I have recently tried to look into the King's Gambit and its various lines, and find that it's a very fun opening, not necessarily unsound if you are well prepared and not a Super-GM.
I wish to make the King's Gambit a serious part of my repertoire. It helps me immensely with tactical ideas, which I am usually pretty weak on (only about 1700 on ChessTempo).
Where can I find resources on the theory for this opening? Do you think it is viable?
I used to play the Italian Game but eventually found that it was too bland for my style. I converted to the King's Gambit, and it can lead to some crazy positions that make interesting games. I have seen a few good YouTube videos and learned a few basic lines.
Take a look on C31: King's Gambit Declined, Falkbeer counter-gambit. Perhaps this will temper your enthusiasm :)
In the last TCEC Superfinal between Stockfish and Houdini, game 21 was a line of King's gambit (1.e4 e5, 2. f4 exf4, 3.Bc4 Qh4+, 4.Kf1). Stockfish was white and won. You can check that out, it's pretty interesting
Fun and dangerous for both sides. Take a look at some games by great players :
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1013666Adolf Anderson's Immortal Game had that 3. Bc4 line.
@Leon53 #3 : Spot on! I used to open with the KG constantly as White, and the Falkbeer was the reason I changed to the Ruy. And I now rub my hands with glee if I'm playing Black and I face 2.f5, especially against a berserker in a tournament!
Kings Indian for black is far riskier than kings gambit for white (David Bronstein).
Kings gambit is absolutely viable and sound, even at top level.
Look at the games of Bronstein, Spassky and Fischer as white.
@spreeathener#7 The Latvian Gambit? You're a great joker, sir :)
He probably means 2 f4 i.e. kings gambit.
I don't agree with the opinion that the Falkbeer counter gambit 1 e4 e5 2 f4 d5 is some sort of refutation.
Even Latvian 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 f5 is quite playable. Nimzovich thought is was playable. Many correspondence players play it. at top level it is rarely seen, but up to master level it is viable.