OPENING TRAP
Blackburne Shilling Gambit: Bait with a knight, finish with a smothered mate
The Blackburne Shilling Gambit is a trap in the Italian Game. Bait with a knight, finish with a smothered mate. Smothered mate on move 7.
The moves
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4 4. Nxe5? Qg5 5. Nxf7? Qxg2 6. Rf1 Qxe4+ 7. Be2 Nf3#
The final position is checkmate.
- 1. e4 White starts in the centre.
- 1... e5 You answer in kind.
- 2. Nf3 White attacks the e5 pawn.
- 2... Nc6 You defend it.
- 3. Bc4 The Italian Game: the bishop aims at f7.
- 3... Nd4 The bait. The knight jumps to d4 and the pawn on e5 looks loose.
- 4. Nxe5? Greedy. White should play 4.Nxd4 instead. Taking the pawn now loses.
- 4... Qg5 A double attack. The queen eyes the knight on e5 and the pawn on g2.
- 5. Nxf7? White grabs again and attacks your queen and rook.
- 5... Qxg2 You take g2 and attack the rook on h1.
- 6. Rf1 White saves the rook, but the e4 pawn is now loose with check.
- 6... Qxe4+ The queen takes e4 with check.
- 7. Be2 White blocks. Now the king is surrounded by its own pieces.
- 7... Nf3# Nf3 is a smothered mate. The king cannot move because its own pieces fill every square.
How to avoid it
As White, simply capture the knight: 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.O-O is comfortable and avoids all the tricks.
Practise it
In Trap Academy you watch this lesson, then play the Black side yourself against the replies of the trap. This lesson is part of Skillwik Pro.
Add to Chrome — freeFrequently asked questions
What is the Blackburne Shilling Gambit?
- Bait with a knight, finish with a smothered mate. It arises in the Italian Game. Smothered mate on move 7.
How do you avoid the Blackburne Shilling Gambit?
- As White, simply capture the knight: 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.O-O is comfortable and avoids all the tricks.