Levitsky vs Marshall, 1912
Marshall’s 23...Qg3 puts the queen on a square attacked three times. Every capture loses, and Levitsky resigned. The gold-coin story is later folklore; the move is real.
- White
- Stepan Levitsky
- Black
- Frank Marshall
- Event
- Breslau
- Year
- 1912
- Result
- 0-1
Critical position
After 23. Rc5. Black to move.
Step through
23. Rc5
Annotated score
1. d4 (best) e6 (excellent)
2. e4 (excellent) d5 (best)
3. Nc3 (best) c5 (good)
4. Nf3 (good) Nc6 (good)
5. exd5 (excellent) exd5 (best)
6. Be2 (good) Nf6 (best)
7. O-O (best) Be7 (excellent)
8. Bg5 (good) O-O (good)
9. dxc5 (best) Be6 (good)
10. Nd4 (inaccuracy) Bxc5 (best)
11. Nxe6 (best) fxe6 (best)
12. Bg4 (inaccuracy) Qd6 (inaccuracy)
13. Bh3 (best) Rae8 (best)
14. Qd2 (excellent) Bb4 (good)
15. Bxf6 (excellent) Rxf6 (best)
16. Rad1 (best) Qc5 (best)
17. Qe2 (good) Bxc3 (best)
18. bxc3 (best) Qxc3 (good)
19. Rxd5 (best) Nd4 (best)
Nd4: 19...Nd4 opens the long diagonal toward White’s king.
20. Qh5 (blunder) Ref8 (best)
21. Re5 (best) Rh6 (best)
22. Qg5 (inaccuracy) Rxh3 (inaccuracy)
Rxh3: The h-file rook has already taken on h3.
23. Rc5 (mistake) Qg3 (best)
Qg3: 23...Qg3. If 24.hxg3 Ne2 is mate; if 24.fxg3 Ne2+ wins the queen; if 24.Qxg3 Ne2+ 25.Kh1 Nxg3+ and the rook falls.