The Blackburne Shilling Gambit is a four-move trap for Black: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Nxe5 Qg5. If White grabs the rook with 5.Nxf7??, Black wins with 5...Qxg2, and the game can end in a smothered mate. White falls for it in about 1 game in 10, and Black then wins about 1.5 games in every 10,000 played under 1400.
The trap
- e4 e5
- Nf3 Nc6
- Bc4 Nd4
- Nxe5 Qg5
- Nxf7?? Qxg2
- Rf1 Qxe4+
- Be2 Nf3#
Black's queen hits the knight on e5 and the pawn on g2 at once. White's knight takes the rook on f7, which looks like two threats of its own, but Black's queen takes g2 with a threat on the rook on h1 and the king. After 6.Rf1 Qxe4+ 7.Be2 Nf3 is checkmate: the king is boxed in by its own pieces.
6.d3 does not help: 6...Qxh1+ 7.Kd2 Qxd1+ 8.Kxd1 d5 wins a rook for nothing. Stockfish 18 rates 5.Nxf7 Qxg2 at -5.1 for White.
The surprise: 4.Nxe5 is already the mistake
White's correct move is 4.Nxd4 exd4, which Stockfish rates +1.3 for White. After 4.Nxe5 Qg5 the position is about 0.6 of a pawn in Black's favour, even if White finds the best reply. Two moves hold: 5.O-O Qxe5 6.c3 Ne6 7.d4 Qxe4 8.Re1 and 5.Bxf7+ Kd8 6.O-O. Of the 38 legal moves White has in the position after 4...Qg5, only 3 lose less than one pawn.
How often it happens
| Rating | Games where Black plays the gambit (per 10,000) | White grabs on f7 | Black wins in 10 moves (per 10,000) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 800 | 9 | 8% | 0.4 |
| 800–999 | 13 | 7% | 0.6 |
| 1000–1199 | 23 | 12% | 1.7 |
| 1200–1399 | 26 | 9% | 1.9 |
| 1400–1599 | 22 | 6% | 1.0 |
| 1600–1799 | 17 | 4% | 0.5 |
| 1800+ | 7 | 2% | 0.1 |
Source: 3,062,092 rated Lichess games, September 2026. The gambit is set most often at 1200–1399, about 1 game in 400. At 1000–1399 White takes the bait in about 1 game in 10, and when that happens the game usually ends quickly.
It is a trap that works, but only in around 2 games in 10,000 at its best. It is a good surprise for a Black player who knows the tactic and not a repertoire.
What to do as White
- Do not take on e5 at all. Play 4.Nxd4 exd4 and then 5.O-O, with a clear plus.
- If you took on e5, answer 4...Qg5 with 5.O-O. Never take on f7.
- The rule: when the opponent's queen attacks two things at once, deal with the threat first (here g2 and the knight) instead of grabbing more material.
What to do as Black
Play it only if you know the tactic. If White plays 5.O-O or 5.Bxf7+, you are at least equal, but the knight on d4 and the queen on g5 are exposed to d3 and Bxf7+, so know your next moves.
Practise it
Try the free Trap Lab Blackburne Shilling drill. It scores all 38 legal moves in the position after 4...Qg5, and shows why 3 of them hold.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Blackburne Shilling Gambit? A trap in the Italian Game: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4. If White takes e5 and then f7, Black wins with 5...Qxg2.
Is the Blackburne Shilling Gambit good? It is a sound surprise: after 4.Nxe5 Qg5, Stockfish 18 gives Black about 0.6 of a pawn. White can avoid all trouble with 4.Nxd4.
How do you beat the Blackburne Shilling Gambit? Take the knight with 4.Nxd4 exd4, then castle. If you take on e5, answer ...Qg5 with 5.O-O, not 5.Nxf7.
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