Marshall's Chess Swindles:
Comprising over one hundred and twenty-five of his best tournament and match games at chess together with the annotation of the same by himself and other
well known chess authorities.
Also an analysis of the Queen's side openings with several King's Gambit novelties and a discussion of the principles of
over-the-board chess by Frank J. Marshall
Chess Champion of the United States (1914)
You won't find many books with titles like that nowadays and the title of this, Marshall's first collection of his games, suggests that in all of them he swindled his opponents out of their well deserved wins.
A swindle is described as obtaining a win or draw from a clearly lost position and Frank Marshall certainly had a knack for setting cunning traps, but he didn't set them in just lost positions. While Marshall was best known for his great tactical skill, it's not so well known now, but he also possessed great endgame skill which was appreciated in his day. 
Marshall's stated reason for the title of "Swindle", which is one of derision, was because, as he put it, that term "has been applied to my victories over certain disappointed gentlemen who did not enjoy seeing their fond preconceived notions demolished over the open board. When their theories went to smash in actual play with a man not tied to book chess, the explanation was that the unexpected move was a Marshall Swindle. So I have made a collection of Marshall swindles."
Some of his defeated opponents believed they had a moral right to victory after having established a decisive advantage and felt that Marshall had somehow cheated them out of their just rewards. One of those opponents was an often enraged David Janowski who pitifully bemoaned the fact that he had been swindled. All those fellows lived before baseball's New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra so aptly observed, "The game ain't over 'til it's over.''
Frank J. Marshall (August 10, 1877 – November 9, 1944), was born in New York City and lived in Montreal from ages 8 to 19. His father taught him chess when he was eight years old.
From the period from 1899 to 1913, Marshall played in twenty international tournaments and finished or tied for first in 13 of them, 7 with no losses! In the other tournaments he finished second twice and third 4 times. During that period he also won match victories over Janowski (twice), Showalter, Duras and Mieses.
There is some confusion over the status of Marshall's ten game match against Janowski that was played in 1912. Writing to a friend, Marshall stated that his friend Leo Narus of Paris had asked him and Janowski to play a series of ten exhibition games and they would be paid a fee for each game. He added that both players considered it to be good practice for the upcoming New York-Havana Congress. Leonardus Nardus (1868 – 1955) was a Dutch fencer who won a bronze medal in the team epee event at the 1912 Summer Olympics.
1912 Match results:
Marshall = 0 1 1 1 = 1 1 0 1 7-3
Janowski = 1 0 0 0 = 0 0 1 0 3-7
Janowski had White in the odd-numbered games
By the way, at one time I had Marshall's My Fifty Years of Chess which has been republished as Marshall's Best Games Of Chess; it covers the years 1893-1941 and is an excellent read. Many think the book was ghost written by Fred Reinfeld. Andrew Soltis has also published Frank Marshall - US Chess Champion which has received excellent reviews on Amazon.
If you like attacking chess like Nezhmetdinov and Tal played then one of the book on Marshall will be a good buy not just for the game, but for the biographical material. Also, there is more annotated Marshal games on National Master A.J. Goldsby's page dedicated to Marshall HERE.
David Janowski - Frank Marshall
Result: 0-1
Site: Match, Biarritz, France
Date: 1912.09.04
Petroff Defense
[...] 1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘f6 3.♘xe5 d6 4.♘f3 ♘xe4 5.d4 d5 6.♗d3 ♗d6 7.c4 Rarely played. Better is 7. O-O 7...♗b4 8.♔f1 Marshall was critical of this move because black is better developed and so white does not have to fiddle around.
8...O-O 9.cxd5 This also aids black because it brings the Q to a powerful square in the center from which it can't be easily chased away.
8.♘bd2 O-O
8...♘xd2 9.♗xd2 ♕e7 10.♕e2 ♕xe2 11.♔xe2 ♗xd2?? Correct is 11...dxc4 12.♔xd2 ♗e6 Alekhine,A-Marshall,F/St Petersburg 1914 and white is practically winning.
9.O-O ♗xd2 10.♗xd2 ♗g4 11.♗f4 ♘c6 12.♖e1 ♘xd4 13.♗xe4 dxe4 14.♕xd4 exf3 15.♕xd8 ♖fxd8 16.♗xc7 ♖d2 Tarrasch,S -Marshall,F/St Petersburg 1914 was eventually drawn. 9.♕b3 Was correct. Then after 9...c5 10.cxd5 ♗f5 and the position is equal. The most interesting continuation is 11.g4 ♗g6 12.h4 with equal chances.
9...♕xd5 10.♕c2 ♖e8 11.♘c3 A tactical oversight...it's hard to see how, but it is! Correct was 11.Be3 and white is hanging on. 11...♘xc3 12.bxc3 ♕xf3 This came as a complete surprise to Janowski and Martshall noted that he heard the would "swindle" muttered. 13.cxb4 (13.gxf3 ♗h3 14.♔g1 ♖e1 mates next move.) 13...♘c6 Obviously the Q still can't be taken, but Janowski's next move does nothing for the defense of his K. His best chance was to play 14.h4 which defends against ...Bh3, but even then his position would remain precarious. 14.♗b2 After this white's game completely falls apart. 14...♘xb4 More clear cut than Stockfish's 14...Bh3. 15.♗xh7 (15.gxf3 Fails 15...♗h3 16.♔g1 ♘xc2 17.♗xc2 ♖e2 and wins.) 15...♔h8 16.gxf3 It only looks like white has won a piece! 16...♗h3 17.♔g1 ♘xc2 18.♗xc2 ♖e2 Regaining the piece. 19.♖c1 ♖ae8 20.♗c3
20.♗e4 does not improve anything 20...f5 21.d5 fxe4 22.f4 ♖xb2 23.d6 ♖e6 24.f5 ♖xd6 25.a3 ♖bd2 26.♖e1 ♖d1 27.f3 e3 28.a4 ♖xe1#
20...♖8e3 A surprising lapse from Marshall though his position is still won.
20...♖xc2 mates in three no matter what white plays. 21.♖xc2 ♖e6 22.♗d2 ♖g6 23.♗g5 ♖xg5#
21.♗b4
21.fxe3 loses a R. 21...♖g2 22.♔f1 ♖xc2 23.♔g1 ♖xc1 24.♔f2 ♖xh1
21...♖xf3 22.♗d1
22.♗e1 does not save the day 22...♖f4 23.♗e4 ♖g4 24.♗g2 ♖xg2 25.♔f1 ♖gxf2 26.♔g1 ♖f1#
22...♖f6 Facing mate in three Janowski resigned. (22...♖f6 23.♖c6 bxc6 24.♗c2 ♖fxf2 25.a3 ♖f1#) Powered by Aquarium
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