The Complete Chess Course From Beginning To Winning Chess! (2016)

Book Seven

How to Play the e-pawn Openings

Latvian Gambit

There is another counter gambit - an early attempt by Black to wrest the initiative from White. As such, it is suspect. What makes this counter gambit all the more dubious is that it is foolishly adopted as a reply to what is undoubtedly White’s strongest developing move, 2.Nf3.

Latvian Gambit

White - Black

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 (D)

Position after 2…f5

Black’s advance of the f-pawn is premature. It weakens Black’s king’s position and allows White to gain time with a formidable threat.

3.Nxe5

Threatening 4.Qh5+ and if 4…g6 5.Nxg6. Hence Black’s reply.

3…Qf6 4.d4 d6 5.Nc4 fxe4 6.Nc3 Qg6

The tricky 6…c6 does not work because of 7.Nxe4 Qe6 8.Qe2 d5 9.Ned6+ Kd7 10.Nf7!!. (D)

Position after 6…Qg6

White is well ahead in development and Black’s forces are split. His queen will be sadly missed from the queenside.

7.Bf4 Nf6 8.Ne3 Be7

After 8…Be6 9.d5 followed by Qd4, Black’s game is disorganized and his e-pawn is weak.

9.Bc4 c6 10.d5!

White has definitely the better game because of his superior development. Black’s e-pawn lacks the natural support of …d5 and the prospects for development of his queenside forces remain bleak.