Matemax wrote on 01/19/08 at 20:45:23:
Another question according to Moskalenkos book just come to mind:
Does Moskalenko think the Budapest is a drawing weapon or a winning attempt with Black?
Hard to say where Moskalenko falls exactly. At times he seems enthusiastic about Black's chances, at other times he is more reserved. I don't think he's prepared to contend that the BG should supplant the Slav in someone's repertoire, but I think he genuinely believes there is room for creativity and reasonable chances on a sometime basis. I haven't come across the phrase "drawing weapon" in relation to the BG -- I kind of get the impression that he thinks it's either going to be 1-0 or 0-1.
In the Introduction he writes: "Like many other players, I had been quite sceptical about the Budapest Gambit. But as I went on, I realized that my initial suspicions were just not justified. What's more, this gambit can surprise any player who is not sufficiently prepared, even at the highest level."
He notes that BG players likely belong to one of four categories:
A) youthful love of romatic chess
B) the surprise factor
c) the avoidance of theory
D) love of risks
Nothing about a solid opening offering definite chances when the tournament is on the line.
He includes some Megabase statistics that show big advantages for White in some lines. But he seems to offer playable alternatives for Black. He also notes that White's rating tends to be higher than Black's.
Unfortunately, White has a number of systems to choose from, so Black may never be able to count on a clear path to equality.