Answers.Body: <p>The Evans Gambit is probably one of the most sound. It's still occasionally played at GM level and most of the critical lines are rarely if ever tested.</p>
  <p>The Vienna Gambit and Blackmar–Diemer are probably playable. The Scotch gambit is playable although I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a forced draw.</p>
  <p>With black the Benko is probably sound and the Budapest is playable. Black has fewer sound gambit options since black starts out a half tempo down. Giving up a pawn for a move just gives you an equal position but you're down a pawn.</p>
  <p>I'll add though that virtually any opening is playable below 2000 level and certainly in rapid or blitz. In fact, you could probably get to around 2300 with any normal openings.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2022-04-15T17:16:01.140Z
Answers.Text: This is spot on (+1).
Answers.UserDisplayName: SecretAgentMan
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Savage47
Answers.Body: <p>Two sound gambits for Black:</p>
  <p>The Marshall Attack in the Spanish:</p>
  <pre><code>[fen &quot;&quot;]
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3
  </code></pre>
  <p>This is the main line. Be aware that you need to know lots of theory to play this opening, as most lines are analysed well into endgames and play is concrete enough to grant an advantage to the one who knows more. Also White can avoid it and play Anti-Marshall lines.</p>
  <p>Another gambit for Black stems from the Ng5 Italian</p>
  <pre><code>[fen &quot;&quot;]
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2 (8. Bd3 Nd5) h6 9. Nf3 (9. Nh3) e4 10. Ne5 Bd6
  </code></pre>
  <p>Where Black gives a pawn and accepts an inferior pawn structure for a lead in development and a strong initiative. I have to admit I did not believe this can be sound, especially given how chaotic Black's position is, but then I looked at theory and was very amazed how much Black gets and how little the structure matters in what is to come. Both sides need to know what they are doing or the game will be decided very fast.</p>
  
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Answers.UserDisplayName: B.Swan
Answers.Body: <p>Many answers have already shown good examples, but I'd say that if you're looking for a sharp opening, you don't necessarily have to look for a gambit. In many occasions your opponent could refuse the gambit, or maybe give back the material and get a quieter position.</p>
  <p>For example, as Black, you'll probably reach sharper positions by playing the Dragon Sicilian against e4 and the Benoni or Grünfeld against d4 than by playing gambits.</p>
  
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Answers.UserDisplayName: David
Answers.Body: <p>The Evans gambit is mostly sound. Kasparov played it. As someone who's played it for decades, I think black is  probably equal if he plays perfectly but black needs to play perfectly to reach those positions.</p>
  
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Answers.Text: Seems duplicative given [this answer](https://chess.stackexchange.com/a/32256/26335) from what appears to be the same user.
Answers.UserDisplayName: SecretAgentMan
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Savage47
Answers.Body: <p>I wouldn't recommend a gambit unless you are really dedicated to learning the lines, otherwise, any person, with at least some knowledge, will deconstruct you very easily.</p>
  <p>I recommend the Queen's Gambit for white. Technically it's not a Gambit, however, it's still played very much at the GM level, and even at the low-level tiers, it's very powerful, as there are a couple of nasty traps you can learn.</p>
  <p>FOr Black, I would recommend the Sicilian Opening. I know its not a Gambit, but the Hyper-Accelerated Dragon is a very lethal weapon in the hands of an experienced player, and it is very aggressive, leading to very open positions, and often relying upon lethal forks and pins to shut down whites chances early</p>
  
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Answers.Text: Terrible advice.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Savage47
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Answers.UserDisplayName: BambooBlackjack975
Answers.Body: <p>You can have 'gambit', you can have 'sound', but you can't have both.... the Benko is the closest you're going to get. Take heart in the fact that gambits are perfectly OK in practice, if unsound in theory.</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2020-09-12T22:26:18.360Z
Answers.Text: Yes, because once people realise it is sound, they call it an "attack" and not a "gambit". See the Marshall "Attack" of the Spanish
Answers.UserDisplayName: B.Swan
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Answers.UserDisplayName: friscodelrosario
Body: <p>I have played chess seriously for a little over a year and my style is an aggressive one. I started off playing really dubious gambits (at least in my opinion) like the King's Gambit and the Latvian Gambit, immediately looking to give away material for active play right from the opening. I have since toned down my aggressiveness, preferring much more quiet openings like the Ruy Lopez and the Pirc. I really want to re-ignite my gambit play and I need some suggestions on sound gambits I could go for and why.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2020-09-12T21:51:24.750Z
Comments.Text: Why do you want them to be gambits? If you want to play aggressive, just do so without worrying about it being a gambit. For example, as white you can play open Sicilian, and white has plenty of opportunity to be aggressive without playing a gambit, even though there a gambits that are fully sound (poisoned pawn, Perenyi Gambit), that you can play if the opportunity arises.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Akavall
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2020-09-12T22:03:56.230Z
Comments.Text: The Pirc is far from a quiet opening, dude.
Comments.UserDisplayName: friscodelrosario
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Comments.CreationDate: 2020-09-12T22:27:59.380Z
Comments.Text: The Marshall Attack of the Spanish game (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
  5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5) is a strong contender for the soundest gambit there can be, as it is one of the most heavily analysed openings in chess.
Comments.UserDisplayName: B.Swan
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Comments.CreationDate: 2020-09-12T22:33:24.367Z
Comments.Text: Also you might want to reconsider your judgement towards the King's Gambit and give John Shaw's book on it a read, I was surprised how sound the gambit actually is. When looking the lines from Shaw's book, I saw that GM Huschenbeth employs them very often with success. There even is a very strong player who plays it in correspondence chess, Darrel Nightingale. Example game: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1957103
Comments.UserDisplayName: B.Swan
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Comments.CreationDate: 2020-09-13T01:09:28.140Z
Comments.Text: @B.Swan, thanks. I'll definetly check out that book you shared.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Godana Emiru
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Comments.CreationDate: 2020-09-13T01:10:56.853Z
Comments.Text: @friscodelrosario... On second thought, i agree with you. the pirc isn't quiet in many lines.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Godana Emiru
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Comments.CreationDate: 2020-09-13T01:14:33.177Z
Comments.Text: @Akavall. Have you heard of the Urusov gambit? If yes, what is your opinion on it, would you consider it sharp?
Comments.UserDisplayName: Godana Emiru
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Comments.CreationDate: 2020-09-13T01:21:06.220Z
Comments.Text: @GodanaEmiru, I have heard or Urusov gambit, but I have never played it myself. My very limited understanding of it is: It is quite good for white at least from practical point of view; however, it is really easy for black to side step it, which what black does most of the time.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Akavall
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Comments.CreationDate: 2020-09-13T01:28:27.897Z
Comments.Text: I know you asked for a sound gambit, and Nakhmanson is not really, but it was getting a good bit of hype recently, so I just wanted to throw it out there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdXzaUZAPGE. Especially, since you are considering Urusov, if white side-steps Urusov, you can play the Nakhmanson. It is enough to beat Carlsen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnF0j58XIjw, ... in bullet.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Akavall
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Comments.CreationDate: 2020-09-13T08:03:27.967Z
Comments.Text: @Akavall..  Many thanks.  I checked out the Nakhamanson..  It is just what I was looking for 
Comments.UserDisplayName: Godana Emiru
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2020-09-13T10:11:59.607Z
Comments.Text: You might be interested in some of the gambits listed [here](https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/24922/are-there-any-gambits-which-yield-an-advantage-for-the-side-down-material).
Comments.UserDisplayName: Allure
Tags: <opening><learning><gambits>
Title: What is the most sound, yet still sharp, gambit?
ThreadText: # What is the most sound, yet still sharp, gambit?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2020-09-12)
  
  I have played chess seriously for a little over a year and my style is an aggressive one. I started off playing really dubious gambits (at least in my opinion) like the King's Gambit and the Latvian Gambit, immediately looking to give away material for active play right from the opening. I have since toned down my aggressiveness, preferring much more quiet openings like the Ruy Lopez and the Pirc. I really want to re-ignite my gambit play and I need some suggestions on sound gambits I could go for and why.
  
  **Tags:** opening, learning, gambits
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Why do you want them to be gambits? If you want to play aggressive, just do so without worrying about it being a gambit. For example, as white you can play open Sicilian, and white has plenty of opportunity to be aggressive without playing a gambit, even though there a gambits that are fully sound (poisoned pawn, Perenyi Gambit), that you can play if the opportunity arises.  
  > **username_2**: The Pirc is far from a quiet opening, dude.  
  > **username_3**: The Marshall Attack of the Spanish game (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5) is a strong contender for the soundest gambit there can be, as it is one of the most heavily analysed openings in chess.  
  > **username_3**: Also you might want to reconsider your judgement towards the King's Gambit and give John Shaw's book on it a read, I was surprised how sound the gambit actually is. When looking the lines from Shaw's book, I saw that GM Huschenbeth employs them very often with success. There even is a very strong player who plays it in correspondence chess, Darrel Nightingale. Example game: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1957103  
  > **username_0**: @username_3, thanks. I'll definetly check out that book you shared.  
  > **username_0**: @username_2... On second thought, i agree with you. the pirc isn't quiet in many lines.  
  > **username_0**: @username_1. Have you heard of the Urusov gambit? If yes, what is your opinion on it, would you consider it sharp?  
  > **username_1**: @username_0, I have heard or Urusov gambit, but I have never played it myself. My very limited understanding of it is: It is quite good for white at least from practical point of view; however, it is really easy for black to side step it, which what black does most of the time.  
  > **username_1**: I know you asked for a sound gambit, and Nakhmanson is not really, but it was getting a good bit of hype recently, so I just wanted to throw it out there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdXzaUZAPGE. Especially, since you are considering Urusov, if white side-steps Urusov, you can play the Nakhmanson. It is enough to beat Carlsen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnF0j58XIjw, ... in bullet.  
  > **username_0**: @username_1..  Many thanks.  I checked out the Nakhamanson..  It is just what I was looking for   
  > **username_4**: You might be interested in some of the gambits listed [here](https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/24922/are-there-any-gambits-which-yield-an-advantage-for-the-side-down-material).  
  
  ---
  
  ## 6 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2020-09-13. Score: 10
  
  The Evans Gambit is probably one of the most sound. It's still occasionally played at GM level and most of the critical lines are rarely if ever tested.
  
  The Vienna Gambit and Blackmar–Diemer are probably playable. The Scotch gambit is playable although I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a forced draw.
  
  With black the Benko is probably sound and the Budapest is playable. Black has fewer sound gambit options since black starts out a half tempo down. Giving up a pawn for a move just gives you an equal position but you're down a pawn.
  
  I'll add though that virtually any opening is playable below 2000 level and certainly in rapid or blitz. In fact, you could probably get to around 2300 with any normal openings.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_6**: This is spot on (+1).  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2020-09-14. Score: 8
  
  Two sound gambits for Black:
  
  The Marshall Attack in the Spanish:
  
  ```
  [fen ""]
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3
  
  ```
  
  This is the main line. Be aware that you need to know lots of theory to play this opening, as most lines are analysed well into endgames and play is concrete enough to grant an advantage to the one who knows more. Also White can avoid it and play Anti-Marshall lines.
  
  Another gambit for Black stems from the Ng5 Italian
  
  ```
  [fen ""]
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2 (8. Bd3 Nd5) h6 9. Nf3 (9. Nh3) e4 10. Ne5 Bd6
  
  ```
  
  Where Black gives a pawn and accepts an inferior pawn structure for a lead in development and a strong initiative. I have to admit I did not believe this can be sound, especially given how chaotic Black's position is, but then I looked at theory and was very amazed how much Black gets and how little the structure matters in what is to come. Both sides need to know what they are doing or the game will be decided very fast.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2020-09-14. Score: 2
  
  Many answers have already shown good examples, but I'd say that if you're looking for a sharp opening, you don't necessarily have to look for a gambit. In many occasions your opponent could refuse the gambit, or maybe give back the material and get a quieter position.
  
  For example, as Black, you'll probably reach sharper positions by playing the Dragon Sicilian against e4 and the Benoni or Grünfeld against d4 than by playing gambits.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2022-03-25. Score: 0
  
  The Evans gambit is mostly sound. Kasparov played it. As someone who's played it for decades, I think black is probably equal if he plays perfectly but black needs to play perfectly to reach those positions.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_6**: Seems duplicative given [this answer](https://chess.stackexchange.com/a/32256/26335) from what appears to be the same user.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_8 on 2020-09-14. Score: 0
  
  I wouldn't recommend a gambit unless you are really dedicated to learning the lines, otherwise, any person, with at least some knowledge, will deconstruct you very easily.
  
  I recommend the Queen's Gambit for white. Technically it's not a Gambit, however, it's still played very much at the GM level, and even at the low-level tiers, it's very powerful, as there are a couple of nasty traps you can learn.
  
  FOr Black, I would recommend the Sicilian Opening. I know its not a Gambit, but the Hyper-Accelerated Dragon is a very lethal weapon in the hands of an experienced player, and it is very aggressive, leading to very open positions, and often relying upon lethal forks and pins to shut down whites chances early
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_5**: Terrible advice.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2020-09-12. Score: -6
  
  You can have 'gambit', you can have 'sound', but you can't have both.... the Benko is the closest you're going to get. Take heart in the fact that gambits are perfectly OK in practice, if unsound in theory.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: Yes, because once people realise it is sound, they call it an "attack" and not a "gambit". See the Marshall "Attack" of the Spanish  
  
  ---
  
  