Benko Gambit (A57 - A59) Opening Theory

 

Your Complete Benko Gambit Resource

This comprehensive archive unlocks the secrets of the Benko Gambit, equipping you with the knowledge to unleash its full potential on the chessboard.

 Wikipedia Page

The Benko Gambit (or Volga Gambit) is a chess opening characterized by the move 3...b5 in the Benoni Defense arising after:

1. d4 Nf6  2. c4 c5  3. d5 b5
However, it is a bit unusual as gambits go. Black, not White, gives up a pawn for long-term positional compensation.

ECO Code

A57 Sub-variants:

• Benko gambit         
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5
• Benko gambit half accepted  
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6
• Benko gambit, Zaitsev system 
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. Nc3
• Benko gambit, Nescafe Frappe attack 
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. Nc3 axb5 6. e4 b4 7. Nb5 d6 8. Bc4
• Benko gambit accepted   
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6
• Benko gambit, Nd2 variation 
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nf3 g6 8. Nd2
• Benko gambit, fianchetto variation 
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nf3 g6 8. g3

A58 Sub-variants:

• Benko gambit accepted
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6
• Benko gambit, Nd2 variation
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nf3 g6 8. Nd2
• Benko gambit, fianchetto variation
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nf3 g6 8. g3

A59 Sub-variants:

• Benko gambit, 7.e4
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. e4
• Benko gambit, Ne2 variation
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. e4 Bxf1 8. Kxf1 g6 9. Nge2
• Benko gambit
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. e4 Bxf1 8. Kxf1 g6 9. g3
• Benko gambit, main line1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. e4 Bxf1 8. Kxf1 g6 9. g3 Bg7 10. Kg2 O-O 11. Nf3

 Bishop's Bounty Benoni Defense Page

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BOOKS & Courses (Free)

Short & Sweet: Benko Gambit - FREE Chessable Course - 25 Trainable Lines w/ 2.5 hr Video by GM Swapnil Dhopade

Short & Sweet: Perrine's Benko Gambit -FREE Chessable Course - 10 Trainable Lines w/ 34 Min Video by FM Perrine

Internet Archive

The Benko Gambit 1999 - 163 Page PDF - Byron Jacobs & Andrew Kinsman
Benko Gambit Accepted ( 1988) - 114 Page PDF - Eduard Gufeld
The Benko Gambit ( 2005) - 125 Page PDF - Jan Pinski
The Benko Gambit Revealed ( 2004) - 113 Page PDF - Neil McDonald
The Modernized Benko Gambit ( 2018) - 240 Page PDF - Milos Perunovic
Play The Benko Gambit ( 2011) - 212 page PDF - Nicolai V. Pedersen
The Dynamic Benko Gambit ( 2012) - 322 page PDF - Sergey Kasparov
The Benko Gambit Move By Move ( 2014) - 189 Page PDF - Junior tay
Benko Counter Gambit (1978) - 128 Page PDF - David Levy
Winning With The Benko ( 1995) - 145 Page PDF - Byron Jacobs
Dangerous Weapons The Benoni And Benko ( 2008) - John Emms, Chris Ward
The Benko Revisited, Volume 1 ( 2022) - 774 Page PDF - Alexey Kovalchuk
The Benko Revisited, Volume 2 ( 2022) - 659 Page PDF - Alexy Kovalchuk
Mastering The Modern Benoni And The Benko ( 1990) - 168 Page PDF - Robert Bellin

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Benko Gambit ARTICLES

• Benko Gambit - Simplify Chess Page (Very In-depth Guide )
  
  
• Benko Gambit: 10 Reasons to Play It - Article By FM  Zaur Tekeyev
  
  
• The Benko Gambit: A How to Play Guide for White & Black - Opening Guide on Chessable Blog (well Done)
  

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Lichess Studies:Master the Benko Gambit

Lichess Studies are a fantastic way to explore chess concepts and variations in an interactive format. Unlock its secrets with these curated Lichess studies:

• Benko Gambit - 10 Chapter Study - Perfect for beginners, this study focuses on the core main lines of the Benko Gambit.
   
• ⚓️ The Benko Gambit Study ⚓️ - 20 Chapter Study  Delve deeper into Benko Gambit strategy with this comprehensive study analyzing pawn structures and showcasing illustrative games.
  
  
• Benko Gambit: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 - 27 Chapter Study - For dedicated Benko players, this in-depth study offers a deep dive into all the major variations and nuances of the gambit.(In depth )
  
  
•  LiStudy Benko Gambit Page
  (Link to Listudy Page To Practice Lines with LiChess MoveTrainer)
  
  

New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.

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Game Databases

365 Chess.com Database

• A57: Benko gambit 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 - 22,870 Games 
  
  
• A58: Benko gambit accepted 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 - 8394 Games
  
  
• A59: Benko gambit, 7.e4 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. e4 - 662 Games

Chessgames.com

• Benko Gambit (A57) 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5 -  5097 Games
  
  
• Benko Gambit (A58) 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5 4 cxb5 a6 5 bxa6 - 2304 Games
  
  
• Benko Gambit (A59) 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5 4 cxb5 a6 5 bxa6 Bxa6 6 Nc3 d6 7 e4 - 616 Games
  
  
• Benko Gambit (A57-A59) - 13 Annotated Games  
  

 

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Benko Gambit Video Lessons

Benko Gambit - 3 Video Playlist - FM James Canty   (48 Min)

The Benko Gambit: Lecture by GM Ben Finegold - 54 Min  -  a lecture on the Benko Gambit, discussing its history, key ideas, and why it’s less popular at the top levels today. Finegold delves into the specifics of accepting the gambit, sharing insights from his own experiences and notable games, including Karpov vs. Gelfand and Nakamura vs. Bologan. 

A Detailed Guide to the Benko Gambit - 61 Min Hanging Pawns

The Benko Gambit - Chess Openings with GM Damian Lemos - 31 Min -  Presents a comprehensive guide explaining the key ideas, strategies, and variations of the gambit, emphasizing the importance of initiative and queenside play for black. The video covers the main lines and sub-lines, demonstrating how black can gain active play despite being a pawn down. Lemos also discusses common mistakes by white and how black can capitalize on them. He highlights the value of piece activity over material and provides insights into endgame advantages for black in the Benko Gambit.

The Benko Gambit: A positional sacrifice out of the opening! - IM Andrew Martin - 23 Min

When declining a gambit can be powerful! - IM Andrew Martin  -22 Min

Day 10: Improve your openings with IM Sagar Shah | Benko Gambit | Ft. GM Swapnil Dhopade - 73 Min - They provide insights on improving openings, share historical context, and discuss various strategies and positions related to the Benko Gambit

How to Play the Benko Gambit 💪 Chess Openings for Black with IM Valeri Lilov - 28 Min

Benko Gambit: Main Concepts - 23 Min

THE BEST Opening For Black Against 1.d4 | Benko Gambit | Chess Opening Explained - 14 Min - Coach Kestony - will teach you the best opening for black against 1.d4 where you will be play to win

St Louis Chess Club Lessons

• Benko Gambit - Chess Openings Explained - 54 Min  St. Louis Chess Club Lesson
• Benoni, Benko Gambit | Nimzo Indian - GM Ben Finegold - 2014.01.26 - 37 Min
• Gambits: Benko, Alapin, & More! - GM Yasser Seirawan - 2015.02.15 - 41 Min
• Chess Tactics in the Benko Gambit - IM Robert Ris [80/20 Tactics Multiplier] - 26 Min
• Play Like Pal Benko | Play Like a Pro - GM Denes Boros - 49 Min

Nescafe Frappe attack  

• Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Nescafé Frappe Attack! - 18 Min Chess Giant
  
  
• How to Play The Coffee Opening - 35 Min Anna Cramling

  

Plans Against the Benko

• How To Kill The Benko Gambit! 1975 - BEST NOVELTIES - 17 Min GM Simon Williams - This video series looks at the most important chess opening novelties from the last 50 years. The moves were decided by a Grandmaster jury voted from Chess Informant volume 11 to volume 115.
• Beat the Benko | Road to 2000 - NM Caleb Denby | lichess.org - 54 Min - comprehensive guide on how to counter the Benko Gambit in chess, focusing on white’s strategy. He explains the importance of accepting the gambit, establishing a pawn structure that prevents black’s counterplay, and securing a blockade on the queenside.
  
  
• Alexei Shirov - Crushing the Benko Gambit - My Best Games - Preview 1 - 25 Min
  
  
• Dominate the Benko Gambit by GM Damien Lemos (My Own Game) - 18 Min
  
  
• Benko Gambit Repertoire for White - 23 Min - Four recommended lines for white against the Benko Gambit.
• Crush The Benko Gambit with White!! - 31 Min - IM Miodrag Perunovic (The Butcher) - Discusses various strategies, including psychological approaches and positional ideas, to gain an advantage against this opening. The presenter analyzes model games to illustrate key concepts and moves, such as the importance of pawn structure, piece development, and controlling the center.

  

Benko Gambit Game Videos w/ Analysis

Benko Gambit - 58 Video Playlist - Kingscrusher

Magnus Carlsen Plays Benko Gambit Against Grandmaster Arthur Kogan - 7 Min
Magnus Carlsen Plays Benko Gambit vs Alireza Firouzja - 2 Min
Classic Chess Game: Magnus Carlsen Benko Gambit crush! - 16 Min
Standard Chess #164: IM Bartholomew vs. Pschaak (Benko Gambit) - 41 Min
Blitz Chess #202: IM Bartholomew vs. IM Pichot (Benko Gambit) - 13 Min

Taking Down the Benko Gambit!! | The Sensei Speedrun | GM Naroditsky - 36 Min

Magnus Carlsen Plays Benko Gambit Against Grandmaster Arthur Kogan - 6 Min
Dealing with the Benko Gambit · Training Game - 46 min - Hanging Pawns
Shakhriyar Crushing the Benko Gambit - 9 Min

IM Bartholomews Youtube Page (Benko Gambit search) -  Around 20 Standard and Blitz Games 

The Budapest Gambit: A Swashbuckling Chess Adventure A51 - A52

  

The Budapest Gambit (Defense )
 A Comprehensive Resource

Intrigued by aggressive chess openings? Look no further than the Budapest Gambit, a daring gambit that injects excitement into your games from move one. This guide equips you with everything you need to master this dynamic opening, whether you're wielding White's central pawn control or wielding Black's potent piece play.

What is the Budapest Gambit?

With the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5, Black sacrifices a pawn for rapid development and attacking chances. This gambit has allured enterprising players for decades, offering sharp, unbalanced battles that test your tactical skills and strategic vision.

Why Play the Budapest Gambit?

• Surprise your opponent: The Budapest Gambit is less common than other Queen's pawn openings, giving you an edge in preparation.
• Sharp and attacking play: If you crave dynamic positions, the Budapest Gambit delivers! Black enjoys active piece play and excellent attacking prospects.
• Deep strategic possibilities: Despite the early pawn sacrifice, the Budapest Gambit offers rich strategic opportunities for both sides.
  
  

Wikipedia Page 
(Sizable amount of Info Here covering this Gambit)

A51 Sub-variants:     Budapest defense declined

Budapest defense declined                 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5

Budapest, Fajarowicz variation           1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ne4

Budapest, Fajarowicz, Steiner variation   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ne4 4. Qc2

 

A52 Sub-variants:    Budapest Defense Accepted

Budapest Defence                          1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4

Budapest, Adler variation             1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nf3

Budapest, Rubinstein variation   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Bf4

Budapest, Alekhine variation        1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4

Budapest, Alekhine, Abonyi variation    1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 Nxe5 5. f4 Nec6

Budapest, Alekhine variation, Balogh gambit   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 d6

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Books & Courses (Free)

Internet Archive

• Budapest Gambit by Otto Borik; - 109 page PDF - A comprehensive exploration of the Budapest Gambit. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, Borik's insights will equip you to understand the opening's key concepts, variations, and strategic ideas.
  
  
• The Budapest Fajarowicz: The Fajarowicz-Richter Gambit in Action by Lev Gutman - 289 Page PDF - Delve deeper into the Fajarowicz variation with this in-depth book. Gutman analyzes key games and critical positions, helping you master this exciting line of the Budapest Gambit.

 

Free Chessable Course 

Short & Sweet: Budapest Gambit -FM Kamil Plichta - Learn 25 Lines w/ 78 Min Video - use movetrainer to practice them. Ideal starter repertoire on the fearsome and fun Budapest Gambit. He took the essential knowledge from the repertoire, then boiled it down to just 25 core lines and 1 hour and 18 minutes of newbie-friendly video instruction.

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Budapest Gambit Articles

The Budapest Gambit ignites dynamic battles on the chessboard, and a wealth of articles await you to explore its intricacies.

Beginner-Friendly Resources:

• The Budapest Gambit - This guide by Simplify Chess delves into the opening with move-by-move explanations, making it easy to grasp the Budapest Gambit's core concepts. Learn about the three main variations and start building your understanding.
  
  
• Chess Opening Basics: The Budapest Gambit - Chessable Blog Article - This article provides a solid introduction to the Budapest Gambit, outlining the basic opening moves and offering a general overview for beginner players.

Intermediate & Advanced Resources:

• Budapest Gambit – Chess Opening Guide (for White & Black) - Chessable Blog Guide (Nicely Done) - Take a deeper dive with this Chessable Blog Guide! It explores variations, strategic plans, and model games, equipping you with a more comprehensive understanding of the Budapest Gambit.
  
  
• The Budapest Gambit: Fearless Chess Players Wanted - ichess.net Guide - in-depth w/embedded Video - Very In-Depth Guide (Archived in Wayback Machine) This in-depth guide, archived on the Wayback Machine, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Budapest Gambit with an embedded video for enhanced learning.
  
  
• Svitlana's Smart Moves - The Budapest Gambit - Gain insights from WIM Svitlana Demchenko in this ChessBase article featuring a 23-minute video.
  

Additional Note:

• Refutation of the Budapest Gambit -  Gm Alex Colovic -  Short Article Talking about the easiest way to defuse this Gambit. This short article discusses ways to counter the Budapest Gambit. It can be a helpful tool for players facing the Budapest Gambit as White.

 

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PUZZLES and TRAPS

Sharpen Your Budapest Gambit Skills

wtharvy

Budapest Gambit A52 - 82 Puzzles 

LiChess Opening Puzzles

Indian Defense- Budapest Defence - 3928 Puzzles - Challenge yourself with a vast pool of puzzles on LiChess, encompassing all variations of the Budapest Gambit. This is a fantastic resource to continuously improve your overall tactical awareness in the opening.
 

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Budapest Gambit Lichess Studies

LiChess Studies offer an interactive playground to delve into the Budapest Gambit's intricacies. Here are some exceptional studies curated to guide you through the opening's complexities:

• Budapest Gambit - Interactive: - 21 Chapter Interactive Study (600 Hearts) - In-Depth with bunches of the lines accepted and declined w/ 5 model games.
  
  
• The Budapest Gambit  - 8 Chapter Study (240 Hearts) Another well done short study. Great overview of the Gambit w/ section on how Engines play it.
  
  
• Budapest Gambit Games - 29 Chapter Study  (All Games)
  
  
• Budapest Gambit, Games by Masters - 6 Chapter Study (Heavily Annotated games)
  

New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.

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Games Databases

Game databases are invaluable resources for studying the Budapest Gambit in action. Here are some prominent platforms to explore:

Chessgames.com

Budapest Gambit (A51) 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e5 - 418 games (Budapest Gambit Declined)

 Budapest Gambit (A52) 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e5 3 dxe5 Ng4 - 1597 Games  (Budapest Gambit Accepted)

Budapest Gambit (A51-A52) - 3 Annotated Games
 

365Chess.com

A51: Budapest defence declined 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 - 9600 Games 

 A52: Budapest defence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 - 6900 games 

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Budapest Gambit Video Lessons

Learn the Budapest Gambit from some of the best chess educators and channels with these comprehensive video lessons:

 

St. Louis Chess Club

• Exploring d4 | Budapest Gambit - GM Yasser Seirawan - 32 Min - A lecture exploring the opening choice d4 including the Budapest Gambit.
  
  
• The Budapest Gambit | Chess Openings Explained - 61 Min - National Master Julian Proleiko goes over the Budapest Gambit, a defense against 1.d4. Lines are explored from least to most popular.
  
  
• Obscure 1.d4 Openings #2: Budapest & Benko Gambits - GM Varuzhan Akobian - 30 Min - Var Akobian teaches the kids two more obscure openings from 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4: the Budapest Gambit and the Benko Gambit .

 

The Budapest Gambit · Chess Openings - 37 min Hanging Pawns - is quite a positional opening, in which pawn breaks are the most important factor. 

Simon Williams - The Exciting Budapest Gambit - 32 Min

How to play the Budapest Gambit | Main Ideas and Plans | Gambits | IM Andrey Ostrovskiy - 16 Min

Gambit a Pawn for Aggressive Piece Play! - GM James Plaskett - 11 Min - Talks about the main lines where Black always gets active piece play and compensation for the pawn being sacrificed early in the game.

I made the Budapest Gambit 100x MORE AGGRESSIVE - 43 Min - FM William Graif - Crazy, crazy, crazy sacrifices in this new chess opening variation of the Budapest Gambit! How to Play the Budapest Gambit | Grandmaster Repertoire - 20 Min - GM Moulton Li - recommendations in the Budapest Gambit.

Opening Basics #51: Budapest gambit - 37 Min - Jims Chess Channel - A comprehensive guide to the Budapest Gambit. It explores various lines and strategies, including the Adler and Rubinstein variations, and highlights the importance of piece activity and pawn structure. It also analyzes historical and modern games, demonstrating tactical ideas and common pitfalls in the gambit.

Boris Altermans Gambit Guide (Budapest Gambit) 
  Part 1 - 35 Min  ,   Part 2 - 28 Min,    Part 3 - 33 Min
 

IM Miodrag Perunovic

• Chess Openings: Aggressive Budapest Gambit for Black!! 4.Bf4 - 37 Min
• Fajarowicz Gambit - A little-known Tactical Powerhouse to Dominate 1.d4 - 40 Min
• Aggressive Budapest Gambit for Black!! - Sidelines Concluded - 20 Min
• Fajarowicz variation | Chess Opening for Black - Ideas & Traps - 20 Min
• Aggressive Budapest Gambit for Black!! - 4.Nf3 - 23 Min

 

Budapest Gambit Traps

Opening Traps #3: Kieninger Trap with Jonathan Schrantz - 5 Min

Simple and Deadly Traps in the Budapest Gambit - 15 Min

Budapest Gambit Traps: Tricks to Win Fast | Best Checkmate Moves, Strategy & Ideas - 7 Min

5 Best Chess Opening Traps in the Budapest Gambit - 10 Min

Even More Tricks and Traps in the Budapest Gambit - 20 Min IM Rosen

9 CRUSHING Budapest Gambit Traps - 5 Min

 

Budapest Declined The Wandering King Trap - 4 Min

Budapest Declined Relative Pin Trap - 3 Min

Budapest - Opening Up the Floodgates - 3 min

Budapest - Hanging in Budapest - 3 Min

Budapest - The Fajorowitz Theme Trap - 3 Min

Budapest Fajorowitz - The Passing Fad Trap - 2 Min

Budapest Fajorowitz - The Clammy Sammy Trap - 4 Min

Budapest Fajorowitz - The Faj Queen Trap - 5 Min

Budapest - Another Hungary Black Trap - 3 Min

Budapest Hungary Horses - 3 Min

Budapest - White Holds the Pawn - 5 Min

Budapest - The Black Pawn Overload - 3 Min

Budapest - Queen on the Run - 4 Min

Budapest - Family Fork - 3Min

Budapest The Pest Control Trap 3 min

Budapest - Finally Winning a Piece 5 Min

Budapest The Poisonous Bait Trap - 3 min

Budapest Knights Fork Tango - 4 Min

Budapest Kieninger Trap - 3 Min

Budapest - Glutton for Punishment - 3 Min

Budapest - Unsound But Only Natural - 3 Min

 
Budapest Gambit Game Videos (w/ Analysis)

Playlists

• Budapest Gambit  - 9 Video Playlist - IM Eric Rosen
• Budapest Gambit - Chess Opening - 35 Video Playlist - kingscrusher

Game Videos

Beating the Budapest Gambit | Blitz Game - 7 Min  (Model game Against Budapest)

Budapest Gambit: Attacking with Geometry - 7 Min IM Rosen

A Brilliant Budapest Gambit - Rubinstein vs. Vidmar - 15 Min

Chess Master Blitz...Fajarowicz Gambit as Black!! - 31 Mins  (Several Games)

Crush Your Opponents With The Evil Budapest Gambit - PROchess League - 10 Min

Longer Chess Games #51 A Lesson in the Budapest Gambit - 62 Min -Ginger GM

"The greatest compliment one can pay to the player of a gambit
 is to accept it." - Emanuel Lasker