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. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
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+).