Scotch Game | Ideas, Principles and Common Variations

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The Scotch is a recently revived opening which can be quite deadly in the right hands! There are numerous options for both sides both white and black can prepare deadly surprises in it!

The Scotch Game got its name after a correspondence match played between London and Edinburgh in the 19th century. During the romantic era of chess, up until 1900, it was considered a sound opening and frequently used. It was even featured in opening manuals at the time.

When classical chess started to develop, the Scotch got left out and it was considered to be bad for white because it allows black to equalize comfortably and without even trying. It was sporadically played in the 20th century, and never really as a main opening or on the highest level. Until Garry Kasparov. During his 1990 match against Karpov, Kasparov played the Scotch to everyone’s surprise. He wanted to avoid the Ruy Lopez perhaps. His preparation was immaculate and his ideas sound and aggressive. He caught Karpov off guard and scored 1.5/2 in their first two games in the Scotch.

Later on, the opening was taken seriously again, and slowly but surely it began to be played on all levels and it was considered a good weapon for white against the king’s pawn.

The idea behind the Scotch is simple. White is trying to release central tension and trade his d pawn for black’s e5 pawn, thus reducing black’s central control and giving his pawn a possibility to advance. The result is a game completely different to the closed Spanish or Italian position.

In the series we are going to be looking at six different variations in depth, every one in a separate video.

4. Bc4 Scotch Gambit
4. c3 Goring Gambit
4. Nxd4
4...Bc5 Classical Variation
4...Nf6 Schmidt Variation
4...Bb4+ Malaniuk Variation
4...Qh4 Steinitz Variation


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