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Exciting Latvian

Exciting Latvian

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greenpawn34

e4

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Hi Squelch.

Of course I know of this game.

Latvian Gambit's played then were rare and we sought them out.

There use to be a magazine devoted just to Latvian Games published
in America. I even managed to get a few copies sent from the states.

There were a few of us then totally pots about this opening.

I'm Just giving Tom Tom a warning about the 3.d4 line.
Most Black players when meeting it for the first time don't find 8...h6.
and get walloped.

First time I saw it in a 1981 League match,
I had to dig 8...h6 out OTB it cost me loads of time.

I played 10...Bb4+ giving back the piece and drew.
I was not going to walk into a discovered check.



(back then we never memorised varitions, the opening was still rare
so everything was made up at the board).

Note, even then I'm setting traps. 11.Nxb4 c6 threatening a5 winning
the Knight.
I mentioned this line in an old magazine and again on the Corner
a few years ago. It's not in the Kosten book.

rc

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Originally posted by tomtom232
I think most people here know by now that I'm am not just willing to take chances but that its not really in me to NOT take chances.
what do you guys think about the 2.Nc3 line? for it seems to this patzer that after 2.Nc3 and then d4, white gets a good game. its perhaps not the most aggressive way to splat the lat, but it appears to me that Lat players are kind of bordering on insanity and if one plays sensibly it may be an antidote to this phenomena. what would you play after 2.Nc3?

greenpawn34

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Hi Robbie.

After 3.Nc3 the Latvian Gambiteer stands up and takes a picture
of the board.

This picture is given to the controller who pins it next to your name
on the tournament table and everyone in the playing starts calling
you a crapper.

The controller then slaps you for being naughty, retracts your last
move and makes you play something else.

I last seen this happen in Clacton-on-Sea 1952.

🙂

It's a move. it's called the Moginsky of something like that.

I cannot go to look it up at the moment.

My wife and I are playing first to get up has to make a cup of tea.

Black usually plays 3...Nf6. 3.Nc3 must be OK as it develops a piece.
Well it cannot be bad. put it that way.

I'm dying on a cup of tea.

rc

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Originally posted by greenpawn34
Hi Robbie.

After 3.Nc3 the Latvian Gambiteer stands up and takes a picture
of the board.

This picture is given to the controller who pins it next to your name
on the tournament table and everyone in the playing starts calling
you a crapper.

The controller then slaps you for being naughty, retracts your last
move and makes you play something s it develops a piece.
Well it cannot be bad. put it that way.

I'm dying on a cup of tea.
yes yes, my friend, but taking that e pawn is what you Latvian friends want and expect! it is no secret that you guys want an open tactical crazy game, and not only that, you want us to expend a tempo by taking that e pawn as well, why should us purveyors of the noble Ruy Lopez be startled out of our wits by you crazy lats, there you are , just settling down to a nice Ruy when the upstart plays 2...f5!, i dunno, you should be punished with a stonewall or some other slow positional maneuvering game!

t

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Originally posted by robbie carrobie
what do you guys think about the 2.Nc3 line? for it seems to this patzer that after 2.Nc3 and then d4, white gets a good game. its perhaps not the most aggressive way to splat the lat, but it appears to me that Lat players are kind of bordering on insanity and if one plays sensibly it may be an antidote to this phenomena. what would you play after 2.Nc3?
I would get up on the table and proclaim, "Why must I play this idiot!"

rc

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Originally posted by tomtom232
I would get up on the table and proclaim, "Why must I play this idiot!"
yes wasn't that what Nimzo exclaimed after he had been soundly hammered by an amateur, Pah, well then, take stock! for it would be no surprise if the same happened again. 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 f5!?, 3.Nc3!! Nf6, 3.Bc4 and the gambit is practically bust, the diagonal that was weakened by playing 2...f5 is a roadway leading to blacks destruction, white is ready to castle, none of those crazy tactics will work, you will be forced to develop or suffer, and white will have stamped some sense onto the game and you will have wished you had played the Ruy Lopez Schliemann instead!

greenpawn34

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Robbie.

I'll PM you my home phone number.

Call it, she will answer it and you say:

"Now make a cup of tea!" then hang up.

rc

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Originally posted by greenpawn34
Robbie.

I'll PM you my home phone number.

Call it, she will answer it and you say:

"Now make a cup of tea!" then hang up.
go for it dude, ill do it!

greenpawn34

e4

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She's up and making the tea!

Mr. Greenpawn 1 Mrs greenpawn 0.

3.Nc3 can get hairy.

This is what I recall of the line.



So much for a slow positional line.

rc

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Originally posted by greenpawn34
She's up and making the tea!

Mr. Greenpawn 1 Mrs greenpawn 0.

3.Nc3 can get hairy.

This is what I recall of the line.

[pgn]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nc3 fxe4 4. Nxe5 Nf6 5. Bc4 d5 6. Nxd5 Nxd5 7. Qh5+ g6 8. Nxg6 hxg6 9. Qxg6+ Kd7 10. Bxd5 Qe7[/pgn]

So much for a slow positional line.
im wasted pawn dude, i need to think about this tomorrow, regards robbie. 🙂

H

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I earlier posted a blitz game (was not sure how to get it to PGN) starting 1e4 d4 2 Bc4 e5. Does this appear on the Latvian radar or is it something else?

R

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Originally posted by Habeascorp
I earlier posted a blitz game (was not sure how to get it to PGN) starting 1e4 d4 2 Bc4 e5. Does this appear on the Latvian radar or is it something else?
Those moves are impossible 😕
I'm guessing you mean 1.e4,e5 2.Bc4,f5 which is the Calabrese countergambit in the Bishop's opening (I looked it up,have never seen it).Apparently it is very similar to the Latvian.

H

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Thank you for your correction. Yes that is what i meant.

S

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Originally posted by robbie carrobie
what do you guys think about the 2.Nc3 line? for it seems to this patzer that after 2.Nc3 and then d4, white gets a good game. its perhaps not the most aggressive way to splat the lat, but it appears to me that Lat players are kind of bordering on insanity and if one plays sensibly it may be an antidote to this phenomena. what would you play after 2.Nc3?
3.Nc3 Mlotkowski's variation

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 f5 3 Nc3




White sensibly continues his development. Although such a move can hardly be critical for the evaluation of the Latvian Gambit, nevertheless Black has to take care. The move was first analysed by the American Mlotkowski in the BCM of 1916. Essentially, Black has two main replies:

A 3...Nf6
B 3...fxe4


There are a couple of popular alternatives that really belong to books on other openings...


- The Latvian Gambit Lives by Tony Kosten

rc

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how very interesting Squelch, I wonder what happens after these two continuations ..Nf6 and ..fxe4, mmmm

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