I know a guy that plays that religiously, and he wonders why he cannot ever break USCF 2000.
Win with the Halloween Gambit!!!
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I think that the best way to play this rare bird as Black without any particular variation knowledge is this one:
Equal material, but Black is slightly ahead in development, no weaknesses, with a great grip on the central dark squares and potential play against white's e4 and d5 pawns. White need not lose this, but I'd rather opt for something less silly.
Jul 31, 2017
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#24
Obviously sacrificing a piece that early is no sound for long game or against strong preparred opponent in real classic time control OTB.. It's very easy now to say this is so bad for white, like puzzles, you see and figure out solution, but Over The board in real game you miss simple tactics. This is exactly the case here. clock thiking and you see it for 1st time You wont be able to defend that easily as you might think now on screen.
This is made for blitz or 15 minute game, where you can't think for 5-10 minutes about the position and which is the best move.
There is one way for black to play that gives black the advantage, but it works if black plays Nc6 instead of Ng6.
Here it goes:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5 Nxe5 5.d4 Nc6 6. d5 Bb4 7. dxc6 Ne4 and from then on black has the advantage.
Mar 12, 2018
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#26
I like Ntirlis's recommendation. I remember analyzing this line about five years ago. Don't give back the knight. Give him the rook. 
Ultraman81 wrote:
This topic motivated me to play a Halloween game again. Far from perfect, but I didn't enjoy it any less.
ME TO
[COMMENT DELETED]
HiyaGarg wrote:
Ultraman81 wrote:
This topic motivated me to play a Halloween game again. Far from perfect, but I didn't enjoy it any less.
ME TO
HEY GUYS WHO WANTS TO PLAY A BUGHOUSE GAME
Mar 12, 2018
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#31
Of course , with right kinda play , black gets an advantage , but one slight slip , and SWOOP! he's down!
This is a quite recent example. One slight slip , and black , a quite OK player found himself choking in shallow water.
Mar 12, 2018
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#32
A low-theory alternative to the options posted here:
I believe IM pfren's alternative may be objectively better, but this is certainly very fun to play.
Mar 12, 2018
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#33
11. Nb5 is indeed refuted . But after 11.Qe2+ both sides have chances.
This was an interesting line to analyze. I don't think Black's best defense would be so easy to find over the board.
Sep 12, 2020
0
#36
Hi Catalan ... I'm playing this gambit in at least two of my games now. It requires foresight on both sides. Mistakes and best moves are ever-present
Anyway, if someone does not mind defending for a while, and has time to analyse an opening he will rarely (if ever) meet OTB, this is the line to check:
This game happened on the board next to me in a tournament. The loser, (much higher rated) was visibly upset after the game. Quite brilliant play by white, who absolutely dominated his opponent.
4 Thoughts. (1) He just lost to a much lower rated player. (2) He just lost to a much lower rated player who played a weird opening *AND* who sacrificed a piece against him on purpose in the opening. (3) He got checkmated. And there were witnesses to him getting humilatingly checkmated. (4) The lower-rated player was rather pleased with what happened. Probably grinned and smiled for days or weeks afterwards.