ECO C50 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4. Nxd4+1.12

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit (C50), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nxd4 for White. White is clearly better (+1.12).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.124. Nxd4 exd4 5. O-O d5 6. Bxd5 Nf6 7. Bb3 a5 8. d3 a4
  2. +1.044. O-O Nxf3+ 5. Qxf3 Qf6 6. Qg3 d6 7. Nc3 c6 8. d4 Qg6
  3. +0.594. c3 Nxf3+ 5. Qxf3 Nf6 6. d4 d6 7. O-O Be7 8. Be3 O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nxd4 for White, continuing exd4 5. O-O d5 6. Bxd5 Nf6 7. Bb3 a5 8. d3 a4. White is clearly better (+1.12). The next best moves are 4. O-O (+1.04) and 4. c3 (+0.59).
Is the Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.12: White is clearly better. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
What is the ECO code of the Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit?
C50. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).