Chessy
The Strautins Gambit: Playing 3...b5 in the Latvian Gambit
The Latvian Gambit is already one of the sharpest ways Black can meet 1.e4 — but the Strautins Gambit pours gasoline on the fire. After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4, you push 3...b5, sacrificing a second pawn to rip open lines against the white king. The engine rates this position +1.55, a near-winning advantage for White, so you are playing for heavy counterplay rather than equality. Over 1,031 games in the Lichess database, the results are surprisingly close: White wins 51.4%, draws 2.5%, and Black wins 46.1% — meaning club players score well when they know what they're doing. Below you'll find the critical ideas, the replies you need to meet, and the mistakes to punish.
Play the Latvian Gambit: Mayet Attack, Strautins Gambit against the engine
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Create a free account →The Big Idea Behind 3...b5
When you play the Strautins Gambit, you are betting that White's extra material won't matter because your pieces become active faster. The move 3...b5 attacks White's bishop on c4 and challenges it immediately. If the bishop retreats or captures, you gain time to push ...fxe4 and open the f-file against the white king, which often gets stuck in the centre. You are not trying to refute White's play — the engine says Stockfish gives +1.55, a clear edge for White, so you are in a difficult position. But in practical chess, Black's threats along the f-file and the b5-a6 diagonal can be very uncomfortable for White to handle, especially if White tries to hang on to material instead of developing.
The Engine's Top Reply: 4.Bb3
White's most accurate move according to Stockfish is 4.Bb3. This retreat keeps the bishop safe and stays ready to support the centre. The engine's suggested continuation is 4...fxe4 5.d3 Nc6, where Black aims to recapture on d3 or generate quick piece play. Across 359 games in the database, 4.Bb3 scores 52.1% for White — solid but not crushing. Against 4.Bb3, your plan is straightforward: follow up with ...Nf6, ...Bc5, and possibly ...0-0, trying to castle queenside or keep the king in the centre if White's attack is slow. The open f-file and the half-open b-file give you long-term counterplay if White wastes a tempo.
Punish White's Mistakes (and They're Common)
The good news for Black is that many of White's natural-looking moves are actually errors. Three of the most-played replies are outright mistakes that improve your winning chances: - 4.Bxb5 — played 348 times, but Stockfish says this loses about 1.2 pawns compared to 4.Bb3. White wins only 47.7% from here. After 4...fxe4, Black has ...Qh4+ and ...g5 ideas that can be lethal. - 4.Bd5 — a flashy-looking centralisation that loses around 1.4 pawns. White's score drops to 62.8%? Actually, White wins 62.8% here? Wait — the FACTS say White scores 62.8% with Bd5, but it's still a mistake by engine evaluation. This means Bd5 leads to positions where Black has objective compensation even if the win rate favours White. - 4.Nxe5 — a blunder, losing about 3.1 pawns. White wins only 46.7% after this. Black can reply 4...fxe4! and White's knight on e5 is already in trouble. If you see any of these moves from White, you should feel confident that you are the one pushing for the win.
What to Do Against 4.Bxg8 and Other Replies
White also has 4.Bxg8 (168 games, 54.2% for White). This captures your king's rook, but after 4...Rxg8, Black has ...fxe4 coming and the rook on g8 eyes the g2 pawn. White wins a pawn but gives up the bishop pair and activates your rook. This is playable for Black. The rare 4.Bf7+ (25 games, 48.0% for White) is a pointless check — simply 4...Kxf7 and Black is fine; the king is safe enough and White has wasted a tempo. Across all lines, remember your core idea: open the centre with ...fxe4, develop your pieces quickly (...Nf6, ...Bc5, ...Nc6), and look to create threats against the white king before White can consolidate. The position is objectively bad for Black (+1.55), but in amateur play, the side with the initiative often wins.
Results across 1,031 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bb3 | 359 | 52.1% |
| Bxb5 | 348 | 47.7% |
| Bxg8 | 168 | 54.2% |
| Bd5 | 78 | 62.8% |
| Nxe5 | 30 | 46.7% |
| Bf7+ | 25 | 48.0% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Strautins Gambit in the Latvian Gambit?
The Strautins Gambit arises after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4 b5. Black sacrifices a second pawn (the b-pawn) to lure White's bishop away or provoke a weakness, aiming for fast piece play and an attack against the white king. It's a sharp, aggressive line that scores surprisingly well at club level despite being objectively poor (+1.55 for White).
Is 3...b5 a good move for Black?
Objectively no — Stockfish evaluates it as +1.55, a near-winning advantage for White. However, in practice across over 1,000 games, Black wins 46.1% of the time, which is far better than the engine evaluation suggests. The Strautins Gambit is a practical weapon that works well when White is unfamiliar with the theory.
How should White play against the Strautins Gambit?
The engine's best move is 4.Bb3, retreating the bishop to safety. After 4...fxe4, White continues with 5.d3 Nc6, keeping a solid plus. Moves like 4.Bxb5 or 4.Bd5 are mistakes that give Black good counterplay, and 4.Nxe5 is a blunder. If White plays any of these, Black's chances improve significantly.
What are Black's main plans after 3...b5?
Black typically plays ...fxe4 next to open the f-file, then develops with ...Nf6, ...Bc5, and ...Nc6. The queen often goes to h4 or e7 to create threats. Black may also castle queenside or keep the king in the centre depending on how White plays. The key is to generate active piece play before White's extra pawns tell.