The Marshall Attack, Re3 Variation is a variation of the Ruy Lopez, catalogued as ECO C89. The line runs 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. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. Bxd5 cxd5 13. d4 Bd6 14. Re3, reaching the position shown below after 27 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4, Black on d5). Development is level at two minor pieces each, and White is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move after 14 moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank; Black’s d-file pawn is isolated; Black has the bishop pair; the e-file file is fully open.
On the Ruy Lopez generally: One of the oldest and most classical openings. White develops rapidly and puts pressure on Black's center.
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The Marshall Attack, Re3 Variation goes 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. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. Bxd5 cxd5 13. d4 Bd6 14. Re3. It is a variation of the Ruy Lopez and is catalogued as ECO C89.
The Marshall Attack, Re3 Variation is ECO C89. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Ruy Lopez.
Stockfish evaluates the position 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 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. Bxd5 cxd5 13. d4 Bd6 14. Re3 at 0.00 at depth 18, which is balanced. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4, Black on d5). Development is level at two minor pieces each, and White is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank; Black’s d-file pawn is isolated; Black has the bishop pair; the e-file file is fully open.