The Leonhardt Variation is a variation of the Latvian Gambit Accepted, catalogued as ECO C40. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Qf6 4. Nc4 fxe4 5. Nc3, reaching the position shown below after 9 half-moves.
Black holds the centre with pawns on e4. White is ahead in development, with two minor pieces out to Black's zero. It is Black to move after five moves.
On the Latvian Gambit Accepted generally: ECO C40. A chess opening with 9 known variations.
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See all 6 Latvian Gambit Accepted variations →
The Leonhardt Variation goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Qf6 4. Nc4 fxe4 5. Nc3. It is a variation of the Latvian Gambit Accepted and is catalogued as ECO C40.
The Leonhardt Variation is ECO C40. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Latvian Gambit Accepted.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Qf6 4. Nc4 fxe4 5. Nc3 at +1.36 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for White. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
Black holds the centre with pawns on e4. White is ahead in development, with two minor pieces out to Black's zero. It is Black to move.