The Scotch Opening

The Classic Opening is much better, but some grand masters prefer the Scotch Opening. This will appear a lot. This opening leads to some more boring games, but it has a good win record. There are many variations with Scotch in them. There is the Scotch 2, 3, and 4 knights game. This will normally lead to draws. It is probably best that you don't play it unless you really want to draw. The classic defense attacks are probably your best bet. The main line reads 1. e4, e5 2. Nf3, Nc6 3. d4.

The Scotch Opening

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
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If you don't move pxp, you are asking for trouble. This was first used by an Englishman who played a Scotch man. The English Opening was already taken, so they chose to call it the Scotch Game or the Scotch opening. Black should always move 3...pxp 4. Nxp. Black has a variety of choices here. He can move his queen out to f3, he can put his knight in front of the e pawn, or he can move his bishop out to c5. Of course there is always exchanging the knight. Let's start with Qf3. This is a very passive move. The knight doesn't have to take yours. This leaves the queen out to dry. If he does, QxN which threatens the pawn is responded to by Bd3 which doesn’t block a pawn and develops while protecting.

The Scotch Opening Exchange Variation

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
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Next is Ne5. This move stinks because white develops another center pawn by pushing f3. After that is just taking the knight (shown to the left). This is a good move if you are not used to the Scotch Opening. However, white's queen is safe in the center. Black cannot move his dark bishop out yet or he loses a pawn (g7). This is more passive, but more safe. Finally, there is Bc5. What good is that? White doubles black's pawns. This is not so. Black can move Qf3 now and it forks the checkmate and the knight. This saves black from doubled pawns. Now black is ahead in development and the queen is safe. This is probably your best move.