbled with the line in blitz, and it proved almost impossible to lose with the opening in the 5 minute pool on ICC, such was the unfamiliarity with a line assumed to be rubbish.  I garnered alot of verbal abuse as a bonus.  Alas, whenever I threatened the Marshall in serious games I was denied a chance to try it, and left wishing I'd played 7... d6 instead of 7... 0-0.

 In blitz I never once reached the critical position examined by Bucker in the double bishop sacrifice line: 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 d5 9. ed e4 10. dc6 exf3 11. Qxf3 Bg4 12. Qg3 Re8 13. f3 Bd6 14. Qf2 Rxe1+ 15. Qxe1 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Bxh2+ 17. KxB Qd3 18. Qe3 Qf5 19. d4 Re8 20. Kg2 RxQ 21. BxR  which didn't look pleasant for Black either in the Bucker article or on the chessboard at home.

  The much maligned Lalic book on the Marshall, from what I recall, had a spectacularly awful chapter on the Steiner gambit.  A chapter in which satisfactory Black tries were assessed (if they were ever actually analyzed) as losing, and troubling lines as pleasant.  The book has long since departed my collection.  Probably I do it an injustice, but I can't say I miss it.

  I wouldn't be surprised, or particularly disappointed, if this backwater didn't appear in Mr. Brunello's book.  No doubt I'll end my moratorium on purchasing chess books in order to buy both this and Pavlovic's book.  The latter because, unlike most books on the Marshall, which tend to offer a survey, it supposedly offers a repertoire.  I doubt I'd utilize it, but it at least promises to be fresh enough to read.

  As a Quality Chess Book the Brunello volume is an obvious pre-order as well - especially if, like me, the Schliemann is the bane of your chess playing life.

Roger Williamson wrote on 02/10/09 at 11:43:36:


I also looked at these articles and was compelled to give them a twirl online. Sharp stuff that can throw your opponent off quite fast. On the downside: in some of the lines I had the feeling the best black could hope for was a perpetual.

One of those variations against which white can claim to be beter but not very easy to play against otb in my opinion.