Chess opening · ECO C50
Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit
The Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit starts 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4. It ranks #127 of the 174 openings on this site by how often rated players on Lichess reach it.
Move by move
- 1. e4White pushes the e-pawn two squares to e4, staking a claim in the center.
- 1... e5Black pushes the e-pawn two squares to e5, staking a claim in the center.
- 2. Nf3White develops the kingside knight to f3.
- 2... Nc6Black develops the queenside knight to c6.
- 3. Bc4White develops the light-squared bishop to c4.
- 3... Nd4Black moves the knight from c6 to d4. It now attacks the knight on f3.
What players choose next, by rating
The three most common White moves from this position in rated Lichess games, grouped by the rating of the player making the move. Nxd4 is the most popular next move in every rating band.
| Rating | Most common | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | Nxd4 38% | c3 25% | d3 19% |
| 1200–1399 | Nxd4 37% | d3 19% | Nxe5 13% |
| 1400–1599 | Nxd4 38% | c3 17% | Nxe5 14% |
| 1600–1799 | Nxd4 39% | c3 17% | Nxe5 16% |
| 1800–1999 | Nxd4 42% | O-O 18% | c3 17% |
| 2000 and up | Nxd4 75% | Nxe5 25% | – |
Related openings
Practice it against a human-like opponent.
BeaconChess opponents open from these same books, then play human-like moves for their level while the coach explains your moves in plain English. The first coached game is free.
Play a free coached game →Played this opening recently?
Paste the game into the free analyzer to find the moves that cost you, with each mistake explained. Three analyses are free, with no email or card.
Analyze a game free →