Sound Gambits?

Excluding the renowned "Queen's Gambit" opening (which is no longer considered a "true gambit" anyway), are there any sound gambits? If so, then which ones are maybe objectively good?

I used to NEVER play any gambits seriously. Maybe occasionally as surprise weapons, or for fun. However, my opening study (and experimenting with openings in play) had me come across a few openings that might be an exception...

Most gambit openings attempt to catch an unprepared opponent off-guard, or get strong play via something like piece activity. Are any of these openings objectively solid if the opponent knows their stuff well: these three are the ones I am thinking most about - 

Dutch Defense: Staunton Gambit, Bird's Opening From's Gambit and the Fully-Accepted line of the Benko Gambit

Nice post!

I have no clue about gambits, sorry, but maybe I can find one.

Thanks. Any ideas if these are any good? I used to think none of them gave enough compensation, but now I am not so sure. The Staunton Gambit seems to give the Black Dutch Defense player a lot of trouble, the From's Gambit appears annoying for White and the Benko Gambit Fully Accepted Mainline gives Black more chances than the computer initially evaluates with a-file, b-file and fianchetto long diagonal all contributing pressure to get back the pawn.

No problem. Usually I never play gambits, but I'm now reconsidering if ALL gambits are dubious - Kasparov believes the only sound gambit is the Benko Gambit for Black (and he has also used that opening a lot himself). Other GMs believe no gambit is sound. I am not really certain myself.

okay

Yeah nice post. I use King's pawn opening a lot. But sometimes KIA

This is a better contender than other gambits, but I don't think it is sound. Check this forum thread out where @rychessmaster1 seems to have this opening handled well: 

https://www.chess.com/blog/rychessmaster1/refuting-openings-1-the-budapest-gambit 

Additionally, I always get a good position with White after avoiding a lot of theory via an old sideline: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e3!? and White's play is interesting. There is more theory behind this old variation, but basically White just gives back the pawn and has a decent game.

You are correct @Epiloque that even trash openings like the Latvian or Elephant gambits can easily catch an unsuspecting opponent off guard, but I am curious on soundness assuming the opponent is a well studied player.

evans

Good suggestion I forgot about, but I still like Black in that opening. I used to play the critical 5...Ba5 mainline and I was happy with Black (although 5...Be7 I hear is also satisfactory for Black if they know their theory). I think this is a more solid gambit than many others, but I don't know if White has enough compensation for the pawn - I lean towards thinking they do not have enough for it though. 

@B1ZMARK what are your thoughts on the 3 openings I mentioned in the original post?

p.s. Here is the Evans for those unaware:

I am only guessing here.  But perhaps Smith-Morra and King's Gambit and Benko Gambit are arguably sound.

Thank you! Your posts are always informative. I’m trying to keep up... i appreciate your insights, blogs...

There are a lot of gambits, only a few sound ones, and even fewer good ones

I hardly ever encounter the Sicilian since I play 1. d4 for White more than 1. e4 and I don't typically play 1. e4 c5 for Black. However, yes, maybe the Smith-Morra has something to it. After the first few opening moves, Stockfish seems to like Black's chances at least. Admittingly, I really don't know much theory behind it though, so I am not sure if it is sound or not. Maybe?

Benko Gambit is similar - this one I've debated for a long time. I used to play the Fully Accepted lines and try to find a refutation - I felt like White could just hold the pawn and simply be better if they know their theory. In practice, I get fun games (from White or Black, but I get the White side of the Benko more often). However, I am not sure if it is a sound gambit or not. In part why I created this thread. I was curious what other players thought

King's Gambit is strong enough to be taken seriously, but it is rarely seen at 2000+ level anymore. I think the King's Gambit is probably busted with best play. It is sharp in many lines, but I think Black is better in the end. The Falkbeer counter gambit is a strong antidote that has been popular lately, but I also used to get good results with accepting the King's Gambit and playing the ambitious ...g5 move to secure the pawn.

Thanks - glad to hear you like them

+1 I agree. However, I don't know if "few sound ones" are a handful of openings, or if it is actually none at all - but it is clear that some are much more testing than other gambits.

Budapest is definitely sound.

I checked the link you mentioned and although I am unsure if black's moves are fully accurate (trying to hold bishop pair for that much may not be very accurate. In some variations which is side variations of what they suggest , such as 10...Bxd2 it ends with "White have bishop pair for free" which is same with main variation.) but even if they are accurate the ending is not refuting it.

I can say Benko and likewise gambits, as black generally gets good compansation against pawn. 

Marshall Gambit at Ruy Lopez is definitely sound. Well it is not commonly seen as it requires both white and black to not avoid it but still sound.

Not exactly sure but Semi-Slav Marshall Gambit should be also sound.

If you are not looking for opening to include the name "gambit" , than there are more options such as Semi Slav- Moscow Variation (White can't get the pawn back). 

There might be more but these are the ones that came my mind in first.

Thank you for the insight regarding the Budapest Gambit. And yes, I completely forgot about the Ruy Lopez, Marshall Gambit lol - I was just studying this opening with a friend less than a week ago. True, both players can avoid it, but I think that might be sound as well; forgot about that one.

Also, yes, I am focusing more on openings with "gambit" in the name. 

The Semi-Slav Marshall Gambit, I've encountered from both sides before - but I'm happy with White in it. White can't get the pawn back, but I think they have good compensation for it. Just my opinion, but perhaps I am not correct. Who knows? Those Semi-Slav lines can become sharp very fast - that much is for sure.

How do you type so fast? 

funny because I used to be super slow at typing, but everything is just practice mostly. Now I type faster than I used to do. I used to be like 25 wpm (words per minute). For those unaware, that is really slow - the average is 40 words per minute. Now I can type at about 55 words per minute and sometimes I'll barely get 60 words per minute. Some speed typists are insanely fast though: like 180+wpm!