Don Chess

Learn the Scotch Gambit

The Scotch with extra spice: instead of taking the pawn back you develop at lightning speed and aim at f7. Lots of traps for unprepared opponents.

You play with White. How you learn it with Don Chess: watch first, then play it with an arrow, then from memory – with spaced repetition until it sticks. Free, no sign-up.

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The main line

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.O-O

C56 · Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack

The position after the main line

The moves explained

Why is each move played? The explanations come from the opening trainer – there you play the moves yourself afterwards.

  1. 1.e4 Occupies the centre with a pawn on e4.
  2. 1…e5 Occupies the centre with a pawn on e5.
  3. 2.Nf3 Develops the knight to f3 – pieces out first, then attack.
  4. 2…Nc6 Develops the knight to c6 – pieces out first, then attack.
  5. 3.d4 Attacks the pawn on e5 – the fight for the centre begins.
  6. 3…exd4 Takes the pawn on d4.
  7. 4.Bc4 Develops the bishop to c4 – pieces out first, then attack.
  8. 4…Nf6 Develops the knight to f6 – pieces out first, then attack.
  9. 5.e5 Occupies the centre with a pawn on e5.
  10. 5…d5 Occupies the centre with a pawn on d5.
  11. 6.Bb5 The bishop was attacked and goes to safety on b5.
  12. 6…Ne4 The knight was attacked and goes to safety on e4.
  13. 7.Nxd4 Takes the pawn on d4.
  14. 7…Bd7 Develops the bishop to d7 – pieces out first, then attack.
  15. 8.Bxc6 Takes the knight on c6.
  16. 8…bxc6 Takes back on c6 – material is level again.
  17. 9.O-O Castles: the king is safe and the rook joins the game.

Idea and plans

The idea

With 3.d4 White opens the centre at once and trades off the e5 pawn.

Plan for White

Fast development, keep the knight centralised on d4, often e5 to gain space.

Plan for Black

Pressure d4 and e4 with …Bc5 or …Nf6; …d5 frees the game.

The 3 lines in the course

Grey: the moves shared with the main line. Bold: the move where the line leaves it.

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More openings