Taking e5 back too early
Recapture when you have enough attackers. Rushing with the knight alone can let White defend with f4 or Bf4 and Nf3.
Opening guide · Black against 1.d4
How to play the Budapest Gambit
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5
The Budapest Gambit answers 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 with 2...e5. Black usually wins the pawn back with ...Ng4 and gets quick, active development against a surprised opponent.
- Lines to play
- 4
- Trap
- 1
- Quiz positions
- 6
Learn the Budapest Gambit move by move
You play Black. Each move is explained before you play it, with an arrow on the board; then you play the line from memory. When the course has more than one good move, every one of them counts.
Key ideas
Win the pawn back
- After 3.dxe5 Ng4, Black attacks e5 with the knight, ...Nc6 and often ...Qe7. White cannot hold it for long.
Pin with ...Bb4+
- The check on b4 develops with tempo and can leave White’s pieces tangled on d2.
Pressure on the e-file
- ...Qe7 and the knight on e5 aim at e4 and e2, which is where the ...Nd3 mate comes from.
Against d5, close and develop
- If White declines with d5, ...Bb4+ and ...c6 or ...d6 give Black a sound setup.
The main lines
Main line: 4.Nf3 Bc5
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Be2 Ncxe5
The bishop hits f2, ...Nc6 piles up on e5 and Black regains the pawn.
4.Bf4 Nc6
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nbd2 Qe7
White defends e5 with the bishop; ...Bb4+ and ...Qe7 add pressure.
4.e4 Nxe5
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4 Nxe5 5.f4 Nec6 6.Nc3 Bc5
White builds a big centre; the knights find active squares.
3.d5 Bb4+
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.d5 Bb4+ 4.Nd2 c6 5.a3 Bxd2+ 6.Qxd2 cxd5
White declines; Black trades the bishop and breaks with ...c6.
A trap to know
Short tactical shots that come out of these moves. More in the chess traps collection.
The ...Nd3 smothered mate
White grabs the bishop on b4 and walks into a knight check the pinned e-pawn cannot answer.
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
- 6.
- 7.
- 8.
Step through the line with the arrows.
0 / 16
Find the move
6 positions from the main lines, each with its idea. Your first try counts.
Position 1 of 6
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4
The ideaOffer the pawn.
Find the move for Black.
Common mistakes
Forgetting the queen on d8
After 3...Ng4, White can play e6 or Qd5 tricks. Know where the queen is needed.
Giving up the b4 bishop for nothing
Trade it on d2 or c3 when it damages White’s structure or wins time, not just to clarify.
Related openings
Frequently asked questions
How do I learn the Budapest Gambit?
Play it, one move at a time. The trainer on this page explains each Black move before you play it, then asks you to play the line from memory. Read the main lines and traps, test yourself in the quiz, then play it in your games. The Budapest Bandit teaches every line, with spaced review so the moves stay with you.
Is the Budapest Gambit sound?
It is playable at club level. Black usually regains the pawn, and the active pieces compensate for a slightly looser structure.
What is the trap in the Budapest Gambit?
After 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nbd2 Qe7 7.a3 Ngxe5, the greedy 8.axb4?? walks into 8...Nd3#: the e2 pawn is pinned and cannot take the knight.
How does White avoid the Budapest Gambit?
By playing 2.Nf3 instead of 2.c4. The course shows how Black meets that move order too.
Learn every line of the Budapest Gambit
The Budapest Bandit teaches it as a repertoire: 61 lines, a note on every move read aloud, and spaced review so the moves stay with you. The first line is free.
A free account also reviews your games and shows where you left the lines. Sign up