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Scotch Game (C45)

Scotch Game is an opening for White. Level: Beginner. Main line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7.

The main line, move by move

1. 1. e4: White takes the centre.
2. 1… e5: Black does the same.
3. 2. Nf3: The knight attacks e5.
4. 2… Nc6: Black defends.
5. 3. d4: White opens the centre straight away.
6. 3… exd4: Black takes the pawn.
7. 4. Nxd4: White takes back with the knight. Taking back with the queen would lose it to the knight on c6.
8. 4… Bc5: Black develops with tempo, attacking the knight on d4.
9. 5. Be3: White defends the knight and develops.
10. 5… Qf6: Black adds a second attacker on d4.
11. 6. c3: White defends d4 again with a pawn.
12. 6… Nge7: Black develops the knight to e7, keeping the f-pawn free and the queen's path open.

Ideas for White

Open the centre early, develop quickly, and use the extra space. The play is direct and easy to learn.

Ideas for Black

Develop with tempo by attacking the d4 knight, or trade knights and use the open lines.

Typical plans

• White: Nc3, Be2 and O-O, then f4 for space.
• Black: ...d5 to free the game once developed.

Common mistakes

• Taking back on d4 with the queen while a black knight is on c6: Nxd4 wins the queen.
• Black grabbing the e4 pawn with the queen and falling behind in development.

Variations

Classical (4...Bc5), Schmidt Variation (4...Nf6), Scotch Gambit (4.Bc4).

Quick check

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4, why not take back with the queen?

Answer: The black knight on c6 captures it. The knight on c6 covers d4, so Qxd4 just loses the queen.

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