C45

Scotch Game: Tartakower Variation

Chess diagram: Scotch Game: Tartakower Variation after 6. Nd2

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Statistics from Lichess

15,596 games: White 49.2% / Draw 8.3% / Black 42.5%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
6,3506,350
5,9285,928
1,3291,329
798798
316316
309309
163163
135135

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Sep 26, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.06 The position is about equal

Best play: 6... Bc5 7. Nb3 Nxe4 8. Nxc5 Nxc5 9. Be3 Qe7 10. Qh5 d5 11. Be2

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

Overview

Scotch Game: Tartakower Variation (ECO C45, Open Games) is a variation of the Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Nd2 (6 moves).

In 15,596 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.2%, Black 42.5% and 8.3% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…d5, in 41% of those games.

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How to play against the Scotch Game: Tartakower Variation

6…Bc5 scores best for Black: 50.5%, with Black winning 47.0% and White 46.0% of 5,928 games. The most played answer, 6…d5, scores lowest: 43.9% in 6,350 games. Stockfish's first choice is also 6…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: Tartakower Variation (C45)”. Lichess data as of 26 Sep 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/scotch-game-tartakower-variation