Our Price: € 22.50

Publisher: New In Chess, 2007
Edition: Paperback medium
ISBN: 978-90-5691-224-6
Pages: 230
Language: English

“The Budapest Gambit can surprise any player, even at the highest level.”

The Budapest Gambit is popular with club and internet chess players all over the world, and it is easy to see why. It has surprise value, it’s not hard to learn, and it leads to sharp and dynamic play from the very start of the game. But what about its strategic value?

Grandmasters tend to be sceptical about gambits like this. However, when Viktor Moskalenko started playing the Budapest, its all-round appeal struck him, and since then he has won many games with it in countless tournaments.

This book contains quite a few of Moskalenko’s own games, as well as games by other star players from the past and the present. They illustrate perfectly the dynamic character of this gambit as well as its solid strategic foundations.

The Fabulous Budapest Gambit does not shower you with long computer-generated variations, but provides crystal-clear insights into the wide spectrum of this opening, explaining the plans for both White and Black. Moskalenko’s lively style will infect you and encourage you to start playing this opening which is a great weapon at any level, from club player to grandmaster.

Viktor Moskalenko (1960) is an International Grandmaster born in the Ukraine, who has been living in Spain since 2000. He is a successful author and a well-known chess coach who has worked with Vasily Ivanchuk. The former Ukrainian champion remains a very active player and has won many tournaments in his new home country.

GM Glenn Flear, Yearbook:
"This charming book could change the fortunes of the Budapest (...) The liberal addition of summaries throughout enables the reader to understand the significance of each line."

Freechess.de:
"I must confess that I haven't seen this quality in an opening book in a very long time; the Ukrainian Grandmaster did a really outstanding job. He has found the right mixture and adresses experienced players who have been playing the gambit for a long time, as well as novices."

Johan Hut, Schakers.info:
"It contains about as much information as the other five books on this opening I own, combined. This 'Budapest-Bible' shows enthusiastic Black players both the opportunities and the dangers."

British Chess Magazine:
"The Budapest Gambit has always been popular as a surprise weapon for Black at club (and now internet) level. You may not see it at Linares or Wijk aan Zee but lesser grandmasters are not averse to its charms. This is the first major work on the opening for some time and of considerable interest."

Paul Motwani, The Scotsman:
"In his fascinating book, Moskalenko provides clear analysis and explanations to lots of exciting games designed to arm the reader with more than ample ammunition."

Chess Horizons:
"Many authors could take a page from Moskalenko's book and incorporate the same thoroughly descriptive style. Great stuff."

Bill McGeary, ChessVille:
"GM Moskalenko has done an outstanding job in preparation, research and writing to develop a book that would be magnificent if it were only a collection of games. With the insight and analysis of the lines in the opening, I find this to be a model of an opening book."

Excerpts from the interview by Edwin Lam with GM Viktor Moskalenko on ChessBase.com, December 15 2007:

"Edwin Lam: What is your current competitive chess score with the Budapest Gambit as Black?

Viktor Moskalenko: My personal BG statistics in 2007 are: from a total of 11 games played, I scored 3 wins with 8 draws, which translates into a performance of 2577 (some of these games can be seen in the book).

Edwin Lam: Any advice to chess coaches who would want to use the Budapest Gambit with their students?

Viktor Moskalenko: In the first place it is necessary to learn that the Budapest Gambit is much more than just a surprise weapon or a ‘romantic’ opening. Nor is it a simple attacking weapon or a system with which you can ‘cheat’ your opponent. I have discovered that each main line of this opening contains elements of the modern game and there is enough room for improvisation. See for example Shakhriyar Mamedyarov’s fascinating games with the Budapest Gambit. I am sure that even players like Aronian and Svidler could include the ‘BG’ in their repertoire."