Latvian Gambit, Fraser Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 (3.Nxe5 Nc6)

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Position after 2...f5 (Latvian Gambit)                                                Position after 3...Nc6 (Fraser Defence)

1. Introduction

I play the Latvian Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5) for some years now with black. It's a playing style I very much like. And after white takes on e5 with 3.Nxe5 I normally would play 3...Qf6 (probably the best move). But I also like to experiment with openings. This time I choose for 3.Nc6 (Fraser Defence, also known as the Moller-Fraser Defence). It's probably not fully sound, but can be very tactical.

2. Game analysis

Date: 2013.12.22

White: JLL03

Black: BigGStikman

WhiteElo: 2019

BlackElo: 2038

TimeControl: 1 in 14 days

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5

Latvian Gambit (C40).

3.Nxe5 Nc6

Fraser Defence.

4.Qh5+

This is the more tactical approach; an alternative is 4.Nxc6 as the more positional approach. White also can play 4.d4 to create a strong centre.

4...g6

Only move, objectively. As 4...Ke7 5.Qf7+ Kd6 6.Nc4+ Kc5 7.Qd5+ Kb4 8.a3+ Ka4 9.Nc3# will end the game very quick.

5.Nxg6

The only move that keeps the chances for white alive. The alternative 5.Nxc6 equals the game and other moves lose for white.

5...Nf6 6.Qh3

An alternative is: 6.Qh4 Rg8

(6...hxg6 will return to the main game) 7.e5

Some other possible continuations:

[A] 7.Nxf8 Rg4 8.Qh6 Rxe4+ 9.Be2 Qe7 10.Nc3 Rxe2+ 11.Nxe2 Nd4 12.0-0 Nxe2+ 13.Kh1 d5.

[B] 7.Nxf8 Rg4 8.Qh3 Rxe4+ 9.Kd1 Kxf8 10.Nc3 Re6 11.Qxf5 d5.

Both times has black some compensation, IMO. But I don't know if it will be enough.

7...Rxg6 8.exf6 Qxf6 9.Qxf6 Rxf6 10.c3 Bh6 11.Be2 Re6 12.Kd1 and black has some compensation for his pawn.

6...hxg6

Some other possible continuations:

[A] 6...Rg8 7.Nxf8 Kxf8 8.d3 Kf7 9.Qxf5 d5 10.Qf3 Bg4 11.Qf4 dxe4.

[B] 6...fxe4 7.Nxh8 d5 8.Qb3 Bd7 9.Bb5 Nd4 10.Bxd7+ Qxd7 11.Qxb7 Rd8.

Both times has black some compensation, IMO. But I don't know if it will be enough.

7.Qxh8 Qe7 8.Bd3

Not good. I think 8.d3, 8.Nc3 or even 8.Qh4 are better moves.

8...fxe4

And the white Bishop has to move again.

9.Be2 Nd4 10.Bd1 d5

At this point black has compensation for the lost material.

11.Nc3 c5

Not good! A move driven by fear is often not a good move. I was affraid to lose my Knight on d4 because of the threat of 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd4, but there was no need to. Better is: 11...Kf7 12.Nxd5 Nf3+ 13.Bxf3 (other moves lose fast) Nxd5 14.Be2 Bg7 15.Qh7 Be6 and black threatens Rh8 and capturing the white Queen. White can only prevent it by giving back material with 16.Bh5, after that black has a good game. For example: 16...Nf4 17.Bxg6+ Nxg6 18.Qh5 Rh8.

12.Qh4

Not good. Better is: 12.0-0 Bf5 13.d3 0-0-0 14.dxe4 Bg7 15.Qh4 dxe4 16.Bg5 and black doesn't have (enough) compensation for his material deficit.

12...Nf5 13.Qg5

To consider is: 13:Qh3.

13...Qf7

To consider is: 13...Kf7.

14.d3

Not good! Needed was 14.Nb5 to stay into the game. For example: 14...Kd8 15.g4 Bh6 16.Nd6 Qf8 17.Qxg6 Nxd6 18.g5 Bg7 19.gxf6 Bxf6 and black has some compensation, but I don't know if it's enough.

14...Bh6 15.Nb5

One move too late. Furthermore 15.Qxh6 would be better.

15...Bxg5 16.Bxg5 a6

White resigns.

0-1

3. Summery

Playing the Latvian Gambit sometimes results in short games; this is an example of such a game. In a tactical struggle white's Queen is lured in the corner of the board, while black is developing his pieces. But in the end white has no squares for his Queen and loses the game.

Latvian Gambit, Svedenborg Variation

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

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Position after 2...f5 (Latvian Gambit)                                               Position after 4...d5 (Svedenborg Variation)

1. Introduction

I like playing the Latvian Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 (with black). Mostly white plays 3.Nxe5 or 3.exf5, but sometimes you get an opponent who will try something else. The move 3.Bc4 is a perfect example. A good move! I play it myself when I'm white. And after 3...fxe4 4.Nxe5 black plays 4...d5 (Svedenborg Variation, C40). IMO a very reliable answer for black. In this game I had the oppertunity to test this variation.

2. Game analysis

Date: 2014.04.18

White: archerclass

Black: BigGStikman

WhiteElo: 2094

BlackElo: 2052

TimeControl: 1 in 10 days

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5

Welcome to the Latvian Gambit (C40)! A Reversed King's Gambit and an aggressive choice for black, which often leads to wild and tricky positions.

3.Bc4

Probably 3.Nxe5 or 3.exf5 are more common, but 3.Bc4 is good move. Aiming at the f7-square with a developing move, can't be bad.

3...fxe4

Another variation that looks appealing to me is 3...b5, the Strautin Defence. But 3...fxe4 is probably the best.

4.Nxe5 d5

Now we've the Svedenborg Variation. With 4...d5, black puts a pawn between the white Bishop and the f7-square.

Before I go further with the game, just a short intermezzo:

For those who like an ultimate agressive battle, there's always 4...Qg5 and go for the "poisened pawn". For example: 5.d4 Qxg2 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Bf7+ Kd8 8.Bxg6 Qxh1+ 9.Ke2 Qxc1 and black has a long-lasting material advance, but is positional underdeveloped.

5.Qh5+ g6

Only move, because 5...Ke7 is a forced mate (in 9 moves).

6.Nxg6 hxg6

Perhaps a more solid approach would perhaps be 6...Nf6 7.Qe5+ Be7 8.Bb5+ c6 9.Nxe7 Qxe7 10.Qxe7+ Kxe7 11.Be2 and we've game where black is a pawn down but has considerable positional compensation. But I like my sharper move 6...hxg6 better, as it leads to sharp and perhaps unclear play.

7.Qxh8

I think this is the best move. As 7.Qxg6 Kd7 8.Bxd5 (threatening 9.Qe6#) Nf6 9.Nc3 Qe7 gives about an equal game.

7...Kf7

8.Bb3

An alternative is: 8.Qd4 Be6 9.Bb3 (or 9.Be2) c5 10.Qe3 Nf6 11.0-0 c4 12.Ba4 Qa5 13.b3 b5 and black has a good game IMO.

8...Bg7 9.Qh7

The black Queen hasn't many squares to go to. Perhaps 9.Bxd5+ Qxd5 10.Qh4 is an option!?

9...Be6

It's always good to have a piece between your King and the attacker on b3. Furthermore it develops and defends the d5-pawn.

10.0-0

Probably not the best continuation. White's intention is to play 11.f3 and create an open file to the black King. But instead of castling first, maybe a direct 10.f3 was better. For example: 10...e3 11.dxe3 Nd7 (threatening 12...Nf8 capturing the white Queen.) 12.Bxd5 (The only way to save the white Queen) Bxd5 13.Qh3 Be6 14.Qg3 Ne7 15.e4 c6 and it's about even, where black has a better development and the initiative, but his King is not that safe.

Another idea in this position is: 10.d3 Nd7 11.g3 (making it possible to retreat the white Queen to h4 after 11...Nf8.) Ne5 (hindering the white Queen to go to h4, due Nf3+ and Nxh4) 12.Nd2 Nh6 (locking the white Queen up) 13.dxe4 Qd7 followed by 14.Rh8.

10...Nd7

An innocent looking developing move with the treat of 11...Nf8 capturing the white Queen.

11.f3

To free his Queen, black has to capture on d5 with his Bishop.

11...e3

I don't intend to open a file for white's Rook towards my King.

12.dxe3

Only 12.Bxd5 could have saved the white Queen.

12...Nf8 13.Qh4

Playing 13.Qxg7+ would have gained a piece, but it doesn't matter. The game is over.

13...Qxh4

White resigned.

0-1

3. Summery

A short game where black sacrificed material for development. In the process white's Queen was trapped in the corner of the board. White underestimated the position and forgot to give back material to free his Queen. A nice win for the Svedenborg Variation!