ECO C40 · Latvian Gambit

Latvian Gambit: Senechaud Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. b4

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

3… fxe4−0.90

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Latvian Gambit: Senechaud Gambit (C40), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. b4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… fxe4 for Black. Black is clearly better (−0.90).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.903… fxe4 4. Nxe5 Nf6 5. Be2 Bxb4 6. O-O O-O 7. d3 d5 8. Bb2
  2. −0.703… Nf6 4. exf5 e4 5. Nh4 Bxb4 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O d5 8. d3
  3. −0.073… Qe7 4. d3 Qxb4+ 5. c3 Qa5 6. exf5 d6 7. Qb3 Nf6 8. Be2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Latvian Gambit: Senechaud Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. b4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… fxe4 for Black, continuing 4. Nxe5 Nf6 5. Be2 Bxb4 6. O-O O-O 7. d3 d5 8. Bb2. Black is clearly better (−0.90). The next best moves are 3… Nf6 (−0.70) and 3… Qe7 (−0.07).
Is the Latvian Gambit: Senechaud Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.90: black 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: Senechaud Gambit?
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+).