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1.Opening

Scotch Gambit

You play WhiteC44GambitIntermediate

A Scotch where White skips 4.Nxd4 and develops the bishop to c4 instead. Fast development and early e5 pushes against an unprepared opponent.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.e5 d5 …

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4...Nf6 5.e5: position after 9 moves8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h
4...Nf6 5.e5: position after 9 moves
2.Ideas

What the opening is about

Key ideas

  1. 4.Bc4 develops first and lets Black keep d4 for a while — the pawn is usually won back later.
  2. e5 kicks the f6 knight and gains space; ...d5 is Black's key reply.
  3. Against 4...Nf6, Bb5 + Nxd4 regains the pawn and damages Black's structure.
  4. The Max Lange Attack (4...Bc5 5.O-O) leads to wild positions where Re1+ and Ng5 hunt Black's king.
3.Line 1

Line 1 of 2 · 17 moves

4...Nf6 5.e5

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Your moves Opponent
No. White Black1
e4Grabs the center and opens diagonals for the queen and the light-squared bishop. The most popular first move in chess.
e5Black mirrors White, claiming an equal share of the center and freeing their own queen and bishop.
2
Nf3Develops toward the center and immediately attacks the e5 pawn. Knights before bishops is a good rule of thumb.
Nc6Defends e5 while developing a knight to its most natural square. Black also gains control of d4.
3
d4Strikes the center at once.
exd4Black takes.
After 3…exd4
After 3…exd4
No. White Black4
Bc4The Scotch Gambit: instead of recapturing, White develops the bishop toward f7 and lets Black keep the pawn for now.
Nf6Develops and attacks e4 — this position can also arise from the Two Knights Defense.
5
e5Kicks the knight away from its best square and gains space.
d5The best reply: counterattacks the c4 bishop instead of retreating the knight.
6
Bb5The bishop steps aside and pins the c6 knight, which guards d4.
Ne4The knight jumps to an active central square.
After 6…Ne4
After 6…Ne4
No. White Black7
Nxd4Now White wins the pawn back, with a knight in the center.
Bd7Breaks the pin so the c6 knight is no longer stuck.
8
Bxc6Trades off the defender so Black has to recapture with a pawn.
bxc6Black recaptures; the c-pawns are now doubled and weak.
9
O-OKing to safety. Next comes f3 to kick the e4 knight, and the e5 pawn keeps Black cramped.
After 9.O-O
After 9.O-O
4.Line 2

Line 2 of 2 · 29 moves

Max Lange Attack

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Your moves Opponent
No. White Black1
e4Grabs the center and opens diagonals for the queen and the light-squared bishop. The most popular first move in chess.
e5Black mirrors White, claiming an equal share of the center and freeing their own queen and bishop.
2
Nf3Develops toward the center and immediately attacks the e5 pawn. Knights before bishops is a good rule of thumb.
Nc6Defends e5 while developing a knight to its most natural square. Black also gains control of d4.
3
d4Strikes the center at once.
exd4Black takes.
After 3…exd4
After 3…exd4
No. White Black4
Bc4The Scotch Gambit: develop first, win the pawn back later.
Bc5Black develops the bishop and protects the extra d4 pawn.
5
O-OCastles before anything else, ready to open the e-file with Re1.
Nf6Develops and attacks e4.
6
e5The Max Lange Attack: kick the knight and start a fight right away.
d5Black hits back at the c4 bishop instead of moving the knight.
After 6…d5
After 6…d5
No. White Black7
exf6White takes the knight and leaves the bishop hanging — f6 opens Black's kingside.
dxc4Black takes the bishop. Material is level, but Black's king is still in the center.
8
Re1+Check! The rook pours onto the open e-file.
Be6Blocks the check, but the bishop on e6 is now a target.
9
Ng5Attacks the e6 bishop, which is pinned to Black's king.
Qd5Defends e6 and puts the queen in the center.
After 9…Qd5
After 9…Qd5
No. White Black10
Nc3Develops with tempo, hitting the queen.
Qf5The queen keeps defending e6 from a safer square.
11
Nce4The knight hits the c5 bishop and supports the f6 pawn.
O-O-OBlack gets the king out of the center.
12
g4Kicks the queen off the f5 square, where it defends e6.
Qe5The queen finds a central square that still keeps an eye on the kingside.
After 12…Qe5
After 12…Qe5
No. White Black13
Nxe6Trades off Black's bishop and opens the f-file.
fxe6Black recaptures.
14
fxg7The f6 pawn captures again and attacks the h8 rook, getting close to promotion.
Rhg8The rook steps aside and blocks the g-pawn.
15
Bh6Protects the g7 pawn. It ties down Black's rook — a typical Max Lange position.
After 15.Bh6
After 15.Bh6
5.Play

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6.More

More 1.e4 openings