Loading opening...
Loading opening...
Learn the Scotch Game with our free interactive trainer. Master the Scotch Gambit, Göring Gambit, and the Schmidt, Classical, and Steinitz variations for White. 13 chapters.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. c3 dxc3 6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 ...
The Scotch Gambit begins with 4.Bc4: instead of recapturing on d4, White develops the bishop toward f7 and offers a pawn with c3. This chapter covers Black's main replies, 4...Bc5, 4...Nf6 and 4...Bb4+, and the Bxf7+ and Qd5+ idea that follows when Black takes on c3.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 ...
After 4.Nxd4 Nf6 Black attacks e4 at once. The main line continues 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5, where the centre is exchanged and White plays against Black's split queenside pawns. The forcing alternative 5.Nxc6 is covered as a variation.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 cxb2 6. Bxb2 Bb4+ ...
In the Göring Gambit White answers 3...exd4 with 4.c3, offering one pawn or even two for fast development and open lines. The chapter shows the double pawn sacrifice with 5.Bc4, the quieter 5.Nxc3, and what happens when Black declines with 4...d5.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7
The Classical Variation, 4...Bc5, puts immediate pressure on the d4 knight. White's main reply is 5.Be3, and after 5...Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 Black is ready for ...d5. The alternatives 5.Nxc6 and 5.Nb5 are shown as variations.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qh4 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Nb5 Ba5 ...
The Steinitz Variation, 4...Qh4, attacks the e4 pawn straight away. White's best policy is to let the pawn go and use the time gained on the exposed queen and the uncastled black king. The chapter compares 6.Nb5 with 6.Be2 and shows why the bishop belongs on e2 rather than d3.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nxd4 5. Qxd4 Qf6 6. e5 Qb6 ...
Black can simplify at once with 4...Nxd4 5.Qxd4 Qf6, hoping to trade queens and develop afterwards. White gains space with 6.e5, and after the exchange on b6 Black is left with doubled pawns in an endgame that only White can try to win. Master games illustrate the alternatives 6.Be3 and 6.Qc4.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nge7 5. Nc3 Nxd4 6. Qxd4 Nc6 ...
This chapter gathers Black's less common fourth moves: 4...Nge7, 4...d5 and 4...g6. The main line follows Hjartarson - Keitlinghaus, Copenhagen 1997, where a series of small inaccuracies by Black leaves White with a large advantage after castling queenside.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. O-O Nge7 6. Ng5 O-O ...
In the Scotch Gambit with 5.O-O, the developing move 5...Nge7 runs into 6.Ng5 and 7.Qh5 with heavy pressure on f7. If Black castles, the knight sacrifice on f7 tears the kingside open. The sideline 6...d5 leads to the Staunton Trap.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Ng5 h6 5. Nxf7 Kxf7 6. Bc4+ Ke8 ...
White tries the offbeat 4.Ng5 and, after 4...h6, sacrifices the knight on f7. The natural retreat 6...Ke8 loses by force: the queen and bishops chase the king across the board until it is mated on b4.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. Qh5 Ne5 ...
Against the Scotch Gambit with 4...Bc5, White can attack f7 directly with 5.Ng5 and 6.Qh5. Black has several good defences, but 6...Ne5 is not one of them: 7.Ne6 hits the queen, and every capture or queen move loses material.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Be7 5. c3 dxc3 6. Qd5 Nh6 ...
A warning for White. After 4.Bc4 Be7 5.c3 dxc3 the tempting 6.Qd5 wins a piece on h6, but Black castles and hits back with ...Nb4 and ...c2. Black ends up a pawn ahead with the more dangerous threats.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Bc4 Nxe4 6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 ...
In the Schmidt Variation White can set a trap with 5.Bc4. If Black grabs the e4 pawn, White sacrifices the bishop on f7 and checks with the queen on h5 and d5. Black is fine after 9...Qe8 or 9...bxc6, but the counterattack 9...Nf6 loses the queen to 10.Bh6+.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nge7 5. Nc3 g6 6. Bg5 Bg7 ...
After 4...Nge7 and a kingside fianchetto, White pins the e7 knight with 6.Bg5 and jumps in with 7.Nd5. The d4 knight cannot be taken: 7...Nxd4 loses the queen, and after 7...Bxd4 8.Qxd4 Nxd4 White mates with 9.Nf6+ and 10.Bh6#.