Caissa Codex
C45

Scotch Game: Horwitz Attack, Blackburne Variation

Chess diagram: Scotch Game: Horwitz Attack, Blackburne Variation after 9. Qxd2

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Statistics from Lichess

108 games: White 52.8% / Draw 0.9% / Black 46.3%

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Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.17 The position is about equal

Best play: 9... a6 10. N1c3 Qe5 11. Na3 Qd4 12. Qg5+ Qf6 13. Qd2 b5 14. Rad1

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Scotch Game: Horwitz Attack, Blackburne Variation (ECO C45, Open Games) is a variation of the Scotch Game, reached after 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 (9 moves).

In 108 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 52.8%, Black 46.3% and 0.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 9…a6, in 56% of those games.

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Other lines from the same position

Instead of 6…Qxe4+ 7. Be2 Kd8 8. O-O Bxd2 9. Qxd2, the position after Scotch Game also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Scotch Game: Horwitz Attack, Blackburne Variation (C45)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/scotch-game-horwitz-attack-blackburne-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/scotch-game-horwitz-attack-blackburne-variation