Scotch Game: Göring Gambit, Double Pawn Sacrifice
The Double Pawn Sacrifice is 4...dxc3 5.Bc4, where White leaves the c3 pawn alone and offers b2 as well. White wants two bishops raking the board and fast attacks on f7, while Black can grab a second pawn with ...cxb2 or decline it with ...d6 or ...Nf6.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Bc4
- ECO
- C44
- Engine
- −0.40 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 2,104 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 56.3%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- After ...cxb2, take back Bxb2 so both bishops aim at Black's kingside along long diagonals.
- Use Qb3 to double up on f7 with the c4 bishop, forcing Black's queen to defend.
- If Black declines with ...d6, recapture Nxc3 and castle with a normal Göring lead.
- Push e5 when Black's knight sits on f6 to open the long diagonal for the b2 bishop.
Black
- Take the second pawn with ...cxb2, then block the check line with ...Bb4+ and ...Nf6.
- Trading on c3 with ...Bxc3 removes one attacker and leaves White without a knight.
- Decline with ...d6 or ...Nf6, then ...Qd7 and ...Be7 hold f7 and keep one extra pawn.
- Castle short as soon as possible and keep f7 defended by the queen or a knight.
Plans and pawn structure
If Black takes both pawns, White has two bishops on b2 and c4 and a big lead in development, and Black must defend with ...Bb4+, ...Nf6, ...Bxc3 and ...O-O. After the trade on c3, White's bishop pair stays dangerous, but Black has two extra pawns to return when needed. If Black declines, White recaptures on c3 with the knight and plays Qb3 against f7, while Black holds with ...Qd7, ...Be7 and castling.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.40: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:
- −0.40 5...cxb2 6.Bxb2 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.O-O
- −0.21 5...d6 6.Nxc3 Nf6 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.Be2
- −0.20 5...Nf6 6.Nxc3 d6 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.Be2
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
2,104 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 56.3%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Göring Gambit, Bardeleben Variation5...Nf6 · 478 games
How to play against it
As Black, taking b2 is the engine's choice, but only if you know to play ...Bb4+, ...Nf6 and ...Bxc3 and castle fast. A safer route is ...d6 or ...Nf6, keeping one pawn and giving White no extra diagonal. As White, aim at f7 and g7 at once.
Questions
What are the moves of the Scotch Game: Göring Gambit, Double Pawn Sacrifice?
The Scotch Game: Göring Gambit, Double Pawn Sacrifice starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Bc4. Its ECO code is C44.
Is the Scotch Game: Göring Gambit, Double Pawn Sacrifice good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.40 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 2,104 lichess games from our sample, White scored 56.3%. A swashbuckling line for White players who love attacks, and Black must defend well but gets real material if accurate.
What is the main idea of the Scotch Game: Göring Gambit, Double Pawn Sacrifice?
White offers a second pawn to get both bishops on the long diagonals and a large lead in development. Black can take it and defend carefully, or decline and keep a single extra pawn.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is cxb2, with d6 and Nf6 close behind. 5...cxb2 grabs the second pawn, and after Bxb2 Black uses ...Bb4+ and ...Nf6 to finish development.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.