Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Blackburne Attack

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C45), reached after 13 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Qd2.

Black rook — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Black bishop — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Blackburne Attack is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C45. ECO group C (C00–C99) covers open games (1.e4 e5) and the French Defence, including the Ruy Lopez, Italian, Scotch and King's Gambit. This particular variation is reached after 13 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Qd2.

It belongs to the Scotch Game family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Classical Variation → Blackburne Attack line). The immediate parent line is Scotch Game: Classical Variation, transitioned via 7.Qd2.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.d4 exd4, 4.Nxd4 Bc5, 5.Be3 Qf6, 6.c3 Nge7. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.