Budapest Gambit - Definition, ideas and variations
Budapest Gambit
Definition
The Budapest Gambit is an aggressive Black opening that begins with the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5!? 3. dxe5. Black immediately sacrifices a pawn in order to seize the initiative, aiming for rapid development, open lines, and tactical pressure against White’s center. The most common continuation is 3…Ng4, although the sharp Fajarowicz Variation employs 3…Ne4.
Basic Move-Order
- 1. d4 Nf6
- 2. c4 e5!? (Black offers the e-pawn)
- 3. dxe5 Ng4 (The main line)
Typical Ideas & Strategy
- Piece Activity – Black’s minor pieces flood the centre and kingside while White spends time consolidating the extra pawn.
- Pressure on e5 & g-file – The knight on g4 often eyes e5 and f2, while …Bc5 or …Bb4+ pins and provokes weaknesses.
- Rapid Development vs. Material – The gambit echoes the Romantic-era trade-off: development and initiative for a pawn.
- Endgame Considerations – If Black regains the pawn without conceding structural damage, the endgame can be pleasant because of a healthier pawn structure.
Main Variations
- Adler Variation: 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Be2 0-0
A solid line where Black completes development quickly. - Rubinstein Variation: 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bb4+ — more positional, favoured by Akiba Rubinstein in the early 20th century.
- Alekhine Variation: 4.e3 Nxe5 5.Nf3 Nbc6 6.Nxe5 Nxe5 – leads to swift mass exchanges and an equal middlegame.
- Fajarowicz (or “Fajarowitz”) Gambit: 3…Ne4!? A wilder branch in which Black forgoes the pawn grab on g4 and plays for unbalanced complications.
Historical Notes
First tried in tournament play at Budapest 1896 (Adler–Schlechter), the opening was named after the host city. It briefly fell out of fashion but resurfaced through the efforts of Imre König and later Pal Benko, who famously held Bobby Fischer to a draw with it (Zagreb 1959). In the computer era, the Budapest remains a surprise weapon, used by grandmasters such as Viktor Kortchnoi, Oleg Romanishin, and more recently Richard Rapport.
Illustrative Mini-Trap
The following sequence shows how quickly things can go wrong for White:
After 15 moves White is checkmated despite being two pawns up—an excellent advertisement for Black’s dynamic chances.
Famous Game
Fischer – Benko, Zagreb 1959 (Candidates’ Tournament)
Fischer, then only 16, accepted the gambit but was unable to convert his
extra pawn, and the game was drawn after 34 moves. Benko demonstrated the
resourcefulness of Black’s setup against one of the greatest prodigies.
The game ended here with a perpetual check looming.
Modern Evaluation
Computer engines generally give a slight plus to White (≈ +0.30 to +0.60) if White chooses the most critical lines. Nevertheless, practical results in over-the-board play show that Black scores competitively, especially in rapid and blitz time controls. Many top players therefore view the Budapest as a perfectly sound practical weapon, if not a theoretically equaliser.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The gambit’s very first outing—Adler vs. Schlechter, Budapest 1896—ended in a brilliant 19-move win for Black.
- Legend says that Viktor Kortchnoi kept a notebook labeled “
For Use Against Karpov
,” and the Budapest was on that list, although the two never contested it in a World Championship game. - The move 3…Ng4 often provokes beginners to play 4.e3?, a seemingly solid choice that actually lets Black recapture the pawn with equality after 4…Nxe5.
- Because the main position can arise via 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 e5, some Budapest specialists use transpositions to avoid certain anti-gambit systems.
When to Use the Budapest
The opening is particularly effective:
- As a surprise weapon against opponents who expect the Nimzo-Indian or King’s Indian.
- In rapid and blitz, where defensive accuracy is harder to maintain.
- For players who enjoy tactical melee and are comfortable defending a slightly inferior endgame if the attack fizzles.
Further Study
Recommended texts include The Budapest Gambit
by Timothy Taylor and
video series by GM Boris Avrukh. Exploring annotated databases of
contemporary games (e.g., Rapport, Nakamura) will provide up-to-date
theoretical coverage.