Chess Openings Lab
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Scotch Game: Blumenfeld Attack

The Blumenfeld Attack is the Classical Scotch with 5.Be3 Qf6 6.Nb5, where the knight jumps to b5 to hit c7. It looks dangerous, but Black has a strong reply in ...Bxe3, fxe3 and ...Qh4+, grabbing pawns and the h1 rook.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 6.Nb5
ECO
C45
Engine
−0.85 · a clear edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
129 games in our lichess sample
White scores
67.4%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • The point of Nb5 is Nxc7+ forking king and rook, plus Bxc5 if the bishop stays loose.
  • If Black grabs with ...Qxb2, Bxc5 and Nxc7+ win heavy material for White.
  • Against ...Bb4+, block with c3 and chase the bishop with a4, keeping the knight strong on b5.
  • After the ...Bxe3 line, N1c3 and Nxc7+ give White the a8 rook in return for the h1 rook.

Black

  • Play 6...Bxe3 at once: after fxe3 the check ...Qh4+ forces g3, and ...Qxe4 hits h1 and c2.
  • After ...Qxh1 and Nxc7+, step ...Kd8 and fight to trap the knight on a8.
  • Never take ...Qxb2 here: Bxc5 and Nxc7+ leave Black down a rook.
  • A safer answer is ...Bb4+ with c3 and ...Ba5, which also defends c7 indirectly.

Plans and pawn structure

This is a tactical position, not a strategic one. After ...Bxe3, fxe3, ...Qh4+, g3, ...Qxe4 and N1c3, Black takes the h1 rook while White collects the a8 rook with Nxc7+. Black's king sits in the center, but White's knight on a8 is trapped and Black has an extra pawn or two. If Black plays the quieter ...Bb4+, the game calms down and White keeps a nice knight on b5 with a4 and Be2.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.85: a clear edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.85 6...Bxe3 7.fxe3 Qh4+ 8.g3 Qxe4 9.N1c3
  2. +1.31 6...Bb4+ 7.c3 Ba5 8.a4 a6 9.Be2
  3. +3.06 6...Qxb2 7.Bxc5 Qxa1 8.Nxc7+ Kd8 9.Nxa8

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

129 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 67.4%.

1600–199976.3%
2000 and up64.0%

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

How to play against it

As Black, calculate the ...Bxe3 line and play it: the engine prefers it clearly. If you are not sure, ...Bb4+ followed by ...Ba5 is safer. Never touch b2 with the queen. As White, know that Nb5 is a risky try, and the solid c3 is the sound alternative.

Questions

What are the moves of the Scotch Game: Blumenfeld Attack?

The Scotch Game: Blumenfeld Attack starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 6.Nb5. Its ECO code is C45.

Is the Scotch Game: Blumenfeld Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.85 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for Black. A tricky weapon that catches greedy players, but against a well-prepared Black player the Nb5 jump backfires and White ends up worse.

What is the main idea of the Scotch Game: Blumenfeld Attack?

White sends the knight to b5 to hit c7 and the bishop on c5. Black's best reply is ...Bxe3 and ...Qh4+, winning material on e4 and h1 while White's knight goes after a8.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Bxe3, with Bb4+ and Qxb2 close behind. 6...Bxe3 removes the defender and, after fxe3, ...Qh4+ and ...Qxe4 win material with a double attack on h1 and c2.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.