The Complete Chess Course From Beginning To Winning Chess! (2016)

Book Seven

How to Play the e-pawn Openings

Scotch Game

With his third and fourth moves, White violates the principles of rapid development. At move 4 Black is able to develop with gain of time and is thus assured of equality.

(a) 4…Bc5 Variation

Scotch Game

White - Black

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4

A possibility here is 4.Bc4. After 4…Nf6 White can lead into the Two Knights’ Defense with 5.0-0 or 5.e5, or he can continue the gambit proper with 5.c3 dxc3 6.Nxc3. This gives him an active development as partial compensation for his pawn.

4…Bc5 (D)

Position after 4…Bc5

Black develops with attack - pure gain of time. The following struggle for control of the center squares is very interesting and certainly offers Black no difficulty.

5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.Nc2 Bxe3 8.Nxe3 0-0 9.Be2 d6 10.0-0 Be6 11.Nd2 d5!

The classic equalizing move. The game is perfectly even.

(b) 4…Nf6 Variation

Scotch Game

White - Black

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5 8.exd5

After 8.e5 Black gets a good game with 8…Ng4 or 8…Ne4. (D)

Position after 8.exd5

Black’s simplest equalizing method is 8…Qe7+ 9.Qe2 Nxd5 10.Qxe7+ Kxe7 etc.

8…cxd5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5 Be6 11.Qf3 Be7

Even game. White’s position is more aggressive, but Black has ample resources.