Chess opening · ECO C45
Scotch Game: Classical Variation
After 4.Nxd4 in the Scotch, the Classical Variation develops the dark-squared bishop to c5 straight away. It is not just a developing move. The bishop and the c6 knight both hit the d4 knight, which only the queen defends, so White has to react on move five. Each of White's answers leads to a different kind of game.
- Rank by weighted share
- #115 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5
- 4. Nxd4White recaptures with the knight and now has a pawn on e4 against no black pawn in the center. The knight on d4 is centralized, but it is also a target that Black can pile up on.
- 4... Bc5The bishop lands on the c5 square and adds a second attacker to d4, next to the c6 knight. Its diagonal toward f2 is blocked by the d4 knight for now, but it opens as soon as that knight moves.
Three ways to handle the d4 knight
5.Nxc6 trades the knight off. After 5...Qf6 the queen and the c5 bishop both bear down on f2, so White covers it, usually with 6.Qd2, before Black takes back on c6.
5.Be3 adds a defender and keeps the knight in place. Black often answers 5...Qf6, putting a third attacker on d4, and White replies 6.c3 to match it. The game turns into a fight over that one knight.
5.Nb3 retreats with a hit on the bishop. After 5...Bb6, White can push the a-pawn toward a5 to chase the bishop again, and Black answers with ...a6, which gives the bishop a7, or ...a5, which stops the pawn.
Where the black queen goes
The queen often comes to f6 in this line. From there she adds to the pressure on d4 and, along the f-file, on f2. With the queen on f6, the king's knight usually develops to e7 instead.
The Be3 and c3 setup
5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bc4
White guards d4 with the e3 bishop and the c3 pawn, then develops the other bishop to c4. With the queen on f6, Black's king's knight develops to e7. Both sides have pieces aimed at the same central square.
Top replies by rating
Nxc6 leads from 1200 to 1799, Be3 tops the 1800 to 1999 band, and Nb3 leads at 2000 and up. The share of Nxc6 shrinks as the rating rises.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | Nxc6 74% | Be3 26% | – |
| 1200–1399 | Nxc6 65% | Be3 23% | c3 8% |
| 1400–1599 | Nxc6 57% | Be3 29% | c3 7% |
| 1600–1799 | Nxc6 44% | Be3 42% | c3 7% |
| 1800–1999 | Be3 43% | Nxc6 41% | Nb3 8% |
| 2000 and up | Nb3 42% | Be3 38% | Nxc6 20% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.