Scotch Game: Classical Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code C45, part of the Scotch Game family. It goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 8 moves it is White to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.
The moves
1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
1... e5 – Black plays the pawn to e5
2. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
2... Nc6 – Black plays the knight to c6
3. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
3... exd4 – Black captures on d4 with the e-pawn
4. Nxd4 – White takes on d4 with the knight
4... Bc5 – Black plays the bishop to c5
In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 5. Nxc6, 5. Be3.
About the Scotch Game
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6, White plays 3.d4 at once to open the centre. It leads to open, clear positions with fast development.
After 3...exd4 4.Nxd4, White has a strong knight in the centre.
Black challenges with ...Bc5 or ...Nf6 and often trades knights on d4.
After Nxc6 bxc6, Black gets a strong centre but a weaker pawn structure.
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