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The Openings ExplainedAbby Marshall
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The Latvian Gambit [C40] In this column I am going to discuss the Latvian Gambit, which is an irritating opening to face after you have spent hours studying virtually everything else. I recently faced the Latvian Gambit for the first time in a blitz tournament, got crushed, and wished never to repeat the experience again. For obvious reasons, this opening is not really sound: weakening the king, not developing a piece, giving up a pawn, etc. 1.e4 Having been an 1.e4 player all my life, I thought nothing could surprise me in the opening. Maybe I would not know what to do, but I would have at least seen it before. 1...e5 So far all looks normal. 2.Nf3 If Black does not play the Petroff, it seems that Black must protect the e-pawn. However Black can mix the play up right away. 2...f5
This is the Latvian Gambit. It is not fun to get stuck in someone's prepared line; thus, shock value is the only good reason to play it. There is not too much to learn, so there is no harm in taking it seriously. 3.Nxe5 This is the most challenging response. Black has given up a center pawn while the e4-pawn is taboo. 3.exf5 This move can't be too bad, but like the f-pawn thrust in the King's Gambit, Black gets an open file and two pawns in the center against one. 3...Bc5 In this interesting line, Black plays as though it is a King's Gambit. I normally play this with colors reversed. The inclusion of the knight on f3 is not a minor detail, of course, and White can take advantage of this. 4.Nxe5 This is not the only move to play for an advantage. It leads to a crazy position. 4...Bxf2+ This is actually a book line. Black banks on White's open king, the loose knight on e5, and the element of surprise as compensation for the sacrifice. 5.Kxf2 Of course White should capture or be down a pawn and unable to castle. 5...Qh4+ Black forces the king to step further into the open. 6.Ke2 runs into ...Qe4+ picking up the knight and 6.g3 runs into ...Qd4+. 6.Kg1 runs into ...Qd4 mate. 6.Kf3 It is move six and already the king is on the third rank. The problem for Black is that there are no other pieces in the attack. 6...b5 The idea here is to play ...Bb7+. I cannot believe this is sound, but why take the risk of running into someone's favorite position? 3...Qf6 This is the main line. Moves that do not challenge the knight on e5 are just not in the spirit here. White has threats of Qh5 and Bf7. 3...Nc6 is the other main alternative, but does not gain a tempo after White trades knights.
A) 4.Qh5+ This I suspect is good too, but also more complicated. 4...g6 4...Ke7 is mate in five. 5.Nxg6 A standard idea that does work, but Black gets ahead in development. 5...Nf6 If Black does not have this rebuttal, which gets a piece out with tempo and softens the blow of Nxg6, then Black is probably lost. 6.Qh4 White retreats the queen while maintaining the pin on the h-pawn. 6...Rg8 This is a fascinating variation that could be scary to face if you did not know what was going on. Black will have three pieces in play and somehow manage to get a rook on the e-file despite not being castled. (6...hxg6 This also looks a bit frightening, though I like having the queen on h8, which paralyzes Black on the kingside. 7.Qxh8 White captures the rook and pins the bishop. 7...Qe7 Black is trying to make some play against the white king in the center. 8.d3 The dark-squared bishop will become a strong force on the shattered black kingside. 8...fxe4 Black starts to open up files since Black does have two bishops developed and White currently has none. 9.dxe4 Qxe4+ Black will attempt to make use of a pin on the e-file. 10.Be3 White blocks and the bishop is guarded on e3, as opposed to a bishop on e2, which would only have the king as a protector. 10...Nd5 Unfortunately for Black, this is not working. 11.Nd2 And with a gain of tempo White easily escapes trouble. 11...Qe7 Black retreats. 12.0-0-0 Now White has caught up in development and castled. Black is lost.) 7.Nxf8 White is now up two pawns and Black cannot castle, and will have to spend a tempo recapturing the knight. 7...Rg4 With interesting play. White can probably do alright here and come out on top, but what a crazy position. B) 4.Nxc6 The natural move that saves a tempo. 4...dxc6 Black recaptures away from the center in order to have quick development and the d-file. 5.d4! A good move that develops and start to put pressure on Black. White has the center and the extra pawn. Black still cannot take the e-pawn. 5...Qh4 A stab at activity, at least for the black queen, but I am not really convinced by this. (5...fxe4 This will again serve to illuminate Black's perennial problems on the h5-e8 diagonal. 6.Qh5+ The king must move because ...g6 leads to Qe5+ picking up the rook in the corner.) 6.e5 I like this move, which puts the question to Black: why ...f5? The f-pawn blocks its own bishop. White can develop easily and has the better game. 3...fxe4 is a big mistake. 4.Qh5+ When Black plays 4...g6, White can simply take on g6 with the knight and have a winning game. 3...Qe7 This move is attributed to Greco, the famous Italian player in the early seventeenth century. This move lacks the dynamism of ...Qf6 since the e7-bishop has nowhere to go. 4.Qh5+ This tactic works out here as well, though not without a wrinkle or two. 4...g6 Black dares White to capture and open the e-file. 5.Nxg6 White accepts the challenge with the idea that Black has no backup firepower. 5...Qxe4+ Captures a pawn and gazes on g2. 6.Be2 White develops and waits for Black's next move. 6...Nf6 Again the typical idea that makes things a little better for Black. 7.Qh3 White gets out of danger and maintains position on the h-file. 7...hxg6 Now Black captures and gives up the exchange. 8.Qxh8 White must capture or else be down a knight. 8...Qxg2 The idea. White has material while Black is controlling the play for the moment. 9.Rf1 Only move. 9...Kf7 This protects the knight as well as unpins the bishop on f8. 10.f4 A strong move, threatening Bf3 winning the queen and getting space for the White forces. 10...Qc6 Black get the queen out of the white camp. 11.Nc3 White develops and now Black must contend with the fact that there are no reserves since the f6-knight is doing a job of defending the black king. 11...d5 Development, although the bishop on c8 has few choices. 12.d4 White is not in any trouble and probably winning. 4.Nc4
This is called Leonhardt's Variation. White anticipates ...d6 and aims for rapid development. 4.d4 is considered the main line and is also good. 4...d6 Black kicks the knight out of the center and develops the c8-bishop. 5.Nc4 White retreats and may look at Ne3 to pressure f5. 5...fxe4 Taking the pawn is now safe, since Qh5 is easily parried by ...g6. In this line, White is playing a bit more slowly with more positional ideas. The pawn on e4 will be dealt with soon. 6.Nc3 Attacking the e-pawn and developing. 6...Qg6 Unfortunately for Black, moving the queen again is the most solid move. (6...Bf5 This seems good, but leaves the queenside loose. 7.f3 The queen will get to f3 and the knight to d5 with tempo.) 7.Ne3 This targets the f5-square. (7.f3 This move, which opens up lines, can be played sooner rather than later.) 7...Nf6 Black develops. 8.Be2 White gets ready to castle. Also, the knight on f6 cannot move for the moment because of Bh5. 8...c6 Black tries to control the center, but takes away that square from the b8-knight. 9.0-0 Completing kingside development. 9...Be7 Black remains behind with only two pieces developed and an uncastled king. 10.f3 Black's lack of activity will hurt as we enter the middlegame. The bishop will come to d3 soon and Black is just trying to hold on here. 4...fxe4 Black has some choices here and regaining the pawn looks fairly obvious. 4...Qe6 This is a clumsy move that avoids the isolated e-pawn at the cost of zero development. 5.d4 White continues on with developing all the pieces. 5...Qxe4+ The queen will become a target on e4. 6.Be2 White blocks the check and develops a piece while doing so. 6...Nc6 Finally, a piece other than the queen out! Black could have captured on g2, but that would waste even more time. 7.c3 White protects the d-pawn. 7...d5 A little too late. White's lead in development and Black's poor queen position mean that White doesn't even have to respond to this attack. 8.0-0!? The computer is happy with White here. If Fritz wants to sacrifice a piece, the position must be overwhelming. 8...dxc4 Black should probably take to at least have one advantage. If Black can survive, Black will be winning. 9.Re1 Let's look at a couple sample lines to see how this attack will progress. 9...Qh4 (9...Kd8 10.Bh5 Qh4 11.Re8+ and White picks up the bishop on f8.) 10.Bh5+ Kd7 11.g3 Qh3 12.d5 Nce7 13.Qa4+ It is kind of ingenious actually, how White moves the attack forward. Play on both sides of the board make this attack very strong. The king is toast. 4...d6 After 5.d4, White could transpose to the main line or continue with development. 5.Nc3 White plays the same moves. 5...fxe4 Black decides to capture the pawn. 6.Ne3 This blocks any weirdness on the e-file and prepares to take on e4. White will just be up a pawn for nothing. 4...b5 I include this move because there are many games with it. 5.Ne3 No tricks here: White retreats and hits both the f-pawn and b-pawn. 5.Nc3 White is already ahead two pieces in development and it seems that Black again must move the queen to protect the e-pawn. 5...Qf7 This strange looking move is actually the fashionable choice right now. Black exerts pressure on the d5-square and stays on the f-file. 5...Qg6 This is the other main possibility. It is attractive because it protects e4 and hits the g2-square. 6.d3 White continues to hit that pawn. 6...Bb4 Black hits the knight and gives some semblance of activity. 7.dxe4 This forces matters and causes Black to give up his one developed piece. 7...Qxe4+ Black recaptures. 8.Ne3 The knight goes to a good square and Bd3 will gain a tempo. 8...Bxc3+ Black takes the opportunity to double and isolate White's pawns while not losing a tempo. 9.bxc3 Nf6 (9...Ne7 We will see how this strategy works out in the first illustrative game.) 10.Bc4 Now Black cannot even castle. 10...d6 (10...c6 This logical plan fails because Black's pieces are so poorly placed. 11.0-0 White prepare to infiltrate the e-file. 11...d5 This was the idea. 12.Nxd5! This quickly decides matters. The threat is Re1, so Black takes the bishop not the knight. 12...Qxc4 13.Re1+ Kf7 14.Re7+ Kg6 15.Nf4+ Kf5 16.Qf3 Ng4 17.Nd5+ 1-0, Zude,A (2435)-Ruprich,F/Schwaebisch Gmuend 1994) 11.0-0 Black is actually near lost here, since the e-file is such a tender line for Black who cannot castle. 11...Be6 12.f3 Qe5 13.Re1 0-0 14.Nd5 Black has to give up the queen or lose the bishop on e6. 6.Ne3 White also attacks d5 and puts the knight in the usual spot. 6...c6 More preparation for ...d5. The knight does not rush to f6 because it may go to e7 to block the e-file. 6...Nf6 7.Bc4 White also gets a tempo on the queen and cuts across Black's center plan. For the moment, Black does have two pawns in the center to White's one pawn. 7...Qg6 8.d3 White has to challenge the e-pawn, which encroaches on White's space. 8...Nc6 9.dxe4 Bc5 (9...Nxe4? 10.Bd3) 10.0-0 Now Black is really stuck and cannot castle. 7.d3 We see this idea again. The problem for Black is that now White has three pieces in the center vs. Black's one trump: a pawn in the center. 7...exd3 Black does not want to lose this pawn for nothing. 8.Bxd3
White prepares to castle. 8...d5 Black is not really threatening to play ...d4, since White has too many resources, as we will see. Black has a more static advantage, since the pawn on d5 will not go away soon, while White's lead in development can disappear. 8...Nf6 Development does not help, since Black is so hopelessly behind. Black should establish the one advantage he has rather than challenge White. 9.0-0 Be7 10.Nf5 Black is probably lost here! The e-file is impossible to block. Castling is no better. 10...0-0 11.Bh6! d5 Black's only chance. 12.Bxg7 Bxf5 13.Bxf8 Bxd3 14.Bxe7 Bxf1 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Qg4+ Kf7 17.Kxf1 White is up a pawn and Black's king has no cover. 9.0-0 Development is near complete. 9...Bc5 This is the main line for Black. The bishop is not on any sensitive files, such as the d- or e-files, and indirectly targets f2. 9...Bd6 This line is more complex, but under a cloud I believe. 10.Re1 Ne7 A discovered check is too devastating to allow. 11.Nexd5!? White has to act fast and capitalize on the lead in development before it evaporates. 11...cxd5 12.Nb5 This position is well-known and the notion is that White has a strong attack in exchange for the piece. In fact, it seems Black cannot even hang on to the piece. 12...0-0 (12...Bf4 This makes sense, but does not really work. 13.Bxf4 Qxf4 14.g3 White will get to play Nc7+ and likely be able to get the knight out from the corner. White can play c4, for example, opening the c-file and safeguarding the c7-square so the knight can escape.; 12...Bc5 Even allowing White to play Nc7+ does not even work. d6 is a bad square for Black too. 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.Nd6+) 13.Nxd6 Qxf2+ 14.Kh1 Bg4 Black is in trouble because of uncoordinated pieces, not the isolated pawn. 15.Qd2 Qxd2 This is not forced, but illustrates Black's problems. 16.Bxd2 Nbc6 17.c4 d4 18.c5 Black is the one under pressure. White has the bishop-pair and better pawns. 9...d4? fails because Black has no pieces out. 10.Bc4 Qd7 11.Qh5+ Kd8 12.Rd1 Black might as well resign. 9...Nf6 10.Re1 with knight to f5 coming next. 10.Na4
White keeps the heat on Black. We will see this critical line in the second illustrative game. In this game, White is able to attack even after the trade of queens. Zude, Arno (2435) – Lutz, Klaus Juergen (2300) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Nxe5 Qf6 4.Nc4 fxe4 5.Nc3 Qg6 6.d3 Bb4 7.dxe4 Qxe4+ 8.Ne3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Ne7 Here is where we left off in the theory section. With 9...Ne7, Black at least closes the e-file. The problem is that Black cannot castle and the h5-e8 diagonal remains open. 10.Bc4 d6 10...d5 Giving up a pawn is probably the best strategy here. 11.Bxd5 Nxd5 12.Qh5+ g6 13.Qxd5 Qxd5 14.Nxd5 Na6 15.Be3 and White has all the chances to win. 11.0-0 Be6 Black does everything possible to block the e-file, but this leaves new weaknesses; for example, on the queenside. As well, the piling of pieces on the e-file are targets in themselves. 12.Qh5+
White can take advantage immediately. 12...Kd7? This is the first mistake. The king is dead because White is so developed. 12...g6 is the best move. 13.Qb5+ Nbc6 Black was probably not comfortable giving up the b-pawn, but this was the better alternative. 14.f3 This leads to a long forcing sequence. 14...Bxc4 15.Qxb7 Rb8 16.fxe4 Rxb7 17.Nxc4 White has a pawn, but Black is in the game and White's pawns are not strong. However, if anyone is going to win, it is White. 13.Bd3 This retreat has sting to it. The e6-bishop will become a target on the open e-file. 13...Qe5 14.Qxe5 A somewhat surprising decision. Retreating is probably stronger, but White did not want to waste any time. 14...dxe5 15.Ba3 Nbc6 16.Rad1 Ke8 Black is hanging in there. Material is even, both sides have poor pawn structures, and the black king is in the center, which is the factor that makes all the difference. A consequence of this is not just king safety, but the rooks cannot get in the game. 17.f4! White tries to open up even more lines. 17...Rd8 18.Rde1 Another accurate move that prevents Black from making progress. 18...Kd7 18...exf4 19.Rxf4 Ne5 20.Nf5 shows how powerful the rook are on the e- and f-files. 19.fxe5 Ng6 Upon 19...Nxe5 20.Bxe7 Nxd3 21.Bxd8 Nxe1 22.Bh4, the knight is trapped! 20.Nf5
20...Rhg8? Here is the big mistake. Now White is able to overwhelm Black. 20...Ncxe5 21.Nxg7 Not to say that this is a fun variation for the second player, but maybe Black can trade off some pieces and keep hope alive. 21.Nd4! Nce7 Capturing on d4 invites a slow death by material deficit. 22.Bb5+ c6 23.Nxe6 Kxe6 24.Be2
Bg4+ is now something that Black has to worry about. 24...Rgf8 25.Bc4+ Kd7 26.Rd1+ Ke8 26...Kc8 27.Be6+ Kb8 28.Rxd8+ Rxd8 29.Bd6+ Ka8 30.Rf7 Nd5 31.Bxd5 cxd5 32.Rxg7 is losing as well. 27.Bf7+ 1-0 White wins the exchange and keeps all other advantages. Admittedly, this is not Black's best play, but Black is a pretty strong player and White was able to win easily. Here is a game in the main line where Black again has a king stuck in the center and is crushed down the e-file. Huschenbeth, Niclas (2437) – Schlenker, Joerg (2297)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Nxe5 Qf6 4.Nc4 fxe4 5.Nc3 Qf7 6.Ne3 c6 7.d3 exd3 8.Bxd3 d5 9.0-0 Bc5 Passive moves are not going to help. 9...Be7 10.Ncxd5 White can even get away with this! 10...cxd5 11.Nxd5
The knight cannot be captured because of Bg6+ picking up the black queen. Both center files are open. How can Black stop any White threats? 10.Na4 This is where we were in the theory. White paves the way for even more open files. 10...Bd6 11.c4! Black risks getting ripped apart. 11...d4?! This does not work in Black's favor. 11...Ne7 leads to a more solid structure for Black, but no winning chances. 12.Nc3 0-0 Black is finally castled, but must give up material for this privilege. (12...d4 13.Ne4) 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Ncxd5 If Black captures twice on d5, Bh7+ discovered attack works. What I see is Black down a pawn with no compensation. 11...Be6 is also unsatisfactory. 12.Nc3 Ne7 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Nb5 Nc8 15.f4 0-0 16.f5 Bd7 17.f6 g6 18.Nxd6 Nxd6 19.b3 White hardly even has to try to get a winning position. 12.Nc2 c5 13.b4 Now even more lines, both vertical and diagonal, get opened. 13...cxb4 13...b6 does not protect the pawn and opens up a sweet diagonal for White. 14.Be4 Bb7 15.Bxb7 Qxb7 16.bxc5 bxc5 17.Nxc5
14.Nxd4 Black's position had been wrecked. From now on White drives the play. 14...Nc6 15.Nb5 Bb8 16.c5 Nf6 17.Re1+ Kf8 18.Nd6 Bxd6 19.cxd6 Ng4 Black has to develop a piece. 19...Bd7 20.Nc5 is no picnic for Black either. For one thing, a king on f8 is a big problem. 20.f3 Nge5 21.Be4 Bf5 22.Nc5 b6 23.Bd5 Qg6 24.Bf4 bxc5 24...Qxd6 25.Ne4 Qe7 26.Bxe5. 25.Bxe5 Nxe5 26.Bxa8 Nd3 27.Qe2 Qf7 28.Bd5
A nice deflection tactic. 28...Qd7 29.Qe7+ Qxe7 30.dxe7+ Ke8 31.Bc6+ Bd7 32.Bxd7+ Kxd7 33.Rad1 c4 34.Re4 Rc8 35.e8Q+ 1-0 White will end up ahead an entire rook after taking on c4. There is not much to say here, since White masterfully showed Black's faulty strategy at move eleven. Lessons Learned
Practitioners
Further Reading
© 2012 ChessCafe.com. All Rights Reserved. A PDF file of this month's column, along with all previous columns, is available in the ChessCafe.com Archives. Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses will be posted below daily. Readers' Responses Frederick from the USA - Those who are interested in Abby Marshall's article on the Latvian Gambit will want to take a look at IM Jeremy Silman's articles on it. In one, Silman investigates the line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Nxe5 Qf6 4.Nc4 fxe4 5.Nc3 Qf7 6.Ne3 c6 7.d3 exd3 8.Bxd3 d5 9.0-0 Bc5 10.Na4 Bd6 11.c4 d4 12.Nc2 c5 13.b4 that Ms. Marshall discusses in connection with the Huschenbeth-Schlenker game. Rather than Schlenker's 13...cxb4 14.Nxd4, which Silman calls "horrible," Silman advocates 13...Ne7, analyzing 14.Nxc5 Bxc5 15.bxc5 Nbc6 16.Bb2 0-0 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bf5 19.Bxf5 Nxf5 20.Be3 Qxc4 21.Qb3 Nxe3!? 22.fxe3 Rxf1+ 23.Rxf1 Qxb3 24.axb3 Rc8 25.Rf5 Rc6 26.b4 b6 27.Kf2 bxc5 28.bxc5 a5 29.Kf3 a4 30.Rf4 Rxc5 31.Rxa4 "and the resulting endgame is dead drawn, B. Sporrer – Klaus Kredler, Toging, 2004." Annoying as the Latvian Gambit is, it is not so easy to refute! |
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