1.e4! e5 2.Nf3 f5!? : Latvian Gambit
This opening is knows as the Latvian Gambit. It was mainly developed by K. Behting and also by a group of Latvian chess players whose participation reflected by the name of the opening.
3.Nxe5 Qf6
The principal move, which drawback is that the black king's knight is deprived of his best square. Other continuations pose less problems to white. The move 3...Qe7?, is just losing after 4.Qh5+ g6 5.Nxg6 Qxe4+ 6.Be2 Nf6 7.Oh3 hxg6 (or 7...Rg8 8.Nc3 Qc6 9.Nf4 +-) 8.Qxh8 Qxg2 9.Rf1 Ng4 10. d4 +-, and black's position is hopeless since 10...Nxh2 is impossible, due to 11.Bh6.
Although the continuation 3...Nc6 is rather hazardous, certain accuracy is needed from white, since Black obtains many opened files and diagonals. The simplest way for white is to continue the development, while retaining the extra pawn, for example: 4. Nxc6 dxc6 5.Nc3 Bc5 (or 5...Qe7 6.d3 Nf6 7.Bg5 Bd7 8.Be2 +/-) 6.d3 Nf6 7.Be2 0-0 8.0-0 fxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.dxe4 Qh4. Black's threats seem dangerous, Nevertheless, after 11.Ne3 Bxe4 12.Bc4+ Kh8 13.fxe4 Bg4 14.Qd4 +/-, the tension recedes and white obtains rather good winning chances.
4. Nc4!
This moves idea is to keep the white d-pawn on its initial position in order to undermine black's center later.
4...fxe4 5.Nc3
The Black e4-pawn is under attack Black can protect it directly and indirectly
5...Qf7
Perhaps in the strongest continuation, though other continuation have been tested too:
5...c6? This move is not a defense at all, since 6.Nxe4 Qe6 is followed by 7.Qh5+! Kd8 8.Qe5, and then the pawn fork by 8...d5, fails to 9.Qxe6 Bxe6 10.Ng5 +-, winning.
5...Ne7?! Now the black e4- pawn is untouchable, so white transpose to the main setup by Ne3. After 6...Qe5 7.d4 exd3 8.Bxd3 d5 9.0-0, White obtains big advantage in development.
5...Qe6? is also bad. White obtains huge advantage in a standard way 6.Ne3 c6 7.d3 Nf6 8.dxe4 Nxe4 9.Nxe4 Qxe4 10.Bd3 Qe5. It is practically forced.
6.Ne3 c6
The continuation 6...Nf6 7.Bc4 Qg6 (bad is 7...Qe7 8.d3 c6 9.dxe4, with a clear advantage for White, while the pawn lunge 9...b5, which happened in one of the games, led to White's immediate win after 10.Nf5! Qe5 11.f4+-) 8.d3 Bb4 (Black does not obtain sufficient compensation in the variation 8...c6 9.dxe4 Bc5 10.0-0 d6 11.Qe2+/-) 9. Bd2 Bxc3 10.Bxc3+/-, leads to the position where the pair of bishops advantage and the better development define white's substantial advantage.
7.d3! exd3
In the case of 7...d5 8.exd4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Qe7 10.Bd3 Nf6 11.Nxf6+ Qxf6 12.0-0 +/=, Black is pawn down in a bad position.
8.Bxd3 d5 9.0-0 Bc5
Losing is 9...d4 After 10.Bc4 Qd7 11. Qh5+ Kd8 12.Rd1 Nf6 13.Qh4 c5, follows 14.Ned5! Qg4 (or 14...dxc3 15.Bg5+-) 15.Bg5 Qxh4 16.Bxh4 Nbd7 17.Ne4+-, and despite the queen exchange white triumphs.
More solid is 9...Bd6 10.Re1 Ne7, yet White has an opportunity of development in the initiative 11.Nexd5! cxd5 12.Nb5. The best way for black is 12...0-0, but after 13.Nxd6 Qf2+ 14.Kh1 Bg4 15.Qd2, White obtains an advantage.
10.Na4 Be7
The other retreat 10...Bd6 is the drawback that the black bishop gets under attack in many variations.
11.c4 Nf6 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Nc3 Be6
Black has no choice. Losing is 13...d4?, due to 14.Nb5 dxe3 15.Nc7+ Kf8 16.Bxe3 b6 17.Nxa8 Bd6 18.f5.
14.Bf5 Bxf5 15.Nxf5 Nc6
Bad is 15...Bc5?, due to 16.Be3 Bb4 17.a3, and Black has to play 17...Qd7. After 18.Nxg7+ Qxg7 19.axb4 Black is pawn down in bad position.
16.Nxe7 Kxe7
In the case of 16...Nxe7 17.Qa4+, Black also loses the opportunity of castling.
The complications are over. The black king is badly placed and the black central pawn is weak. White's chances are significantly better...
