ECO C40 · Latvian Gambit

Latvian Gambit: Mayet Attack, Polerio-Svedenborg Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Bc4 fxe4 4. Nxe5 d5

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

5. Qh5++1.02

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Latvian Gambit: Mayet Attack, Polerio-Svedenborg Variation (C40), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Bc4 fxe4 4. Nxe5 d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Qh5+ for White. White is clearly better (+1.02).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.025. Qh5+ g6 6. Nxg6 Nf6 7. Bb5+ c6 8. Qe5+ Be7 9. Nxe7 Qxe7
  2. +0.205. Bb5+ c6 6. Qh5+ g6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. Qxh8 cxb5 9. Qxg8 Qg5
  3. −0.385. Be2 Bd6 6. d4 Ne7 7. c4 Bxe5 8. dxe5 d4 9. Bg5 Nbc6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Latvian Gambit: Mayet Attack, Polerio-Svedenborg Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Bc4 fxe4 4. Nxe5 d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Qh5+ for White, continuing g6 6. Nxg6 Nf6 7. Bb5+ c6 8. Qe5+ Be7 9. Nxe7 Qxe7. White is clearly better (+1.02). The next best moves are 5. Bb5+ (+0.20) and 5. Be2 (−0.38).
Is the Latvian Gambit: Mayet Attack, Polerio-Svedenborg Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.02: white is clearly 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: Mayet Attack, Polerio-Svedenborg 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+).