Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. c4/2...Nf6/3. cxd5

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Marshall Defence
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. cxd5

3. cxd5[edit | edit source]

White takes the pawn. Black almost has to recover the pawn because of the control d5 exerts over his moves, but neither variation is very appealing:

  • 3...Nxd5 allows 4. e4 when White has gained a tempo, the centre, and opened up lines for his pieces.
  • 3...Qxd5 prevents white from obtaining a full pawn centre but results in 4. Nc3, winning a tempo anyway.

Because white is given a comfortable position regardless of what path black chooses, this opening is not seen very often at the professional level.

Black has also the option to play a gambit and aim at the center, with for instance 3...c6 4.dxc6 Nxc6 5.Nf3 e5!

Theory table[edit | edit source]

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d5

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References[edit | edit source]