Chessy
Play the Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit as Black
The Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit is an early grab for activity, but the position is already dangerous for Black if White knows what to do. In this drill you play Black and must handle White’s reply after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4. The engine says the position is already a clear problem for you, so this is not a “hope for the best” opening — it is a test of whether you can survive accurately and keep the game going.
Play the Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill as Black and test your defence move by move. Create a free account to practise the position until the ideas feel natural.
Create a free account →What the position asks you to face
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4, White is to move and you are already under pressure. Stockfish rates this +1.09, a clear, lasting advantage for White. That means you are worse here, and you need to know the right defensive idea instead of drifting into passive play. The practical goal is simple: meet White’s best reply and get your pieces working before the attack becomes easier to play.
The engine’s main answer
The engine’s best move here is Nxd4. The listed continuation is Nxd4 exd4 O-O Nf6. For a learner, that tells you the main lesson of this opening: do not assume the gambit will create automatic chaos in your favour. If White accepts the challenge accurately, you must be ready for a forcing sequence and then a real game, not an instant tactical win for Black.
What the database says White usually chooses
The most-played continuation is Nxd4, with 3,261,508 games. White scores 54.7% there, which is a warning sign that this line is uncomfortable for Black in practice. Other common choices are Nxe5, c3, d3, O-O, and Nc3. The numbers show that White has several sensible ways to respond, so your task is not to memorise a single trick — it is to understand which replies are strongest and which ones let White keep the upper hand.
The mistakes you want White to make
Two moves are singled out as mistakes or inaccuracies for White in this exact position. Nxe5 is a mistake and loses about 1.2 pawns, with Nxd4 better. c3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns, again with Nxd4 better. That is useful for your drill: if White does not choose carefully, Black can improve the position noticeably. But the big picture does not change — the position is still best described as favourable for White, so you still need accurate defence.
Results across 8,063,226 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nxd4 | 3,261,508 | 54.7% |
| Nxe5 | 1,866,158 | 22.7% |
| c3 | 922,988 | 52.8% |
| d3 | 716,045 | 54.1% |
| O-O | 634,761 | 55.6% |
| Nc3 | 321,041 | 53.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit good for Black?
This lesson says the position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 already favours White. Stockfish rates it +1.09, which is a clear, lasting advantage for White. So you should treat it as a risky opening choice, not a safe equaliser.
What is the best move for White in this position?
The engine’s best move is Nxd4. The continuation given is Nxd4 exd4 O-O Nf6, which shows the critical line you need to understand as Black. In the drill, your job is to meet that pressure accurately.
What do most players actually play here?
The most-played continuation is Nxd4, with 3,261,508 games. Other common replies are Nxe5, c3, d3, O-O, and Nc3. The database shows that White has many playable choices, so you need to be ready for more than one response.
Which White moves should I know are risky?
Nxe5 is marked as a mistake and c3 as an inaccuracy. In both cases, the better move is Nxd4. If White slips into one of those lines, Black gets a better practical chance, but the position still starts with White holding the advantage.
How many games feature the Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit?
Over 8 million Lichess games have reached the Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit position. White wins 46.6%, Black wins 49.9%, with 3.5% draws — based on real rated games.