1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 The Latvian Gambit has a number of staunch defenders. Tony Kosten has written a book on the opening and the complications of this line are a firm favourite amongst postal players. But is it really a move of the modern era? Let's find out. 3. Nxe5 Nc6 It's 'normal' to misplace the queen by 3 .. Qf6, but Chris Briscoe wants to play a real gambit. To be honest, I have already left my book behind. 4. Nxc6 4. Qh5+ 4 Qh5+ is probably critical here, but after 4... g6 5. Nxg6 Nf6 6. Qh4 Rg8 7. Nxf8 Rg4 what on earth is going on? I decided to take a safe pawn and a solid position. 4... dxc6 5. d3 Bc5 5... fxe4 Afterwards I discovered that Pachman recommends 5 Nc3 here, but my move cannot be so bad. After 6. dxe4 Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 White is playing a Ruy Lopez exchange line where he has two extra pawns on the kingside. 6. Be2 Ne7 7. O-O O-O 8. Nd2 I like this move which filters the knight across to kingside where it can support an eventual d4. As far as I can see Black is simply a pawn down - and a good central pawn at that. 8... Ng6 9. Nf3 Nh4 Naturally, Black decides to hinder e5 and d4 by White. So I prepare this formation by other means. 10. c3 fxe4 11. dxe4 Qe7 Optically, Black may seem to be doing OK but in fact he is quite lost. He had to play 11 .. Nxf3+ 12 Bxf3 Qe7, though 13 Qe2 followed by a timely Be3 maintains White's superiority. 12. Ng5 h6 12... g6 At the time, I thought that 12 g6 was essential, but 13. Bg4 h6 14. Bxc8 Raxc8 15. Qg4 13 Bg4! h6 14 Bxc8 Rac8 15 Qg4 is rather strong. 13. Bc4+ Kh8 14. Qh5 b5 14... Rxf2 In essence, Black is lost after only 14 moves. 15. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 16. Kxf2 Qc5+ 17. Be3 Qxc4 18. Qxh4 does not help. Briscoe finds the relatively best try. 15. Bb3 Ba6 16. Qxh4 b4 Here 17 Qh5 was the most precise, but my move is not bad. 17. cxb4 Bb6 18. Qh5 Why did I play 18 Qh5 you might ask? Why indeed? I wanted more than the routine 18. Nf3 Qxh4 19. Nxh4 Bxf1 20. Ng6+ Kh7 21. Nxf8+ Rxf8 22. Kxf1 Rxf2+ 23. Ke1 Rxg2 which is no doubt winning for White, but still leaves some amount of discomfort 18... Rf6 18... Bxf1 This is definitely Black's last chance gone begging. I was threatening 19 Qg6 but 19 Bxf1! was a good try.If then 19. Qg6 ( 20 Qg6 was my intention, but I might have seen 19. Nf7+ Rxf7 20. Qxf7 Qxf7 21. Bxf7 which is fairly comfortable.) 19... Qxg5 20. Bxg5 Rxf2 is a devilish resource which might save Black. 19. Nf7+ Rxf7 If 19 .. Kh7 20 Bg5! was curtains. So is it to be 20 Qxf7 Qxf7 21 Bxf7 Rf8 22 Bb3 Bxf1 23 Kxf1 Rxf2+ 24 Ke1 Rxg2 afterall? 19... Qxf7 20. Qxf7 Rxf7 21. Bxf7 20. Bxh6 No! The threat of 21 Bg5 dis check leaves Black little option. He will have no time for .. Bxf1. 20... gxh6 21. Bxf7 Qg5 21 .. Qf6 22 e5!. I calculated the next few moves carefully. Won positions must be converted efficiently. 22. Qxg5 hxg5 23. Rfd1 Rf8 24. Rd7 Bc8 25. Re7 Kg7 26. Bh5+ So that if 26 .. Kf6 27 Re8. 26... Kh6 27. Rf7 Rd8 28. Rd1 Re8 With 28 Rd1! White destroyed the last hope of counter play on the d-file. I now remembered that if Black has no queen and rooks he cannot give mate on the back rank, so ... 29. Rh7+ Kxh7 30. Bxe8 Bg4 31. Rc1 Bd4 32. Rxc6 Bd1 And simultaneously resigned. A game which might have some theoretical value for the 3 Nc6?! sideline of the Latvian Counter Gambit. *