Scotch Game

The Scotch (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4) is the most direct way to open the centre as White. Instead of the slow build-up in the Italian or Spanish, White cracks the position open on move three. The Scotch was buried for most of the 20th century - considered too easy for Black to equalise - but Kasparov resurrected it in his world championship matches against Karpov in 1990, and it's been a serious weapon ever since.

Main line: Mieses Variation

After 3...exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5, the modern main line begins. White's pawn on e5 attacks the f6 knight, and Black plays 6...Qe7 pinning the e-pawn. Then 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 leads to a structurally rich middlegame with chances for both sides. The classical Scotch endgame - Black's bishop pair against White's better pawn structure - is one of the most theoretically important in chess.

Variations

Classical (4...Bc5)

Instead of ...Nf6, Black plays 4...Bc5 hitting the d4 knight. White can play 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Bd3 with the same idea as Mieses, or 5.Be3 Qf6 with sharper play. The Classical Scotch is solid for Black but less ambitious than the Mieses lines.

Steinitz Variation (4...Qh4)

Black plays a wild queen-out gambit, going for an immediate attack. After 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Be2 Qxe4 7.Nb5 things get sharp - White has development for the pawn and threatens Nxc7+ or Nd6+. Considered unsound for Black at the top level but practical at club level if you're prepared.

Scotch Gambit (4.Bc4)

Instead of recapturing on d4, White develops a piece and offers the d-pawn as a temporary gambit. After 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.O-O d6 6.c3 or other tries, White hopes to recover the pawn with active play. Transposes into various Italian-like positions and is a common alternative for players who want a fresher approach.

Common traps

Don't capture on e4 too early as Black: in some Scotch lines, after Black has played ...exd4, the e4 pawn looks free. But ...Nxe4 can run into Re1 or Qe2 with a pin, and Black ends up worse. Always count attackers and defenders before grabbing.

Watch the d4 knight: in the main line, after 4.Nxd4 the knight on d4 is a target. ...Bb4+, ...Qh4, and ...c5 are all moves that threaten the knight or pin it. White must develop quickly and not let the knight sit awkwardly.

Typical plans for White

In the Mieses, White's plan is straightforward: open the position, trade the queenside knight for Black's, push e5 to cramp the f6 knight, and play for the better pawn structure in the endgame. The half-open d-file is useful for a rook. Long-term, Black's doubled c-pawns are a liability and White converts them in the endgame. In the Scotch Gambit, the plan is faster development and an Italian-style attack on f7.

The Scotch is for players who want a 1.e4 weapon with less memorisation than the Ruy Lopez. The drills below cover the Mieses main line, Classical, and Scotch Gambit.