The Scotch knight jump is lesson 3 of 10 in Brilliant sacrifices 3: king hunts, an opening course suited to players rated around 1500 (club players). Scotch Game, Steinitz Variation, C45. White leaves the e4 pawn to chase the queen and the king. It has 3 interactive exercises: 3 find-the-move puzzles. You play every move on a board and get feedback straight away. The lesson is free.
What this lesson explains
This is the Scotch Game. Black's queen came out early to h4 and hits e4. White does not guard the pawn. A knight jump targets c7 instead. About 1 million rated games on Lichess have reached this position.
Nb5! The knight threatens Nxc7 check, forking the king and the rook. Black checks with Bb4 and grabs the e4 pawn with check.
After Bd2 and Qxe4 check, Be2 blocks. Black's king must step to d8 to guard c7. White castles, trades on d2, and gains time on the queen. Black is a pawn up, but the king is stuck in the centre. The engines like White a little.
Recap.
An early queen on h4 hits e4.
Nb5 leaves e4 and threatens Nxc7 check.
Block the checks with Bd2 and Be2.
The black king gets stuck on d8.
What you practise
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the Scotch Game, up to the moment of the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. Black's queen hits e4. Do not guard it. Jump with a knight toward c7.
Black takes the pawn with check at once. Block with the bishop.
Worked examples
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the Scotch Game, up to the moment of the sacrifice. Good. Black answers Qh4. Now the position is ready for the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. Black's queen hits e4. Do not guard it. Jump with a knight toward c7. That is the knight jump. A pawn for a long attack on the black king.
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