King's gambit help!

If you like the Falkbeer Counter-Gambit (2...d5), you can try that. A lot of people tend to like using the Fischer Defense though (3...d6). Luckily, you probably won't see the KG too often, but one thing you should probably do is slow down when you see the KG (both online and OTB). Take the time to analyze the position and keep an eye out for tactics (for you AND against you). Being a KG player, I've noticed that most games really pretty much come down to whoever plays aggressively and takes advantage of tactics (sometimes, my opponents were so caught up in my attack that they missed a decisive tactic).

The Modern Defence is a fairly safe way to combat the King's Gambit:

You won't be overrun in the opening too often playing the Modern Defence.

Yes, the Modern Variation is the reason the King's Gambit isn't too popular anymore.

Yes, I struggle against it (specifically the Abbiaza Defence), my record here W0 D2 L1. Here's the best draw, in which I save myself (after a tactical oversight) with some endgame play that gladdened my heart:

I think 5.Bb5+ is the main line, 5.c4 is given a ? in my opening book.

great endgame defense at the end there Prawn!!

That's the Cunningham Defence, which is okay if you play 4. Bc4 Nf6 instead of 4. Bc4 Bh4+. The spite check gets Black's pieces in a proper tangle, the Bishop on h4 being a liability and hindering the natural development of Black's King-side Knight.

"great endgame defense at the end there Prawn!!"

Thanks, I had the endgame calculated as a draw after the exchange of Rooks. Normally, the side a pawn short wants to keep the Rooks on but the opposition and my opponent being left with a Rook pawn proved sufficient, on this occasion.

I don't play 1... e5, but as a KGer with white, I hate seeing 2... d6 just declining it.  Takes all the fun out of it, and it becomes a lot more positional.

yeah, it was a textbook defensive find :)

There's two main replies:

5. Bb5+ for those that want to try for more advantage

5. Bc4 a more positional try, often exchanging the (later) d5 Knight for the Bishop.

but 5. c4 is also okay, certainly not a "?". Take a look in some databases, it's played fairly often.

I'd played the fellah a number of times and tried to vary on each occasion (no luck with previous tries). I've also played 5. c4 once OTB (@ 40 moves in 2 hours each) and won handily.

Good for you. Anyway, Prawn, would you want to play me in an unrated match you are white and playing the king's  gambit? I need practice against it.

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I'll send you the challenge

True, it's been played 60 times in the Game Explorer. However, here are John Watson's comments on the line: "5.c4?! leads to typical developmental and positional problems after 5...c6! 6.dxc6 Nxc6. We see this sort of position in several openings. With Black's development and control of d4, he must be better."

Ah yes, Watson's comments are true but "?!" (dubious move) is rather different to "?" (mistake).

Sorry, bad memory.