Chess opening · ECO C40
Latvian Gambit
A King's Gambit for Black, played a move behind: that is the Latvian Gambit. With 2...f5, Black attacks e4 and opens the f-file, but leaves e5 under attack and weakens the diagonal from h5 to e8. Both sides get open lines quickly, and Black's king is often the more exposed of the two.
- Rank by weighted share
- #130 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5
- 2... f5The f-pawn strikes at e4 and offers to open the f-file. It leaves e5 guarded by nothing, so White can take a central pawn at once or capture on f5 first.
The 3.Nxe5 Qf6 main line
After 3.Nxe5, Black brings the queen to f6, eyeing the knight and the f-file. White supports the knight with 4.d4, and after 4...d6 retreats it with 5.Nc4. Black then takes on e4 and later brings the queen to g6, where it hits g2.
Answering with 3.exf5
Taking the f-pawn invites 3...e4, which kicks the f3 knight. White usually puts it on e5, a central post, and Black develops with ...Nf6 while trying to win back the pawn on f5.
Queen to f6 and g6
3. Nxe5 Qf6 4. d4 d6 5. Nc4 fxe4 6. Nc3 Qg6
White's knight finds a safe square on c4, and the other knight hits e4. Black's queen moves to g6 to guard the e4 pawn along the diagonal and to aim at the g2 pawn.
Top replies by rating
Taking with exf5 leads from 1200 to 1799, while Nxe5 takes over from 1800 up and tops the 2000 and up band.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | exf5 77% | Nc3 23% | – |
| 1200–1399 | exf5 60% | Nxe5 20% | Nc3 11% |
| 1400–1599 | exf5 46% | Nxe5 24% | Nc3 12% |
| 1600–1799 | exf5 42% | Nxe5 29% | d3 10% |
| 1800–1999 | Nxe5 42% | exf5 27% | Nc3 10% |
| 2000 and up | Nxe5 51% | exf5 19% | d3 11% |
Questions
Why is Black's king exposed in the Latvian?
With the f-pawn gone from f7, the diagonal from h5 to e8 is open. A white queen on h5 can give check there, so Black often has to spend moves covering it.
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.