Scotch Game: Horwitz Attack, Blackburne Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qh4 5. Nb5 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxe4+ 7. Be2 Kd8 8. O-O Bxd2 9. Qxd2
9… a6−0.45
Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Scotch Game: Horwitz Attack, Blackburne Variation (C45), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qh4 5. Nb5 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxe4+ 7. Be2 Kd8 8. O-O Bxd2 9. Qxd2, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… a6 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.45).
Top engine moves
- −0.459… a6 10. N1c3 Qh4 11. Na3 Qd4 12. Qg5+ Qf6 13. Qd2 b5 14. Nd5
- −0.249… Qe5 10. N1a3 Nf6 11. c3 a6 12. Nd4 Nxd4 13. cxd4 Qe6 14. Nc4
- +0.089… Qh4 10. c4 a6 11. N5c3 Nf6 12. f4 d6 13. c5 d5 14. Nxd5
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Scotch Game: Horwitz Attack, Blackburne Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qh4 5. Nb5 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxe4+ 7. Be2 Kd8 8. O-O Bxd2 9. Qxd2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… a6 for Black, continuing 10. N1c3 Qh4 11. Na3 Qd4 12. Qg5+ Qf6 13. Qd2 b5 14. Nd5. Black is slightly better (−0.45). The next best moves are 9… Qe5 (−0.24) and 9… Qh4 (+0.08).
Is the Scotch Game: Horwitz Attack, Blackburne Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.45: black 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 Scotch Game: Horwitz Attack, Blackburne Variation?
C45. 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+).