Andrew Martin: The Budapest Gambit

ChessBase Fritztrainer Eröffnung, Englisch, ISBN: 978-3-86681-128-7, 2009.

Niveau: Fortgeschritten, Turnierspieler

Most chess players are naturally talented, but do not have the time to devote to chess theory, such is the pace of modern life. Yet it is human nature to want to do things well and to achieve good results. To make the right choice of opening system is therefore of crucial importance for these players if they want to make the most of what they have. Below master level and especially with Black, the most crucial thing is to strive for the initiative. It is absolutely no good trying to gradually equalize. Leave that to Karpov, Kramnik and the world championship matches, where we can admire the defensive technique from afar. Try this style at club level and one ends up exhausted and frustrated. Pressurizing the opponent means getting on to the attack and this is where the fiery Budapest Gambit comes into play. After 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e5 Black immediately takes the fight to White at the cost of a pawn. Active piece play is the predominant theme. Tactics abound. White can lose in a few moves if he or she does not know what they are doing. A life and death struggle is rarely what the White player wants at such an early stage of the game. At the very least the position will be laced with interest. Study of the Budapest Gambit will place an extremely dangerous weapon into the hands of the club player. (Video running time: 4 hours 20 min.)

Andrew Martin, geboren 1957, ist ein englischer Schachspieler mit dem Titel eines Internationalen Meisters. Martin ist Sieger verschiedener internationaler und nationaler Turniere. Er spielt seit Jahren in der Four Nations Chess League, aktuell (Stand: Juli 2009) für Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher, zuvor für den Chamberley Chess Club. Seinen Titel als Internationaler Meister erhielt Martin im Jahre 1984. Seine erste Großmeister-Norm konnte er bei der Britischen Meisterschaft in Brighton im Jahre 1997 erkämpfen. Martin war Kommentator der Schachweltmeisterschaft zwischen Kasparow und Kramnik im Jahre 2000.