FoxyChess › Gambits › Scotch Gambit
Scotch Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4. Instead of taking back on d4, White develops the bishop towards f7. The aim is quick development and an attack, often leading to Italian-style positions.
The idea
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 White plays 4.Bc4 instead of taking back on d4. The bishop aims at f7, the knight is ready for Ng5, and White keeps the choice of taking the pawn back later with c3 or Nxd4. It leads to open, Italian-style positions with a pawn still hanging.
What happens next
Against 4…Bc5 White plays c3 (the Göring-like dxc3 Bxc3 gives open lines) or the quiet 5.O-O. Against 4…Nf6 the sharp 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 is the main line, with a tense centre, or 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3, when White wins the piece back with an active position.
How to play against it
4…Nf6 is the most reliable reply, when 5.e5 d5! hits the bishop and holds the centre. Avoid grabbing a second pawn with …Nxe4 before you have seen Re1 and the pin on the e-file. Develop, castle, and the extra pawn often decides.
A key line
More lines
Scotch Gambit: 4...Nf6
Scotch Gambit: 4...Nf6 5.e5
Scotch Gambit: 4...Nf6 5.O-O
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All 16 lines in this gambit
- Scotch Gambit
- Scotch Gambit: 4...Nf6
- Scotch Gambit: 4...Nf6 5.e5
- Scotch Gambit: 4...Nf6 5.O-O
- Scotch Gambit: Max Lange Attack
- Scotch Gambit: 4...Bc5
- Scotch Gambit: 4...Bc5 5.c3
- Scotch Gambit: London Defense
- Scotch Gambit: Vitzhum Attack
- Italian Game: Two Knights, Scotch Gambit
- Scotch Gambit: 4...Bc5 5.O-O
- Scotch Gambit: Anderssen Counterattack
- Scotch Gambit: Cochrane-Shumov Defense
- Scotch Gambit: Benima Defense