General principles against a gambit:
1. Accept it.
2. Don't try to hold on to the pawn.
Of course, there are always exceptions, depending on your opponent's play. And there are some gambits that you can't decline, like the Cochrane.
When we say don't hold on to the pawn, does that mean forget about any attempt to make the opponent's effort in regaining it harder even if just a little bit?
Originally posted by Papyn Chase When we say don't hold on to the pawn, does that mean forget about any attempt to make the opponent's effort in regaining it harder even if just a little bit?
It means give it back when the time is right for you and when you choose to. This is the difficult part of gambit play.