How to win with the King's Gambit

The King's Gambit is like the Queen's gambit's weird(and weaker) cousin. It starts on move 2 after 1. e4 e5. We play f4, a mirrored queen's gambit.

Black can respond in many ways to this, by accepting, declining or with a countergambit.

King's Gambit Accepted

To accept the gambit they will play exf4. In the Queen's Gambit we would push e4, to control the center, but we can't do that here. If we push d4 here, this is called the King's Gambit: Villemson Gambit. Whenever we push the f-pawn, we weaken the king's diagonal, and black can take advantage of that:

It's not often that in the opening a check makes the king move, especially when you don't trade queens! This is why after they accept we must play Nf3, to control the critical h4 square. This is the best move. Your opponent can play g5, because they are greedy and want to win. Control the center by playing d4(the best move according to stockfish) and best move for them is g4.

If they check us now with Qh4+, it's actually okay for us to play g3. They take our pawn with their f4-pawn and we use the queen to take on g4. We trade the queen and recapture with the knight on e5. If they take our pawn on h2, it is stuck there and we don't have to worry about it. Stockfish says this game is dead even, we will develop like normal with Nc3, and right now we are ever so slightly better since we have control of center and a lead in development. The better move for them was Nc6.

We play c3 after Nc6 to solidify our structure. The pawn on g3 will be regained and there is compensation. If we still want to castle in this game, we will do it queenside. That's mostly what you need to know about the accepted variation, as you have now gone to the middlegame.

King's Gambit Declined

The main way to decline the gambit is with Bc5.

We cannot take on e5 because the King's Diagonal is still weak:

We should play Nf3, a more natural move, renewing the threat on e5. They defend with d6 and the game is like the Queen's Gambit. It should go as below:

Falkbeer Countergambit

This is like the Albin Countergambit. After you play f4 they play d4. Do not take the e-pawn! Remember the King's Diagonal is weak!

Take on d5. If they push e4 play d3. And you will either recapture with the bishop or take on e4. 

They should take your f-pawn and you must remember the King's Diagonal is weak! Nf3 to stop the queen from attacking. If they play Nf6 to take your pawn, Protect it with c4. You will push your d-pawn and win back the f-pawn soon. If they play c6, you will still play d4.

They have nothing against you. If after you take on e5, they play c6, you should play Qe2, attacking e5.

Trap

There is a trap you should know incase they play something called the modern defense. After you play Nf3 they play d5. Play Nc3 and they take on e4. You take with the knight on e4 and they try to pin the knight on f3 to the queen. You play risky move Qe2. They think you wasted a tempo and take your knight on f3. Nf6# checkmate! Who's the fool now?

Motif you should know

Did I make it clear enough that your King's Diagonal is weak? You need to control the h4 square with a pawn or the knight. I do not recommend this opening If you are playing in a tournament where the players are good. This opening can also gain shock value.

Puzzles

Initiate the King's Gambit