Budapest Defense

Why the Budapest Defense is worth training

The Budapest Defense starts with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5. Black offers the e-pawn on move two, and after 3.dxe5 Ng4 the knight goes straight after it. Black usually wins the pawn back, but the real point is fast development and pressure on White's dark squares before White settles into a normal Queen's Gambit.

Chessmate has a Budapest Defense course for White and a Budapest Defense course for Black. The White course defends e5 with 4.Bf4 and also handles the Fajarowicz with 3...Ne4. The Black course plays 3...Ng4 and has an answer to every main fourth move.

The 4.Bf4 main line in the White sample line

4.Bf4 defends the extra pawn and develops outside the pawn chain. In the White sample line, Black plays 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 Bb4+, and White blocks with 6.Nbd2 so the c-pawns stay healthy. After 6...Qe7 7.e3 Ngxe5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5, Black has the pawn back, but White is ready to castle with the bishop pair in reach.

After 9.Be2 O-O 10.O-O Bxd2 11.Qxd2 d6, White recaptures with the queen and keeps both bishops. 12.b4 gains queenside space, and 13.c5 hits d6. Following 13...Bb7 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.Rfd1, the rook faces an isolated d-pawn.

The course also covers 4...g5, 4...Bb4+ with the ...Qxb2 raid, 6...f6 with the same queen grab, and 5...Bc5. In each line White gives back a pawn only when that buys time for development.

The Fajarowicz and the 5...Bf5 trap

In the Fajarowicz, Black plays 3...Ne4 instead of 3...Ng4. The White course answers with 4.a3, which stops ...Bb4+ before it starts. Against 4...d6 5.Qc2, the queen attacks the knight on e4 before Black can support it.

5...Bf5 looks like a natural way to protect the knight, but 6.Nc3 adds another attacker. After 6...Nxf2 7.Qxf5 Nxh1, Black has a rook, yet the knight on h1 is trapped. White keeps it boxed in with 8.Nf3, trades queens, and collects the knight later with a clear material edge. The course also covers 4...b6 and punishes the loosening ...g5.

The Black sample line: the Adler with ...Bc5 and ...Re8

The Black course meets the Adler Variation with 4.Nf3 Bc5, which develops and points at f2. After 5.e3 Nc6 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Be2 Re8, three Black pieces are aiming at e5. White retreats with 8.Nd2 to hold the pawn, and 8...Ngxe5 wins it back.

After 9.Nde4 Bf8 10.b3 d6 11.Bb2 Qh4, the bishop on f8 still guards the king and the queen has joined the kingside. Black follows with ...Be6, ...f5, and ...Rac8, and after 15.f4 Ng4 16.Bxg4 Qxg4 the queen stays active with equal material.

Answers to 4.Bf4, 4.e4, 4.Qd4, and the declined lines

Against 4.Bf4, Black develops with 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 Bb4+. After 6.Nbd2 Qe7, Black recaptures on e5 and gives up the bishop with ...Bxd2+. After 6.Nc3, the course covers both 6...Qe7 and the immediate 6...Bxc3+. Against the Alekhine Variation with 4.e4 Nxe5 5.f4, Black chooses between 5...Ng6 and 5...Nec6. Against 4.e3, Black takes back on e5 and fianchettoes with ...g6.

4.Qd4 grabs too much. After 4...d6 5.exd6 Bxd6 6.Bd2 O-O 7.h3 Nc6 8.Qe4 Re8 9.Qc2, Black plays 9...Nxf2. Following 10.Nc3 Nd4 11.Qa4 Nd3+, the e2-pawn is pinned to the king and 12.Kd1 is forced. Then 12...Nxb2+ wins White's queen.

When White declines, the course has a plan too. Against 3.d5, the bishop goes to c5 and Black attacks on the kingside. Against 3.Nf3, Black pushes 3...e4. Against 3.e3, Black trades with 3...exd4 and checks on b4.

What to train first

Pick the course that matches the side you play.

• If you meet the Budapest with White, start with the Budapest Defense course for White. Learn the 4.Bf4 sample line, then the Fajarowicz and the 5...Bf5 trap.
• If you play the Budapest with Black, start with the Budapest Defense course for Black. Learn the Adler sample line, then the answers to 4.Bf4 and the 4.Qd4 trap.
• With either color, count the attackers on e5. Most of the early play is about whether Black wins that pawn back quickly.

The Budapest rewards fast, accurate development. Train the lines until you know when Black has won back the pawn and when White can give it up for time.