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Openings 1.e4 e5: open games

Scotch Game: Main Lines, Ideas and Stats by Rating

3.d4 opens the center at once. White trades the d-pawn for Black’s e-pawn and gets a knight on d4 and free development. There is less theory than in the Ruy Lopez and the plans are easy to see.

For White1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4Seen in 2.2% of rated games

Lichess rating

C44Scotch Game

Games from this position (1600–1999): 127k

  1. 1.
  2. 2.
  3. 3.
MovePlayedGamesWhite · Draw · Black
86%109k52%43%
5%6,42753%41%
3%3,32952%45%
1%1,55452%44%
1%1,51756%39%
1.0%1,25253%43%
0.8%1,05053%43%
0.6%78661%36%
0.4%53149%47%
0.4%45957%40%
0.3%36056%40%
Practice as WhitePractice as Black

Plans for both sides

White

  • After 4.Nxd4 your knight sits in the center; meet ...Bc5 with Be3 or Nxc6, and ...Nf6 with Nxc6 and e5.
  • The e5 push drives Black’s knight away and gains space.
  • Castle short and use the open d-file for your rook.

Black

  • 3...exd4 is the main move; 3...Nxd4? 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.Qxd4 gives White a big center.
  • 4...Bc5 or 4...Nf6 both develop with tempo against the d4 knight or e4.
  • The ...d5 break frees your game; after doubled c-pawns it fixes White’s e5 pawn.

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Scotch Game at each rating

How often the position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.

RatingGames (Share of games)White · Draw · BlackTop next move
<120069k2.3%53%43%3...exd454%
1200–1599163k2.7%53%43%3...exd474%
1600–1999127k2.0%52%43%3...exd486%
2000+24k1.2%49%44%3...exd492%
All383k2.2%53%43%3...exd476%

What usually comes next

The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.

3...exd476%4.Nxd459%4.Bc423%4.Ng510%3...d68%4.dxe537%4.d537%4.Bc49%3...Nf64%4.dxe545%4.d531%4.Nc310%3.d4

Main variations

  • Black develops the bishop with tempo on d4. White usually plays Be3, Nxc6 or Nb3.

    40k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 5% were drawn, Black won 46%.

    Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5

  • White trades on c6 and pushes e5. Black answers ...Qe7 or ...Ne4 and fights the pawn.

    4,207 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 46%, 9% were drawn, Black won 45%.

    Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5

  • White does not take back and develops instead. It often turns into the Two Knights or a Max Lange.

    72k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 53%, 4% were drawn, Black won 43%.

    Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4

  • White offers a second pawn for a lead in development. Taking it is risky without preparation.

    22k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 54%, 4% were drawn, Black won 42%.

    Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3

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At club level

The Scotch is a great choice if you want an open game without learning the Ruy Lopez. Most club opponents answer 3...exd4 and then mix up the move order of ...Bc5 and ...Nf6, so knowing two plans is enough.

Practice it

The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.

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