ECO C40 · Latvian Gambit

Latvian Gambit: Greco Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Qe7

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

4. Qh5++1.50

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Latvian Gambit: Greco Variation (C40), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Qe7, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Qh5+ for White. White is clearly better (+1.50).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.504. Qh5+ g6 5. Nxg6 Qxe4+ 6. Be2 Nf6 7. Qh3 hxg6 8. Qxh8 Qxg2
  2. +1.394. d4 Nf6 5. Bc4 Nc6 6. O-O fxe4 7. Ng4 Nxg4 8. Qxg4 d6
  3. +0.324. f4 Nf6 5. exf5 d6 6. d4 Bxf5 7. Bc4 dxe5 8. fxe5 Nbd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Latvian Gambit: Greco Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Qe7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Qh5+ for White, continuing g6 5. Nxg6 Qxe4+ 6. Be2 Nf6 7. Qh3 hxg6 8. Qxh8 Qxg2. White is clearly better (+1.50). The next best moves are 4. d4 (+1.39) and 4. f4 (+0.32).
Is the Latvian Gambit: Greco Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.50: White is clearly better. 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: Greco Variation?
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+).