Library/Openings/Scotch Game/Horwitz Attack/Blackburne Variation ECO C45
Opening· 17 plies

Scotch Game: Horwitz Attack, Blackburne Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C45), reached after 17 half-moves: 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.

Scotch Game: Horwitz Attack, Blackburne Variation ECO C45
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Black rook
Black bishop
Black king
Black knight
Black rook
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black knight
White knight
Black queen
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White queen
White bishop
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White rook
White knight
White rook
White king
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End of this line

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

About this opening

Scotch Game: Horwitz Attack, Blackburne Variation 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 17 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 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.

It belongs to the Scotch Game family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Horwitz Attack → Blackburne Variation line). The immediate parent line is Scotch Game: Horwitz Attack, transitioned via 9.Qxd2.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.d4 exd4, 4.Nxd4 Qh4, 5.Nb5 Bb4+, 6.Bd2 Qxe4+. 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.