Budapest: 3.dxe5

Budapest: 3.dxe5

Definition

“Budapest: 3.dxe5” refers to the critical moment in the Budapest Gambit, arising after the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5. By playing 3.dxe5, White accepts Black’s pawn sacrifice on e5, officially entering the gambit proper. The full opening name is the Budapest Gambit Accepted.

Typical Move Order

The opening sequence is:

• 1. d4 Nf6
• 2. c4 e5 (Black offers a pawn to unbalance the position)
• 3. dxe5 … (White captures, entering “Budapest: 3.dxe5”)

Usage in Chess

• For White: 3.dxe5 is the most principled reply, grabbing the offered pawn and challenging Black to prove compensation through rapid piece activity.
• For Black: The common responses are 3…Ng4 (Main Line) or the dynamic 3…Ne4!? (Fajarowicz Variation). Both aim to harass the e5-pawn, develop quickly, and attack before White consolidates.

Strategic Themes

• Piece Activity vs. Material – Black is a pawn down but hopes to exploit open lines for minor pieces.
• Pressure on e5 & c4 – Black repeatedly attacks the advanced e5-pawn (…Ng4, …Nc6) and may strike at c4 or the d-file.
• King Safety – Both sides often castle kingside quickly; however, Black’s initiative can grow rapidly if White is careless.
• Endgame Considerations – If White neutralizes the pressure and trades pieces, the extra pawn can become decisive in endgames.

Historical Context

The gambit was first recorded in Adler – Maróczy, Budapest 1896, giving the opening its name. It gained fame when Akiba Rubinstein and Sávo Vég used it in the 1910s. Although largely eclipsed by solid defences like the Queen’s Gambit Declined, it has enjoyed periodic revivals—most notably by Grandmasters Zoltán Ribli, Alexander Beliavsky, and Emil Sutovsky—as a surprise weapon.

Illustrative Continuation

The classical line after 3…Ng4 continues:

• 3…Ng4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bf4 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 Qe7 7. Qd5 …
• Both sides develop with tactical skirmishes around e5 and c4.

Example Game

R. Teichmann – A. Rubinstein, Breslau 1912 is a famous demonstration of Black’s compensation:

Modern Practice

Current engine assessments give White a slight edge (≈ +0.3) after best play, yet the line remains popular in blitz and rapid where initiative counts more than a pawn.

Common Plans for Each Side

• White
  1. Return the pawn with e2-e4 at an opportune moment to complete development safely.
  2. Trade pieces to reach a favorable endgame.
  3. Maintain a strong centre with c2-c3 & f2-f4 setups.
• Black
  1. Target e5 relentlessly; if recaptured, aim at c4 and d4.
  2. Use pins (…Bb4+, …Qe7) to accelerate development.
  3. Generate kingside attacks, often involving …Qh4 or …f6 breaks.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• The move 3.dxe5 once so annoyed Emanuel Lasker that he reportedly called the Budapest “an unsound curiosity”—only to watch it survive for over a century.
• GM Boris Avrukh, a celebrated 1.d4 theoretician, recommends the quiet 4.Nf3 against 3…Ng4, showing even solid players respect Black’s resourcefulness.
• The rare sideline 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4?! (instead of 4.Nf3) is nicknamed the “Adler Variation,” after the first recorded Budapest game.
• In online bullet chess, the Budapest Gambit is one of the most popular “trap” openings, thanks to motifs like 5.Bf4 Bb4+ 6.Nc3 Qe7 7.e3?! Ngxe5! winning back the pawn with interest.