The Budapest Gambit For The Club Player

by Ralph Haefner

Preface
As a chess player begins to learn about the game, he often starts his study of the openings with the king pawn games. There is good reason for this. The king pawn games are characteristically wide open and tactical, which helps the player develop his skills quickly. The queen pawn games are much more difficult to learn or understand. It requires a great deal more chess maturity to play the queen pawn games properly. The majority of chess authors and teachers recommend this as the proper order for the student to follow. However, waiting to learn the queen pawn games has one major drawback. The player eventually progresses to the point where it is necessary to learn a defence against the queen pawn games as black, even if he plays the king pawn games as white. What makes an opening good? This question may be answered in several ways. An opening must allow the player to reach the middle game with a playable position. It must be theoretically sound, or at least not so unsound that it is easy for a well prepared opponent to defeat it. Finally the player must enjoy it; it should match his style and temperment. The Budapest Gambit (or Budapest Defence) meets these requirements. It is a rather risky debut which gives an unbalanced game with winning chances on both sides in most variations. A player who is comfortable with a tactical game or who enjoys gambits should find the Budapest to his liking. Finally, the Budapest is theoretically sound. It has been out of favor in Master chess for several decades, but when it does surface, there is no real refutation. Against a well prepared Master, the Budapest may not be sound enough, but for players not yet at that level, the Budapest gives a perfectly satisfactory game. The surprise value of the Budapest is also not to be dismissed, although the club player will soon find his common opponents prepared for him. The Budapest Gambit is a powerful if not perfectly reliable weapon. It is a logical choice as the first defence to the queen pawn openings for the beginner or as a useful alternate opening for the player who already knows other queen pawn defences. The player who is well prepared to play the Budapest will find himself getting positions in which he has an equal game or a slight inferiority but with compensating advantages. What more can black ask from an opening?

Introduction
This book is laid out in a order which has a particular reason behind it. The Alekhine system is covered first because it is the system in which white quickly returns the gambit pawn. In the knight system, black has means at his disposal to force the win of the pawn, but white may try to prevent it. In the bishop system, white ensures his material advantage while granting black certain other compensating advantages. The unusual systems are covered last. This monograph is meant to be a first step into the study of the Budapest Gambit. As with any subject, a thorough study requires many sources. A bibliography is included to facilitate this. The only other recent books the author knows of dealing exclusively with the Budapest Gambit are The Budapest Gambit by Otto Borik and The Budapest Defence by Josef Staker. Both of these are highly recommended. Much of the analysis in this book was influenced by Borik, because the author made a careful study of Borik's work before starting his own investigations into the subject. Each chapter will begin with an analysis of the prominent features of the system and some important variations. Emphasis will be placed on evaluation and understanding of main lines rather than compiling all known lines of play from a given position. Then all of the games played by the author in that system are presented with annotations. The final chapter is a collection of Master games without notes. The author examined about 120 chess books and 100 issues of chess magazines to collect all of these. This selection of games will be a valuable starting point for any reader wishing to start his own Budapest games collection, since they are rather hard to find in the chess literature.

Preface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i i Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i i i Chapter 1 The Alekhine System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Chapter 2 The Knight System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Chapter 3 The Bishop System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 Chapter 4 Unusual Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 Chapter 5 Games Collection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 6 Bibliography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8

Chapter 1 The Alekhine System

1. 2. 3. 4. The Alekhine System is characterized by the following opening moves. d4 Nf6 c4 e5 dxe5 Ng4 e4

The Alekhine system is about equal in popularity with the Knight and Bishop systems at the Master level, but it is more rarely encountered at lower levels. It is without question the most complicated of the systems white has at his disposal. White returns the pawn for development and a space advantage. The game can become very sharp and tactical, depending on just how black plays. White secures a strong square on d5 to offset black's one at e5. Two good lines are available to black. A. 4. Ngxe5 B. 4. d6 A. 4. Ngxe5 line 4. 5. f4 Ngxe5

At this point, black has two good replies. 5. . . . Ng6 is most common. Borik concludes that after either 6. Be3 or 6. Nf3 that black must play 6. . . . Bb4+ and he gets a playable game. Although less often seen, 5. . . . Nec6 may actually be the better move. The knight is not threatened by white playing an eventual f5, and it immediately strikes at white's weakest square, on d4. Black is likely to seek play on the queenside in this line of the Alekhine system, so c6 is a more natural post than g6. B. 4. d6 lines 4. 5. exd6 d6 Bxd6

In this variation, white holds on to his material advantage. Black has a clear lead in development, with his well placed bishop and knight, while the other bishop supports the knight. Borik suggests that white must play 6. Be2, after which black may try 6. . . . f5 or 6. . . . Nf6. Black gets lively play for the pawn. He must try to gain ground in the middle game, as his advantages evaporate as the endgame is reached. Play against the weak white pawn on f2 is an immediate consideration. 4. 5. 6. Be2 f4 d6 Nxe5

Here white has returned the pawn in order to not grant black the space and time advantage he enjoys in the line above. The game is much less tactical in this instance. Both players will probably concentrate more on strategy and less on tactics. Black may move the attacked knight to c6, g6, or g4. On g4, it is protected because after 6. . . . Ng4 7. Bxg4 Qh4+ regains the piece with a good position for black. White appears to be able to get a clear positional advantage in these lines (usually a space advantage due to his advanced pawns) with realtively little risk.

Don Sjerven - Ralph Haefner February 10, 1989 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 Nxe5 5. Nf3?! The usual move here is 5. f4 to drive black's knight away. 5. Nf3 does not seem as good since black is now able to maintain a knight on e5, one of his goals in the Budapest. 5. 6. 7. 8. Nxe5 Be2 O-O Nbc6 Nxe5 Bc5 O-O

Black has equalized already. Both of his developed pieces are on good posts, while white has only one piece developed to a fairly passive square. White has more space and his pieces are ready to come out soon. At this point, everything looks pretty even. 9. 10. 11. Nd2 Nf3 h3 d6 Ng4? ...

Needlessly weakens the kingside, but it provokes black into a bad exchange. With 11. . . . Nf6, black gives up the tempo advantage but gets pressure against the e pawn. 11. ... Nxf2?

This is all wrong. Knight plus bishop theoretically equals rook plus pawn, but in this case black is giving up his two well posted pieces for a rook that is out of action. The loss of his f pawn never bothers white. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. Rxf2 Kxf2 Bd3 Bf4 Qc2 Re1 Bxf2+ Qe7 Bd7 Bc6 Rfe8 ...

White has adequately responded to the slight attack black has. The white king looks loose, but is not under immediate threat. The exchange black instigated with his 11th move has not worked, white now has a small but noticable advantage. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. Bg3 Kg1 Kh2 Nd4 Nxc6 Rf1 Qf2 h6 Qe6 Rad8 Rd7 Qf6 bxc6 Qd8 Re6?

With this mistake, black seals his fate. 25. . . . Rf6 to attack white's queen and exchange a pair of rooks was the idea, but the white lady has other plans.

25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37.

Qxa7 Rxf6 Qa8+ Qxc6 a4 Qb5 cxb5 a5 a6 Bc4 Bd5 Bc6 a7

Rf6 Qxf6 Qd8 Re7 Qb8 Qxb5 Re8 Ra8 Kf8 f6 Rb8 Ke7 Rc8

There is really no point to playing on, but white was in severe time trouble in a sudden death game. Black is hoping for a miracle, but instead he gets caught in a beautiful mating net. 38. a8(Q) 39. Bxa8 40. Kg1 41. Kf1 42. Ke2 43. Bc6 44. Kd3 45. Bf2+ 46. Kc4 47. Be1 48. b6+ Conclusions The Alekhine system is a good try for white to gain an advantage. In the 4. . . . d6 lines, white should be able to gain an advantage unless he gets too greedy. Therefore, black should play 4. . . . Nxe5 and look for active counterplay on the queenside or against white's advanced pawns to offset the white space advantage inherent in the Alekhine system. Rxa8 Ke6 Kd7 Kc8 Kb8 Ka7 Kb6 Ka5 Ka4 h5 mate

Chapter 2 The Knight System

The knight system is characterized by white playing an early Nf3 to defend the pawn on e5. If followed or preceeded by Bf4, this is part of the bishop system, but if white does not play Bf4, the knight system is reached. There are two characteristic positions. A. The . . . Nc6 lines B. The . . . Bc5 line A. The . . . Nc6 lines 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. d4 c4 dxe5 Nf3 e3 Nf6 e5 Ng4 Nc6

5. Bf4 leads to the bishop system. Here black has two choices. A1. The 5. Bb4+ line 5. ... Bb4+

This is a common move for black in the bishop system. In the knight system it is more rarely seen. The idea is that white will have to block the check somehow, and all methods cause him problems. If 6. Nc3, black can take the knight and wreck white's queenside pawn structure, then take the e5 pawn later with a clear advantage. If 6. Nbd2, white has blocked in his bishop, and black simply takes the e5 pawn with at least equality. If 6. Bd2, black has to trade bishops to avoid the loss of a tempo. This move will be the most difficult of the three for black to deal with. A2. The 5. . . . Ngxe5 line 5. ... Ngxe5

After this, black often plays . . . g6 and . . . Bg7 to give support to his strong knight on e5. White has no real advantage any more. This line is strong for black, as it restores material equality without much risk. B. The . . . Bc5 line 1. 2. 3. 4. d4 c4 dxe5 Nf3 Nf6 e5 Ng4 Bc5

This move is the most common variation of the knight system. Often after 4. . . . Nc6, white transposes into the bishop system, but this move prevents him from doing that. Black ensures the recovery of the gambitted pawn with this move, as 5. e3 is forced, preventing the protection of the pawn with Bf4 for good. White attempts to get active play in this variation, and doesn't worry about his material advantage. Unfortunately for white, this plan is not particularly good. As the following games show, black is generally able to achieve good opening positions against the knight system.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

d4 c4 dxe5 e3 Nf3 Nxe5 Be2 Bd2

Nf6 e5 Ng4 Ngxe5 Nbc6 Nxe5 Bb4+ Qe7

Craig Ludemann - Ralph Haefner 5/29/89

It is probably better to exchange bishops on d2 immediately. This leaves black vulnerable. 9. 10. Nc3 O-O O-O b6?

This loses a piece to 11. Nd5 since 11. . . . Bxd2+ is no longer possible. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. Nd5 Bxb4 Bc3 g3 Bg4 Bd2 Ne7+ e4 Nxc8 Bf4 Bxd1 Qh4 c5 Ng6 Qh3 Qh6 Ne5 Kh8 Qd6 Rxc8 Qxd1 Nxc4

Black only has a pawn for his piece, but white plays the endgame rather poorly and lets black back into the game. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. b3 Be2 f3 Bb5 exd5 Rfd1 Rxd5 Bc4 bxc4 Kf2 Rc1 Rc2 Rd2 Rc2 Ke2 Na5 Rfe8 d5 Red8 Rxd5 Rcd8 Rxd5 Nxc4 Rd3 Rc3 Ra3 f6 Kg8 Kf7 a6

By now white was in severe time trouble, with only about five minutes to finish the game. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. Kd2 Ke2 Rb2 cxb5 Rxb5 Bd2 Rxf3 Ra3 b5 axb5 Rxa2+ c4

43. 44. 45. 46. 47.

Rc5 Ke3 Kd4 Bc3? Rxc4

Ra4 Ke6 Ra2 Rxh2 Rg2

Now black has an easy draw. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. Be1 Ke3 Kf3 Kf2 Rc1 Kg1 Rc5+ Rc7 Re7 Kf2 Re3 gxh4 Kf5 g5 Rg1 Rh1 Rh2+ Ra2 Kg6 Ra1 h5 Ra4 h4 Rxh4

And now black has all the winning chances. 60. Kf3 White's flag fell. Black wins on time.

1. 2. 3. 4.

d4 c4 dxe5 Nf3

Nf6 e5 Ng4 Bc5

Brent Hanke - Ralph Haefner 4/13/89

This move ensures black will regain his pawn. If 5. Be3 Bxe3 6. fxe3 Nxe3 is disasterous for white. Therefore white must play 5. e3 as in this game. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. e3 Be2 b3 Nd4 Ba3 Nc6 Ngxe5 d6 Bd7 Bxa3

Of course, black does not want to trade on c5 and get doubled pawns. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Nxa3 f4 Qd2 Bd3? O-O Qe7 Ng6 O-O Nxd4 ...

At least white could have tried 14. Bxg6 Nxb3 15. axb3 fxg6 losing only a pawn. 14. 15. ... Rae1 Nc6 Rae8

16. 17. 18. 19.

Nb5 Rf2 Nc3 Nd5

Rc8 a6 Nb4 Qh4?

Blunders the piece back. Necessary was 19. . . . Nxd5. 20. 21 22. Nxb4 Qe2 Rexe2 Qg4 Qxe2 f5

Hoping to fix the backward e pawn, but white pushes it immediately to get it exchanged. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. e4 Rxe4 Re3 Bxf5 Nd3 g3 h4 fxe4 Bf5 a5 Rxf5 Rcf8 h5 c6

Here I stopped keeping score due to sudden death time pressure. Black seems to have the upper hand. His queenside majority will soon provide a passed pawn, while the backward g pawn will make white's kingside majority difficult to work with. White resigned some moves later. Jeff Prentiss - Ralph Haefner 5/12/89

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

d4 c4 dxe5 Nf3 Nd4?

Nf6 e5 Ng4 Bc5 ...

White must play 5. e3. This game shows what can happen if he experiments with anything else. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. ... Kxf2 g3 Qxd4 e3 Nxf2! Qh4+ Qxd4+ Bxd4+ Bxe5

Now black has a decisive advantage. He is a pawn ahead, and white's pawn structure is very poor. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Nd2 Nf3 Rb1 b3? Rb2 Bxb2 Nc6 Bf6 d6 Bf5 Bxb2 O-O

Black now has an easily won game, however, through inattention he still manages to lose. There is a old saying "The hardest game to win is a won game." This game is a prime example. 16. h4 Be4

17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.

h5 Kxf3 g4 Ke2 Rg1 Bg2 c5

Bxf3 h6 Ne5+ Nxg4 Ne5 c6 f6?

This weakens the a2-g8 diagonal, which white uses effectively later. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. cxd6 Bh3 Rd1 Ba3 Bg4 Rad8 Rfe8 Nf7 Re5 Rd5?

Another serious mistake. 28. . . . Ra5 29. Bb4 Rxa2+ is a simple way to increase the advantage. There is no reason to allow white's bishop to reach e6 and win a pawn. 29. 30. Rxd5 d7 cxd5 Ra8?

Foolish. The blockade must be kept up. Even after all the mistakes, 30. . . . Ne5 still offers winning chances. If 31. Be7 Rxd7 32. Bxd7 Nxd7 and black has all the chances. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. Be6! Be7 Bxd5 d8(Q) Bxd8 Bxf7 Bxb6 a6 b6? Rb8 Rxd8 Kf8 Kxf7 ...

Black should have played 32. . . . b5 instead of 32. . . . b6 to have prevented this. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. ... hxg6 a4 b4 Bc7 b5 axb5 b6 b7 Bxf4+ b8(Q)+ Qd8+ Qg5+ g6 Kxg6 h5 h4 Kg5 axb5 f5 h3 f4 Kg4 Kh4 Kg4 mate

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

d4 c4 dxe5 Nf3 e3 Be2 Nxe5

Nf6 e5 Ng4 Bc5 Nc6 Ngxe5 Nxe5

Ed Conway - Ralph Haefner 5/12/89

7. O-O O-O 8. Nxe5 is more common. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. O-O Nc3 Ne4 b4 Ng3 d6 O-O Bb6 Bf5 Bg6?

Loses a piece. 12. . . . Be6 was required. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. f4 f5 fxg6 Bxe3 Kh1 Nd7 Qe7 Bxe3+ Qxe3+ fxg6

Less risky would be 17. . . . hxg6. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. Qd5+ Bf3 Qxb7 Ne4 h3 Kh8 Ne5 Nd3 Rae8 Rf4

Black is able to come up with a decent attack over the next few moves, but white always has a defence. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. Qxc7 Ng5 Qxd6 Qxg6 Rxf2 Qh5+ Bd5+ Bxf7+ Qxg5 Ref8 h6 hxg5 Nf2+ Qxf2 Kg8 R8f7 Rxf7 ...

White has simplified into an apparently won endgame, but somehow black is able to hold the draw. 31. 32. 33. ... Rc1 c5? Qd4 Qb2 ...

33. b5 looks better than this. 33. ... Qxb4

34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42.

c6 Qe5 Qc3 Qc5 Rxc5 h4 Rc2 Rxc6 g4

Qb6 Rc7 Kf8 Qxc5 Ke7 Kd6 Rxc6 Kxc6 Kd5

At this point, I lost track of the score. About ten moves later a drawn king and rook pawn vs. king ending was reached. Rajiv Kapadia - Ralph Haefner 7/27/89

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

d4 c4 dxe5 Nf3 e3 Qd5 Be2 O-O b3

Nf6 e5 Ng4 Bc5 Nc6 Qe7 Ngxe5 O-O d6

It appears that black has at least equalized, if not a little more. He has adequate control of the center and a slight lead in development. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. Bb2 Qe4 Nc3 Nd5 Bxf3 Bxe4 Nf4 Bf3 Nh5 Nf6+ Nxe8 Bxc6 Be6 Bd7 Rad8 Nxf3+ Qxe4 Rc8 Rfe8 Bf5 g6? Kf8 Kxe8 bxc6

After black's horrible blunder on the 18th move, white has taken control. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. Rfd1 a3? Rd2 Rc1 Rd3 Bd4 Bf6 e4 f3 g4 Kg2 exd5 Rcd1 Rd8 Bc2 Bxb3 Bb6 Ba4 c5 Rd7 Bc6 Bb7 c6 d5 cxd5 d4

35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41.

Re1+ h4 Bxd8 Re5 h5? Rd1 Re6

Kf8 Bd8 Rxd8 Rc8 Ba6 f6? Bxc4

Now black's passed pawns become very powerful. 42. 43. 44. 45. Rxf6 Rd6 g5 Rb8 Kg7 gxh5 Be2 Rc7

Here I stopped keeping score due to time trouble. A draw was agreed a few moves later. Rajiv Kapadia - Ralph Haefner 8/10/89

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

d4 c4 dxe5 Nf3 e3 Nc3 b3

Nf6 e5 Ng4 Bc5 Nc6 Ngxe5 ...

This variation was not in any of the sources the author had access to, which is very strange. 6. Nc3 looks quite playable, and the fianchetto looks strong. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. ... Bb2 Be2 O-O Nxe5 Nd5 Nf4 Bf3 Bxe5 Qxf3 Qh3 Nxh3 O-O d6 Re8 Bf5 Nxe5 Rc8 Qh4 Bg4 Bxf3 dxe5 Qxh3 f6!

This move protects the e5 pawn and is the start of a plan to restrict white's knight. Black has a temporary advantage. 19. 20. 21. 22. Rfd1 Kf1 Ke2 Ng1 Rcd8 Kf7 Ke6 e4

Consistently carrying out the plan to restrict white. 23. 24. 25. Rxd8 Rd1 Kxd1 Rxd8 Rxd1 Ke5

26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.

Ne2 Kc2 Nc3 h3 Kd1 Ke2 exf4 f3 Kd3 Ne4 Ke2 Kd3 Ng5 bxc4 Kxe2

g5 a5 c6 h5 f5 f4 gxf4 e3 Kf5 Bb4 Ke5 b5? bxc4 e2? Kd4

By pressing too hard for a win, black has blundered into a lost endgame. 41. Ne6+ Kxc4 h pawn falls soon

I stopped keeping score because of time trouble. After 42. Nxf4 the and white has an easy win. After a few more moves, black resigned. Rajiv Kapadia - Ralph Haefner 8/31/89

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

d4 c4 dxe5 Nf3 e3 Nc3 Be2 O-O

Nf6 e5 Ng4 Bc5 Nc6 Ngxe5 d6 Bg4?

A serious miscalculation which immediately costs black the game. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Nxe5 Nxc6 Nxd8 Nxb7 Rd1 Nxc5 Bxe2 Bxd1 Bc2 Bd3 Bxc4 ...

After 14. . . . dxc5 black is a piece down with no compensation at all. Black resigns. Conclusions The knight system is the weakest of the three at white's disposal. In every game in this chapter, black got a perfectly good position out of the opening. Through later mistakes, black lost a few of the games, but there was never a case where an opening disadvantage hurt him. Black is able to win back the gambitted pawn with at least an equal position, and often with a lead in development too. The positions tend to lead to complicated tactics, with early skirmishes in the center being common.

Chapter 3 The Bishop System

The bishop system is the most popular system against the Budapest. It has the advantage that it allows white to keep his extra pawn if he desires. The bishop system starts with these moves. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. or 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. d4 c4 dxe5 Bf4 Nf3 d4 c4 dxe5 Nf3 Bf4 Nf6 e5 Ng4 Nc6 Nf6 e5 Ng4 Nc6

Black now almost always plays 5. . . . Bb4+, after which white has two choices. A. Nbd2 B. Nc3 A. 6. Nbd2 5. 6. ... Nbd2 Bb4+

This is a fairly harmless choice which black should have no trouble equalizing against. Borik recommends 6. . . . Qe7 after which black "has no problems." Black will be able to win back the pawn with a solid position and can be confident going into the middle game. B. 6. Nc3 5. 6. 7. Nc3 bxc3 Bb4+ Bxc3+

This is a very interesting and common move. White will now be able to hang on to the extra pawn, as the queen will be able to guard it if needed. After the exchange of bishop for knight, white's pawn structure is left in a shambles. Black's plan is to use his advantage in development to start an attack as compensation for being a pawn down. Play against the weak pawns is a constant theme in this variation. A final idea that has not been tried in many years is 5. . . . f6 against the bishop system. Horowitz mentions a game between Eliskases and Bogolubov in 1939 as a footnote in Chess Openings: Theory and Practice. Bogolubov quickly got a losing position after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Bf4 Nc6 5. Nf3 f6 6. exf6 Qxf6 7. Qd2 Bb4 8. Nc3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 d6 10. e3 b6 11. Be2 Bb7 12. O-O Ne7 13. Nd4 Ne5. However, there are several places where black could make improvements. At the eighth move, black may be better off playing 8. . . . d6. This immediately shields the c pawn from attack and aids black's development. Taking the knight right away appears unnecessary. Black may now consider 9. . . . Nge5 to start the attack on the weak c pawn if white takes no action to prevent it. 10. . . . b6 also appears to be a weak move. It drastically reduces black's control of the light squares on the queenside, a fact which white exploits in the game. 10. . . . Bd7 planning an

eventual . . . Bc6 or 10. . . . O-O both deserve attention. Black can also improve on move twelve. 12. . . . Ne7? is bad since it allows white to play Nd4-b5 and prevents black's queen from retreating to guard c7. 12. . . . Na5, 12. . . . Nce5, 12. . . . Nge5, and 12. . . . O-O are all better alternatives. With these improvements in mind, black should give this variation a serious test. Nothing in the literature indicates it has been tried since Bogolubov lost with it. Wayne Smith - Ralph Haefner 6/22/89

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

d4 c4 dxe5 Bf4 Nf3 Nbd2

Nf6 e5 Ng4 Nc6 Bb4+

As mentioned above, this move is rather anti-thematic, since white usually plays the bishop system to keep his extra pawn. The advantage is that it avoids the bad pawn structure and black initiative that the 6. Nc3 lines plague white with. 6. 7. a3 Qe7 Ngxe5

Wins back the pawn while setting a famous trap. If white plays 8. axb4?? Nd3+mate. 8. Nxe5 Nxe5

White still can't take the bishop. 9. 10. Qc2 Bxd2 Bxd2+ d6

The book moves are 9. e3 Bxd2 10. Qxd2 d6 or sometimes 9. Bxe5 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Qxe5. This position looks a little less active for white. The white queen would be better placed on d2. The c4 pawn would not be in danger because either the bishop would be guarding it, or the knight would be exchanged. 11. 12. 13. 14. e3 Bc3 Bxe5 O-O-O! Qh4 O-O dxe5 ...

Castling on a side where the pawns are so loose is genrally quite risky, however, white is actually safe here. This is an example that shows that dogmatically following general principles is bad. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. ... g3 Be2 Bxg4 Rd5 Rhd1 Rd7 h4 Rxf7 Qd3 Be6 Qh5 Bg4 Qxg4 Qf3 f6 Qc6 Rf7 Kxf7 Ke6

24. 25.

Qd5+ Rxd5

Qxd5 Ke7

A dead drawn endgame has been reached, however slight mistakes by white and accurate play by black allow him to win. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. e4 Rxd8 Kd2 Kc3 b4 a4 f3 Rd8 Kxd8 Kd7 Kc6 h5 g6 . ..

What a strange pawn position! In this case, symmetry of the pawn structure actually gives advantage to black, since he is able to break the symmetry to his advantage. 32. 33. ... c5+? Kd6! Ke6

Black was planning this anyway, so 33. Kd3 would have been better than 33. c5+. Now black is able to gain an outside passed pawn on the kingside whide tying up white's pawns on the queenside. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. Kd3 Kc4 b5 axb5 Kb4 gxf4 cxb6 f5 a6 axb5 b6 f4! exf4 cxb6

Now black has a clear win. White's king is locked out of the queenside and too far away to prevent black's breakthrough on the kingside. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. Kc4 g5! hxg5 h4 Kd3 h3 g6 h2 g7 Kf7 g8(Q) Kxg8 Ke2 and white resigned. Rajiv Kapadia - Ralph Haefner 2/16/89

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

d4 c4 dxe5 Nf3 Bf4 Nc3 bxc3

Nf6 e5 Ng4 Nc6 Bb4+ Bxc3+ f6

Often black plays 7. . . . Qe7 here and waits for . . . f6 until the 8th move. 8. exf6 Nxf6

9. 10. 11.

e3 Bd3 Nd4

d6 Be6 Bd7

Forced. Black does not want to trade his bishop for white's knight and can't allow his queenside pawns to be doubled. Of course, 11. . . . Nxd4 12. cxd4 would solve all of white's problems and leave him a clear pawn up. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Qf3 Na5 Bg5 O-O Qd5+ Nxd5 Bxd8 Raxd8 cxd5 Rf7 O-O Re8 Bb5 Bxb5 Nxb5 a6 Nd4 Re5 Draw agreed.

The position is almost equal. Black has more active pieces and a more solid pawn structure, but white is still a pawn up. It is doubtful that white has a winning advantage, so a draw is a fair result. Rajiv Kapadia - Ralph Haefner 3/16/89

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

d4 c4 dxe5 Bf4 Nf3 Nc3 bxc3 e6?!

Nf6 e5 Ng4 Nc6 Bb4+ Bxc3 f6 ...

This is a weak move. White hopes to cramp black, but the pawn is difficult to protect. If 8. . . . dxe6 9. Qxd8 Kxd8 white has a lead in development and keeps the black king trapped in the center as compensation for the doubled pawns. 8. 9. 10. 11. ... h3 Nxe5 Bxe5? d6! Nge5 Nxe5 ...

It is wrong to trade away these pieces. White could have continued developing and used his two bishops to begin an attack. After these trades, black has a clear advantage. White's e pawn is doomed. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. ... Rb1 Qd5 Qc6+ Qd5 Qf3 fxe5 b6 Ba6 Ke7 Rb8 Kxe6!?

A risky move, but white doesn't have enough material availible to attack the wandering king.

17. 18. 19. 20.

e3 Qg4+ Bd3 O-O

Rf8 Kf7 g6 Kg7

Black has gotten his king to safety and now takes over the initiative. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. Rfd1 Rb2 Qg3 Qf3 Qd5 Qf3 Qc6? Qf6 Bc8 Bf5 Qe6 Qf6 Qg5 ...

White has been busy parrying threats, but this is one queen move too many. Black now launches a winning combination. 27. 28. 29. 30. ... Qxc7+ Qc6 Rdd2 Bxh3! Kh6 Bg4 Bf3!

White Resigns Brent Hanke - Ralph Haefner 5/11/89

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

d4 c4 dxe5 Bf4 Nf3 Nc3 bxc3 exf6 Bg5 e3 Bh4

Nf6 e5 Ng4 Nc6 Bb4+ Bxc3+ f6 Nxf6 O-O h6 ...

Taking the knight may have been better. 11. 12. ... Nxg5?! g5?! ...

This is a very risky move. Giving up the knight for two pawns is too much. White doesn't have enough pieces availible for the attack. Retreating the bishop and attacking the loose kingside looks strong. 12. 13. 14. ... Bxg5 Bxf6 hxg5 Qe8 Rxf6

Now white has nothing to show for his material deficit. 15. Bd3 Qf7

16. 17. 18. 19.

O-O h3 Qh5 g4

d6 Qg7 Bd7 ...

A desperation pawn storm, but what else is there. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. ... g5? f4 Qf3 Qxb7 Qxc7 exf4 Rxf4 Kf2 Ke2 Kd3 Ne5 Nxd3 Rh6 Rxh3 Rf8 Nxf4 Rxf4 Qxg5+ Qxf4+ Rh2+ Bf5+mate Brent Hanke - Ralph Haefner 7/13/89

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

d4 c4 dxe5 Bf4 Nf3 Nc3 bxc3 Qd5!

Nf6 e5 Ng4 Nc6 Bb4+ Bxc3 f6 ...

This strong move protects the e5 pawn and eliminates the possibility of black playing 8. . . . Ngxe5. 8. ... Qe7

Necessary. Black must arrange for the safety of his knight. If now 9. h3 Ngxe5 is possible. The drawback is that after white's next, black has lost a tempo. 9. exf6 Qxf6

A thematic move in the bishop system, attacking the loose bishop and a weak pawn along the long diagonal. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. Qe4+ Rc1 Bg5 Qxe6 h3 Nxe5 e3 Bxc4 Kf8 d6 Qe6 Bxe6 Nge5 Nxe5 Bxc4 Nxc4

The endgame has been reached by the long series of exchanges. White's advantage of bishop for knight is offset by his weak pawns. 18. O-O Kf7

19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.

Rfd1 Bf4 Bh2 Rd4 e4 Rc2 f4 g4 e5 fxe5

Rhf8 Kg8 Rf5 Nb6 Ra5 Rf8 Re8 c6 dxe5 Raxe5?!

A big sacrifice, but the e pawn was very dangerous. Blockading with 28. . . . Re6 then attacking the pawn would be better. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. Bxe5 Kf2 Re2 Rf4+ h4 Re6+ g5 hxg5 Rxe5 Kf7 Rc5 Kg6 h6 Kh7 hxg5 Rxc3

I stopped keeping score here due to time trouble. After many more moves and a couple mistakes, white resigned. Rajiv Kapadia - Ralph Haefner 9/28/89

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

d4 c4 dxe5 Bf4 Nf3 Nc3 bxc3 exf6 Nd4!

Nf6 e5 Ng4 Nc6 Bb4+ Bxc3 f6 Nxf6 ...

A strong move. If black trades knights it fixes white's doubled pawns and gives him a clear advantage. 9. ... d6?!

Development is necessary, but allowing doubled pawns at this point is weak. 9. . . . Na5 is better. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. Nxc6 g3 Bg2 Qa4 O-O Rad1 Rd2 Bxe4 bxc6 Be6 Qd7 d5 O-O Rad8 Ne4? Rxf4?!

The start of an unsound sacrificial attack, but after the horrible 16th move there was no choice but to attack. 18. 19. gxf4 Bxd5! Bh3 Kh8

If 19. . . . cxd5 20. Qxd7 Rxd7 and black doesn't even have an attack for his material deficit. 20. 21. Qxc6 Bg2 Qg4+ Rf8

If 21. . . . Rxe2? 22. Qe8+mate. 22. 23 Qf3 Rd8+ Rxf4? Black resigns

Conclusions The bishop system is a good choice for white. He has the option of defending his extra pawn instead of giving it back right away. This is probably the best idea, as black has no real problems against 6. Nbd2. After the bishop for knight trade in the 6. Nf3 line, an unbalanced game with winning chances for both sides results. The most common plans for black are to use his temporary space and time advantages to start an attack, or to work against white's weak pawns on the queenside. White does best to concentrate on keeping a solid position through the early middle game, when black has the initiative. As the game Hanke-Haefner 5/11/89 shows, white has trouble going for a quick attack.

Chapter 4 Unusual Systems

The unusual systems are seen extremely rarely, as the Budapest is played little itself. These lines are almost never seen at the Master level, but may make occasional appearances among club players. Some of the tries are 4. f4, 4. Qd4, or 4. Qd5 to protect the pawn, 4. a3 to prevent the annoying bishop check, and 4. e3. White may also decline the gambit with third moves like 3. e3, 3. Bg5, 3. e4, 3. d5, or 3. Nf3. Colleen Prentiss - Ralph Haefner 6/3/89

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

d4 c4 dxe5 e3 Be2?!

Nf6 e5 Ng4 Nxe5 ...

This move allow white to develop quickly, but is too passive. It presents black with no challenges. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. ... Nc3 Nf3 Bd2 a3 b6 Bb7 Bb4 Nbc6 Bd6

Black has at least equalized, and may even have a slight pull. White is still quite passive. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. b4 c5 bxc5 Bb5 Qxf3 Ne4 Qf5 O-O bxc5 Bxc5 Nxf3 Rb8 Ne5 Re8!

Sets a trap which white falls into. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. Nxc5 Rg1 Rxg2 Rc1 Bxc1 Bxg2 Rxb5 Rxc5 Rxc1 ...

White has lost a pawn. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. ... Bb2 Ke2? Kd1 Qc2 Kxc2 f4 Re2 Rxe3 c6 Qa5+ Qb5+ Qxb2 Qxc2 f6 Nc4 Rxe3 Nxe3+

30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49.

Kd3 Nd5 f5 g6 fxg6 hxg6 Kc4 Kf7 Kc5 Ke6 h4 f5 Kd4 Kf6 a4 g5 hxg5 Kxg5 a5 Kg4 a6 Kg3 Ke5 f4 Kd6 Nb6 Kc7 f3 Kb7 f2 Kxa7 Nc8+ Kb7 f1(Q) a7 Nxa7 Kxa7 Qb5 Ka8 c5 White resigns Rolan Albers - Ralph Haefner 2/16/89

1. 2. 3.

d4 c4 e3?!

Nf6 e5 ...

Declining the gambit is rare. This move presents black with no special problems. 3. exd4 4. exd4 Bb4+ is one way of dealing with it. In this game, black tries another. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. ... Be2 Nc3 Bd2 Bxc3 e4 c6 Bb4 Bxc3 d5

Black appears to have slightly more than equality. The pawn on e4 cramps white a little. White's next move is a mistaken attempt to develop the kingside. 8. 9. Nh3? gxh3 Bxh3 Nbd7

The weakness of white's kingside pawns gives black a clear advantage. White's only compensation is the two bishops, but for now they have nowhere to go. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. h4 h5 Rg1 Qc2 hxg6 Qd1 Bg4 cxd5 Be2 Qb3? Qe7 h6 Rg8 g6 fxg6 O-O-O Kb8 cxd5 Qd6 Qxh2

20. 21. 22.

Rf1 O-O-O Ba6

Rgf8 Rc8 Nb6

Now white self-destructs. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. Rh1? Rhe1 Kb1 Ba5 Bxb6 Qb4 Qxf8? Rf1 Rf8? Qxf2 bxa6 Ka8 Nfd7 Nxb6 Rc4 Qxf8 Qb4

And white resigned before the next move. Jeff Prentiss - Ralph Haefner 4/21/89

1. 2. 3. 4.

d4 c4 dxe5 Qd4

Nf6 e5 Ng4 ...

A rather uncommon move. It has immediate advantages of attacking the black knight and guarding the white pawn. However, exposing the queen this early can't be good. 4. ... Bb4+?

This weak move gets black in trouble. 4. . . . d6 5. exd6 Bxd6 is recommended. 5. 6. Nc3 exd6 d6 Qxd6?

Drops a pawn. 6. . . . Bxd6 is necessary. If then 7. Qxg7? Be5! wins the queen. 7. 8. 9. 10. Qxg7 Qxc3 h3 Bd2? Bxc3 O-O Rd8 ...

This drops a pawn and allows black an advantageous exchange. 10. Qc2 would be better. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. ... Kxf2 Qg3+ Nf3 Re1 Ng5? Nxf2 Qxd2 Kf8 Qxb2 Nc6 ...

An unprovoked blunder. 15. ... Qd4+?

Allows 16. Qe3 which solves all white's problems, but white doesn't see it. Black should

have played 15. . . . Qf6+. 16. 17. 18. e3?! Kg1 h4? Qf6+ Qg6 ...

White had to do something about the knight. Maybe 18. Qf4. 18. 19. 20. 21. ... h5 Qxg5 h6 h6 Qxg5 hxg5 ...

Now the h pawn is white's only hope. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. ... Be2 Rf1 Bh5 Bxg6!? Kg8 Bf5 Bg6 Ne5 ...

It is unwise to trade, but he had to clear the way for the h pawn. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. ... Rf5 Kh2 Kxh1 h7+ Rxf7+ Rxc7 Rxe7 g4 Kg2 Kf3 e4 a3 Ke3 a4 a5 axb6 c5 Kd3 Kc4 Kxc5 Kd6 Ke6 Kd6 Kc5 Kb4 Kb3 Ka2 Kb1 Ka2 Nxg6 Rd1+ Rxh1+ Re8 Kxh7 Kh6 Re7 Nxe7 Kg6 Kf6 Ke5 Nc6 b6 Ne7 Ng8 Nf6 axb6 bxc5 Nxg4 Kxe4 Ne3 g4 g3 g2 g1(Q) Qc1 Kd4 Qc3 Nc4 Qb2+mate

Jeff Prentiss - Ralph Haefner 4/28/89 This miniature shows how much trouble black can get into if he goes pawn hunting in the opening. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. d4 c4 dxe5 Qd4 Nf3 Qd1 Nxe5 Nc3 Qa4+ Nf6 e5 Ng4 d6 Nc6 Ngxe5 Nxe5 Nxc4? Black resigns

Greed doesn't pay. Black had regained his pawn and could have had a comfortable game but for the blunder on move 8.

Chapter 5 Games Collection

G. Garcia - F.J. Perez 1983 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4.e4 Nxe5 5. f4 Nec6 6. Nf3 Bc5 7. a3 d6 8. b4 Bb6 9. Bb2 O-O 10. Qb3 Qe7 11. Nbd2 Nd7 12. h3 Nf6 13. Qc3 a5 14. b5 Nd8 15. O-O-O Ne6 16. e5 dxe5 17. fxe5 Nd7 18. Ne4 f5 19. exf6 Nxf6 20. Re1 Bd7 21. Bd3 Nf4 22. c5 Nxe4 23. Bc4+ Black resigns. Gunston - MacDonald postal 1927/8 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 Nxe5 5. f4 Ng6 6. Be3 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Qe7 8. Bd3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Na6 10. Nf3 b6 11. O-O Nc5 12. f5 Ne5 13. Nxe5 Qxe5 14. Bd4 Qd6 15. e5 Qf8 16. Bc2 Bb7 17. a4 a5 18. Rb1 Bc6 19. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 20. Qd4 O-O 21. Rf2 Rfe8 22. Re1 Rad8 23. f6 g6 24. Qf4 Re6 25. Bf5 gxf5 26. Re3 Kf8 27. Rg3 d5 28. Qg5 Ke8 29. Qg8+ Qf8 30. Qxh7 Kd7 31. Rg7 Qa3 32. Rxf7+ Kc8 33. Qxf5 Qc1+ 34. Rf1 Qe3+ 35. Kh1 Qxe5 36. Re7 Qxf5 37. Rxf5 Rxe7 38. fxe7 Re8 39. cxd5 Bxa4 40. h4 Rxe741. h5 Rh7 42. g4 Bd1 White resigns. Aron Kapstan - Carl Grant Manitoba Closed Championship 1989 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 Nxe5 5. f4 Ng6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Bd3 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 d6 10. O-O O-O 11. Nd4 Nxd4 12. cxd4 f5 13. Rb1 b6 14. Qc2 Ne7 15. d5 fxe4 16. Bxe4 Bf5 17. Bb2 Bxe4 18. Qxe4 Nf5 19. Qe6+ Rf7 20. Rbe1 Qh4 21. Rf3 Raf8 22. Rh3 Qxf4 23. Rf3 Qh6 24. Ref1 g6 25. Rxf5 Black resigns. GM Lev Alburt - FM Doug McClintock National Open 1987 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 Nxe5 5. f4 Ng6 6. Be3 Bb4+ 7. Nd2 Qe7 8. Bd3 f5 9. Qc2 fxe4 10. Bxe4 d5 11. Bxg6 hxg6 12. Qxg6+ Kf8 13. Kf2 Bxd2 14. Bxd2 Qc5+ 15. Kg3 Nd7 16. Nf3 Rh6 17. Qd3 dxc4 18. Qd4 Qxd4 19. Nxd4 Rd6 20. Nf3 Nf6 21. Rhe1 c5 22. Rac1 Bf5 23. Rxc4 b5 24. Rxc5 Ne4+ 25. Rxe4 Bxe4 26. Re5 Rg6+ 27. Ng5 Bd3 28. f5 Rc6 29. Bc3 Rac8 30. a3 a6 31. Rd5 Bc4 32. Rd7 g6 33. f6 R6c7 34. Rd4 Bb3 35. Rh4 Rxc3+ 36. bxc3 Rxc3+ 37. Kf2 Kg8 38. Rd4 Rc8 39. Rd7 Rf8 40. Rg7+ Kh8 41. Rxg6 Bc2 42. Rh6+ Kg8 43. f7+ Kg7 44. Rxa6 Bb3 45. h4 Black resigns. Jason Wysocki - Kyle Hammond Denker Tournament of High School Champions Chicago 1989 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 Nxe5 5. f4 Ng6 6. Be3 Bb4+ 7. Nd2 d6 8. a3 Bxd2+ 9. Qxd2 O-O 10. O-O-O Nc6 11. Nf3 Qe7 12. Bd3 f5 13. exf5 Bxf5 14. Bxf5 Rxf5 15. g4 Rf7 16. Ng5 Rff8 17. h4 Na5 18. Rde1 Nb3+ 19. Kc2 Nxd2 20. Bxd2 Qd7 21. Ne6 Rfe8 22. f5 Ne5 23. Reg1 Rxe6 24. fxe6 Qxe6 25. b3 Nf3 26. Rg2 Nxd2 27. Kxd2 Re8 28. Rhg1 Qe3+ 29. Kc2 Qf3 30. Rg3 Re2+ 31. Kd1 Qf2 32. R3g2 Qxg2 33. Rxg2 Rxg2 34. g5 Kf7 35. b4 g6 36. a4 Ke6 37. a5 a6 38. Kc1 Ke5 39. b5 Kd4 40. b6 cxb6 41. axb6 Kxc4 42. h5 gxh5 43. g6 hxg6 White resigns. `Team USCF - Lubbock, Texas Consultation game 1988 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Nc3 Ngxe5 8. Nd5 Nxf3+ 9. gxf3 Qd8 10. Rg1 Rg8 11. Qd2 d6 12. Qh6 Ne7 13. Rxg7 Rf8 14. Nf6+mate. IM Jouni Yrjola - IM Jimmy Liew Chess Olympiad 1986 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. e3 Nc6 6. a3 a5 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2 Re8 9. Bd3 d6 10. exd6 Nxf2 11. Kxf2 Rxe3 12. Kf1 Bg4 13. Be2 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Qh4 15. Ra2

Rae8 16. Bc3 cxd6 17. g3 Qh3+ 18. Bg2 Qf5+ 19. Rf2 Qxf2+ 20. Kxf2 Rd3+ White resigns. GM Keene - Haugli 1983 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. e3 Nc6 6. Bc2 Ngxe5 7. O-O Nxf3+ 8. Bxf3 Qh4 9. Bc2 h5 10. Nc3 Ne5 11. Nd5 Ng4 12. h3 Bd6 13. f4 c6 14. Nc3 Be7 15. hxg4 hxg4 16. Bxg4 Qh2+ 17. Kf2 Bh4+ 18. Ke2 Qxg2+ 19. Kd3 b5 20. cxb5 Bf6 21. Bf3 Qg6+ 22. Be4 Qg3 and Black resigns. WGM Alexandria - WGM Levitina Match 1984 (?) 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. e3 Nc6 6. Be2 Ngxe5 7. Nxe5 Nxe5 8. O-O O-O 9. Nc3 d6 10. Na4 Bb6 11. b3 Re8 12. Bb2 Qh4 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Qd2 Ng4 15. Bxg4 Qxg4 16. Bc3 Bd7 17. a4 Bc6 Draw. Bernie Winkelman - George Treysman U.S. Open 1936 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. e3 Nc6 6. Be2 Ngxe5 7. Nxe5 Nxe5 8. O-O O-O 9. a3 a5 10. Nc3 d6 11. Rb1 Bf5 12. e4 Be6 13. b3 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Kh1 c6 16. f3 f5 17. b4 axb4 18. axb4 fxe4 19. Nxe4 Bf5 20. Bf4 Ng4 21. fxg4 Bxe4+ 22. Bf3 Ra2 White resigns. Akiba Rubenstein - Milan Vidmar Berlin 1918 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Bf4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 Qe7 7. Qd5 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Qa3 9. Rc1 f6 10. exf6 Nxf6 11. Qd2 d6 12. Nd4 O-O 13. e3 Nxd4 14. cxd4 Ne4 15. Qc2 Qa5+ 16. Ke2 Rxf4 17. exf4 Bf5 18. Qb2 Re8 19. Kf3 Nd2+ 20. Kg3 Ne4+ 21. Kh4 Re6 22. Be2 Rh6+ 23. Bh5 Rxh5+ 24. Kxh5 Bg6+ and mate next move. Koualty - Preissman 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Bf4 g5 5. Bg3 Bg7 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. h4 Ngxe5 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. hxg5 Nxc4 10. Nc3 c6 11. e4 Nxb2 12. Qd2 Na4 13. Nxa4 Bxa1 14. Bd6 b5 15. Nb2 Rg8 16. Rxh7 Bxb2 17. Qxb2 Qxg5 18. Rh8 Black resigns. IM Tisdall - Pisa 1982 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Bf4 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 Qh4 6. g3 Qe7 7. Nf3 Qc5 8. Qd4 Qa5 9. Bd2 d6 10. e6 Bxe6 11. Qxg7 Rf8 12. Bg2 Nd7 13. Ng5 Qf5 14. f3 Ngf6 15. Bh3 Qe5 16. f4 Qa5 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Nxe6 Rg8 19. Qh6 Ke7 20. Ng5 Qf5 21. e4 Qg4 22. Nd5+ Kd8 23. Nxf6 Rg6 24. Nxg4 Black Resigns.

Bibliography
Batsford Chess Openings. Kasparov, Gary and Keene, Raymond. Budapest Defense. Staker, Josef. Budapest Gambit. Borik, Otto. Chess for Match Players. Winter, William. Chess Openings, Theory and Practice. Horowitz, I. A. Correspondence Chess. Russell, Hanon. Modern Ideas in the Chess Openings. Horowitz, I.A. The Complete Chess Course. Reinfeld, Fred. The Complete Chessplayer. Reinfeld, Fred.

The Budapest Gambit is a powerful if not perfectly reliable weapon. It is a logical choice as the first defence to the queen pawn openings for the beginner or as a useful alternate opening for the player who already knows other queen pawn defences. The player who is well prepared to play the Budapest will find himself getting positions in which he has an equal game or a slight inferiority but with compensating advantages. What more can black ask from an opening?