simpletailor [he/him]

I’m all little out of mainstream chess at the moment, but my impression was that King’s Gambit is not popular anymore. In no particular order, I’ve found these openings popular in tournament play: French defence, Sicilian, Scandinavian, caro kann, Pirc defence, Queen’s Gambit (both accepted and declined), Ruy Lopez.

Online chess streamers have also popularized dubious play and trap-setting, so those are scenarios you might want to mentally prepare for.

If it’s a in-person tournament, don’t ignore the psychological factors. If it’s a different time control than you’re used to playing, play that time control.

Best of luck!

Cf. Newton, Revolutionary Suicide

George Carlin had a bit about how republicans want women to raise live babies to become dead soldiers. Now that warfare is all drones, they’re cutting out the “let them live to fighting age” step