The Scotch Gambit (4 ... Bc5)

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d4 exd4


White can choose to play the Scotch Game with 4. Nxd4 or the Scotch Gambit with 4. Bc4. A quick comparison in a database containing over 30,000 games in the position above reveals that 4. Bc4 should be preferred choice:

Move:                    4. Nxd4          4. Bc4

Played (%)             72%               22%
Win (%)                  42%               45%
Draw (%)                28%               23%
Lose (%)                30%               32%

The win percentage for the Scotch Gambit (45.5%) is impressive. White's drawing chances (22.7%) are low, meaning this opening is not ideal when playing for a draw. But the chances of losing (31.8%) do not seem to be much better for Black than had 4. Nd4 been played. White concedes a slightly higher chance (1.5%) of Black winning to gain a higher chance (3.3%) of winning for his side.

The statistics above are only meant for understanding and players should not dwell into them too much. The Scotch Game is a reliable and solid opening for White but here we are looking at the Scotch Gambit.

The move 4. Bc4 leaves Black with three ways to respond:

1. 4 ... Bc5
2. 4 ... Nf6 
3. 4 ... d6 / 4 ... Be7 / 4 ... Bb4+ 

Black would have to concede a considerable advantage to deviate from one of first two moves listed above. As an example, if Black played 4 ... h6, White would have an astonishing 67.5% chance of winning and 14.4% chance of drawing. In other words, Black cannot afford to play passively. Here 4 ... Bc5 will be covered.

The fifth move White plays can be 0-0, Ng5, and c3. The most popular response and one we will be looking at here is 5. c3. However, the two alternative moves can also be very interesting.



Black is left with one main response 5 ... Nf6. If Black plays (A) 5 ... d3 or (B) 5 ... dxc3 White responds, respectively, in the following manner:

(A) 5 ... d3
White is prevented from developing a very strong center with cxd4 but is left with an opportunity to gain another significant advantage: queenside space. The following continuation is important for understanding the ideas of how White should play: 6. b4 Bb6 7. Qb3 Qf6 8. 0-0 d6 9. a4 a6 10. a5 Ba7 11. b5! Ne5 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. bxa6 bxa6 14. Qa4+ Bd7 15. Qd1 Ne7 16. Qxd3 Bc8 17. Na3.

(B) 5 ... dxc3
Black's king is left unable to castle and in the center after 6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 7. Qd5+ Kf8 8. Qxc5+.

Playing 5 ... Nf6 leads to a line that arises in the Guicco Piano:



White should play 6. cxd4 establishing excellent central control. Black cannot afford to play passively, 6 ... Bb4+ and the game may continue 7. Bd2 Bxd2 8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Nce7 11. 0-0 0-0 12. Rfe1 c6 with a better position for White due to his more active and attacking position along with a develop rook on the e-file, good positioning of the knights, and overall undeveloped position of Black who cannot, for example, simply play Bg4 without protecting b-pawn.