Scotch Game: main line, ideas and how to practise it

1.e4 e5 for White. A main line to learn move by move, with the idea behind each key move.

The main line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bc4

You play White. In the analyzer's drill the other side's moves are played for you and Stockfish checks each of yours.

Practise it with free drillsAnalyze one of your own games

The ideas behind the moves

• 3. d4: Open the centre straight away.
• 4. Nxd4: White has a knight in the centre and free development.
• 5. Be3: Meet the bishop's pressure on d4 by defending with a developing move.
• 6. c3: c3 holds d4 solidly, so the knight isn't pinned against f2 by tactics.
• 7. Bc4: Every piece heads for a useful square; the bishop hits f7.

Legends who played it

• Magnus Carlsen: 31 games in the Scotch Game, 65% score
• Wilhelm Steinitz: 25 games in the Scotch Game, 72% score
• Garry Kasparov: 23 games in the Scotch Game, 80% score
• Emanuel Lasker: 22 games in the Scotch Game, 68% score
• Anatoly Karpov: 16 games in the Scotch Game, 56% score
• Alexander Alekhine: 13 games in the Scotch Game, 77% score
• Mikhail Tal: 7 games in the Scotch Game, 57% score
• Paul Morphy: 6 games in the Scotch Game, 100% score

More openings to learn

• Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo
  1.e4 e5 for White
• Ruy Lopez: Closed
  1.e4 e5 for White
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox
  1.d4 for White
• London System
  1.d4 for White
• Sicilian Najdorf: English Attack
  Against 1.e4 as Black
• Caro-Kann: Classical
  Against 1.e4 as Black
• French Defence: Advance
  Against 1.e4 as Black
• Scandinavian Defence
  Against 1.e4 as Black
• King's Indian: Classical
  Against 1.d4 as Black
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Tartakower
  Against 1.d4 as Black