Chess 101 - Latvian Gambit by Games For Life, Inc.

[thegambitking]

ishcairn, the line that you mention is the main one that I play. And I also found a novelty in it that speeds up Black's development greatly:

1. P-K4 (e4) P-K4 (e5) 2. Kt-KB3 (Nf3) P-KB4 (f5) !? 3. PxP (exf5) B-B4 (Bc5) !? 4. KtxP (Nxe5) BxP ch. (Bxf2+)! 5. KxB (Kxf2) Q-R5 ch. (Qh5+) 6. K-B3 (Kf3) ! Kt-QB3 (Nc6) !! -- Now, White is forced to exchange knights, and after 7. KtxKt (Nxc6) QPxKt (dxc6) ! Black has such a great lead in development he's surely winning!

The Gambit King

[ishcairn]

that is a good line for development, but several issues arise if White plays correctly. Our "pet line" is technically unsound and will result in an eventual defeat at the hands of anyone above 1600 in most cases (rybka scores black over a point down after Bxf2). In playing the Latvian in more advanced circles, the poisoned pawn variation is probably best.

[thegambitking]

"Poisoned pawn variation" as in the one analysed by Keres? That's crazy! LOL I'd much rather play Svedenborg's or Blackburne's lines if someone trotted out 3. B-B4 (Bc4)... however, I'm actually not convinced that it's totally unsound.

[gtamateur]

that pretty basic analysis. What i see just give the taste to never do this gambit.

the black king in the majority of position than you show cnat castle

[ishcairn]

Thanks so much for posting this.

My favorite line of the Latvian is:

1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3. exf5 Bc5 4.Nxe5 Bxf2

It's insane and will catch anyone's pants down. They have to take with the king, you follow with Qh4 check, and they're suddenly backpedaling and losing tempo (and probably the knight, unless they go Kf3 after Qh4 check.

[TheJomogogo]

Latvian Gambit is a ballbuster that takes years of intense study to "get" and you can still get caught with your pants down and lose against a lucky nO0B in 15 moves. God has not figured out the Lat yet.

[crowchains]

After 9.Ke2 Qxc1 10.Nf7+ Ke8 11.Nd6+ Kd8 game is a draw. An interesting gambit!

[girtkaz]

Nice to see Latvian gambit. Variations are old and the main line 3.K:e5 Qf6 4.Kc4(instead of d4) was not presented.