Budapest Gambit (Macmillan Library of Chess)

Rating:
Summary: A fun little book
Review: I recommend that anyone looking to have some mischievous fun at chess should take up the the Budapest as an occasional surprise weapon. I found this book at a used book store for $5 a few years back and my investment has been paid back a 100-fold. The Budapest is great for quick kills versus weaker or similar strength players. A gross example: White N.N. (1600) - Me (2000), 1998; 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. d5 Bc5 4. Bg5?? Ne4! and white resigned after a few more moves and I was soon relaxing at Hardees while my competition was grinding out four-hour games. Of course 5. Bxd8 loses instantly to ...Bxf2#. Boryk's book is much more easily absorbed than Tseitlin & Glaskov's, Budapest for the Tournament Player, with its head-spinning variations and transpositions. Instead, Boryk offers numerous games with ideas and strategies for Black. Nevermind that this opening is not popular with the GM set where they have everything memorized out to 20-25 moves. This is a great opening for chess improvisors and tacticians out here in sub-master land that like to mix it up. If you can get this book at a bargain price -- pick it up!