Tree path 7 levels King's Pawn Game › King's Knight Opening › Normal Variation › Scotch Game › Scotch Game › Scotch Game › Classical Variation

C45

Scotch Game: Classical Variation

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Overview

Scotch Game: Classical Variation is a specific line in the Open Games family (ECO C45), arising from a recognised theoretical position.

The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.

The line arises from 8 plies — specifically the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5.

The line refines Scotch Game, which traces back to the root opening King's Pawn Game.

The line has 7 documented children — Scotch Game: Blumenfeld Attack, Blackburne Attack, Intermezzo Variation, and others being widely played.

Together the deeper variations number 10 across the full subtree.

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ECO code: C45
Group: Open Games (C)
Plies: 8
Parent: Scotch Game
Direct variations: 7
Total in subtree: 10

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Statistics from Lichess

7,329,137 games · White 49.6% / Draw 5.0% / Black 45.3%

Moves	Games	W / D / B
Be3	3,113,514
Nxc6	2,799,822
Nb3	821,216
c3	354,024
Nf5	153,188
Nf3	60,055
Nc3	11,395
Bc4	4,168

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:52:10

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Variations (7)

Show all 10 sub-variations (full subtree)

Overview

Statistics from Lichess

Variations (7)

Related variations at the same level