Editing Latvian Gambit (section)

==Other responses for White==
Several other responses for White have been analysed.<ref>[[Tony Kosten]], ''The Latvian Gambit Lives!'', Batsford, 2001, pp. 7, 117, 175, 199, 210, 217. {{ISBN|0-7134-8629-5}}.</ref>

===3.Nc3===
White's 3.Nc3 was originally analysed by the American [[chess master|master]] [[Stasch Mlotkowski]] (1881–1943) in the 1916 ''[[British Chess Magazine]]''.<ref name="Kosten 2001, p. 210">Kosten 2001, p. 210.</ref> Kosten gives as Black's two main responses 3...Nf6 4.Bc4 (4.exf5 is also possible) fxe4 5.Nxe5 d5 6.Nxd5! Nxd5 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Nxg6! hxg6! 9.Qxg6+ Kd7 10.Bxd5 Qe7 11.Qxe4 Rh4 12.Qxe7+ Bxe7, reaching an [[chess endgame|endgame]] where White has four pawns for a {{chessgloss|minor piece}}, and 4...fxe4 5.Nxe5 Qf6, when White can choose from 6.Nc4! (transposing to the main line 3.Nxe5 Qf6 4.Nc4 fxe4 6.Nc3), 6.d4, and 6.f4!?<ref>Kosten 2001, pp. 213-14.</ref> Black can also play 3...d6, when 4.d4 {{chessgloss|transposition|transposes}} to the [[Philidor Defence#Philidor Countergambit|Philidor Countergambit]] (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5!?), which was favoured by [[Paul Morphy]] in the mid-19th century and is still seen occasionally today.<ref name="Kosten 2001, p. 210"/><ref>[[Christian Bauer]], ''The Philidor Files'', Gloucester Publishers, 2006, pp. 22-32. {{ISBN|978-1-85744-436-0}}.</ref>

Today, however, Black's response is considered to be 3...fxe4.
* 4.Nxe4 d5 5.Nxe5 dxe4 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.Qxh8 Be6 9.Qe5 Kf7 10.Qxe4 Nf6 11.Qxb7 Nbd7
* 4.Nxe4 d5 5.Ng3 e4 6.Nd4 Nf6 7.d3 c5 8.Ndf5 Nc6

<em>Assessment</em>: One of the best lines for Black. Black has better bishops and a strong centre.

===3.exf5===
White's 3.exf5 followed by 3...e4 4.Ne5 Nf6 5.Be2 is recommended by [[John L. Watson]] and [[Eric Schiller]].<ref>[http://www.jeremysilman.com/chess_opng_anlys/040410_latvian_gambit.html Latvian Gambit]. jeremysilman.com. Retrieved on 2009-04-05.</ref> 4.Qe2, 4.Nd4, and even 4.Ng1!? are also possible.<ref>Kosten 2001, pp. 188-98.</ref>

Black's response should be 3...e4.

Now, White has three possible moves:
* Nd4 (best move)
* Ne5
* Qe2

Sample Continuation #1 (Ian Defense) 4.Ne5 Nf6 5.Be2 Be7 6.Bh5+ Kf8! 7.Nf7 Qe8 8.Nxh8 Nxh5 9.Nc3 Kg8

Black lost castle and exchanged its Rook with White Knight and Bishop, but kingside is solid, ready to expand queenside, which is considered to be equal.

Sample Continuation #2 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.d3 c5 6.Nb3 exd3 7.Bxd3 d5 8.Bb5+ Nc6

Common mistake 4.'''Qe2?''' Qe7 5.Nd4 Nc6 6.Qh5+ Kd8 7.Nxc6+ dxc6 8.Be2 Nf6 9.Qg5 h6 10.Qe3 Bxf5 11.0-0 Nd5 12.Qd4 Qd6 13.d3 Nb4

<em>Assessment</em>: Black is not lost here, and often allows Nf7 and sacrifice Black's kingside rook.

===3.d4===
White's 3.d4 followed by 3...fxe4 4.Nxe5 Nf6 5.Bg5 d6 leads, as usual, to sharp play. White often offers a piece {{chessgloss|sacrifice}} with either 6.Nc3!? or 6.Nd2!?, but Black seems to have adequate resources against both.<ref>Kosten 2001, pp. 199-209.</ref>

Black's best response is considered to be 3...fxe4.

Sample Continuation #1 4.Nxe5 Nf6 5.Be2 d6 6.Nc4 Be6 7.Ne3 d5 8.c4 c6 9.Nc3 Be7 10.0-0 0-0

Common mistake  8.'''O-O?''' c5!

Sample Continuation #2 4.Nxe5 Nf6 5.Be2 d6 6.Ng4 Be7 7.Nc3 d5 8.Ne5 O-O 9.Bg5 c6 10.O-O Bf5

<em>Assessment</em>: Black has a better pawn structure, and better bishops. Few openings give you such a good position after just 10 moves.

===3.d3===
This passive move does not promise White any advantage. After 3...Nc6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.exf5 d5, Black is okay. Alternatively, 3...d6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.g3 Be7 6.Bg2 is also considered a prudent defense by Black.<ref>Kosten 2001, pp. 217-218.</ref>
Black's best response is 3...Nc6.

Sample continuation #1 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.exf5 d5

Sample continuation #2 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Bg5 Bb4 6.exf5 d5 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Bxf5

<em>Assessment</em>: Normal position that is comparable to several other openings. White has a weak pawn structure but the bishop pair. However, this is a tough advantage to prove, since White's light-squared bishop is restricted.