Answers.Body: <p>The best way is Fischer's way. he had a low opinion of it, and so he wrote an entire paper on it's neutralization. Here is the <a href="http://www.academicchess.org/images/pdf/chessgames/fischerbust.pdf" rel="nofollow">paper</a> and here is his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King&#39;s_Gambit,_Fischer_Defense" rel="nofollow">proposal</a></p>
  
  <pre><code>[Title "King's gambit bust!"]
  [StartPly "6"]
  [FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
  
   1. e4 e5
   2. f4 exf4
   3. Nf3 d6
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>What have we achieved here. </p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Our opponent is a pawn down</li>
  <li>Our bishop is freed, pointing at the somewhat weakened kingside. With the idea of Bg5 and other threats.</li>
  <li>The knight jump on e5 isn't a plan anymore</li>
  <li>Lots of ideas for black.</li>
  </ul>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-09-26T18:41:20.293Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-09-26T18:41:20.293Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: MikhailTal
Answers.Body: <p>I'm not an e5-player, but sometimes I play it when I know that someone is well-prepared against my usual defenses or in blitz games for fun. Here is what I'm using:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[Title "KG random side variation"]
  [StartPly "16"]
  [FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
  
   1. e4 e5
   2. f4 exf4
   3. Nf3 Ne7
   4. Bc4 d5
   5. exd5 Nxd5
   6. O-O Be7
   7. d4 Be6
   8. Qe2 O-O
  </code></pre>
  
  <p><code>3. Ne7</code> might be rated as suspicious but it's viable move to make. It's not widely played so there's a chance that your oponent won't know theory here at all. Those kinds of position are rather equals for human beings. Of course it's always a tiny tiny plus but it's nothing decisive.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-09-28T07:33:47.057Z
Answers.Text: The reason is I slightly prefer the B) line you mentioned over, for example, `5. Bb5` in your first variation. And also your A) line has much more theory than `5. Bc4`. Plus you know, moves like `3. ... - Ne7` might be surprising somehow :)
Answers.UserDisplayName: Pijotrek
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-09-27T10:54:51.250Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-09-27T10:54:51.250Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Pijotrek
Answers.Body: <p>If you're looking to “fight fire with fire”, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_Gambit#Falkbeer_Countergambit:_2...d5" rel="nofollow">Falkbeer Countergambit</a> may interest you.</p>
  
  <pre><code>[Title "Falkbeer Countergambit"]
  [StartPly "9"]
  [FEN ""]
  
  1. e4 e5 
  2. f4 d5!? 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>If you are interested in very sharp, attacking play, then you will enjoy this defense.  White must be very careful from the beginning because it is very easy to lose the game from a single misstep.</p>
  
  <pre><code>[Title "Falkbeer Countergambit"]
  [StartPly "9"]
  [FEN ""]
  
  1. e4 e5 
  2. f4 d5!? 
  3. fxe5?? Qh4+
  4. g3 Qxe4+
  </code></pre>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-11-13T09:31:58.457Z
Answers.Text: But I think that d3 will be a positional advantage for white in this play.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Akash Roy
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-09-28T13:42:20.830Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-09-28T13:42:20.830Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: sardoj
Answers.Body: <p>I've had success with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King&#39;s_Gambit#Cunningham_Defence:_3...Be7" rel="nofollow">Cunningham Defense</a> as it keeps White from castling: </p>
  
  <pre><code>[Title "Cunningham Defense"]
  [StartPly "9"]
  [FEN ""]
  
  1. e4 e5 
  2. f4 exf4 
  3. Nf3 Be7 
  4. Bc4 Bh4+
  5. Kf1
  </code></pre>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-09-28T03:19:42.680Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-09-28T03:41:51.957Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2014-09-28T03:41:51.957Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: swandog
Answers.Body: <p>If you are trying to <strong>neutralize</strong> your opponent's initiative in the King's gambit (rather than fighting for the advantage but accepting a high risk of losing), I suggest to play a quick d7-d5, which is usually enough to remove most of the danger:</p>
  
  <pre>
  <code>
      [FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
  
      1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 exf4
  
  </code>
  </pre>
  
  <p>Don't play the Falkbeer counter-gambit with 3... e4 if your goal is to neutralize ! 3... exf4 is much safer
  Interestingly it can transpose into the so-called Modern defense :
  1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d5</p>
  
  <p>And you can find the d7-d5 idea in the 3. Bc4 variation of the King's gambit:</p>
  
  <pre>
  <code>
      [FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
  
      1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 d5 4. Bxd5 Nf6
  
  </code>
  </pre>
  
  <p>With a very solid position as well.</p>
  
  <p>But it is true that the King's gambit is a very complex opening from a tactical standpoint and it is easy to get lost in the complications.
  Check my <a href="https://pawnbreak.com/getting-started-with-the-kings-gambit/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">overview on the King's gambit</a> if you are interested to learn more !</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-02-25T16:53:39.140Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-02-25T16:53:39.140Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Simon Louchart
Body: <p>The king's gambit has a lot of initiative and attack. Is there a good defense to neutralize this initiative?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-09-26T22:33:44.640Z
Comments.Text: If I recall correct, `1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5! 4.exd5 Bd6!` is played most often at the top level. This line doesn't refute the gambit but does give Black much easier game. The book on King's gambit form *John Shaw* is a must if you play `...e5`, in my humble opinion. Just search for it on Amazon and you will find it...
Comments.UserDisplayName: AlwaysLearningNewStuff
Tags: <opening><kings-gambit>
Title: What are some good defenses against the king's gambit?
ThreadText: # What are some good defenses against the king's gambit?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-26)
  
  The king's gambit has a lot of initiative and attack. Is there a good defense to neutralize this initiative?
  
  **Tags:** opening, kings-gambit
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: If I recall correct, `1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5! 4.exd5 Bd6!` is played most often at the top level. This line doesn't refute the gambit but does give Black much easier game. The book on King's gambit form *John Shaw* is a must if you play `...e5`, in my humble opinion. Just search for it on Amazon and you will find it...  
  
  ---
  
  ## 5 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2014-09-26. Score: 3
  
  The best way is Fischer's way. he had a low opinion of it, and so he wrote an entire paper on it's neutralization. Here is the paper and here is his proposal
  [Title "King's gambit bust!"]
  [StartPly "6"]
  [FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
  
   1. e4 e5
   2. f4 exf4
   3. Nf3 d6
  
  What have we achieved here. 
  
  Our opponent is a pawn down
  Our bishop is freed, pointing at the somewhat weakened kingside. With the idea of Bg5 and other threats.
  The knight jump on e5 isn't a plan anymore
  Lots of ideas for black.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2014-09-27. Score: 3
  
  I'm not an e5-player, but sometimes I play it when I know that someone is well-prepared against my usual defenses or in blitz games for fun. Here is what I'm using:
  [Title "KG random side variation"]
  [StartPly "16"]
  [FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
  
   1. e4 e5
   2. f4 exf4
   3. Nf3 Ne7
   4. Bc4 d5
   5. exd5 Nxd5
   6. O-O Be7
   7. d4 Be6
   8. Qe2 O-O
  
  3. Ne7 might be rated as suspicious but it's viable move to make. It's not widely played so there's a chance that your oponent won't know theory here at all. Those kinds of position are rather equals for human beings. Of course it's always a tiny tiny plus but it's nothing decisive.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: The reason is I slightly prefer the B) line you mentioned over, for example, `5. Bb5` in your first variation. And also your A) line has much more theory than `5. Bc4`. Plus you know, moves like `3. ... - Ne7` might be surprising somehow :)  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2014-09-28. Score: 2
  
  If you're looking to “fight fire with fire”, the Falkbeer Countergambit may interest you.
  [Title "Falkbeer Countergambit"]
  [StartPly "9"]
  [FEN ""]
  
  1. e4 e5 
  2. f4 d5!? 
  
  If you are interested in very sharp, attacking play, then you will enjoy this defense.  White must be very careful from the beginning because it is very easy to lose the game from a single misstep.
  [Title "Falkbeer Countergambit"]
  [StartPly "9"]
  [FEN ""]
  
  1. e4 e5 
  2. f4 d5!? 
  3. fxe5?? Qh4+
  4. g3 Qxe4+
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_5**: But I think that d3 will be a positional advantage for white in this play.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2014-09-28. Score: 2
  
  I've had success with the Cunningham Defense as it keeps White from castling: 
  [Title "Cunningham Defense"]
  [StartPly "9"]
  [FEN ""]
  
  1. e4 e5 
  2. f4 exf4 
  3. Nf3 Be7 
  4. Bc4 Bh4+
  5. Kf1
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2020-02-25. Score: 0
  
  If you are trying to neutralize your opponent's initiative in the King's gambit (rather than fighting for the advantage but accepting a high risk of losing), I suggest to play a quick d7-d5, which is usually enough to remove most of the danger:
  
  
      [FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
  
      1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 exf4
  
  
  
  Don't play the Falkbeer counter-gambit with 3... e4 if your goal is to neutralize ! 3... exf4 is much safer
  Interestingly it can transpose into the so-called Modern defense :
  1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d5
  And you can find the d7-d5 idea in the 3. Bc4 variation of the King's gambit:
  
  
      [FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
  
      1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 d5 4. Bxd5 Nf6
  
  
  
  With a very solid position as well.
  But it is true that the King's gambit is a very complex opening from a tactical standpoint and it is easy to get lost in the complications.
  Check my overview on the King's gambit if you are interested to learn more !
  
  
  ---
  
  