Scotch Game
Direct alternative to the Spanish. Opens the center early for tactical play.
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1. e4 › Scotch Game
Change
Sequence
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.d4exd44.Nxd4Qh45.Nb5Bb4+6.Bd2
Possible Variations2
6... Qxe4+2 variations
About this opening
The Scotch Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4) opens the center at once: after 3...exd4 4.Nxd4, White enjoys easy development and clear play, away from the deep theory of the Ruy Lopez. The Mieses Variation, the Classical and the Scotch Gambit are its main paths. Garry Kasparov brought it back into fashion in the 1990s, notably against Karpov.