The best place to take your chess game to the next level. This opening takes its name from one of its first appearances. He likes to play open and tactical positions. There are a few ways to offer a gambit as white in the Scotch Game.

Instead of recapturing the pawn on d4 immediately, or offering a gambit immediately with 4.c3, White develops the f1-bishop to c4, eyeing f7, and keeps Black guessing as to whether c2-c3 or Nf3xd4 will follow. If Black plays inaccurately then White can often get into favourable lines of the Göring Gambit (4.c3) following a subsequent c2-c3. A gambit is generally recognized chess term that refers to any chess opening in which one side sacrifices material (usually a pawn) in order to achieve an advantageous position. If black doesn’t capture the pawn now, it’ll leave white with a strong center after cxd4.

What I like about the Scotch Gambit is the fact that it’s an aggressive opening that gambles a pawn in a few variations, but at the same time, it’s an opening that can be played against master players with confidence. 3...d6 gives White a pleasant choice between 4.dxe5, 4.Bb5 (transposing to the Ruy Lopez, Steinitz Variation, which is quite passive for Black) and 4.Bc4 (which usually heads into the Hungarian Defence). Frequent updates – new openings, strategies and commentary are always being added. Black has to know the counter punch 6. Scotch Game Napoleon Gambit Cochrane vs Staunton, 1842 (C44) King's Pawn Game, 36 moves, 1-0. Grandmasters like Vachier Lagrave, Hikaru Nakamura or Magnus Carlsen have played the Scotch Gambit in tournament games. After 7. Nxe4 Bd7 9. … Nf6.

Tim Harding, Kibitzer #118, Giuoco Piano Revisited, Michael Goeller- Steinitz-Sveshnikov Attack Part 2, Mark Morss, Hard Chess, Two Knights Modern, Tim Harding, Kibitzer #115, Two Knights Defence with d4 (4...Nf6), Mark Morss, Hard Chess, The Main Line of the Two Knights (4...Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3 Qh5), Stefan Bücker, The Magic of Move Orders (covers 4...Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.fxg7!

This move wins a pawn back and exposes the black king! The Scotch Gambit is a completely sound gambit that’s been played by top grandmasters such as Grischuk, Carlsen or Radjabov. A Steinkuehler vs Blackburne, 1861 (C44) King's Pawn Game, 24 moves, 0-1. ), Tim Harding, Kibitzer #74, A Glass of Scotch, Tim Harding, Kibitzer #75, A Second Dram of the Scotch Gambit, Tim Harding, Kibitzer #65, Giuoco Piano, The Case for the Defence, Tim Harding, Kibitzer #69, Giuoco Piano, The Summing Up. If White plays 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4, then White must be ready for the Petroff Defence (2...Nf6), and the Philidor Defence (2...d6). After 2...Nc6 3.d4, however, Black has no good way to hold onto the strong-point on d4. The Scotch Gambit is another off-shoot of the Scotch Game. But if black takes the pawn, white can sacrifice the bishop with Bxf7! The Scotch Gambit is an opening that can be played after 1. e4 e5. C E Ranken vs Staunton, 1866 (C44) King's Pawn Game, 24 moves, 0-1. 0-0.

If you’re interested in more openings, read our article about the Scandinavian Defense. This gambit is solid, which is not something that can be said for most gambits. If you play this opening it’s always important to know how to respond to your opponents moves because one misstep and you will find yourself very behind. C Lehmann vs Zukertort, 1864 (C44) King's Pawn Game, 15 moves, 0-1. The most common, and one that we will focus on this page, is white playing Bc4 instead of taking with his knight on d4.

The next moves are 2. Neither capturing the d5 pawn en passant or capturing the knight on f6 is good for white. Michael Goeller, The Steinitz-Sveshnikov Attack (4...Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.e5!? Tim Harding, Kibitzer #70, Giuoco Piano, White Wins The Case! … Bc5. It’s playable, but it’s a not a good move for black. The Scotch Gambit is an exciting opening for white to choose, immediately placing the bishop on its most active diagonal and not being afraid to sacrifice a pawn!

L Rosen vs Janowski, 1900 (C55) Two Knights Defense, 23 moves, 0-1. Get Unlimited Access To All Of Our Strategies, Practice Games And More. At the same time, it’s full of opening traps that black can fall into if he’s not careful.

At the same time, it’s full of opening traps that black can fall into if he’s not careful. It often transitions into the Two Knights Defense or the Giuoco Piano.

After that, the pawn on c3 will fall as well, unless black wants to capture on b2 and give white a massive lead in development after Bxb2 in addition to the weak black king. Watch the video below to learn more about extended lines in this opening. Instead of recapturing the pawn on d4 immediately, or offering a gambit immediately with 4.c3, White develops the f1-bishop to c4, eyeing f7, and keeps Black guessing as to whether c2-c3 or Nf3xd4 will follow. … d5. After black captures the bishop with Kxf7, white follows up with Dd5+ and forks the king and bishop. White continues to be aggressive and attack the knight with 6. e5. On first glance, this might look dangerous for white. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. In fact, after cxb2 and Bxb2, white achieved an improved version of the Danish Gambit and has the advantage. Most other gambits fall under the category tricks only, and can only be played against weak players. 0-0, white has regained the pawn and created an unbalanced position with chances for both sites.
Jonas has been playing tournament chess for 13 years. The Scotch Gambit What is a gambit? Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4.

Bc4) repertoire book for white. Bb5 to get the bishop out of danger and to pin the knight on c6. Playing gambit openings is often recommended to those who have only started discovering the beauty of our ancient game. Theory is explained clearly enough for intermediate level and illustrative games are provided. Here your task is to convert an extra piece, but first, you need to force the win of a piece by using the weak point f7. Let me introduce you to my favorite chess opening: The Scotch Gambit. The Edinburgh Chess Club used the Scotch Gambit during a correspondence match with the London Chess Club in the early 1800s. After 7. White will also try to gain control of the square c5 with moves like Be3, Nd2, Nb3 and a potential queen maneuver Qf3-Qc3.

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4, the most important continuations are:

Instant, full access to ALL games, strategies, videos, game analyzer, and more. White achieves material equality and the black king is weak. ), Michael Goeller, Modern Horowitz Variation of the Max Lange Attack (4...Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.fxg7), Stefan Bücker, Rook with a View, for Two Knights, (covers an interesting pawn sacrifice idea against 4...Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3 Qh5, which can also be used against 8...Qa5), Michael Goeller, The Anti-Modern 5...Ng4 (4...Nf6 5.e5 Ng4).

This does many different things but it delays the middle control of the board with the knight and pawn in exchange for a very powerful bishop that eyes down on the f7 pawn from black. … Ne4 8. Black, on the other hand, will try to bully the white pieces by pushing the c- and e-pawns with c5, e4 and c4. This is a logical move that you’ll face often because it protects the d4 pawn and develops a piece. The Scotch Gambit is another off-shoot of the Scotch Game. Z Sarakauskiene vs … Now white gambits a second pawn in exchange for rapid development. All variations where black keeps the extra pawn in the Scotch Gambit are favorable for white.

While the Scotch Game can be one of the slower games and can lead to very unexciting matches, the Scotch Gambit takes it to the other extreme as both sides have the opportunity to give up material early on in exchange for a non-material, yes crucial, advantage. It often transitions into the Two Knights Defense or the Giuoco Piano. But again, white can reply with 6. c3! Bc4.

White can respond with the powerful 6. c3!

The following trap, a variation called the Haxo Gambit, has won me dozen of games: Black plays 5. Good Scotch Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Bc4. I recommend the Scotch Gambit to any chess player who’s looking for open and interesting positions. View all posts by Jonas K, 20 Chess Statistics That Will Impress Friends & Family, Grand Prix Attack: Guide to Beat the Sicilian, White plays d4 to open up files in the center and create an open and tactical game, White temporarily gives up the d4 pawn and strives for fast development instead, e5, to kick the knight on f6 away, grab more space in the center, and potentially open the e-file. Let’s look at a second trap, which comes out of a variation that’s called the london defense variation.

White’s plan from this position will be to play f3 and f4, to support the pawn on e5 and gain space on the king side. Sf3 Sc6 4. d4 exd4 5. The Scotch Gambit is an opening that allows white to take the initiative quickly and create an open game.The Scotch Gambit appears after the move order 1. e4 e5 2. All variations where black keeps the extra pawn in the Scotch Gambit are favorable for white. Scotch Gambit Trap If you don't know this trap, you should! Stockfish evaluates this position with +0.3 – a position where you’re two pawns down and the evaluation is still in your favor is always fun to play! … dxc3, white simply castles away from the discovered check with 8. The main line of the Scotch Gambit is 5. Chess Gambits- Harking back to the 19th century! While the Scotch Game can be one of the slower games and can lead to very unexciting matches, the Scotch Gambit takes it to the other extreme as both sides have the opportunity to give up material early on in exchange for a non-material, yes crucial, advantage. The Scotch Gambit is a completely sound gambit that’s been played by top grandmasters such as Grischuk, Carlsen or Radjabov. The Scotch Gambit is a fantastic opening for club players and a good opening for chess professionals. If aggressive, classical chess appeals to you, you might want to check out this opening. Therefore, white plays the move 7. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Black also has dubious but tricky gambit lines, the Elephant (2...d5) and the Latvian (2...f5).