ECO C40 · Latvian Gambit

Latvian Gambit: Corkscrew Countergambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Bc4 fxe4 4. Nxe5 Nf6

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

5. Nf7+2.22

White is winning. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Latvian Gambit: Corkscrew Countergambit (C40), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Bc4 fxe4 4. Nxe5 Nf6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Nf7 for White. White is winning (+2.22).

Top engine moves

  1. +2.225. Nf7 Qe7 6. Nxh8 d5 7. Be2 Nc6 8. d4 Be6 9. O-O O-O-O
  2. +1.715. Bf7+ Ke7 6. Bb3 d5 7. d4 c5 8. O-O Nc6 9. f3 cxd4
  3. +0.705. Nc3 d5 6. Nxd5 Nxd5 7. Qh5+ g6 8. Nxg6 hxg6 9. Qxg6+ Kd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Latvian Gambit: Corkscrew Countergambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Bc4 fxe4 4. Nxe5 Nf6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Nf7 for White, continuing Qe7 6. Nxh8 d5 7. Be2 Nc6 8. d4 Be6 9. O-O O-O-O. White is winning (+2.22). The next best moves are 5. Bf7+ (+1.71) and 5. Nc3 (+0.70).
Is the Latvian Gambit: Corkscrew Countergambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +2.22: white is winning. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Latvian Gambit: Corkscrew Countergambit?
C40. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).