Chess Opening: QGD Marshall Defense 4.e4

A basic examination of the Queen's Gambit Declined: Marshall Defense 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6. In this video we examine the consequences of the obvious space-gaining sequence 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.e4, although it is thought that 4.Nf3 is more accurate because of the variation 4.e4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5!

BTW: Hi, I'm back.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• pullin
• chess
• queen's
• gambit
• marshall
• defense

[tigranvartanovitch]

I meet this defence quite often. I think it is a lot more resilient than it first appears. How about playing 5.Bd3 instead of 5. Nc3? It not only allows you to counter 5...e5 with 6. de without the exchange of queens, it allows a weak opponent the opportunity of playing 5...Qxd4. Also, a lot of club players play 4...Nb6 instead of 4....Nf6. This would allow black to enter a kind of Grunfeld with a later g7-g6.

[GreenCastleBlock]

@tigranvartanovitch The Grunfeld is a very sharp defense against d4, I wouldn't say the same about the 4...Nb6 Marshall. 5.Nc3, 5.Nf3 or 5.Be3 all look pretty good. White's center is not under any pressure.

In the 4...Nf6 line I have taken a look at your suggestion of 5.Bd3 and I feel that it is very reasonable. There appears to be no surefire way for Black to equalize. (But I'd still rather play 4.Nf3)

[Dessan01]

Great vid Matt, Im a Queens Gambit player and its amazing how many people play the Marshall defence lets face it, it wasnt Franks best idea ever!

I have to say I always go for 4.e4 even though its considered premature, why dont you like 4Nf6 5.e5, Nd5 6 Bc4? Ive won many a game with this line I dont see any long term problems wish say 6e6 7 Nc3 if black plays 7N x c3 Im always quite happy.

[GreenCastleBlock]

Black should not commit to taking on c3 unnecessarily as white gets a useful 'c' pawn.

The problem with pushing to e5 is that the d5 square cannot be contested by a white pawn. The most aggressive way for Black to play might be

1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.e4 Nf6 5.e5 Nd5 6.Bc4 Nb6 7.Bb3 Nc6 8.Ne2 ...

(8.Nf3!? Bg4!? 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Ng5+ Ke8 11.Qxg4 Qxd4 favors Black, but 8.Nf3 Bg4 9.Ng5 forces a perpetual check.)

8...Bf5 9.Nbc3 e6 10.a3 Qd7 11.O-O O-O-O

keeping the d5 square available.

[Sheendude]

How about at 8:22 after the pawn is captured on d4, you push the E pawn to e5 attacking the knight?

[GreenCastleBlock]

Hmm. I have seen games with 7.Bc4?! at that point, but not e5. I think White may be in trouble after just 7.e5 dxc3 8.exf6 Qxf6, or 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.exf6 Bb4.

[MrSJL72]

Quite interesting. I knew that direct e4 in fourth move is not as good as Nf3, now I also know, at least partially, why.

[brassboot]

This is very good video, I like intensity to detail for each move.

[weefunker]

molested by a white pawn lulz

[TheChessvids]

Woah, tripled isolated e pawns. Now I've seen everything =). On a more serious note, good video Matt.

[topshonuff]

Thanks for video.. Great Job..

[pisnell]

I found this vid very well done and actually more than simply basic. Good job

[CUB3FR34K]

lol tripled up pawn.

[Zyrog]

oh man, when you said molested I laughed so hard