This is one of those tricky transactions. Did black gain a move, or did he lose one? I would say the latter, because he should have his bishop on e7 for defensive purposes. White is the one doing the attacking here.

"I acknowledged Aron's exasperation. 'But you should be hale and glad. If he hasn't touched it in six moves, then there has been no smoke to perturb your play.' Aron grimaced. 'You know as well as I that the threat is even greater than the execution! I can't take my eyes off it, any minute my position will become tenuous and he will light it!' I was counting the minutes as my abandoned game called to me. 'Aron, I have my own needs to attend to. Guard yourself as you would in any game against any opponent. Be strong.' As I stepped towards my board I heard Aron mutter under his breath 'He's a Bolshevik!' the harshest epitaph Nimzowitsch reserved for anyone, though in this case hopelessly confused in application to a laissez-faire capitalist. (...) I was the only one sitting at his position, though all games of the round were still engaged, when I heard Marshall's gloat across the hall. 'How d'ya like that pawn move, Nimzovick?' I ventured over to see Marshall puffing away on his re-lit cigar, taking a celebratory swig from his flask, and flexing his eyebrows ironically at Aron, who sat seething behind a mask of pure malice. Nimzowitsch's king was hopelessly trapped, like Aron himself, the a2-g8 diagonal open to molestation from Marshall's bishop, like the air over the board between the two players open to the repulsive cigar smoke that now wafted over into Nimzowitsch's nostrils. 'Did I ever tell ya about the time Manny and I went tobacco shopping in Memphis?' Marshall asked. I almost reached out to touch Marshall's shoulder to warn him, but then thought better of it. 'He was a pipe man, not too much into cigars, but he knew good tobacco when he smoked it. He bought me a whole box of these cigars after our match, as kind of a sorry, I guess. Or maybe it was for thanks. See, I introduced him to Virginia's finest, and you'da thought he died and gone to heaven. "Frank," he says to me, "being world champion is great, but nothing beats the flavor of a good smoke."' With that, he exhaled a laugh, slapped his knee, and signed his scoresheet. 'No hard feelings, Aron,' Marshall concluded. Nimzowitsch, poisoned with impotent rage, could only initial his scoresheet and then retire to his room, where he told me later he was quite green from having swallowed Marshall's Virginia flavor."

Sally Simpson: ***

Excellent post from suenteus starting with Marshall vs Nimzowitsch, 1930 (kibitz #3)

I'm here because in the Soltis book on Marshall (page 359).

Soltis is discussing Marshall's 'My 50 Years' and Reinfled's influence on it.

Reinfeld collaborated and was paid $100.00, he used Marshall's notes which Soltis has access too and here after 6...Bx(N)f3

click for larger view

Reinfeld writes:

'This move, which parts with a useful piece and furthers White's development at the same time cannot possibly be good."

Soltis using Marshall's private notes says:

"Nimzovitch told me he knew this move bad but he could find no better move for Black."

***

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