How to play against Budapest Gambit

The Budapest Gambit is a poor opening if White knows what he is doing.

 Why play such an opening unless you are just going to use it against not so good players? [and those players you can beat with normal openings] 

Dmitry Berkovich, a Ukrainian IM and trainer, recommended the following rare line against the Budapest:

White won the above game on move 47.

The line that Berkovich recommended is not necessarily the best line. Rather, it's an interesting line. I have won with it against a National Master who specialized in the Budapest in an OTB rated game. It does work, especially as a surprise weapon. It doesn't lead to a clear advantage, but it does give White a clear plan that is quite dangerous.

While I agree with you, precisely the same thing can be said about the Ponziani for Black! There are several equalizing lines for Black against the Ponziani, and the Fraser is a dangerous counterattacking line. For me, the Budapest is a second-class opening in that with best play, Black has to play extremely well to escape with the draw. But it's still dangerous to face OTB. There isn't a refutation of the Budapest, but there are many ways for White to get a positional edge.

I don't agree with you Magician.... According to Viktor Mosalenko it's more than just a surprise weapon...

I agree that Black can equalize against the Ponziani but Black can equalize against the Ruy Lopez or Queens Gambit or any White opening.

The difference is there are no lines where Black can gain an advantage against the Ponziani if White knows what he is doing.

Regarding the Budapest, the other side [White] can gain a big advantage.

The Budapest is a near lost for Black if White knows what he is doing and i would expect to win against the Budapest.

I will concede/agree that if White is not prepared for the Budapest, he might [and i emphasize "might"] fall into a trap. But does one really wish to play a very bad opening on the chance that his opponent might blunder into a trap?

Ponz, I've seen several high level ICCF games in recent years where Black played the Budapest and drew. It seems from looking only at the results of the games that White does best not to play main lines against the Budapest, even in correspondence.

How high level were the games? What were the ICCF ratings of the 2 players?

For now, i am convinced that the Budapest is bad at high levels of competition but i am open minded and can always change my mind.

i assume the games started this way:

Mr. Ponz do you think Budapest Gambit is the most aggressive way to deal queen's pawn openings ?? 

No, to me, such a poor opening is not aggressive.

@Ponz, Darrell Nightingale, a ~2500 rated ICCF player, has repeatedly played the Black side of the Budapest in high level ICCF matches. Krister Johansson, a +2450 ICCF player also repeatedly plays the Black side of the Budapest. I'm sure there are others.

Thank you!  I would love to see some of their games!

Check out Chessbase. Some of their games are there. Others can be found on ICCL.

thank you. So far

I found 2 games by Mr Nightengale.

 He won vs Mr. Villar but i know of improvements for White per that game.

He drew vs Mr. Rost but Mr. Rost missed a clear [and easy] win.

i will try and find more games...

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1321841

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1321856

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1337702

Thank you much kindaspongey for showing me 3 more Budapest games.

So far, i have looked at about 9 games and have not found a game which would change my opinion that the Budapest Gambit is a poor opening and i would expect to win playing the White side.

I have noticed however, that a lot of players do not know how to play the White side of the Budapest and thus they will often only draw.

what is ICCL ?  [ICCF?] 

Sorry, yes. I meant ICCF. ICCL was an old college league in the 1990s. I was tired when I wrote that.

I don't remember anyone ever playing the Budapest at longer TC against me, but yes, I smashed once IM Petar Orev(true, an older one, only 2250 or so at the time) in the Alekhine.

Both openings have very similar structures in some lines.

Because they were following accepted theory and DID NOT do their own analysis.

Cprrespondence chess is naaaah.