Don Chess

Learn the Scotch Game

No small talk: with 3.d4 you open the centre at once. Open play, fast pieces – one of Kasparov’s favourite openings.

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.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.Bc4

C45 · Scotch Game: Classical Variation

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.Nxd4 Takes back on d4 – material is level again.
  8. 4…Bc5 Develops the bishop to c5 – pieces out first, then attack.
  9. 5.Be3 Develops the bishop to e3 – pieces out first, then attack.
  10. 5…Qf6 The queen comes to f6 and puts on pressure.
  11. 6.c3 Gains space with the pawn on c3.
  12. 6…Nge7 Develops the knight to e7 – pieces out first, then attack.
  13. 7.Bc4 Develops the bishop to c4 – pieces out first, then attack.

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 8 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