Do you play the latvian gambit?

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Avatar of ELVITOTO

I've watched vids on how to beat the latvian but I've seen it in my games like less than 5 times. And I started wondering if people still play it, or if it is a forgot opening, maybe it is played a lot and I don't know.

Avatar of tygxc

It is objectively bad, for that reason it is rarely played, but for those two reasons white players do not know it and that by itself makes it good.

Avatar of ELVITOTO

Agree! Still want to know who plays it?

Avatar of ELVITOTO

Anybody?? 

Avatar of ELVITOTO

It definitely works at your 1000 rating, some IM use it at blitz games and win a lot with it. 

Avatar of KingsHorseman

I'm a Kings Gambit player, so I've turned it around and played the Latvian as black. Both gambits are pretty fast-paced however, and death comes quickly to the first player to lose tempo. The Latvian is already down tempo and white frequently mounts a strong counter-attack. I rarely won with it so I quit playing. But the tactics are similar if you know how to play the KG and you can win some short games if your opponent doesn't understand the positions.

Avatar of ELVITOTO

You are right kingshorseman, they are alike. Tad go watch Miodrag Perunovic, chess butcher, he plays the latvian against titled players and wins a lot. You just need to ace every tactic, and as king said don't lose tempo. 

Avatar of 0peoplelikethis

@Tad2721 anything works at your level.

Avatar of 0peoplelikethis
Tad2721 wrote:
0peoplelikethis wrote:

@Tad2721 anything works at your level.

No u r wrong

No, you're wrong, as this gameperfectly illustrates what kind of chess people at around 1000 level tend to play:

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/12771966777?tab=analysis

This 1300 player played Latvian Gambit against you, and you were already slightly worse after only 5 moves, so there you have it.

Avatar of BlunderThunder67

I just beat someone who played with no clue what they were doing, just knew they were playing this. It's one of those ones were it's normally a good surprise tool but once you get past 1500 or so lots of people are going to destroy the opening.

Avatar of pfren
BlunderThunder67 wrote:

I just beat someone who played with no clue what they were doing, just knew they were playing this. It's one of those ones were it's normally a good surprise tool but once you get past 1500 or so lots of people are going to destroy the opening.

You mean that you had a clue what you were doing?

After 8...Nxg4 9.Bxe7 Bxe7 you had just blundered a piece, and then you left your Queen hanging at g4 for no less than six more moves.

Avatar of wehsing22

no i dont think so i dont even know the latvian gambit i guess ive never played it

Avatar of BlunderThunder67

Im not saying that I personally know how to counter it but at higher levels there are going to be people who do know how to

Avatar of BlunderThunder67

When I said with no clue what they were doing I was pointing out that we both were clueless on how to play it and I won due to the little advantage at the start.