The Fabulous Budapest Gambit

Book excerpt: The Budapest Gambit is popular with club and internet chess players all over the world, and it is easy to see why. It has surprise value, it’s not hard to learn, and it leads to sharp and dynamic play from the very start of the game. But what about its strategic value? When Grandmaster Viktor Moskalenko started playing the Budapest many years ago, its all-round appeal struck him, and since then he has won many games with it. This book contains quite a few of Moskalenko’s own games, as well as games by other star players from the past and the present. They illustrate perfectly the dynamic character of this gambit as well as its solid strategic foundations. Moskalenko does not shower you with long computer-generated variations but clearly explains the plans for both White and Black. Moskalenko’s lively style will infect you and encourage you to start playing this opening, which is a great weapon at any level, from club player to grandmaster. This new edition is completely reworked and fully updated from the original 2007 publication; It has been extended by 25% and contains new analysis, new games, new ideas and lots of novelties.