ECO B01 · Scandinavian Defense

Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne Gambit

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 c6 3. dxc6 Nxc6

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

4. Bc4+0.77

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne Gambit (B01), reached after 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 c6 3. dxc6 Nxc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Bc4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.77).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.774. Bc4 e5 5. d3 Nf6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. O-O Be7 8. Re1 O-O
  2. +0.674. Nc3 e5 5. Nf3 Bc5 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. d3 Bg4 8. h3 Bh5
  3. +0.654. Nf3 e5 5. Bb5 Bd6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. O-O Nf6 8. d3 O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne Gambit?
After 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 c6 3. dxc6 Nxc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Bc4 for White, continuing e5 5. d3 Nf6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. O-O Be7 8. Re1 O-O. White is slightly better (+0.77). The next best moves are 4. Nc3 (+0.67) and 4. Nf3 (+0.65).
Is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.77: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne Gambit?
B01. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

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