Openings 1.e4 e5: open games
Latvian Gambit (2...f5): Lines, Traps and Stats by Rating
2...f5 is a King’s Gambit with colors reversed and a tempo less. It is one of the riskiest openings for Black, but it is full of tricks and many opponents meet it unprepared.
C40Latvian Gambit
Games from this position (1600–1999): 9,269
- 1.
- 2.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31% | 2,868 | ||
| 26% | 2,403 | ||
| 15% | 1,402 | ||
| 11% | 1,045 | ||
| 9% | 812 | ||
| 7% | 634 | ||
| 0.4% | 39 |
Plans for both sides
White
- 3.Nxe5 is the main answer. After 3...Qf6 4.d4 d6 5.Nc4 White keeps a healthy center and the black king is airy.
- 3.exf5 is the most common reply in our games; after 3...e4 4.Ne5 Nf6 the knight on e5 is strong.
- Do not grab material on h8 or b7 if it costs development. The black king is weak; open lines toward it.
Black
- After 3.Nxe5, 3...Qf6 is the main line: it hits the knight and prepares ...fxe4.
- After 3.exf5, 3...e4 gains space and pushes the knight away.
- Know the traps but also the risks: the e8–h5 diagonal is open, so watch out for Qh5+ every move.
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Latvian Gambit at each rating
How often the position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 3,2440.1% | 3.exf544% | |
| 1200–1599 | 7,2110.1% | 3.exf539% | |
| 1600–1999 | 9,2690.1% | 3.exf531% | |
| 2000+ | 2,3960.1% | 3.Nxe540% | |
| All | 22k0.1% | 3.exf534% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
White retreats the knight to c4 and develops; Black has a pawn on e4 but a loose king.
235 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 4% were drawn, Black won 49%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Nxe5 Qf6 4.d4 d6 5.Nc4 fxe4 6.Nc3The most common reply in our games. White’s knight lands on e5 and Black tries to regain the f5 pawn later.
272 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 47%, 0.7% were drawn, Black won 52%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.exf5 e4 4.Ne5 Nf6White aims at the g8–a2 diagonal. After 3...fxe4 4.Nxe5 d5 the game turns wild.
151 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 55%, 1% were drawn, Black won 44%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4 fxe4 4.Nxe5 d5
Common traps
3.Nxe5 Nc6? 4.Qh5+
3...Nc6? ignores the open e8–h5 diagonal. After 4.Qh5+ g6 5.Nxg6 White threatens to win the rook on h8.
Fewer than 6 games in our data reached the end of this line.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Nxe5 Nc6 4.Qh5+ g6 5.Nxg6 Nf6 6.Qh3 hxg6 7.Qxh8Advertisement
At club level
Below 1200 the most common reply is 3.exf5; at 2000+ it is 3.Nxe5. Overall the gambit scores about level in our games, so as a surprise it can work, but against prepared players it is a big risk.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.
Related openings
- King’s Pawn Game: 1.e4 e5
1.e4 e5
- King’s Knight Opening: 2.Nf3
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3
- Italian Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4
- Bishop’s Opening
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4
- Philidor Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6
- Scotch Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4