If white castles on move 10, I get a good game after 10 Ng6 11 Bg3 11 Bd6

But when white plays 10 a3, how can I keep the bishop without weakening my position?

A very good question. Before I respond, keep in mind that Black has to give up his dark-squared bishop in a number of lines in the Rubinstein Variation. What can I say? You can't have everything. Black has regained the gambit pawn and forced the knight to d2. If you don't want White to expand quickly on the queenside, you're going to have to let go of the bishop. Tit for tat, so to speak.

Having said that, maybe there is something we could do about 10. a3. I think there was good reason for White to get his king out of the centre with 10. 0-0. In the spirit of the Budapest Gambit, this delay should be exploited. How about 10. ...Bc5, responding to 11. b4 by playing 11. ...Bd4!?

Due the White king's position, taking the bishop runs into 12. ...Nd3+

Now, I don't know if this is mainline theory and I don't have any chess software to analyse the position, but it looks unexpected and tactical. That is how we solve problems in the Budapest!

Okay. That looks good against b4, but what if

Yes, 11. Nb3 is the better response.

Maybe you should just let the bishop go and eliminate the pesky knight. 10. ...Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 d6 12. 0-0 and now 12. ...b6!? to fight c4-c5 looks interesting. While White had to invest two moves (a3 and Qd2) to capture the bishop, Black has gained time to consolidate his queenside.

The LSB will find a nice place on b7 and Black can centralise the rooks for a free game. The Ne5 is no weaker than the Bf4. I'd say that Black is on the cusp of equalising.

Sure, there's no spectacular mating attack, but in the Rubinstein variation that's the most you can hope for if White makes no mistakes and Black wants to regain the pawn on e5 with 6. ...Qe7.

The exchange with the idea of b6 does not look bad. I could also just take a chance and hope white castles or plays b4 as the follow up to a3. After b4 your idea of Bc5 looks good.

Yeah, who knows how White will respond in a serious game? I stopped playing that line a while ago, but when I did, I never encountered 10.a3.

I suppose you'll just have to give that line a few practice spins. Tell us how it went. (c:

Why did you stop playing it if you don't mind me asking?

Well, in that line too many pieces are exchanged to piece together a decent attack in time. With a mere minimum of theory, the position is very easy to play for White.

Nowadays, if I play the Budapest and land in a Rubinstein variation, I either play 6. ...f6 7.exf6 Qxf6 or the mad 4. ...g5. I think either move gives fun play in unexplored territory.

But it's the main lines of the Adler variation (4. Nf3) that are causing me a headache. Although one brings out the bishop to c5 with tempo, it is often misplaced, especially if White plays the Smyslov-Spassky-Attack.

That's why the entire opening is currently in the repair shop and I joined this group. I need a better response to Adler's move. I just haven't formulated a proper forum post yet.

Here is my idea for you. If white plays 4.Nf3, play 4.Nc6 instead of 4.Bc5. If white plays 5.Bf4 you can go on and play 5.Bb4 and 6.f6 . You are back in your comfort zone then. If white does not play 5. Bf4, what else can he play that is any good at all? I can not see another move at this point that puts black at a disadvantage. Also, this is a way to avoid the Smyslov-Spassky Attack.