The Blackburne Shilling Gambit
A crafty knight move in the Italian Game that baits White into a devastating queen-and-knight combination.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: The Blackburne Shilling Gambit earned its name because Blackburne would play it in simultaneous exhibitions for a shilling a game. He knew that even strong players, when facing many boards at once, would grab the e5 pawn without thinking. It is a con artist's opening, and I mean that as a compliment to its tactical ingenuity.
What Is the Blackburne Shilling Gambit?
The Blackburne Shilling Gambit arises after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4, when Black places the knight on an unusual central square instead of developing more conventionally. The knight appears to be misplaced and the e5 pawn looks free for the taking.
The trap springs when White plays the natural 4. Nxe5, thinking they have won a pawn. Black responds with 4...Qg5, attacking both the knight on e5 and the g2 pawn. White cannot defend both threats simultaneously, and after 5. Nxf7 Qxg2 6. Rf1 Qxe4+ 7. Be2 Nf3#, Black delivers a beautiful checkmate.
The beauty of this gambit is that every White move in the main trapping line looks perfectly reasonable. Taking a free pawn, defending the knight, protecting the rook - all natural moves that lead directly into the mating net.
The Trap in Action
After 3...Nd4, the knight sits in the center offering the e5 pawn as bait. If White takes with 4. Nxe5, the sequence Qg5, attacking the knight and g2, creates a dual threat that White cannot adequately address.
The final checkmate with Nf3# is aesthetically pleasing: the knight that started the gambit on d4 delivers the finishing blow by hopping to f3, supported by the queen on e4. It is a complete knight journey from the rim to the center to the lethal square.
After 3...Nd4 - the bait is set. Will White take the e5 pawn?
How White Should Respond
The correct response to 3...Nd4 is simply to continue developing without taking the bait. The knight on d4 can be challenged with c3, forcing it to retreat. White maintains a normal Italian Game position with better development and no tactical vulnerabilities.
Alternatively, White can play 4. Nxd4 exd4, recapturing the knight rather than the pawn. While this gives Black an acceptable position, it avoids the trap entirely. The key insight is that the e5 pawn is poisoned, and the knight on d4 is the piece to address.
Strong players often punish the Blackburne Shilling by playing 4. O-O or 4. d3, simply ignoring Black's provocation and developing normally. The knight on d4 will have to move eventually, and Black will be left with a slightly inferior position.
Blackburne Shilling FAQ
Is 3...Nd4 a sound move?
No, it is objectively a slight inaccuracy. With correct play, White avoids the trap and the knight on d4 is simply misplaced. The gambit relies entirely on White falling for the trick.
What is the connection to Joseph Blackburne?
Joseph Henry Blackburne was a 19th-century English chess master who reportedly used this gambit in simultaneous exhibitions where opponents paid a shilling per game. The name reflects both the player and the small wager involved.
Professor Archer says: Every experienced player should know this gambit exists, not to play it, but to avoid being swindled by it. When you see Nd4 in the Italian Game, your alarm bells should ring. Resist the urge to snatch the pawn, develop calmly, and your opponent's knight on d4 will be a liability, not a threat.
Quick Quiz
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4 4. Nxe5??, what does Black play?
- Qg5, attacking the knight and g2 simultaneously (Correct) - Correct. Qg5 creates a double attack that White cannot handle. The knight on e5 and the g2 pawn are both under fire, and the resulting complications lead to checkmate in the main line.
- Nxc2+, forking the king and rook - While Nxc2+ is a fork, it does not exploit the position as powerfully as Qg5. The double attack on e5 and g2 creates far more devastating threats.
- Nf3+, delivering check - Nf3+ is not check in this position because the knight on d4 cannot reach f3 in one move while also delivering check. The correct move is Qg5, setting up the double threat.
- d6, attacking the knight normally - While d6 would attack the knight, it completely misses the far stronger Qg5 which creates a double attack leading to a winning combination.