Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit

In the Scotch Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4) White does not recapture the pawn on d4 as in the Scotch Game, but develops the bishop instead. It is an aggressive try: the bishop presses on f7, and White may add Ng5 later.

Move orders

The Scotch Gambit is closely tied to the Italian Game. After 4...Nf6 it is identical to the Open Variation of the Two Knights Defense, and it can also be reached by 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4 exd4, although that move order lets Black avoid it with 4...Bxd4.

The idea

White gives up the d4-pawn for the moment in return for quick development and pressure on f7. Black's main replies are 4...Nf6, attacking e4, and 4...Bc5, defending the extra pawn on d4.

Main lines

• 4...Nf6, the most common reply:
  • 5.e5, the Advance Variation, White's most common answer. The main line runs 5...d5 6.Bb5 Ne4; 5...Ng4 is the Kingside Variation;
  • 5.O-O, also very common, often 5...Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3, the Anderssen Attack;
  • 5.Ng5, the riskier Perreux Variation.
• 4...Bc5:
  • 5.c3, when 5...Nf6 transposes into the Classical Variation of the Giuoco Piano, where Black is known to have a satisfactory game. Accepting with 5...dxc3 is riskier, as White gets a lead in development after 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Qd5+ and Qxc5;
  • 5.Ng5, the Sarratt Variation, generally considered premature: 5...Nh6 6.Nxf7 Nxf7 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qxc5. It was long thought inferior, perhaps because of the game Meek–Morphy, Mobile 1855, but has appeared in grandmaster play more recently with roughly equal chances;
  • 5.O-O, the second most common move, leading to the Max Lange Attack after 5...Nf6 6.e5, or to the Cochrane-Anderssen Variation after 5...d6 6.c3 Bg4.
• 4...Bb4+, the London Defense, usually 5.c3 dxc3.
• 4...Be7 transposes to the Hungarian Defense of the Italian Game.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

• Fast development and early pressure on f7.
• Many of the resulting positions are sharp and tactical.

Weaknesses

• Black can transpose into well-known, sound lines such as the Two Knights or the Giuoco Piano.
• The most direct attacking try, 4...Bc5 5.Ng5, is generally considered premature.

Who should play it

The Scotch Gambit suits attacking players who like open positions and are comfortable in Two Knights and Italian structures, which it often transposes into.

The numbers

On Lichess White does very well below 2200: 55.3% against 41.8% under 1400, 55.6% against 41.0% at 1400–1799 and 53.0% against 42.4% at 1800–2199. From 2200 up the lead narrows to 48.4% against 44.4%. There are only about 2,800 master games, too few to draw firm conclusions.