1.e4 — the open games
Scotch Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4ECO C44
Instead of recapturing on d4, White throws the bishop to c4 and gambits the pawn for a lead in development and a target on f7. It's a fast, open way to sidestep the heavy theory of the Scotch Game while keeping the initiative — Black must return the pawn accurately or come under a quick attack.
Key ideas
- Develop with tempo and aim everything at f7 before Black untangles.
- If Black tries to cling to the extra pawn with …Bc5 and …d6, open lines with c3 and pawn breaks.
- Many lines transpose to the Two Knights or Giuoco Piano, so the ideas carry over.
Who it suits
Attacking 1.e4 players who want an open, initiative-first game without memorising deep Scotch theory.
Add it to your repertoire.
Drill the Scotch Gambit move by move against the board until it's second nature.
Open the trainer