Scotch Game: Meitner Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
28,948 games: White 48.9% / Draw 6.1% / Black 45.0%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 16,74017K | ||
| 8,8268,826 | ||
| 2,1322,132 | ||
| 480480 | ||
| 367367 | ||
| 235235 | ||
| 7777 | ||
| 3030 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 27, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.08 The position is about equal
Best play: 7... d6 8. Bxc5 dxc5 9. Nd2 Be6 10. Qf3 Qxf3 11. Nxf3 h6 12. Ne3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Scotch Game: Meitner 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 Nge7 7. Nc2 (7 moves).
In 28,948 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.9%, Black 45.0% and 6.1% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 7…Bxe3, in 58% 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: Meitner Variation
7…d6 scores best for Black: 57.3%, with Black winning 54.9% and White 40.4% of 2,132 games. The most played answer, 7…Bxe3, scores lowest: 46.5% in 17K games. Stockfish's first choice is also 7…d6.
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: Meitner Variation (C45)”. Lichess data as of 27 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/scotch-game-meitner-variation