Chess Drills
Scotch Gambit: fast attacks and a trap on f7
The Scotch Gambit starts like the Scotch Game: you push your d-pawn two squares and Black takes it. But instead of taking back with the knight, you bring your bishop to c4 and aim at the weak square f7. You give a pawn for quick development and an attack.
Many positions look like the Italian Game, but more open and much sharper. Black has to know the right moves: one natural-looking move can already lose a piece.
Good fit for: Attacking players who like open positions, fast development and setting problems for their opponent from the first moves.
Drill these 4 lines with spaced repetition: a few minutes a day, and the moves stick.
Key ideas
- Development before material. You are often a pawn down for a while. That is fine: castle, bring your knights out and open lines before Black can get organised.
- Aim at f7. Your bishop on c4, and later often a knight on g5, aim at f7. Before Black castles, that is the weakest square in Black's position, because only the king defends it.
- Push the e-pawn. When Black's knight comes to f6, pushing your pawn from e4 to e5 chases it away and gains space. In the Max Lange Attack this push starts a full attack on the king.
- Win the pawn back later. In many lines you simply take back the pawn on d4 later, with a pawn, the knight or the queen. Don't rush: development comes first.
The main lines
Black's bishop to c5: offer a second pawn
Black develops the bishop to c5, and you offer a second pawn with the push c2-c3. Black usually brings out a knight instead of taking. You then take back on d4 and get a strong pawn centre.
- Your plan: take on d4, block the bishop check with your own bishop, then open the centre and bring your queen to b3.
- Why the queen to b3? Together with your bishop on c4 it aims at d5, and it also attacks the pawn on b7.
- Watch out for Black's mistake: if Black takes the second pawn on c3, see the trap below.
Max Lange Attack: a wild fight for the king
You castle first, and after Black's knight comes to f6 you push your e-pawn and attack it. Black hits back with the d-pawn, you take the knight with your pawn, and Black takes your bishop. The position gets wild: your knights jump towards Black's king, and your pawn on f6 is a thorn in Black's side.
- Your plan: check with the rook on the e-file, then bring both knights forward, to g5 and e4.
- Why does it work? Your knights and rook are very active, and Black's king is under fire.
- Good to know: this is one of the most famous attacking lines in the open games. Learn it move by move on the board.
Black's knight to f6: chase it with the e-pawn
You push your e-pawn at once and chase the knight away. Black hits back in the centre with the d-pawn, and the knight jumps to e4. Then you take back the pawn on d4 with your knight and exchange on c6.
- Your plan: bishop to b5, knight takes on d4, bishop takes on c6, then castle.
- Why take on c6? Black ends up with doubled pawns (two pawns on the same file), which are harder to use.
- Good to know: this line is calm. You get your pawn back and a pleasant position without any risk.
Black grabs a second pawn: open the e-file
You castle, and Black takes a second pawn on e4 with the knight. Your rook comes to e1 and attacks that knight straight away. Black defends with the d-pawn, but you give up your bishop on d5 and bring your pieces out while attacking Black's queen.
- Your plan: rook to e1, bishop takes on d5, knight to c3, then take the knight on e4.
- Why give up the bishop? Every move after that attacks something, so Black never has time to finish developing.
- Good to know: in the end you win the material back and keep a strong attack.
Traps and mistakes to avoid
Taking the second pawn: the check on f7
After you offer a second pawn with c2-c3, the greedy capture on c3 is a mistake. You sacrifice your bishop on f7 with check, and after the king takes, your queen comes to d5 with check. The queen then takes the loose bishop on c5. You win a piece for a few pawns.
Questions
Is the Scotch Gambit sound?
Yes. Black can reach an equal game with accurate play, but there are many chances to go wrong, especially in fast games. That makes it a great practical weapon.
Scotch Gambit or Italian Game?
Both bring the bishop to c4. The Italian is slower and more about plans; the Scotch Gambit opens the centre right away and plays for an attack.
What if Black brings out the other knight on move two?
If Black answers with the knight to f6 instead of c6, that is the Petrov Defense, and the Scotch Gambit is off the table. You can take the pawn on e5; just watch out for the Stafford Gambit tricks.
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