New Refutation Trap For the Blackburne-Shilling Gambit

That's hype! It seems it's actually a pretty good opening for humans despite what the engine may say haha

The move is a bit riskier, but accomplishes in worst case an uncomfortable and unfamiliar position for your opponent off the opening, and in best case, win a free piece

The second line you showed would be interesting, but would negate the trap part of the opening that has a fair acceptance rate

Someone privately messaged me asking what would happen in this line with 4. b4 b5:

This led to an interesting line that a really like that that involves another trap:

This seems like a pointless sacrifice of the bishop after the exb4, however if that is played, all lines lead to white winning a free rook:

Another interesting line with a trap from out of the blue. Hope this answers your question anonymous

Help me make this a real opening by commenting and sharing please!

Engine isn't giving it as strong as NxN, which is the natural move. But it seems rather good at least to me.

Yes I just found that line for myself. The whole thing is quite good. Goodnight.

I appreciate the review

Have you ever made a post about what happens if black ignores the b4 pawn?

We've gone through a few lines, but haven't explored it a ton. Are there any specific variations where the pawn is ignored you'd like me to address?

Sorry, haven't been paying attention. Give me a day or two if you would. I was in our local chess club on Thursday for a long and dreary AGM. Then I played two 10 min games against a FIDE 1900 and made two really good attacks and won them easily. Then played a weaker player, blundered and lost. Not firing on all cylinders at the moment.

Oh shoot, sounds like an interesting experience. No problem, take your time haha

Apparently, (according to Stockfish) 4... d5! gives black a slight advantage:

Hi, black plays an immediate Qf6. The reason is that white has to swap off black's Q because it's too dangerous and then black gets the half open g file. I think that black's position is stronger than stockfish is saying and it's very difficult for white to defend.

Yeah, I missed that move. If it wasn't for qf6, black doesn't really have any good place to put their light squared bishop (although they might have some possibilities of playing f5 in the future), and g6 gives white a chance to consolidate, in my opinion. But regardless of what black plays, white is up a pawn, and black doesn't seem to have any way of immediately getting it back. So, white has the possibility of giving back the pawn in an opportune moment, to neutralize black's initiative. Still, not a very pleasant position to play as white.

I've looked at some lines with Qf6. I think white has to swap and then I can't see any way for white to develop. If 0-0 then Rg8 immediately and the two bishops are looking very strong. The point is that in that particular position, it's hard for white to unravel the pawn structure and the Q-side pieces. Pawn moves by white seem to run the risk of losing not one but two pawns and with them, the game. I haven't looked too hard, I admit, but I don't think there's a way to give up a pawn to develop. If there is a way, black is still surely better.

I think that after something like:

white is still hanging on, unless if I'm missing something. Still, not a very fun position to play.

Instead of 11. ...0-0-0, black can play ...Bd3.

Yeah, I missed that.

It's nasty, isn't it. Black's Bishops are really quite dominant and together with the R on g8, it doesn't look at all easy for white, which seems to indicate that the pawn on d5 can't be taken. I think it might refute c4, sadly, unless we can find something.

Otherwise, in the suggested continuation we have 10. Na3 ...Bf5 11. Ke2 ...0-0-0 12. c4. That looks horrible for white, to me.

Thanks for running through these lines. After reviewing them, I think you have an interesting game after 9. Qe3:

If you trade queens, we run into the uphill battle for white you guys laid out. However this offers some sharp lines with some traps. I even found some hidden brilliancy lines which was exciting! The main line goes as follows:

I really like this as white actually. The computer gives it even, but white has a lot of tricky and aggressive lines. There's also another really sneaky and beautiful trap in this position that I'll go over if anyone would like