Scotch Game

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 · C45–C47

Starting positionWhite to move

0 / 7

The knight on d4 is strong and exposed

The idea

White opens the centre on move three instead of building slowly, trading the e5 pawn for free development and a lead in the centre.

Main line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4

What White wants

Open the centre early and use the d4 square for the knight
Develop with Nc3, Be3 and Bd3 or Bc4 and castle quickly
Use the extra central space in the middlegame

What Black wants

Develop with ...Nf6 and ...Bc5 or ...Bb4, hitting the knight on d4
Play ...d5 to free the position once the pieces are out
Finish development and challenge White's e4 pawn before settling into an endgame

Key idea

Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.

The knight on d4 is strong and exposed

White's knight on d4 attacks eight squares from a central post, but Black can challenge it with ...Bc5 or ...Nf6. The e5 pawn has left the centre, giving White space on e4. White must use that space while finishing development, not spend every move defending the knight.

Common mistake

Treating the central knight as untouchable. Black's bishop and queen can add pressure on d4, so White needs a coordinated response with Be3, c3 or an exchange, while keeping an eye on e4 and the time needed to castle.

Representative position

The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.

r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/8/3NP3/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq - 0 4

Analyze this position

Variations

4 lines branching from here.

Related openings

Scotch Game: Mieses Variation1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 · C45White trades on c6 and then pushes e5, gaining a big space advantage and giving Black doubled c-pawns in return for activity.Scotch Game: Classical Variation1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 · C45Black targets the knight on d4 with ...Bc5 and ...Qf6, forcing White to spend moves defending — the standard way to fight the Scotch.Scotch Four Knights1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 · C47The Scotch transposes into Four Knights territory once both sides bring out the queen's knight, mixing the Scotch centre with a classical piece setup.Italian Game1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 · C50–C59The oldest opening in chess: the bishop takes the diagonal that points at f7, the weakest square in Black's camp, and both sides develop fast.Four Knights Game1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 · C46–C49Both sides develop all four knights before committing a pawn, producing one of the most solid and symmetrical openings in chess.Scotch Gambit1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 · C44–C45White declines to recapture on d4 and develops the bishop to c4 instead, offering a pawn for a fast attack down the centre.