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On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com we will discuss the variations of the Latvian Gambit chess opening. Each official variation of the Latvian Gambit is written in moves, pictured in figures, and evaluated by chess engine: who's better is shown in pawns; (+) means that white is better; (0 to 0.5) position equal; (0.5 to 1.00) better; (1.50 and more) much better.
The Latvian Gambit is C40 by the ECO code classification stated in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, and it has 7 official variations (you can also see 2 unofficial variations of the Latvian at the bottom of this page). The Latvian Gambit is officially called the Latvian Counter-Gambit (note: if white conducts a gambit, it is called gambit; if black conducts a gambit, it is called counter-gambit).
The Latvian Gambit is also known by the name of the Greco Counter-Gambit which is a tribute to the chess player Gioachino Greco who analyzed the opening in the 17th century. It is an old chess opening, original and beautiful, which may be dubious for black. The Latvian Gambit is played very rarely at master level (masters' ratings 1600-2100) and not played at top level of chess.
In 2019, the Latvian Gambit was played as 1 game to 10000 at chess master level. The main variation of the Latvian Gambit was the C40 Latvian, Nimzovich variation. The Nimzovich variation covered 90% of the Latvian Gambit games. Learn the difference between the main line and the Nimzovich variation (the difference between the main line and the Nimzovich is only the last move).
Below is a full list of 7 official variations and 2 unofficial variations of the Latvian Gambit, known as the Latvian Counter-Gambit, and also known as the Greco Counter-Gambit. The strongest variation of the Latvian Gambit for black is the Behting variation. The worst variation of the Latvian Gambit for black is the Corkscrew Counter-Gambit variation (and the best for white).
Latvian Gambit Variations
C40 Latvian Gambit (Latvian Counter-Gambit)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5
By chess engine white is better (+1.48, depth 20).
By engine to continue: 3.Nxe5 Qf6 4.d4 d6 5.Nc4 fxe4 6.Nc3 Qg6 ...
C40 Latvian, Nimzovich variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Nxe5 Qf6 4.d4 d6 5.Nc4 fxe4 6.Ne3
By chess engine white is slightly better (+0.65, depth 20).
By engine to continue: 6... Nc6 7.c3 Qg6 8.Nd5 Kd8 9.Nf4 Qf5 ...
C40 Latvian, Fraser Defense variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Nxe5 Nc6
By chess engine white is much better (+1.82, depth 20).
By engine to continue: 4.Qh5+ g6 5.Nxg6 Nf6 6.Qh3 Rg8 7.Nxf8 Kxf8 ...
C40 Latvian gambit, 3.Bc4 variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4
By chess engine white is slightly better (+0.60, depth 20).
By engine to continue: 3... fxe4 4.Nxe5 Qg5 5.d4 Qxg2 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Bf7+ Kd8 ...
C40 Latvian, Behting variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4 fxe4 4.Nxe5 Qg5 5.Nf7 Qxg2 6.Rf1 d5 7.Nxh8 Nf6
By chess engine position is equal (+0.30, depth 20).
By engine to continue: 8.Bxd5 Bg4 9.f3 Bh3 10.Rf2 Qh1+ 11. Ke2 Qxd1 12.Kxd1 Nxd5 ...
C40 Latvian, Polerio variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4 fxe4 4.Nxe5 d5
By chess engine white is slightly better (+0.73, depth 20).
By engine to continue: 5.Qh5+ g6 6.Nxg6 Nf6 7.Qe5+ Be7 8.Bb5+ c6 ...
C40 Latvian, Corkscrew Counter-Gambit variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4 fxe4 4.Nxe5 Nf6
By chess engine white is much better (+2.32, depth 20).
By engine to continue: 5.Nf7 Qe7 6.Nxh8 d5 7.Bb5+ Bd7 8.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 9.0-0 0-0-0 ...
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2 Unofficial Variations of the Latvian Gambit
Leonhardt Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Nxe5 Qf6 4.Nc4 (+0.87, depth 20).
Svedenborg Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4 fxe4 4.Nxe5 d5 (+0.57, depth 20).
On chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com we learned the variations of the Latvian Gambit.
