Scotch Game

( ECO code C45 ) : 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4

Pros

1. - Central Control: White aims to control the center by exchanging pawns in the center with the d4 move. -

2. - Open Play: The Scottish Game creates open lines and a dynamic position, which is ideal for attackers. It allows White to develop his pieces quickly.

3.- Pressure on the Opponent: Black can test the opponent's opening preparations by forcing the pieces early.

Cons

1. Piece Exchanges: Since the focus is on central control, frequent piece exchanges can simplify the game and reduce the advantage. - Risky Strategy: If the white pieces do not develop effectively, Black can quickly balance. Variations such as the Scottish Gambit can be risky. 2. Pawn Structure: In some variations, White's pawn structure can be weakened.

3. Confusion: If not played correctly, a position open to Black's counterattacks may be created.

C45: Scotch Game: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 4. ... Bb4 , 4. ... Bc5, 4. ... Nf6, 4. ... Qh4 Example games C45

After 4. Nxd4
4. ... Bc5

4. ... Bc5 ➨ Scotch, Blackburne attack 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Qd2
4. ... Bc5 ➨ Gottschall variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Qd2 d5 8. Nb5 Bxe3 9. Qxe3 O-O 10. Nxc7 Rb8 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Nb4
4. ... Bc5 ➨ Paulsen attack 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bb5
4. ... Bc5 ➨ Paulsen, Gunsberg defence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bb5 Nd8
4. ... Bc5 ➨ Meitner variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Nc2
4. ... Bc5 ➨ Blumenfeld attack 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. Nb5
4. ... Bc5 ➨ Potter variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nb3 Example game Potter variation
4. ... Bc5 ➨ Romanishin variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nb3 Bb4+

4. ... Nf6

4. ... Nf6 ➨ Schmidt variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 Example game - Schmidt variation
4. ... Nf6 ➨ Mieses variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5
4. ... Nf6 ➨ Tartakower variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Nd2

4. ... Qh4

4. ... Qh4 ➨ Scotch, Pulling counter-attack 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qh4
4. ... Qh4 ➨ Horwitz attack 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qh4 5. Nb5 Example game - Horwitz variation

4. ... Qh4 ➨ Berger variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qh4 5. Nb5 Bb4+ 6. Nd2 Qxe4+ 7. Be2 Qxg2 8. Bf3 Qh3 9. Nxc7+ Kd8 10. Nxa8 Nf6 11. a3
4. ... Qh4 ➨ Scotch game 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qh4 5. Nb5 Bb4+ 6. Bd2
4. ... Qh4 ➨ , Rosenthal variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qh4 5. Nb5 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxe4+ 7. Be2 Kd8 8. O-O Bxd2 9. Nxd2 Qg6
4. ... Qh4 ➨ Fraser attack 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qh4 5. Nf3
4. ... Qh4 ➨ Steinitz variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qh4 5. Nc3

4. ... Nxd4

4. ... Nxd4 ➨ 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nxd4 5. Qxd4 Ne7 6. Bc4 Nc6 7. Qd5 Qf6 8. O-O Ne5 9. Be2 c6 10. Qb3
4. ... Nxd4 ➨ Ghulam Kassim variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nxd4 5. Qxd4 d6 6. Bd3

4. ... Bxb4

4. ... Bxb4 ➨ Malaniuk Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bb4+ 5. c3 Bc5 6. Be3 Bb6 7. Nf5 Bxe3 8. Nxe3 Nf6 Example - Malaniuk variation

instead of 4. Nxd4 White can play

4. Bc4 Scotch Gambit ➨ 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. e5 d5 6. Bb5 Ne4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. O-O Bc5
4.c3 G ring Gambit Declined ➨ 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 d5 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. cxd4 Bg4 7. Be2 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Qc4
4.c3 dxc3 G ring Gambit, Double Pawn Sacrifice ➨ 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 d6 6. Nxc3 Nf6 7. Qb3 Qd7 8. Ng5 Ne5 9. Bb5 c6