ECO C40 · Latvian Gambit

Latvian Gambit: Mason Countergambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. d4

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

3… fxe4+0.51

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Latvian Gambit: Mason Countergambit (C40), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. d4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… fxe4 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.51).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.513… fxe4 4. Nfd2 Qh4 5. g3 Qe7 6. d5 Nf6 7. Nc3 e3 8. fxe3
  2. +1.333… exd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. exf5 Nxd4 6. Qxd4 Qf6 7. Qe3+ Kd8 8. Nc3
  3. +1.413… Nc6 4. Nxe5 fxe4 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Qh5+ Ke7 7. Bg5+ Nf6 8. Nc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Latvian Gambit: Mason Countergambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. d4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… fxe4 for Black, continuing 4. Nfd2 Qh4 5. g3 Qe7 6. d5 Nf6 7. Nc3 e3 8. fxe3. White is slightly better (+0.51). The next best moves are 3… exd4 (+1.33) and 3… Nc6 (+1.41).
Is the Latvian Gambit: Mason Countergambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.51: white is slightly better. 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: Mason Countergambit?
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+).