Scotch Game: Hanneken Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code C44, part of the Scotch Game family. It goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bb4+ 5. c3 dxc3 6. O-O cxb2 7. Bxb2 Nf6 8. Ng5 O-O 9. e5 Nxe5. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 18 moves it is White to move. After the last move Black is 3 points ahead in material. 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. Bc4 – White plays the bishop to c4
4... Bb4+ – Black plays the bishop to b4, giving check
5. c3 – White plays the pawn to c3
5... dxc3 – Black captures on c3 with the d-pawn
6. O-O – White castles kingside
6... cxb2 – Black captures on b2 with the c-pawn
The line goes on for 6 more moves; the lesson shows them all.
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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