Scotch Game: Relfsson Gambit
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Statistics from Lichess
166,189 games: White 49.2% / Draw 4.4% / Black 46.5%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 53,84854K | ||
| 26,11626K | ||
| 24,00224K | ||
| 17,62718K | ||
| 13,86214K | ||
| 13,39913K | ||
| 6,1506,150 | ||
| 3,4483,448 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.30 Black is slightly better
Best play: 4... Bc5 5. Nbd2 a6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Nb3 Ba7 8. Nbxd4 c5 9. Ne2
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Scotch Game: Relfsson Gambit (ECO C44, Open Games) is a gambit in the Scotch Game, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bb5 (4 moves).
In 166,189 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.2%, Black 46.5% and 4.4% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 4…Bc5, in 32% 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: Relfsson Gambit
The most played answer, 4…Bc5, also scores best for Black: 51.4%, with Black winning 49.5% and White 46.6% of 54K games. Of the main answers, 4…Nge7 scores lowest: 45.8%. Stockfish's first choice is also 4…Bc5.
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: Relfsson Gambit (C44)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/scotch-game-relfsson-gambit