Scotch Game C44

C — Open games & French · Family: Scotch Game

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4

The Scotch Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4) opens the center immediately, trading the e5-pawn for free development. Popular in the 19th century, it was revived by Garry Kasparov in the 1990s as a full-power alternative to the Ruy Lopez — a recommendation that has stood the test of time.

The main line 3...exd4 4.Nxd4 gives White an easy-to-handle space edge: the Mieses Variation (4...Bc5 or the cheeky 4...Qh4!?), the Classical with ...Bb4+ and the Schmidt set-up with an early ...Nf6 and 6.e5. Black's counterplay usually targets d4 or hits with ...Qh4 ideas. Practical, flexible and theory-light compared to the Spanish — ideal for club players and professionals alike.

Play through the moves on the board above, explore the variations tree below — click any move of any branch — then test yourself against the engine from the position you picked.

Position after 5 half-moves — Black to move.
Material is balanced.
Family “Scotch Game” contains 53 recorded variation(s) here.

Variations tree of the Scotch Game family

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53 variations of “Scotch Game” · win% from 1.5M rated games · ♞ Test your knowledge vs engine

Variations of this family

Name	ECO	Main line length
Scotch Game	C44	6 plies
Scotch Game: Benima Defense	C44	8 plies
Scotch Game: Cochrane Variation	C44	13 plies
Scotch Game: Cochrane-Shumov Defense	C44	18 plies
Scotch Game: Göring Gambit	C44	7 plies
Scotch Game: Göring Gambit, Bardeleben Variation	C44	12 plies
Scotch Game: Göring Gambit, Double Pawn Sacrifice	C44	9 plies
Scotch Game: Göring Gambit, Main Line	C44	10 plies
Scotch Game: Hanneken Variation	C44	18 plies
Scotch Game: Haxo Gambit	C44	8 plies
Scotch Game: Lolli Variation	C44	6 plies
Scotch Game: Lolli Variation	C44	9 plies