Latvian Gambit

A King's Gambit in reverse, and a move late

Gambits
Sharp play

After 2.Nf3 Black replies 2…f5 and offers a pawn for an open f-file, quick activity and a tangle. To be plain, the opening has a dubious name: it is thought to be objectively dubious: Black's activity does not quite pay for the risk. But people play it for a reason: hardly anyone prepares for it, and in messy positions the opponent often goes wrong.

Interactive Opening Board

6…Qg6

♚

Black

♔

White

6…Qg6

Speed:

Moves

(12 plies • 6 moves)

6…Qg6Tabiya

1–6moves
#WhiteBlack
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Defining move

2…f5 — the gambit in a single step

The move that makes it a gambit

The f5 pawn strikes at e4 at once, and Black hopes for quick play down the f-file. The trouble is that the knight on f3 already stands where it can take e5. After 3.Nxe5 Black has to bring the queen out early, and that is usually the main problem.

Tabiya

The main line: White holds the centre, Black has activity

Material is almost level, but White has the centre and more space. Black's e4 pawn is under fire from the c3 knight and from f2-f3. Black is behind in development, but has the open f-file and the queen on g6. Black looks for tactics; White tries to develop calmly and keep those tactics from working.

White’s plan

Take the pawn with 3.Nxe5 and meet the queen with 4.d4 or 4.Nc4.
Undermine the e4 pawn with f2-f3 and secure the centre.
Develop, castle and refuse greedy captures.

Black’s plan

Develop fast and castle, often long.
Use the open f-file and the active queen.
Set traps: that is what the opening is for.

History

It took its modern name from Latvian players, above all Kārlis Bētiņš; earlier it was called the Greco Counter-Gambit after the analysis of Gioachino Greco.

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