Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

Scotch Game: Mieses Variation

The Mieses Variation is 4...Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5, where White pushes the e-pawn to kick the f6 knight. Black's main answer is ...Qe7 pinning the e5 pawn, and the fight is about whether White can keep e5 and c4 or Black can undermine them.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5
ECO
C45
Engine
+0.13 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
933 games in our lichess sample
White scores
51.0%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Defend e5 with Qe2 and play c4 to push Black's knight from d5.
  • Fianchetto with g3 and Bh3 or Bg2 to stop ...Ba6 pressure on c4.
  • Against ...Ne4, play Nd2 to trade knights and keep a solid center.
  • Keep the e5 pawn as a wedge and aim for a better endgame.

Black

  • Pin e5 with ...Qe7 and then centralize with ...Nd5, the main setup in this line.
  • After c4, retreat ...Nb6 and attack the c4 pawn with ...Ba6 along the open diagonal.
  • Push ...a5 and ...a4 to cramp White's queenside and bother a knight on b3.
  • Use ...d6 to break e5 once White's queen leaves e2 or the pawn loses support.

Plans and pawn structure

White has the e5 pawn and the healthier queenside, while Black has the bishop pair and open lines. After ...Qe7, Qe2 and ...Nd5, White plays c4 and Black's knight goes to b6. Black then uses ...a5, ...Ba6 and ...d6 or ...g6 for counterplay. White wants a fianchetto, castling and solid play, often trading queens on e7 for an endgame where e5 is strong.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.13: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.13 6...Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.g3 a5 9.c4
  2. +0.47 6...Nd5 7.c4 Nb6 8.Be3 Bb4+ 9.Nd2
  3. +0.78 6...Ne4 7.Nd2 Nxd2 8.Bxd2 d5 9.Bd3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

933 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.0%.

under 120048.1%
1200–159953.2%
1600–199949.8%
2000 and up51.6%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As Black, play ...Qe7 and ...Nd5 and know the ...a5 and ...Ba6 ideas against c4. Avoid ...Ne4, which lets White trade knights with Nd2 and keep a firm center. As White, keep e5 protected by the queen and push c4 at once to drive the knight away from d5.

Questions

What are the moves of the Scotch Game: Mieses Variation?

The Scotch Game: Mieses Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5. Its ECO code is C45.

Is the Scotch Game: Mieses Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.13 at depth 20, which is level. In 933 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.0%. A main line that rewards concrete theory knowledge and suits patient players on both sides.

What is the main idea of the Scotch Game: Mieses Variation?

White pushes e5 to kick Black's knight, and Black pins the pawn with ...Qe7. The middlegame revolves around White's c4 and Black's ...Nd5-b6, ...a5 and ...Ba6.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Qe7, with Nd5 and Ne4 close behind. 6...Qe7 pins the e5 pawn against White's king so Black can use ...Nd5 safely.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.