Scotch Game Guide

The Scotch Game or Scotch Opening is a chess opening for White that starts with the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4.

The Scotch is the third most popular choice after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6. The Scotch Game is probably your best choice if you want to avoid playing the Italian Game (3.Bc4) or the Ruy Lopez (3.Bb5). Garry Kasparov was a big fan of this opening, and Magnus Carlsen has played it dozens of times with good results.

Main Ideas in the Scotch Game

The Scotch sets the stage for dynamic play right from the start, as opposed to the Ruy Lopez, which is more conservative.

The appeal of the Scotch Game lies not only in its simplicity but also because it avoids the labyrinthine theory often associated with other popular openings. By sidestepping the complexities of the Ruy Lopez, beginners and intermediate players can navigate the early stages of the game with more confidence and clarity.

With 1.d4, White strikes on the center and opens up the diagonal for its dark-squared Bishop, as well as asserting dominance in the center of the board.

However, like any opening, the Scotch Game has its drawbacks. White's premature release of central tension may grant Black opportunities for counterplay, and the extra tempo required to capture the pawn on d4 can disrupt the flow of development.

Nevertheless, the Scotch Game stands is still a versatile and potent weapon in the arsenal of any player.

Main Line in the Scotch Game

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6

3.d4 exd4

Black’s only good option is to take the pawn. Other alternatives lead to less sound positions for Black.

4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nxc6 bxc6

The idea of White taking on c6 was introduced by Garry Kasparov, who liked having the possibility of playing e5 afterwards.

6.e5 Qe7

Black doesn’t want to move their Knight just yet.

7.Qe2 Nd5

White defends their pawn and Black is now forced to move their Knight.

8.c4 Ba6

The hunting of the Knight continues, but Black finds a way to develop their Bishop and protect the Knight at the same time.

9.b3

Variations in the Scotch Game

The Scotch Game allows you to play in a more positional or tactical way.

It all depends on the variations you choose to play.

Below you’ll see some of the most popular variations in the Scotch Game.

Classical Variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5

In the Classical Variation of the Scotch Game, Black chooses a very active approach by instantly attacking the Knight on d4.

Schmidt Variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

The Schmidt Variation is the most popular variation of the Scotch Game at master level.

With 4…Nf6 Black doesn’t commit and simply develops a piece, attacking the e pawn.

Steinitz Variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qh4

This is a super aggressive approach from Black, that can ultimately win a pawn, but White will get an advantage that will allow them to play more comfortably during the middlegame.

Scotch Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 Bc4

In this variation, White gives up a pawn in exchange for rapid piece development and attacking opportunities.

Black must be flexible and don’t try to hold on to the pawn.

Goring Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3

Similar to the Scotch Gambit, in the Goring Gambit White also gives up a pawn, in this case by playing 4.c3 instead of Nxd4.

Model Games

Related Courses

Scotch Gambit: Winning System for White with FM Amro El Jawich

Scotch Opening with FM Yuriy Krykun

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C44 Sub-variants:

• King's pawn game
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
• Irish (Chicago) gambit
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nxe5 Nxe5 4. d4
• Konstantinopolsky opening
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3
• Dresden opening
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c4
• Inverted Hungarian
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Be2
• Inverted Hanham
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Be2 Nf6 4. d3 d5 5. Nbd2
• Tayler opening
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Be2 Nf6 4. d4
• Ponziani opening
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3
• Ponziani, Caro variation
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 4. Qa4 Bd7
• Ponziani, Leonhardt variation
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 4. Qa4 Nf6
• Ponziani, Steinitz variation
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 4. Qa4 f6
• Ponziani, Jaenisch counter-attack
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6
• Ponziani, Fraser defence
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. d4 Nxe4 5. d5 Bc5
• Ponziani, Reti variation
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nge7
• Ponziani, Romanishin variation
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Be7
• Ponziani counter-gambit
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 f5
• Ponziani counter-gambit, Schmidt attack
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 f5 4. d4 d6 5. d5
• Ponziani counter-gambit, Cordel variation
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 f5 4. d4 d6 5. d5 fxe4 6. Ng5 Nb8 7. Nxe4 Nf6 8. Bd3 Be7
• Scotch opening
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
• Scotch, Lolli variation
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 Nxd4
• Scotch, Cochrane variation
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 Nxd4 4. Nxe5 Ne6 5. Bc4 c6 6. O-O Nf6 7. Nxf7
• Scotch, Relfsson gambit ('MacLopez')
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bb5
• Scotch, Goering gambit
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3
• Scotch, Sea-cadet mate
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 d6 6. Bc4 Bg4 7. O-O Ne5 8. Nxe5 Bxd1 9. Bxf7+ Ke7 10. Nd5+
• Scotch, Goering gambit
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 Bb4
• Scotch, Goering gambit, Bardeleben variation
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 Bb4 6. Bc4 Nf6
• Scotch gambit
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4
• Scotch gambit, Anderssen (Paulsen, Suhle) counter-attack
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 Bg4
• Scotch gambit
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. Ng5
• Scotch gambit, Cochrane-Shumov defence
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. Nxf7 Nxf7 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qh5+ g6 9. Qxc5 d5
• Scotch gambit, Vitzhum attack
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. Qh5
• Scotch gambit
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bb4+
• Scotch gambit, Hanneken variation
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bb4+ 5. c3 dxc3 6. O-O cxb2 7. Bxb2 Nf6 8. Ng5 O-O 9. e5 Nxe5
• Scotch gambit
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bb4+ 5. c3 dxc3 6. bxc3
• Scotch gambit, Cochrane variation
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bb4+ 5. c3 dxc3 6. bxc3 Ba5 7. e5
• Scotch gambit, Benima defence
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Be7
• Scotch gambit, Dubois-Reti defence
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6