Chess Openings Lab
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Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Sarratt Variation

The Sarratt Variation of the Scotch Gambit is 4...Bc5 5.Ng5, where White sends the knight straight at f7 instead of castling or playing c3. White hopes for a quick knockout on f7, while Black must cover f7 and keep the extra d4 pawn without walking into a queen check from h5.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5
ECO
C44
Engine
0.00 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,590 games in our lichess sample
White scores
55.4%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Pile on f7 with the c4 bishop and g5 knight; if Black is careless, Nxf7 forks the queen and rook.
  • After ...Nh6, the forcing Bxf7+ and Nxf7 lead to Qh5+, and the queen picks up the loose bishop on c5.
  • If Black blocks with ...d5, take with Bxd5 and keep both minor pieces pointed at f7.
  • Remember Black's d4 pawn still blocks your c1 bishop's best squares, so get the king safe with O-O soon.

Black

  • 5...Nh6 is the clean defense: the knight guards f7 and the trades on f7 end in a balanced position.
  • Avoid 5...Qe7, which lets White take on f7 and then on h8 for a big material edge.
  • Keep the c5 bishop protected or out of a queen fork; Qh5+ followed by Qxc5 is White's main trick.
  • After the dust settles, play ...d6 and ...Be6 to cover the light squares around your king.

Plans and pawn structure

The position is decided by the first few moves around f7. After 5...Nh6 6.Bxf7+ Nxf7 7.Nxf7 Kxf7 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qxc5, material is level: White has won back the pawn, but Black's king has lost castling rights while White's king still has them. Black then wants ...d6 to kick the queen, ...Re8 and ...Kg7 to tuck the king, and the d4 pawn to cramp White. White wants O-O, Nd2 and f4 to open lines toward the uncastled king.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position 0.00: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. 0.00 5...Nh6 6.Bxf7+ Nxf7 7.Nxf7 Kxf7 8.Qh5+
  2. +0.94 5...d5 6.Bxd5 Nh6 7.Nxf7 Nxf7 8.Bxf7+
  3. +1.34 5...Qe7 6.Nxf7 Qxe4+ 7.Kf1 Nf6 8.Nxh8

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,590 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 55.4%.

under 120052.3%
1200–159956.5%
1600–199953.0%
2000 and up69.8%

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

Where it goes next

  • Cochrane-Shumov Defense5...Nh6 · rare

How to play against it

With Black, play 5...Nh6 at once and do not try to keep everything. Accept the trades on f7 and answer Qh5+ with ...g6. Skip 5...Qe7 and 5...d5, which both give White a clear edge. Once the queen takes on c5, gain time on it with ...d6 and finish development.

Questions

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

The Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Sarratt Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5. Its ECO code is C44.

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

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position 0.00 at depth 20, which is level. In 1,590 lichess games from our sample, White scored 55.4%. A fun surprise for aggressive White players at club level, but Black is fine with one accurate move and good king handling afterward.

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

White goes straight for f7 with knight and bishop. Black's best answer is ...Nh6, after which a series of captures on f7 and a queen check from h5 win back the c5 bishop and leave equal material with Black's king uncastled.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nh6, with d5 and Qe7 close behind. 5...Nh6 guards f7 with a piece and steers the game into forced trades that leave material even.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.