Latvian Gambit Tactics

by Cecil
(India)

Latvian Moves

The Latvian Gambit is one such tactic in chess that will make the viewers feel entertained even though the player didn’t win the game. Many leading players in chess at one point or another try this gambit not only to make the games fancier but to make the opponent face difficulties in figuring out the refutation of the game. The following are some Latvian Gambit games which are famous all over the world and are interesting to play.

The first game goes like this:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.exf5 e4 4.Nd4 Nf6

Black protects against Qh5+.

5.g4 h5 6.g5 Ng4 7.h3 Nxf2 8.Kxf2 Bc5

Can Black turn his sacrifice to good use?

9.c3 Nc6 10.h4 Nxd4 11.cxd4 Bxd4+ 12.Ke1 0-0

The Black king is now more secure than his counterpart.

13.Bh3 d5 14.Rf1 Qd6

and Black goes on to win.

The second game goes like this:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bc4 fxe4

This line will show how crazy things sometimes get in the Latvian.

5.Nxe5 d5 6.Bxd5 Nxd5 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Nxg6

Knight can take now because of

8...hxg6 9.Qxh8

We have a very sharp line now and an unusal position with probably equal chances.

The third game goes like this:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4 fxe4 4.Nxe5 d5

White may be tempted to retreat his bishop but the best move is

5.Qh5+ g6 6.Nxg6 hxg6 7.Qxg6+ (7.Qxh8 was probably better Kf7) Kd7 8.Bxd5 Nf6 9.Bxe4 Qe7 10.d3 Rg8

White's earlier error is coming back to haunt him.

11.Qf5+ Kd8 12.Qf3 Nc6 13.Nc3 Nd4 14.Qd1 Bg4 15.f3 Bd7 16.Be3 Nf5 17.Bf2 Rxg2

and Black has a crushing position to end the game in a glorious way.