Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Advance Variation

The Advance Variation of the Scotch Gambit is 4...Nf6 5.e5, where White kicks the knight with the e-pawn. Black's main answer is ...d5, hitting the c4 bishop, while ...Ne4 and ...Ng4 are knight jumps that keep the game sharp.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.e5
ECO
C44
Engine
−0.01 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,647 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.3%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Answer ...d5 with Bb5, pinning the c6 knight and preparing Nxd4 to win back the pawn.
  • Against ...Ne4, castle and play Bd5 to hit the knight and force it to c5.
  • Against ...Ng4, castle and play Re1, then use exd6 to open lines.
  • Take back on d4 with the knight once Black's pieces are committed elsewhere.

Black

  • Play ...d5 to hit the bishop, then ...Nd7 and ...Be7 for a safe setup.
  • ...Ne4 centralizes the knight, followed by ...Be7 and ...Nc5 to hit the c4 bishop.
  • ...Ng4 attacks e5 and f2, and ...d6 then breaks up White's pawn center.
  • Keep the d4 pawn as long as White's pieces cannot win it.

Plans and pawn structure

After 5...d5 6.Bb5, White pins and plans to win back d4, often trading on c6 to damage Black's pawns. Black develops with ...Nd7, ...Be7 and castles, using the bishop pair and open lines. After ...Ne4 or ...Ng4, White castles and attacks the knight, and Black tries to hold d4 and break with ...d6. The e5 pawn is White's main asset and also its main target.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.01: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.01 5...d5 6.Bb5 Nd7 7.O-O Be7 8.Bxc6
  2. 0.00 5...Ne4 6.O-O Be7 7.Bd5 Nc5 8.c3
  3. +0.03 5...Ng4 6.O-O Be7 7.Re1 d6 8.exd6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,647 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.3%.

under 120059.8%
1200–159955.9%
1600–199950.2%
2000 and up46.1%

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

How to play against it

As Black, ...d5 is the simplest answer and frees the c8 bishop with tempo. Do not leave the knight hanging on e4 or g4 without support. As White, play Bb5 or castle, and do not rush to win back d4 before your pieces are developed.

Questions

What are the moves of the Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Advance Variation?

The Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Advance Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.e5. Its ECO code is C44.

Is the Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Advance Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.01 at depth 20, which is level. In 1,647 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.3%. A level, lively line for both sides that rewards knowledge of the ...d5 and Bb5 ideas.

What is the main idea of the Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Advance Variation?

White pushes e5 to kick the f6 knight. Black hits back with ...d5 or jumps the knight to e4 or g4, and the play is level.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is d5, with Ne4 and Ng4 close behind. 5...d5 attacks the c4 bishop and frees Black's c8 bishop.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.