from's gambit is better for black i think based on all the responses on this forum...

nope :p

I essayed it a few times a while ago, I'd heard it recommended as the strongest reply to 1.f4, but after using it a few times I would have to disagree that it is anything special, and wouldn't play it again. Of course, I don't know the theory!

Even if objectively White can keep the pawn and survive, I played it ever since I found it in one of Alekhine's games (it transposed to the king's gambit, but with the comment 'if accepted, Black has at least equality' - Alekhine 1920s).

Each time White hanged to the pawn I won. However, I think this is mainly due to the fact strong players don't play the Bird.

In competition, I would think twice beause I assume White knows the theory, but one misstep in the 15 first moves and he falls off the cliff, so that's enough for me in casual chess.

i just beat samsch :) in the froms gambit game

yup ;)

YUP!

I played this game a long time ago, but it still makes me feel good. Black's attack isn't 100% sound (for instance, 20.R:f4+), & the game itself wouldn't exist if i hadn't misremembered my opening (13...Bb4+ first is book). Still, i like the poetic recurrence of the Black Bishop & King's Rook's moves.

that was a good game

4...g5 is a weak move. I know this sounds a bit condescending toward main-line play, but modern analysis shows that this is actually quite playable for White, who should emerge from the opening with some advantage with best play.

However, the correspondence favorite 4...Nf6! leads to a very good game for Black. I think Black holds a very small advantage here, but it is at the very least equal. The threat is 5...Ng4, so White normally continues 5.d4 and now 5...O-O simply leads to a good game for Black.

I would post more analysis but I am currently playing a rated game in this line and this would be dishonest of me.

Huh ? as in any sound opening ...

If 4...Ng6 gave clearly Black the advantage, people would have stopped playing the Bird.

Irontiger, A) people don't play the Bird B) the Bird doesn't give White an advantage with best play, refer to A and C) I didn't say 4...Nf6 gives Black 'clearly' an advantage but the compensation is clear and I think it's more than enough for a pawn and White having had the first move. Basically I'm saying the gambit is sound in the 4...Nf6 line but not the 4...g5 line.

pfren I agree completely, but pretty much everything in the opening is a matter of taste below master level isn't it?

g5 is more active than Nf6 it gets immediate attack nf6 means you get comp later

show me good play

Yeah, as you say, 13...Bb4+ is the move, and simply wins the game. There is this guy on ICC which I regularly play this opening against (I don't know him, it just happens that i face him)...and everytime we end up in this variation, and everytime he loses :D  ...I would think by now, he would try to look a bit harder into the theory ;)

What about 1...g5 immediately? I know it's not the From, but there is a logic to the idea: 2.fxg5 h6 or 2...e5. I used to play this a while back with an opponent who was partial to Bird's Opening. I probably lost as often as I won, but I always got an interesting game. Just how bad is the Hobbs Gambit?