Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bc4/3...Nf6/4. d4/4...exd4/5. O-O/5...Nxe4

Scotch Gambit
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) r1bqkb1r/pppp1ppp/2n5/8/2Bpn3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Nxe4

Scotch Gambit

5...Nxe4

Black takes the bait, well aware of the pressure on the e-file that follows. However, due to the knight on f3, it is not possible to immediately attack the knight; White must pin the knight to the king first.

What follows is a very open, sharp, and tactical game, centered on the e4-knight's pin.

The only sensible response is 6. Re1.

Players have also tried sacrificing their knight with 6. Nc3 for a swift attack on the kingside.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5. O-O Nxe4

	6	7	8
Main Line	Re1 d5	Bxd5 Qxd5	Nc3 Qa5	∞
Nakhmanson Gambit	Nc3 dxc3	Bxf7 Kxf7	Qd5+ Kf6	∞