Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Millennium Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
45,759 games: White 43.9% / Draw 4.7% / Black 51.4%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 18,61919K | ||
| 7,9547,954 | ||
| 5,7195,719 | ||
| 3,2083,208 | ||
| 1,9901,990 | ||
| 1,7881,788 | ||
| 1,4371,437 | ||
| 1,3081,308 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 27, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.22 The position is about equal
Best play: 7. Qe2 Nxd4 8. Bxd4 Bb6 9. h4 h5 10. Rh3 Nf6 11. Rg3 Qh6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Millennium Variation (ECO C45, Open Games) is a variation of the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Qg6 (6 moves).
In 45,759 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 43.9%, Black 51.4% and 4.7% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. Nd2, in 41% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Millennium Variation
7. f3 scores best for White: 48.0%, with White winning 45.7% and Black 49.6% of 5,719 games. The most played, 7. Nd2, scores 47.7% in 19K games, and 7. Nxc6 scores lowest: 36.7%. Stockfish's first choice is 7. Qe2.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Millennium Variation (C45)”. Lichess data as of 27 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/scotch-game-classical-variation-millennium-variation