C40

Latvian Gambit Accepted

9 named lines in this family, ECO C40. Every one of them opens 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5, so the notes on those moves are written once, just below, instead of once per line. Under each line you get its moves and the sentences it adds that this page has not already printed. A line's own page carries up to its first 4 per-move notes in full.

The moves every line here plays

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5

1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
1... e5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d4, and frees the bishop and queen.
2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5.
2... f5 Challenges the pawn on e4 - the central tension has to resolve. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Latvian Gambit. Fair warning: engines rate this gambit as objectively dubious; it is a practical weapon, not a promise of equality.

Main lineC40

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. exf5

An early pawn trade leaves the e-file as White's avenue and the f-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. White is up material out of the opening - Black is banking on activity to show for it.