Scotch Game: Steinitz Variation 4…Qh4 5. Nc3
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Statistics from Lichess
348,031 games: White 44.9% / Draw 5.0% / Black 50.1%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Scotch Game: Modern Defense | 321,435321K | |
| 21,09221K | ||
| 3,3603,360 | ||
| 999999 | ||
| 228228 | ||
| 169169 | ||
| 164164 | ||
| 120120 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.78 White is better
Best play: 5... Bb4 6. Be2 Qxe4 7. Nb5 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Kd8 9. O-O Nf6 10. Bg5
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
By rating
The stronger the players, the better this line does for White: White scores 46% under 1400, 53% at 2200 and up (wins plus half the draws).
| Players | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1400 | 48K | |
| 1400–1799 | 189K | |
| 1800–2199 | 204K | |
| 2200 and up | 25K | |
| Masters, over the board | 153 |
Master games
- Kasimdzhanov, R. – Vladimirov, E.
- Vescovi, G. P. – Rodriguez Vila, A.
- Azmaiparashvili, Z. – Hector, J.
- Olafsson, H. – Hector, J.
- Reinaldo Castineira, R. – Golod, V.
Rated blitz, rapid and classical Lichess games by rating band, and over-the-board games of players rated 2200+ from the Lichess masters database, updated Sep 27, 2026
Overview
Scotch Game: Steinitz Variation (ECO C45, Open Games) is a variation of the Scotch Game: Steinitz Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qh4 5. Nc3 (5 moves).
In 348,031 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 44.9%, Black 50.1% and 5.0% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…Bb4, in 92% of those games.
It continues into one named variation, Scotch Game: Modern Defense.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to answer 5. Nc3
The most played answer, 5…Bb4 (Scotch Game: Modern Defense), also scores best for Black: 53.3%, with Black winning 50.8% and White 44.1% of 321K games. Of the main answers, 5…Bc5 scores lowest: 44.7%. Stockfish's first choice is also 5…Bb4.
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
Popularity by year
This line has lost ground since 2016: 0.011% of Lichess games in 2025, down from 0.016% (its peak: 0.019% in 2018).
Numbers by year
| Year | Share of games | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.016% | 5,788 |
| 2017 | 0.018% | 9,682 |
| 2018 | 0.019% | 14,572 |
| 2019 | 0.017% | 20,820 |
| 2020 | 0.015% | 45,007 |
| 2021 | 0.014% | 54,055 |
| 2022 | 0.013% | 48,957 |
| 2023 | 0.013% | 48,798 |
| 2024 | 0.012% | 43,826 |
| 2025 | 0.011% | 38,572 |
| 2026 (Jan–Apr) | 0.011% | 12,142 |
Share of rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500 (blitz, rapid and classical) that reach this position, by year; 2026: January to April. Which openings are rising and falling
Variations (1)
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Scotch Game: Steinitz Variation (C45)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/scotch-game-steinitz-variation-2