Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. d4/3...exd4

Scotch Game
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/8/3pP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R w
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4

Scotch Game

The main line is the natural move 4. Nxd4. White physically occupies the center and Black will probably attack it with 4...Bc5 or 4...Nf6.

White has also two other options.

4. Bc4, the Scotch Gambit. White leaves the pawn in peace and tries to establish attacking pressure with a lead in development.

4. c3, the Göring Gambit. A gambit that is quite similar to the Danish Gambit.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4

	4
Main line	Nxd4 -	=
Scotch Gambit	Bc4 -	=
Göring Gambit	c3 d5	=

References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.