Scotch Game Classical Variation

The Classical Variation is one of the two most popular ways for black to defend against the Scotch.

For an introduction to the Scotch, watch this video on the basics:    • Scotch Game | Ideas, Principles and C...  

The Classical Scotch is one of those openings which can lead to several different types of positions, and with which black allows white to choose the nature of the position. With the aggressive Bc5, black puts pressure on the d4 knight and forces white to make a decision.

White now has to take the game in of the three possible directions by choosing how he is going to respond to black’s threat. The three options are defending the knight, retreating the knight, or exchanging it for the c6 knight.

The Potter Variation, in which white plays Nb3, and simply retreats, is, in my opinion, the least favorable for white. Black seems to be able to achieve aggressive setups and is the one who most often starts the attack first.

In the Nxc6 variation (sometimes called the Kasparov Variation), white trades off the knight and aims for a slightly better pawn structure. Black’s continuation Qf6, called the intermezzo variation, is what deters most Scotch players from choosing it. Black threatens mate and forces Qd2 or Qf3, and only then recaptured dxc, thus declining a queen trade.

The main line, and probably the most active and most aggressive move for white is Be3, simply defending the d4 knight and keeping the central tension.

As with every variation of any given opening, studying games should be the basis of your study. There have been almost 6000 strong games played with Bc5 against the Scotch. Analyze as many as you can. That will be the fastest way to improve your understanding of the intricacies of the variation.

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