Scotch Gambit
Initial Moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4
Strategic Summary & Main Idea
The Scotch Gambit is the Scotch in which White does not recapture the d4 pawn: 4.Bc4 develops the bishop against f7 and leaves Black's pawn on d4 to be regained later — or never. The position measures +0.12, close to equality. What decides is Black's answer on move five. Against 4...Bc5 5.c3, taking with 5...dxc3? measures +0.86; against 4...Nf6, the Max Lange Attack measures +0.34 with 9.fxg7 and −0.25 with 9.Ng5, the most played move. The Möller Attack, which made the gambit famous, ends at −0.09.
The pawn structure this opening produces
The Scotch Gambit opens the centre on move three and never closes it again. After 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4, White has a lone e4 pawn in the centre and Black an extra pawn on d4, which blocks the c1 bishop's diagonal but can be attacked by c3 or the queen. The structure is decided by what happens to that pawn. If White plays c3 and Black does not accept, the c3 pawn recaptures on d4 and White has the classical e4-d4 centre, against which Black needs ...d5. If Black accepts with ...dxc3, White's centre disappears, but the c- and d-files open and the c4 bishop gains force against f7 — that is where 6.Bxf7+ works. If White pushes e5 against the f6 knight, the structure resembles an open French: the e5 pawn gains space and Black answers ...d5, attacking the bishop and opening the c8 bishop's diagonal. Black's weak point is always f7, and White's is the king still in the centre when the game opens too early.
Typical Plans for White
- Play 5.c3 against 4...Bc5 and regain the centre with cxd4 or push e5 against the knight
- Against 5...dxc3, do not recapture: 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Qd5+ wins the c5 bishop and measures +0.86
- Against 4...Nf6, play the Max Lange Attack with 5.O-O Bc5 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+
- In the Max Lange, choose 9.fxg7 rather than 9.Ng5: the difference is six tenths
- Do not expect an edge from the Möller Attack with 6.cxd4: the line ends at −0.09
Typical Plans for Black
- Answer 4...Bc5 and keep the d4 pawn while White has not regained it
- Against 5.c3, develop with ...Nf6 instead of accepting the pawn with ...dxc3
- Against 4...Nf6 5.e5, play 5...d5 hitting the bishop: 5...Ng4 measures +0.44
- Against 5.O-O, return the pawn with ...Nxe4 and ...d5 to complete development
- Do not retreat with 4...Be7: the d4 pawn falls without compensation and the position measures +0.48
Main Variations of the Scotch Gambit
| Variation | Move Sequence | Evaluation | Style / Characteristic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4...Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.e5 | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ |
+0.17 | The modern line: the e5 pawn drives the knight away and White regains d4 |
| Möller Attack (6.cxd4) | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.O-O Bxc3 9.d5 |
−0.09 | The classical, beautiful attack, which ends in equality against precise defence |
| 4...Bc5 5.O-O d6 | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.O-O d6 6.c3 Bg4 |
−0.24 | Black defends d4 with the pawn and pins the knight; the lowest evaluation in the entry |
| 4...Nf6 5.e5 d5 | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 |
+0.05 | Black's central counter; White regains the pawn and the game equalises |
| 4...Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3 Qa5 9.Nxe4 Be6 |
+0.17 | Black returns the pawn for development, and the rook on e1 collects |
| Max Lange Attack (9.fxg7) | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+ Be6 9.fxg7 |
+0.34 | The capture on g7 opens Black's king; the line the engine chooses |
| 4...Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.O-O |
−0.01 | Black accepts the second pawn and White plays for development |
Evaluations measured by us with Stockfish 19, depth 22, on 15/09/2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Scotch Gambit and the Scotch Game?
The fourth move. In the Scotch Game, White recaptures with 4.Nxd4 and keeps a symmetrical centre; in the Scotch Gambit, White plays 4.Bc4 and leaves the d4 pawn with Black. The gambit measures +0.12, close to equality, and trades the stable structure for open play against f7.
Does the Möller Attack work?
Not by the measurement. After 4...Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.O-O Bxc3 9.d5, the position measures −0.09. The attack is beautiful and still wins games against players who do not know the defence, but against precise defence Black keeps the piece. The modern line, 6.e5, measures +0.07.
Why is 9.Ng5 in the Max Lange a mistake?
Because the knight on g5 has no support. After 9.Ng5, the engine answers 9...g6, securing the kingside before the pressure on e6 arrives, and the position measures −0.25. The capture 9.fxg7, less known, opens the g-file against Black's king and measures +0.34 — six tenths between the two moves.
Guides on this opening
Common Mistakes & Where Most Amateurs Go Wrong
- 01 Accepting the second pawn with 5...dxc3? against 4...Bc5 5.c3. The c5 bishop is left undefended: 6.Bxf7+! Kxf7 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ regains the piece with Black's king displaced, and the position measures +0.86, against −0.12 for the natural recapture 6.Nxc3. The line:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.c3 dxc3 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5++0.86 - 02 Playing 9.Ng5? in the Max Lange Attack, the line's best-known move. After 8...Be6 9.Ng5, the engine answers 9...g6, and White's edge disappears: −0.25, against +0.34 for 9.fxg7. The line:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+ Be6 9.Ng5−0.25 - 03 Attacking the pawn with 5...Ng4? against 4...Nf6 5.e5. The knight leaves the centre and pressures nothing: 6.O-O d6 7.exd6 Bxd6 8.Re1+ and Black's king is stuck in the centre, +0.44, against +0.05 for 5...d5. The line:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.e5 Ng4 6.O-O d6 7.exd6 Bxd6 8.Re1++0.44
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