Chess Openings Lab
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Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit

The Blackburne-Kostić Gambit is 3...Nd4 in the Italian Game, moving the knight a second time to set a trap on e5. White should simply take the knight with Nxd4 and develop, while Black hopes for a greedy capture on e5 that walks into ...Qg5.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4
ECO
C50
Engine
+1.23 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
7,677 games in our lichess sample
White scores
48.0%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 4.Nxd4 exd4 is the engine's top choice; castle, play Re1 and c3, and the e4 pawn plus a lead in development tell.
  • Do not take on e5: after Nxe5? Qg5, Black hits both the e5 knight and g2, and Nxf7 runs into a quick mate.
  • Castling first is also good; after ...Nxf3+ Qxf3 White's queen joins the pressure on f7.

Black

  • After 4.Nxd4 exd4, play ...c6 and ...d5 to blunt the c4 bishop and challenge e4.
  • If White grabs e5 with the knight, ...Qg5 is the point: it attacks the knight and the g2 pawn together.
  • Against careful play, trade on f3 with ...Nxf3+ and finish development; you are only somewhat worse.

Plans and pawn structure

Against best play Black has lost time, since the knight moved twice and is traded off. After Nxd4 exd4, White castles, puts a rook on e1 and plays c3 to break up the d4 pawn, with open lines toward Black's uncastled king. Black needs ...c6, ...d6, ...Be7 and short castling before anything else. The whole value of 3...Nd4 is the trap: one careless capture on e5 loses the game.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +1.23: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +1.23 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.O-O c6 6.Re1 d6
  2. +1.01 4.O-O Nxf3+ 5.Qxf3 Qf6 6.Qg3 d6
  3. +0.74 4.Nc3 c6 5.O-O Nxf3+ 6.Qxf3 Nf6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

7,677 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 48.0%.

under 120046.3%
1200–159947.0%
1600–199950.5%
2000 and up50.0%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Traps and pitfalls

Blackburne Shilling Gambit trap (Black sets it)

Black leaves e5 hanging with 3...Nd4 and answers 4.Nxe5 with 4...Qg5, attacking the knight and g2. If White grabs f7 with 5.Nxf7, the queen wins the h1 rook and the game ends with a smothered knight mate on f3.

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The Blackburne Shilling Gambit trap explained

How to play against it

As White, take the knight with 4.Nxd4 and after ...exd4 castle and play Re1 and c3. Never answer 3...Nd4 with Nxe5: ...Qg5 forks the knight and g2, and taking on f7 runs into a mating attack against your king. Calm development leaves Black simply worse.

Questions

What are the moves of the Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit?

The Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4. Its ECO code is C50.

Is the Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +1.23 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 7,677 lichess games from our sample, White scored 48.0%. A trappy, dubious gambit that wins quick games against greedy players but leaves Black worse against plain development.

What is the main idea of the Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit?

Black gives up time to set a trap: if White takes on e5, ...Qg5 hits the knight and g2 with a crushing attack. Against the simple Nxd4, Black is left a bit behind in development.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nxd4, with O-O and Nc3 close behind. 4.Nxd4 removes the knight at once, and after ...exd4 White castles with a clear lead in development.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.