The Mayet Attack, Poisoned Pawn Variation is a variation of the Latvian Gambit, catalogued as ECO C40. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Bc4 fxe4 4. Nxe5 Qg5 5. d4 Qxg2, reaching the position shown below after 10 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4, Black on e4). White is ahead in development, with two minor pieces out to Black's zero, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move after five moves. White’s f- and h-files pawns are isolated.
On the Latvian Gambit generally: ECO C40. A chess opening with 17 known variations.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
See all 3 Latvian Gambit variations →
The Mayet Attack, Poisoned Pawn Variation goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Bc4 fxe4 4. Nxe5 Qg5 5. d4 Qxg2. It is a variation of the Latvian Gambit and is catalogued as ECO C40.
The Mayet Attack, Poisoned Pawn Variation is ECO C40. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Latvian Gambit.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Bc4 fxe4 4. Nxe5 Qg5 5. d4 Qxg2 at +0.96 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.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4, Black on e4). White is ahead in development, with two minor pieces out to Black's zero, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move. White’s f- and h-files pawns are isolated.