The Scotch Game

Honestly, I'm not sure why I'm so taken with the Scotch, but it's this week's opening for me. (And Greg, I'm ready for the Steinitz variation (4. … Qh4) now!)

The Scotch Game received its name from a correspondence match in 1824 between Edinburgh and London. Popular in the 19^th century, by 1900 the Scotch had lost favor among top players because it was thought to release the central tension too early and allow Black to equalize without difficulty. More recently, the Scotch has regained some popularity and it has been used by grandmasters Kasparov and Timman as a surprise weapon to avoid the well-analyzed Ruy Lopez.

White aims to dominate the center by exchanging the d pawn for Black's e pawn. Black is practically forced to play 3. … exd4 as there is no good way to maintain the pawn on e5. After 3. … d6, White is better after 4. dxe5 dxe5 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6.Bc4, or 4. Bb5, when 4. … exd4 5. Nxd4 Bd7 transposes to the Steinitz defense to the Ruy Lopez. 3. … Nxd4? is a strategic error: after 4. Nxd4 exd4 5. Qxd4 (5.Bc4 is the Napoleon Gambit) White's queen stands on a central square, and is not developed too early since it cannot be chased away effectively (5. … c5? is a seriously weakening move that blocks Black's king's bishop). After 3. … exd4, White can respond with the main line 4. Nxd4 or play a gambit by offering Black one or two pawns in exchange for rapid development.

There are 2,657 Scotch Games at ChessGames.com.

(more on the Scotch Game to follow… See also The Scotch, Statistically, Scotch Commentary)

Source: Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_Game. Retrieved 2007-04-26