Scotch Game: Cochrane Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
3,510 games: White 51.8% / Draw 2.6% / Black 45.6%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 1,6141,614 | ||
| 647647 | ||
| 452452 | ||
| 393393 | ||
| 215215 | ||
| 109109 | ||
| 2929 | ||
| 1919 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 27, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.94 Black is better
Best play: 7... d5 8. exd6 Qxd6 9. Qb3 Be6 10. Na3 Nf6 11. O-O O-O-O 12. Be3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Scotch Game: Cochrane Variation (ECO C44, Open Games) is a variation of the Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, London Defense, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bb4+ 5. c3 dxc3 6. bxc3 Ba5 7. e5 (7 moves).
In 3,510 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 51.8%, Black 45.6% and 2.6% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 7…Nge7, in 46% 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: Cochrane Variation
7…d5 scores best for Black: 57.9%, with Black winning 55.8% and White 40.0% of 215 games. The most played, 7…Nge7, scores 48.4% in 1,614 games, and 7…Qe7 scores lowest: 35.9%. Stockfish's first choice is also 7…d5.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black'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: Cochrane Variation (C44)”. Lichess data as of 27 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/scotch-game-cochrane-variation