Caissa Codex
C45

Scotch Game: Paulsen, Gunsberg Defense

Chess diagram: Scotch Game: Paulsen, Gunsberg Defense after 7…Nd8

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

34 games: White 38.2% / Draw 2.9% / Black 58.8%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
2121
44
44
11
11
11
11
11

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.69 White is slightly better

Best play: 8. O-O O-O 9. a4 Qg6 10. Bd3 d6 11. Na3 Bxd4 12. cxd4 Bh3

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Scotch Game: Paulsen, Gunsberg Defense (ECO C45, Open Games) is a variation of the Scotch Game: Paulsen Attack, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bb5 Nd8 (7 moves).

In 34 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 38.2%, Black 58.8% and 2.9% were drawn. White's most played move here is 8. O-O, in 62% of those games. That is too few games for the percentages to mean much.

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Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Scotch Game: Paulsen, Gunsberg Defense (C45)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/scotch-game-paulsen-gunsberg-defense

https://chesscodex.org/openings/scotch-game-paulsen-gunsberg-defense