C45
Scotch Game
Key moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4
The Scotch Game immediately opens the centre. White gets active piece play in exchange for releasing central tension early. The Scotch Four Knights and various gambits offer different flavours.
History & Notable Players
Named after a correspondence match between Edinburgh and London in 1824. Garry Kasparov revived it in his 1990 World Championship match against Karpov.
Top Players in this Opening
Best Games
Aronian,L vs So,W1/2-1/2
Saint Louis Blitz 2025 • 2025★ Notable
Aronian,L vs Dominguez Perez,L1-0
Saint Louis Blitz 2025 • 2025★ Notable
Aronian,L vs So,W1/2-1/2
Saint Louis Rapid 2025 • 2025★ Notable
Aronian,L vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1-0
Saint Louis Rapid 2025 • 2025★ Notable
Nakamura,Hi vs Gukesh,D1-0
13th Norway Chess 2025 • 2025★ Notable
Nepomniachtchi,I vs Firouzja,Alireza1/2-1/2
Saint Louis Rapid 2023 • 2023★ Notable
Caruana,F vs So,W1/2-1/2
85th Tata Steel Masters • 2023★ Notable
Wang Hao vs Ding Liren1/2-1/2
FIDE Candidates 2020 • 2021★ Notable
Indjic,A vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1-0
PNWCC Blitz Championship • 2020★ Notable
Sankalp,Gupta vs Karjakin,Sergey0-1
PNWCC Online Blitz JP 12 • 2020★ Notable
Chigaev,M vs Karjakin,Sergey1-0
PNWCC Online Blitz JP 12 • 2020★ Notable
Nakamura,Hi vs So,W1/2-1/2
Saint Louis Blitz 2018 • 2018★ Notable
Nakamura,Hi vs Aronian,L1-0
Saint Louis Blitz 2018 • 2018★ Notable
Nakamura,Hi vs So,W1-0
Saint Louis Rapid 2018 • 2018★ Notable
Nakamura,Hi vs Carlsen,M1/2-1/2
9th London Classic 2017 • 2017★ Notable
Nepomniachtchi,I vs Anand,V1/2-1/2
Saint Louis Rapid 2017 • 2017★ Notable
Svidler,P vs Carlsen,M1/2-1/2
5th Sinquefield Cup 2017 • 2017★ Notable
So,W vs Carlsen,M0-1
5th Sinquefield Cup 2017 • 2017★ Notable
Morozevich,A vs Karpov,Ana1-0
50th Biel ACCENTUS Rapid • 2017★ Notable
Nepomniachtchi,I vs Svidler,P1/2-1/2
Tal Memorial Blitz 2016 • 2016★ Notable