Chess Openings Lab
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King's Gambit Accepted: Blachly Gambit

The Blachly Gambit is 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 g5, where Black protects the f4 pawn with ...g5 after developing the queen's knight. White wants d4 and h4 to break the pawn chain, while Black aims for ...Bg7 and ...h6 to keep the extra pawn safe.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 g5
ECO
C37
Engine
−0.61 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
431 games in our lichess sample
White scores
49.4%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play d4 to grab the center, then h4 to attack the g5 pawn.
  • Use Nc3 and Qd3 to bring pieces into play and target the light squares.
  • Avoid 5.Nc3, which allows ...g4 and a strong ...Qh4+ once the f3 knight is gone.
  • After ...h6, keep pushing h4 and open the h-file for a rook.

Black

  • Develop with ...Bg7 to protect f4 and hit the d4 pawn down the long diagonal.
  • Use ...h6 to support g5 against h4, so the pawn chain survives a capture on g5.
  • Push ...g4 when the f3 knight has no good retreat and d4 is loose.
  • Play ...d6 and ...Bg4 to pin the knight and add pressure on d4.

Plans and pawn structure

Black holds the extra pawn with the g5 and f4 chain and a bishop on g7. After 5.d4 Bg7 6.h4 h6 7.Nc3 d6 8.Qd3 Bg4 White develops and attacks the chain, while Black pins the f3 knight. White aims for hxg5 and an open h-file, with the c4 bishop eyeing f7. Black wants ...Nge7, ...Qd7 and long castling to use the extra pawn safely.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.61: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for White:

  1. −0.61 5.d4 Bg7 6.h4 h6 7.Nc3 d6
  2. −1.22 5.Nc3 g4 6.d4 gxf3 7.Qxf3 Qh4+
  3. −1.23 5.h3 Bg7 6.d4 h6 7.Nc3 d6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

431 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 49.4%.

1200–159951.3%
1600–199950.2%
2000 and up42.6%

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

How to play against it

As White, play 5.d4 and follow with h4 to break the chain. Avoid 5.Nc3 or 5.h3, where ...g4 or ...Nxd4 favors Black. Develop quickly and target the h-file before Black can castle long. Your bishop on c4 and a rook on h1 are the attackers.

Questions

What are the moves of the King's Gambit Accepted: Blachly Gambit?

The King's Gambit Accepted: Blachly Gambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 g5. Its ECO code is C37.

Is the King's Gambit Accepted: Blachly Gambit good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.61 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 431 lichess games from our sample, White scored 49.4%. A solid pawn-grabbing line for Black; White must play d4 and h4 fast to get compensation.

What is the main idea of the King's Gambit Accepted: Blachly Gambit?

Black protects the f4 pawn with ...g5 after ...Nc6. White plays d4 and h4 to break the chain, and Black uses ...Bg7 and ...h6 to hold it.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is d4, with Nc3 and h3 close behind. 5.d4 takes the center and prepares h4 to attack the g5 pawn.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.