Scandinavian Defense Blackburne Kloosterboer Gambit
Scandinavian Defense
Definition
The Scandinavian Defense is an opening that begins with the moves 1. e4 d5. Black immediately challenges White’s central pawn with a queen’s pawn, seeking open play from move one. It is catalogued in ECO codes B01–B02.
Typical Move-Orders
- 2. exd5 Qxd5 —the “Classical” line in which Black recaptures with the queen and must later find a safe square for it after 3. Nc3.
- 2. exd5 Nf6 —the “Modern” line, delaying the queen recapture and often transposing to gambits such as the Blackburne-Kloosterboer.
- 2. d4?! —the “Icelandic–Palme Gambit” idea of keeping the pawn on e4 and sacrificing d5 instead.
Strategic Ideas
- Speed vs. Structure: Black trades the normally flexible e-pawn for piece activity. Time is everything: the queen must not become a target.
- Piece Play: Black’s light-squared bishop often emerges to f5 or g4, while ...c6 and ...e6 build a solid Caro-Kann-like shell.
- Endgame Appeal: With the center liquidated early, endgames can arise quickly; many Scandinavian specialists “enjoy” queenless middlegames after 3…Qa5 or 3…Qd6.
Historical Significance
The first recorded use was by the Parisian player Boncourt against Kieseritzky (1842). It gained mainstream respect after Bent Larsen and later Grandmasters like Sergei Tiviakov scored heavily with it. Magnus Carlsen has employed it in rapid games, adding modern credibility.
Famous Example
Kasparov – Anand, PCA 1995 (Game 8) saw Anand unleash the razor-sharp 3…Qa5 line, holding the legendary champion to a draw in 28 moves.
Interesting Facts
- The opening is called the “Center-Counter” in older British literature.
- Tiviakov claims a lifetime score of over 80 % with the defense—even against elite GMs.
- The shortest decisive World Championship game with it is Carlsen – Karjakin, NYC 2016 (Game 6, 32 moves, drawn).
Blackburne
Definition
“Blackburne” in chess most commonly refers to Joseph Henry Blackburne (1841-1924), the English attacking genius nicknamed “The Black Death.” He was world top-3 in the 1870s-1880s and one of the first true professional masters.
How the Name Is Used in Chess
- Person: Discussing his games, style, and contributions (“a typical Blackburne sacrifice”).
- Patterns & Gambits:
- Blackburne Mate – a picturesque mating pattern where a bishop pins the g-pawn and a queen mates on h7 (or h2).
- Blackburne Shilling Gambit – the trap 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4?! (mis-attributed; Blackburne never played it, but the name stuck!).
- Blackburne–Kloosterboer Gambit inside the Scandinavian (see below).
Strategic & Historical Significance
Blackburne popularised bold piece sacrifices and simultaneous exhibitions (he gave 5000+!). His style influenced later tacticians such as Frank Marshall and Mikhail Tal. He also translated Steinitz’s writings into English, helping disseminate positional ideas he himself rarely used over the board.
Notable Games
Blackburne – Steinitz, Vienna 1873: a famous queen sacrifice culminating in a swift mating attack.
Anecdotes
- He was known to sip whisky during exhibitions; one newspaper quipped he played “blindfold—and half-blind.”
- Blackburne once defeated his future wife in a simul—she asked for a rematch, married him, and reportedly never played him again!
Kloosterboer Gambit (Blackburne–Kloosterboer Gambit)
Definition
The Kloosterboer Gambit—often cited as the Blackburne–Kloosterboer Gambit—is a pawn sacrifice in the Scandinavian Defense that arises after:
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 c6!?
Black offers the c-pawn. If White accepts with 4. dxc6, Black recaptures 4…Nxc6, achieving rapid development for a single pawn.
Strategic Purpose
- Development Lead: After 4…Nxc6 Black has two pieces out versus none, aiming for quick …e5 or …Bg4.
- Open Lines: The half-open d- and c-files permit rook activity, often with ...Qc7 and ...Rd8 targeting d4.
- Flexible Pawn Structure: If White declines (4. Nf3), Black can transpose to Caro-Kann structures with …cxd5 followed by …Bf5.
Historical Notes
Though Blackburne’s original 1885 analysis introduced the idea, Dutch correspondence master Hendrik Kloosterboer explored it in depth during the 1970s, lending his name to the modern moniker.
Theory Snapshot
- Accepted: 4. dxc6 Nxc6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. c3 e5! — Black scores decently in practice but most engines give White a small edge of ≈ +0.40.
- Declined: 4. Nf3 cxd5 5. Bd3 Nc6 — equalish, with Black having solved opening problems.
Illustrative Miniature
Black (Tiviakov, 2004 Internet Blitz) won in 24 moves, showcasing the power of rapid development.
Modern Evaluation
At correspondence and engine depth it is considered slightly inferior, but in practical rapid or blitz play it is a potent surprise weapon. Grandmasters Sergei Tiviakov, Christian Bauer, and Eric Hansen have all essayed it with success.
Interesting Facts
- The line is sometimes confused with the Scandinavian Gambit (Icelandic–Palme); the key difference is Black gambits c- instead of e- pawns.
- Chessable’s database (2023) shows a 53 % score for Black in games under 2400 after 4…Nxc6.
- Some authors dub 3…c6 the “ultra-modern Scandinavian,” echoing Nimzowitsch’s advocacy of dynamic pawn sacrifices.