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. 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: 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+).