ECO C40 · Latvian Gambit

Latvian Gambit: Fraser Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Nc6

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

4. Qh5++2.05

White is winning. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Latvian Gambit: Fraser Defense (C40), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Qh5+ for White. White is winning (+2.05).

Top engine moves

  1. +2.054. Qh5+ g6 5. Nxg6 Nf6 6. Qh4 hxg6 7. Qxh8 d5 8. d3 Kf7
  2. +1.374. d4 fxe4 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Qh5+ Ke7 7. Bg5+ Nf6 8. Nc3 d5
  3. +1.154. Nxc6 dxc6 5. d4 Be6 6. exf5 Bxf5 7. Bd3 Ne7 8. Be3 Qd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Latvian Gambit: Fraser Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Qh5+ for White, continuing g6 5. Nxg6 Nf6 6. Qh4 hxg6 7. Qxh8 d5 8. d3 Kf7. White is winning (+2.05). The next best moves are 4. d4 (+1.37) and 4. Nxc6 (+1.15).
Is the Latvian Gambit: Fraser Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +2.05: 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: Fraser Defense?
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+).