[1] Wilhelm Steinitz made the first known mention of this line, noting it in 1895 in the Addenda to his Modern Chess Instructor, Part II.

This trap is what gives the line its name; the great English master Joseph Henry Blackburne reputedly used it to win one shilling per game from café visitors.

Steinitz wrote that this move, "followed by castling, is now White's best chance and in some measure a promising one, considering that he has two Pawns and the attack for the piece".

[2] G. Chandler–NN, Stockbridge 1983, continued 5...Ke7 (5...Kd8 is better) 6.0-0 Qxe5 7.Bxg8 Rxg8 8.c3 Nc6 (Silman analyzes 8...Ne6 9.d4 Qf6 10.f4 when "with two pawns and an attack for the sacrificed piece, White’s compensation isn’t in doubt".

trap, as for full effect, Black is supposed to make this exclamation, pretending to have accidentally blundered the e-pawn.

Burgess condemns this behavior as unethical, and notes that the trap, if avoided, leaves White with a large advantage.