The Marshall Gambit, Tolush Variation is a variation of the Semi-Slav Defense, catalogued as ECO D31. The line runs 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8. Be2 c5 9. Bxc5 Qxg2, reaching the position shown below after 18 half-moves.
The four central squares are empty of pawns, so the fight for them is being conducted by pieces. White is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to Black's one, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move after nine moves. White’s f- and h-files pawns are isolated; White has the bishop pair; the d-file file is fully open.
On the Semi-Slav Defense generally: A complex defense combining ideas from the Slav and Queen's Gambit Declined.
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The Marshall Gambit, Tolush Variation goes 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8. Be2 c5 9. Bxc5 Qxg2. It is a variation of the Semi-Slav Defense and is catalogued as ECO D31.
The Marshall Gambit, Tolush Variation is ECO D31. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Semi-Slav Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8. Be2 c5 9. Bxc5 Qxg2 at +0.50 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. 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.
The four central squares are empty of pawns, so the fight for them is being conducted by pieces. White is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to Black's one, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move. White’s f- and h-files pawns are isolated; White has the bishop pair; the d-file file is fully open.