Openings less common but very effective - II

THE BUDAPEST GAMBIT

According to Edward Winter, the origins of this opening are not entirely elucidated. The first known game in the Budapest Gambit was played between Adler and Maroczy in Budapest in 1986. The opening didn’t catch on, but it got the attention of a few Hungarian players, who kept developing plans and ideas. It only started to be taken seriously after Vidmar defeated Rubinstein with it in Berlin in 1918. Rubinstein, a player with impressive positional skills, was one of the world’s best players at that time. It is no wonder that Vidmar’s victory in only 24 moves didn’t go unnoticed. The game includes a very inspired exchange sacrifice to open up white’s king and allow black to bring all his pieces in the attack very fast.

Edward Winter ->@

• The Budapest Gambit is a tricky opening line against white’s 1.d4. It appears after the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5.
• Black sacrifices a pawn but will get interesting play.
• It is an offbeat opening that isn’t often seen at a high level, but it can be a good surprise weapon.
• White needs to know how to react in order to achieve an advantage.
• There are also a few tricks that the less experienced players can easily fall for.

Black played here 16…Rxf4! Followed by Bf5 and Re8, when white has no pieces developed to defend his king. Rubinstein could’ve defended with precise play, but this rarely happens in practice when under pressure and having to find only moves.
The game ends with the white king getting mated on h4:

Enjoy!