(1.d4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.f3...)

Is this a reasonable way to avoid piles of theory? I can't be an expert on all openings and I haven't studied the Dutch defense beyond expecting to play d4 and c4 and fiancetto the King's bishop. This Staunton gambit looks good to me...any discussion and tips concerning this exciting gambit would be greatly appreciated...anyway I'll try it out and get back to you with my results.

My impression is that it's considered a bit unsound, though I'm not well enough versed in the theory to know quite why that is.

Looks like suicide to me, you give black strong center play and a free pawn..

Choosing an anti-dutch like the staunton isn't neccesarily a bad idea, but you should be aware that many dutch players don't begin with 1. ..f5 but get to a dutch later via a transpositional move order. 

I find it odd that you're calling this an Anti-Sicilian, it seems that the odds of transposing into a Sicilian are a bit remote considering the array of other possibilities stemming from 1. d4.

I'm under the impression that 3. Nc3 is the much more common move and f3 is delayed for a while since White has plenty of useful moves to play before playing f3, which can be played any time. If I remember correctly Black has to twist and turn to keep his extra pawn which ends up being doubled and isolated on the e-file.

I don't play d4 so I don't have any experience with this opening. This is just stuff I read in a book some time ago.

The staunton gambit is a fine choice against the dutch. In the main line black even gives back the pawn, and white still has a comfortable game in my opinion.

Yes usually Nc3 and Nf6 is played before f3, and if white plays the f3 line then black shouldn't take the pawn but instead just play d5 or Nc6.

Thanks for all the helpful comments. So, Staunton gambit it is then!

Update:- played one, won one!

I have played the Dutch in postal & OTB since the late 70s. The best thing is the usual K-side fianchetto & the eventual d-pawn push with pressure on the weak white squares on the a2-g8 diagonal. The Staunton Gambit creates a more fluid center, but I don't think it necessarily gives a big advantage to White. My quickie database search showed that White's win ratio drops to about 41% (from the standard Dutch 45-47% win ratio) while raising Black's chances up to around 37%, compared to the usual 27%) Draws are few.

I have about given up on the Dutch, by the way. It can be fun, but is a bit too unstable for my tastes.

So, as an Evans Gambiteer, I'd say you can go for it if you want to make chess exciting & a little less predictable. 

I never really thought of the Stauton gambit as a big threat. It had a few minutes in the spotlight, but now it is out of favour and the correct approach for black have been found.

After 1.d4 f5 2.e4!? fe

3.Nc3 is the main move, not 3.f3?!

Managed to win with it again!

The Staunton chess club in Groningen has a yearly thematic gambit tournament. In 1996, the anniversary of the world class Groningen 1946 tournament, they had a Staunton Gambit tournament (as well as having all the surviving players of the 1946 tournament over! Najdorf, etc). I didn't do very well with it.

But since then, it's always been my main answer to 1.d4 f5, and I think I've lost only one game in it, and had a number of quick victories.

Sure, it's probably not much in theory, but Black players don't know the theory!

I tried the dutch as black for about 1 year in otb play and soon gave it up. I did ok in the main lines but in the anti-dutch lines I was getting murdered and there were too many of them ! 2 Nc3  and 2 Bg5 are possibly the best of the anti-dutch lines but there are also :  2 Qd3 , 2 e4 , 2 g4, 2 c3, 2 b3 , 2 h3 , 2 h4 , 2 Bf4 , 2 Nd2  and ALL of these require some knowledge from the dutch player !!

Also, 2 Qd3 and 2 Bf4 score only 49% but all the others score better than 50% for white ! 

I prefer the Krejcik Gambit!

Yo reb and ogerboy, that analysis is quite bad since in recent months (with 4 other members and I analysis(s) we concluded that the following line is strong for white