King's Gambit is awesome, now what else?

After starting out being a more conservative style of player, I decided to see what it's like to play a gambit. So I tried the King's Gambit. AND I LOVE IT!!! I love the wide open play and tacical ways, so I am now looking to expand on this newfound interest in open games. What else should I play to respond with black's other responses to 1.e4? and what should I play as black? I am looking for openings similar in style to the king's gambit.

P.S. I have looked into the latvian gambit, but it looks like it would be tough to learn.

P.P.S. To all you gambiteers, this is your chance to convince someone that your crazy and wild gambits are right for me.

Gambits aren't going to get you very far pal, and you probably should look into the Latvian if you really are thirsting for a gambit..

I am not a gambiteer, but I'll take a stab.

If you love the King's Gambit, try the Vienna Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4). It is basically a deferred King's Gambit, and is usually considered a bit more sound.

Queen's Gambit isn't really a gambit, and is theoretical as hell, but it is a very solid opening.

How about the scandinavian defence with Nf6..  You could attempt to go into the icelandic variation, the portugese variation, or the scandinavian gambit!!!!!!!!!

I love gambits!!!!; I have a gambit opening prepared for all of the common openings which I play any chance I get. if your keen on learning them try some of the recommendations below. Try the kings gambit with Bc4 instead of the usual Nf3 on your second move allowing black the option of checking you with the queen after you move out of the way you can then gain tempo with nf3, awesome way of playing the kings gambit. if e4 is answered by d5 (scandanavian) try d4 turning it into a Blackmar-Diemar Gambit. if the sicilian try the Smith-Morra or Wing gambit. as Black try the Latvian gambit to combat e4 and the Budapest gambit against d4, you really need to invest alot of time into these openings to have success with them though as they can be difficult to learn; but once you've learned them you can always bet on a wild tacitcal wide open combinational game. in regards to mrtz oponion that gambits arn't gonna get you far; don't listen to that . . . Playing these styles can really increase your tactical ability and is a great way of pulling your opponent out of there comfort zone and into yours. Even if you lose at least you know the games are gonna be exciting and interesting unlike french & queens gambit games. the game explorer facility on this site is a great way of learning openings and also chessops, just type that into google and you will find it. Good luck

my vote is the scandinavian defense (1. e4 d5):

Oh man, no problem. I was wondering why you weren't replying but I'm not mad by any means. No rush, reply when you can. Apology accepted :)

I've heard that the Qxd5 scandinavian isn't very tactical, but the nf6 scandinavian isn't for me because of 3.Bb5+. Is Qxd5 scand provide a tactical, open game?

If you don't mind playing gambits of questionable soundness as black, play the Latvian, and either the Albin or the Budapest against d4.

If you want to play openings that actually have a good pedigree, and can grow with you as you become better, you'll have to accept the fact that white can steer them to quieter variations.

That said, if you want to get the maximum number of games that evolve into mutual king hunts, I'd go with the Sicilian and the Dutch.  You'll deal with stodgy anti-lines in both, but will see bloodthirsty meeles more often than not.  In particular, I'd play the Dragon and the Classical Dutch with 7.Qe8.  That Dutch line almost always looks like somebody put the pieces on the board with a shotgun by halfway through the game.

If you don't mind going against the grain a little bit, I'd actually consider the Petroff and the QGA.  Both openings are known more for their soundness than anything, and are considered drawish at the GM level.  But both offer quick development, plenty of open lines, and highly active piece play.  That may be the recipe for lots of exchanges and quick draws above 2400.  But among mortals, it's the recipe for tactics.

If black doesn't cooperate and decides to play the sicilian you can always reply with the Smith Morra gambit (look it up on youtube).   Less sound than the regular open sicilian, but the theory's a lot less developed too so there's more room for innovation.

I don't know of any gambits that are worth playing against the French.  The Winawar French is as sharp as any gambit though, and it's rare you'll find a black player who avoids it.   Be warned, it's also *very* theory heavy so you'll probably want to find a book on the subject.

Against the Caro-Kann you just want to revert to your conservative ways.   There's a few really aggressive lines, but one of the first things any quality CK player learns is how to refute them.  

As for the black side of things, The Grunfeld against D4 (again, youtube) typically produces very sharp positions without the need for a gambit.   I've been known to play the Englund Gambit (no I spelled that correctly) against strong players at *really* fast time controls because it's tough to refute without time to think.   However I wouldn't play it at anything slower than 2 minutes a game.

I can't help you against e4 at all.   I generally play either the French or Sicilian against it and there's plenty of sharp lines in both though no way to force them.

Oh.   I forgot to mention, the Danish Gambit (yet again, youtube tutorials) is a fun alternative to the Kings Gambit for a really aggressive minded white player.   I teach that to beginners quite frequently and watch as they go pummel other beginners who don't recognize that being down in development 3 pieces to none isn't worth a pawn or two :p.

I started off with the king's gambit, then started to play the Bishop's opening. White often ends up  in favourable king's gambit declined positions, and he doesn't have to worry about regaining the f4 pawn, because it is protected by the c1 bishop. All in all, it's the King's gambit played a bit later, and a lot safer.

I've been playing the 2... Nf6 scandinavian since February, and I've encountered 3. Bb5+ twice, and it's hardly a reason to jump the ship. What's with the Bb5+ line that puts you off it completely?

Yes, the Icelandic Gambit is a very nice variation in the Scandinavian! If White is unprepared he can into trouble very quickly.. oh yeah the Icelandic gambit is 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4?! e6 4. dxe6 Bxe6 .. I have great results with it in blitz

  1.e5 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Bb5 Bd7 4.Be2

I don't like this line, I feel it is too strong for black. What is your opinion on this line? and Is there a better move than 3...Bd7?

Swords, I'm impressed! Another fan of the Fritz, I was thinking I'm the only one. Man, you should try to get your teammates to play that in a vote chess : (

Against 1 d4 try the Budapest or the Benko. The budapest is fairly easy to learn for Black.

Against the Spanish, play the Schlieman, you nedd to memorise a few lines, not too hard to learn, easier than the Latvian, imo.

Are you getting royalties, lol?

I'm assuming you mean to strong for white, but I dunno, I haven't had any trouble with it. I've tried the rather unexplored 3. Nd7 gambit, and it's given me a fun game the one time I got the chance to play it. It's a little explored, but still not overly dubious gambit (such as the Latvian) that should entice the creative explorers out there. But since I've only actually faced 3... Bb5+ twice, I really shouldn't give advices on the lines.

But I don't see it as the critical test of the whole defence.

I'm going to stick with the rather unexplored, but very interesting 3... Nbd7 myself though.

I play the KG against 1...e5

You might also be interested in the Morra against the other most common response; 1...c5

Ignore the idiots who say "these gambits are no good because GM's don't play them", unless that is, you wish to play against GM's on a regular basis.

FM Mladen Zelic has beaten several GM's with the Morra, so it can't be so bad.

Gambits like these 2 are useful for developing attacking skills, recognising & using tactical motifs, making use of development, initiative & so on.

Oh yes, & they are also fun. 

Danish gambit!!

This is giving up two pawns, but if your opponent knows the theory behind it (not likely) there's quite an elegant way of stopping the crushing attack.

1. e4 e5

2. d4! exd4

3. c3 dxc3

4. Bc4 cxb2

5. Bxb2

Main line, but black doesn't have to accept.

Also, the smith morra if you face the sicilian:

1. e4 c4

2. d4! cxd4

3. c3

You could continue with the danish line gambits or you could take with horsie if black accepts the c3 gambit. :)

But nothing really beats the evans gambit!