Caissa Codex
C40

Latvian Gambit: Mayet Attack, Polerio-Svedenborg Variation

Chess diagram: Latvian Gambit: Mayet Attack, Polerio-Svedenborg Variation after 4…d5

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Statistics from Lichess

43,441 games: White 47.2% / Draw 3.1% / Black 49.7%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
26,31226K
13,61714K
1,8461,846
1,2681,268
143143
102102
5858
2121

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 10, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.08 The position is about equal

Best play: 5. Qh5+ g6 6. Nxg6 hxg6 7. Qxg6+ Kd7 8. Bxd5 Qf6 9. Bxe4 Nc6

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Latvian Gambit: Mayet Attack, Polerio-Svedenborg Variation (ECO C40, Open Games) is a gambit in the Latvian Gambit: Mayet Attack, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Bc4 fxe4 4. Nxe5 d5 (4 moves).

In 43,441 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.2%, Black 49.7% and 3.1% were drawn. White's most played move here is 5. Qh5+, in 61% of those games.

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How to play against the Latvian Gambit: Mayet Attack, Polerio-Svedenborg Variation

The most played answer, 5. Qh5+, also scores best for White: 51.0%, with White winning 49.5% and Black 47.5% of 26K games. Of the main answers, 5. Bb3 scores lowest: 46.9%. Stockfish's first choice is also 5. Qh5+.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 3…fxe4 4. Nxe5 d5, the position after Latvian Gambit: Mayet Attack also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Latvian Gambit: Mayet Attack, Polerio-Svedenborg Variation (C40)”. Lichess data as of 10 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/latvian-gambit-mayet-attack-polerio-svedenborg-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/latvian-gambit-mayet-attack-polerio-svedenborg-variation