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Below is how to correctly play the Main Line of the Latvian Gambit chess opening. It belongs to the proven lines of the Latvian which were proved by time and experience of the chess masters who analyzed and played this opening in real. A proven line of the Latvian Gambit will show you how to correctly play for White and Black.

The rated players are playing the Latvian Gambit rarely today. But the Main Line (it is similar to the Nimzovich variation) is being in use at by chess masters rated at 1600-2100 as the only line of the Latvian to play. The chess masters avoid other lines and variations of the Latvian due to their dubiousness and sharpness.

Latvian Gambit: Main Line and Nimzovich Variation

Below is a pictured presentation of the main line 2019 of the Latvian Gambit. The line is unofficially called the Main Line, but it is very similar to the official Nimzovich variation of the Latvian Gambit. The line runs: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Nxe5 Qf6 4.d4 d6 5.Nc4 fxe4 6.Nc3 Qg6 (you will see it below).

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 (Latvian Gambit)


3.Nxe5 Qf6


4.d4 d6 5.Nc4 fxe4 6.Nc3 Qg6


Evaluated by chess engine: White is better at +1.37, depth 30.
Below is 2 best recommended lines to continue:
7.f3 Be7 8.fxe4 Nh6 9.Be3 c6 10.Qd2 b5 (+1.57)
7.f3 Nc6 8.fxe4 Be7 9.Ne3 Nh6 10.Ned5 O-O (+1.30)

Notes: Please pay your close attention to the above chess engine evaluations for 2 best recommended lines to continue (You see: +1.57 White is much better; +1.30 White better). The chess engine evaluations show that the Latvian Gambit is not the best chess opening choice for Black, if 2 opponents are equal by strength.

• 7 Official Variations of Latvian Gambit

• To the Main Page of Latvian Gambit

Here, on chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com you have studied the Main Line of the Latvian Gambit chess opening. This is the only line of the Latvian Gambit that is being played at the chess master level today. The Main line is very similar to the Nimzovich variation of the Latvian Gambit (the difference is only 1 move).

Compare below the Main line and the Nimzovich variation:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Nxe5 Qf6 4.d4 d6 5.Nc4 fxe4 6.Nc3 Qg6 (Main Line)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Nxe5 Qf6 4.d4 d6 5.Nc4 fxe4 6.Ne3 (Nimzovich Variation)

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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.