ECO C40 · Latvian Gambit

Latvian Gambit: Corkscrew Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Nf6 4. Bc4 fxe4 5. Nf7 Qe7 6. Nxh8 d5

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

7. Bb5++2.31

White is winning. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Latvian Gambit: Corkscrew Gambit (C40), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Nf6 4. Bc4 fxe4 5. Nf7 Qe7 6. Nxh8 d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Bb5+ for White. White is winning (+2.31).

Top engine moves

  1. +2.317. Bb5+ Bd7 8. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 9. O-O Qe6 10. Nc3 O-O-O 11. d4 Bb4
  2. +2.237. Be2 Nc6 8. d4 Be6 9. O-O O-O-O 10. f3 Qd7 11. c3 Be7
  3. +1.567. Bf1 Bg4 8. Be2 Bxe2 9. Qxe2 Nc6 10. Nc3 O-O-O 11. O-O Nd4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Latvian Gambit: Corkscrew Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Nf6 4. Bc4 fxe4 5. Nf7 Qe7 6. Nxh8 d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Bb5+ for White, continuing Bd7 8. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 9. O-O Qe6 10. Nc3 O-O-O 11. d4 Bb4. White is winning (+2.31). The next best moves are 7. Be2 (+2.23) and 7. Bf1 (+1.56).
Is the Latvian Gambit: Corkscrew Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +2.31: 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 Gambit?
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+).