How to Beat the Scotch Game: Plans and Lines for Black

The simplest answer: 4...Nf6

After 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 play 4...Nf6. The knight hits e4 and prepares ...Bb4 or ...Bc5. The engine line runs 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2, and Black is close to level. White scored only 49.6% in the Schmidt Variation.

In the Mieses line, the knight must move after e5. The queen on e7 pins the e5 pawn against White's king, and Black plays ...Nd5, then either ...g6 with a kingside fianchetto or ...Ba6 to hit White's queen and c4 pawn. The doubled c-pawns look ugly, but the open b-file and the bishop pair keep Black active.

If White does not play Nxc6, then ...Bb4 pins the c3 knight and weakens White's hold on e4.

If you want a fight: 4...Bc5

4...Bc5 hits the d4 knight at once. White must defend it with Be3 or move it with Nb3 or Nxc6. Black follows with ...Qf6, ...Nge7 and quick castling, aiming at f2 and the long diagonal.

After Be3, ...Qf6 hits d4 again and prepares ...Nge7.
After Nb3, drop the bishop to b6. It stays on the a7-g1 diagonal.
After Nxc6, the Intermezzo idea ...Qf6 hits f2 before Black recaptures.

White scored 51.8% against 4...Bc5, a fine result for Black.

A quieter choice: 4...Bb4+

If you want a calm game with few forcing lines, try the Malaniuk Variation, 4...Bb4+. The check makes White block with c3 or a knight, and Black follows with ...Nf6, ...O-O and ...d5. White scored 50.2% here, so it is a fully playable choice.

The plans are simple. Black wants to trade on d4 or c3 when it helps, then play ...d5 to open the center while White's king is still in the middle. If White answers with c3, drop the bishop to e7 or a5 and keep developing. If White blocks with Nc3, the pin on that knight adds pressure on e4, and ...Nf6 hits the pawn again. This line suits players who want a solid setup they can play without much memorization, and it avoids the sharp Mieses structures.

Facing the gambits

The Scotch Gambit, 4.Bc4. The simplest answer is 4...Nf6, which transposes to Two Knights lines. If White plays 5.e5, strike back with ...d5. If you like sharp play, 4...Bc5 leads to the Haxo Gambit, but expect Ng5 tricks against f7.

The Göring Gambit, 4.c3. You can accept with ...dxc3, but then White gets fast development. A calm reply is to develop with ...Nf6 or return the pawn with ...d5. Black has good play either way.

The Relfsson Gambit, 4.Bb5. The engine prefers Black here. Develop normally and keep the extra pawn.

Lines to avoid as Black

3...d6. After 4.d5 Nb8 White gets a large space edge and the engine shows a clear plus for White.
3...Nxd4. The Lolli Variation gives White a strong queen on d4. White scored 55.8% and the engine likes White.
An early ...Qh4 without knowing the lines. The Steinitz Variation scores well for Black in practice, but the engine prefers White, and accurate play with Nc3 and Be2 punishes it.
Leaving the king in the center. In all Scotch lines the board opens quickly. Castle early.

Plans once the opening is over

In the Mieses structures, Black's plan is ...d6 or ...d5 to break up the e5 pawn, then rooks on the b-file and the e-file. The c6 and a7 pawns can be weak in an endgame, so keep pieces on the board and play for activity.

In the 4...Bc5 lines, keep the bishop on the a7-g1 diagonal and aim at f2. Black often castles short and plays ...d6, ...Re8 and ...Ne5, with a knight that cannot be easily kicked.

Against the gambits, if you keep the extra pawn, trade pieces once you are castled. An extra pawn wins many endgames, and White's compensation fades as pieces come off.

Lines we recommend for Black

Scotch Game: Schmidt VariationThe engine's choice for Black. White scored only 49.6% here.
Scotch Game: Classical VariationAn active setup with ...Bc5 and ...Qf6 that puts quick pressure on d4 and f2.
Scotch Game: Scotch GambitLearn the calm ...Nf6 reply so the most common gambit holds no surprises.

The main lines you will meet

Scotch Game: Lolli Variation18,673 games · Black 44.2%
Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit12,939 games · Black 45.5%
Scotch Game: Classical Variation8,367 games · Black 48.2%
Scotch Game: Göring Gambit5,707 games · Black 44.2%
Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation4,079 games · Black 50.4%
Scotch Game: Haxo Gambit3,612 games · Black 41.2%
Scotch Game: Benima Defense1,949 games · Black 45.3%
Scotch Game: Mieses Variation933 games · Black 49.0%

Questions

What is the best way to play against the Scotch Game?

The Scotch is sound and you will not refute it. As Black you meet it by developing fast, hitting the d4 knight and e4 pawn, and knowing how to answer the gambits that club players love to use.

What does the engine play against the Scotch Game?

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 prefers 3...exd4 and rates the position +0.15 (level).

Scores: Lichess rated games, September 2025 (blitz, rapid and classical). Engine: Stockfish 17.1. Updated October 2026. Method.