I have recently started looking to add the Budapest Gambit to my repertoire. I have found that one of the best ways to learn an opening is to find one or more masters who play the opening on ICC, and then play through a lot of their games. I have played through mabye 50-60 games over the last several days, and the problem I am having with the Budapest is that while several tactical themes stand out, there seem to be very few positive, strategic ideas for Black.
Compare to, for example, the Black side of the Benko Gambit: Black's play is usually on the Qside. He plays for pressure on the a- and b-files. He usually must prevent the liberating f4 and e5 maneuvers by white. If Black can neutralize White's Nc3 by either exchanging it or driving it off with ...b4, he often stands better. If Black can regain his gambit pawn, then the endgame with the Benko pawn structure should favor Black. Black has concrete objectives he can aim for.
Also compare to the White side of the Smith-Morra Gambit. White sacs a pawn for a lead in development. In the main lines he gets pressure against Black's d-pawn, or perhaps a strong square at d5 for his pieces. White has concrete objectives he can aim for.
You can almost guide your entire game base on long-term strategic goals like these.
In contrast, I cannot determine any long-term, strategic objectives for Black in the Budapest. I can't see any positional advantage, and I can't see any devlepment advantage (Black can harldly hope for such). Besides the cheap tactic against White's f2 square, what is there? I find the lack of concrete ideas very strange because so many legendary players have played the Budapest at one time or another. Even in their games, I cannot find any consistent plan. I understand the concept of "active piece play," but I think there are other Black openings that achieve this with less risk. Maybe I am overlooking something. If anyone could describe to me some thematic, long-term goals for Black, I would appreciate it.
By the way, here are some of the thematic ideas I have uncovered so far. As mentioned above, they are more tactical then strategic. Comments welcome.
- Black should always regain the pawn on e5 with ...Ngxe5 -- unless he should regain it with ...Ncxe5.

- One White idea is to develop the KN via Nh3, which adds support to the f2 square, and later improve its position with Nf4. Black usually meets this idea with ...Ng6 to keep White's KN out of play on h3. For example: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.de Ng4 4.e3 Nxe5 5.Nh3 Ng6
- One question Black must always face is What is the best square for his KB, c5 or b4? ...Bc5 puts pressure on the f2 square, but it can be exposed to tactics here, especially White's Qh5. For example: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.de Ng4 4.e4 Nxe5 5.f4 Ng6 6.Nc3 Bc5 7.h4 Nxh4 8.Qh5 Bxg1 9.Ng6
or
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.de Ng4 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Nc3 Ngxe5 7.Nxe5 Nxe5 8.f4 Nc6 9.Bd3 0-0 10.Bxh7+ Kxh7 11.Qh5+
- An early f4 move by White may create tactical possibilites for Black based on ...Qh4+
- If White plays a3, then ...a5 is almost automatic.
- I have seen Black try to ram his a-pawn down White's throat, as in: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.de Ng4 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nbd2 Qe7 7.e3 Nge5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.Be2 a5 10.0-0 0-0 11.Nb1 a4, and eventually ...a3.
- A common idea for Black is ...a5, ...b6, and ...Bb7. This keeps some of White's Qside ambitions at bay, and by fianchettoing his QB instead of moving his d-pawn, it keeps d6 available for Black's KB in case it gets pushed aroundd. The B looks kind of strange on d6 with Black's d-pawn is still on its home square, but can be effective.
Another by-product of Black's ...a5 move is that the development of the QR via ...Ra6-Rh6 is possible.