I'm trying to play Ulf Andersson style openings, but I'm wanting to play 1...e5 instead of 1...c5. However, this means that I have to face the King's Gambit, so which variation leads to the least interesting play?
You can decline the king's gambit with 2...Bc5, 2...d6, 2...Nc6. You can also accept the gambit 2...exf4 and either hang on to the pawn or give it back with ...d5. You can also play the counter gambit 2...d5. If you play 1...e5, then 2 f4 should be the least of your worries. It will not often happen and there are many ways to cope with it.
IMO 2...Nc6 (the most principled) or 2...d6 (the Fischer defense, though the full line is hardly quiet) are going to be your slowest options. That being said, your opponent is trying to achieve active play; they're not all that likely to let things go quietly if they can help it.
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.ed5 ef4 and White‘s fun is over. Dead as a dodo.
(Sure, one can lose. But you can even lose a Queen up.)
(Sure, one can lose. But you can even lose a Queen up.)
And don't forget that if 3.fe5 then after Qh4 white's in a huge amount of trouble. You won't necessarily see it often, but if white isn't used to the Falkbeer then they might not see it. So it helps to be aware that 3.fe5 is a huge blunder by white and know the idea to knock it out of the park.
d5 is the start of the Falkbeer. If you get any book on the KG they'll refer to d5 as the Falkbeer. It's not crazy to call it that, even though you're right that it's not the proper countergambit until e5.
I find the Falkbeer to be wild......
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