Latvian Gambit: Mayet Attack, Morgado Defense
Latvian Gambit: Mayet Attack
Definition
The Mayet Attack is a sharp sideline of the Latvian Gambit that arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. d4. Named after the 19-century Berlin master Carl Mayet, the variation sees White immediately challenge Black’s central control instead of the more common 3. Nxe5 or 3. Bc4.
Typical Move-order
A representative sequence is:
- e4 e5
- Nf3 f5
- d4 fxe4 (3…exd4 is also possible)
- Nxe5 Nf6
- Bc4 d5
Strategic Ideas
- White aims to open the centre before Black can consolidate the advanced f-pawn, hoping to exploit the weakened dark squares around Black’s king.
- Black accepts the challenge with …fxe4, obtaining a pure pawn gambit: Black keeps the broad pawn centre (e5–f5) at the cost of development and king safety.
- The variation often leads to unbalanced structures where both sides castle short and a piece storm erupts down the f- and e-files.
Historical Significance
Carl Mayet played the line in several informal Berlin Café games in the 1840s–1850s, a period dominated by romantic, sacrificial chess. Modern engine analysis reveals that precise play by White can neutralise most of Black’s compensation, yet the Mayet Attack remains popular with club players who enjoy theoretical surprise value.
Illustrative Game
A short, tactical example that shows typical themes:
The game (Casual, Berlin 1852) ends with White enjoying a material advantage and safer king.
Interesting Facts
- The ECO code for the Mayet Attack is C40.
- Carl Mayet was a lawyer by profession and a founding member of the famed “Berlin Pleiades.” Despite a minus score versus Adolf Anderssen, Mayet’s openings continue to carry his name.
- Engines rate 3.d4 as the most testing anti-Latvian attempt; in correspondence play White scores over 60 %, but over-the-board results are far more balanced because of the line’s complexity.
Latvian Gambit: Morgado Defense
Definition
The Morgado Defense is Black’s most resilient reply to the Mayet Attack, introduced by Portuguese correspondence master Luís Morgado in the 1970s. After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. d4 fxe4 4. Nxe5, Black plays 4…d6, kicking the knight from e5 and reinforcing the centre.
Typical Move-order
- e4 e5
- Nf3 f5
- d4 fxe4
- Nxe5 d6 (Morgado Defense)
- Ng4 Be7
Strategic Ideas
- Central Repair: …d6 shores up the e5-square and readies … Nf6, giving Black a solid pawn chain (f5–e5–d6).
- Piece Activity: Black often follows with …Be7, …Nf6, and …O-O, achieving full development while still retaining the extra pawn.
- White’s Plan: Exploit the half-open f-file with moves such as Bc4, Qh5+, or even f3 to break Black’s pawn phalanx.
- The variation can transpose to a reversed King’s Gambit Declined after colours are switched, giving both sides familiar motifs.
Historical Background
Luís Morgado analysed the line exhaustively in Portuguese chess magazines, demonstrating that 4…d6 is sounder than the older 4…Nc6 and 4…Qf6 lines. The defense gained traction in correspondence events during the 1980s, where theoretical novelties were easier to test deeply.
Sample Game
[[Pgn| e4|e5| Nf3|f5| d4|fxe4| Nxe5|d6| Ng4|Be7| Nc3|Nf6| Nxf6+|Bxf6| Nxe4|O-O| Bd3|Bxd4| O-O|d5| Ng5|h6 ]]Morgado – Ferreira, Portuguese CC Championship 1981. Black ultimately held the endgame, showing the line’s robustness.
Interesting Facts
- Modern engines view the position after 4…d6 as roughly equal (≈0.00), a rare evaluation for the Latvian Gambit!
- The Morgado Defense is sometimes called the “Portuguese Variation,” though that term more commonly references 1.e4 e5 2.Bb5 Nc6 3.Bxc6.
- Because 4…d6 is so critical, many Latvian specialists now arrive at the setup via move-order tricks like 3…Nc6 4.Nxe5 Qh4 5.Be2 fxe4 6.Nxc6 d6.