Scotch Game: Rosenthal 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 Qh4 5. Nb5 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxe4+ 7. Be2 Kd8 8. O-O Bxd2 9. Nxd2 Qg6. 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 a pawn 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. Nxd4 – White takes on d4 with the knight
4... Qh4 – Black plays the queen to h4
5. Nb5 – White plays the knight to b5
5... Bb4+ – Black plays the bishop to b4, giving check
6. Bd2 – White plays the bishop to d2
6... Qxe4+ – Black takes on e4 with the queen, giving check
The line goes on for 6 more moves; the lesson shows them all.
In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 10. Nf3.
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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