There have been no books on the King's Gambit for 10 years – but there are alternatives
Gallagher-Balashov, Switzerland 1991. White to play
DK None of the major chess publishers has produced a book on the King's Gambit in the last 10 years. Why not? I suspect computers have a lot to do with it. These days any serious author checks his opening analysis against computer software. Sacrificial lines that in the past one could fairly assess as giving "good practical chances for the piece" might be given a depressing numerical evaluation of "minus 2.3", along with a precise sequence leading to a winning position for Black. It is hard to keep faith with an opening when faced with cold reason.
The German GM Jan Gustafsson, in his recent DVD Black Repertoire Against 1 e4, Volume 2' (ChessBase 2011) typifies the modern professional's view of the opening: "Black should punish White for giving up a pawn on the second move and it's very hard for me to believe that White can get away with the King's Gambit". I take issue with this. True, for professionals the gambit has been relegated to a surprise weapon, but for anyone below it remains a legitimate choice: at club level don't expect your opening to be refuted, but do expect a complex struggle where anything can happen.
When we prepare we need inspiration, and only a seasoned practitioner can give us that. So I like Alexander Bangiev's CD The King's Gambit (ChessBase 2000). Based on his own experience he recommends specific lines, but if you want to do your own research you can delve into a database of more than 16,000 games.
But for a swashbuckling opening we need a rallying cry, and Joe Gallagher gives that in Winning With the King's Gambit (Batsford 1993), still the best book on the opening. Written unashamedly from White's viewpoint, Gallagher is strong enough to back his passion with reason and features many of his own spectacular games. Unfortunately the book is now out of print, though you can find expensively priced copies online.
In the diagram position Gallagher played the mind-blowing 1 Ne5 and after 1...Bxe5 2 Nf6+ won the queen on c4. chess@guardian.co.uk
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