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Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne Gambit as Black
The Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne Gambit is sharp, open, and practical, but it is not a free ride for Black. In the exact position after 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 c6 3.dxc6 Nxc6, the engine gives White a clear, lasting advantage. That makes this a great test of your defensive skill: you will need active piece play, good development, and accurate replies from the very first move. Use the drill below to practise the critical decisions and see how the best move keeps White under control.
Play the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne Gambit against the engine
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Play the drill now and practise defending this gambit as Black. Create a free account to save your progress and come back anytime.
Create a free account →What the position really says
Stockfish rates this +1.00, a clear edge for White. That means you are clearly worse here.
So the lesson is not to pretend this gambit is equal when the position says otherwise. Your job as Black is to stay active, develop quickly, and avoid drifting into a worse endgame without compensation. This opening asks you to handle an uncomfortable position with energy and precision.
The engine's key reply
The best move here is Nf3, and the main continuation given is Nf3 Nf6 d4 Bg4.
That tells you what White wants most: smooth development and central control, while keeping the extra material and the safer structure. Against that, you need to meet activity with activity. If you hesitate, White’s lead in the position can become very easy to use.
What White usually plays here
The database shows that White most often chooses Nf3, Nc3, and Bb5, with d3, Bc4, and c3 also appearing.
Those moves all fit a simple plan: develop, get pieces out, and make Black prove the gambit works. As Black, you should expect White to keep the game straightforward rather than enter wild complications every time. That is why this drill matters: the positions may look tactical, but the practical challenge is often to survive the opening cleanly.
How to approach the middlegame
This opening tends to lead to an active middlegame where piece activity matters more than flashy tricks. Since White is already better, Black needs quick development and a clear purpose behind every move.
A good mindset is to ask: can I activate a piece, complete development, or make White respond to a threat? If the answer is no, you are probably helping White consolidate the advantage. The drill is useful because it trains you to keep playing forcefully even when the position is not in your favour.
Results across 1,631,158 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 593,422 | 50.4% |
| Nc3 | 422,435 | 48.6% |
| Bb5 | 362,526 | 48.4% |
| d3 | 54,316 | 46.8% |
| Bc4 | 49,572 | 47.8% |
| c3 | 32,582 | 47.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne Gambit sound for Black?
This position is not a comfortable one for Black. The engine gives White a clear, lasting advantage, so you should treat it as a practical defensive challenge rather than a fully equal gambit.
What is the main move for White in this position?
The engine’s best move is Nf3, and the main continuation listed is Nf3 Nf6 d4 Bg4. In practical play, White also commonly chooses Nc3 and Bb5.
What should Black focus on after 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 c6 3.dxc6 Nxc6?
Focus on active development and fast piece play. You are worse, so passive moves make your position harder to hold.
Which White moves happen most often here?
The most-played continuations are Nf3, Nc3, Bb5, d3, Bc4, and c3. White usually aims for sensible development rather than immediate tactics.
How many games feature the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne Gambit?
Over 2 million Lichess games have reached the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne Gambit position. White wins 48.9%, Black wins 47.4%, with 3.7% draws — based on real rated games.