Chessy
Scotch Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4)
The Scotch Gambit skips a recapture and develops the bishop to c4 instead — trading a pawn for lead in development and immediate pressure on f7. Play it against the engine below, then see what 8.6 million Lichess games reveal about how it performs.
Play the Scotch Gambit against the engine
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Create a free account →What the engine says
Stockfish rates the position at +0.07 at depth 16 — nearly dead equal, with the faintest imaginable hair for White. That's not a flaw; it's what respected opening preparation looks like. Black hasn't erred — White just built rapid piece activity and an attack on f7 in exchange for the pawn. The engine's best defence is Nf6 (followed by e5, Ne4, Qe2), driving White's bishop and forcing precision. The position is sharp enough that a single misstep by Black rewrites the evaluation.
Why White scores so well in practice
Across 8,682,147 Lichess games White scores 55.6% overall. The split across Black's main replies is instructive:
- Bc5 (2,038,940 games) — White scores 57.4%
- Nf6 (1,820,236 games) — the engine move, White scores 54.1%
- h6 (1,783,354 games) — popular but an inaccuracy (64 cp loss vs Nf6); White scores 56.8%
Even the objectively sharpest reply, Nf6, yields a practical White edge above 54%. The gambit's piece activity clearly pays off.
The two mistakes to watch for
The facts reveal a clear pattern in how Black goes wrong. h6 is the most common inaccuracy, costing 64 centipawns versus the correct Nf6 — Black tries to control g5 but falls behind in development. Bb4+ is the second most-common slip, also 60 cp worse than Nf6 — it checks but immediately asks White's king to step right while the Bc4 sails out of range. Both errors hand White the exact attacking momentum the gambit is designed to create.
How to play it as White
After 4.Bc4 with the pawn gone, your job is speed over material recovery. Develop Nc3 or e5 (chasing the Nf6), keep f7 under pressure, and don't rush to win the d4-pawn back — it's bait. If Black plays Bc5 or h6, your development lead is already enough to generate real threats. The Scotch Gambit is an ideal practical weapon: objectively balanced, but asymmetric enough that unprepared defenders regularly crack.
Results across 8,682,147 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bc5 | 2,038,940 | 57.4% |
| Nf6 | 1,820,236 | 54.1% |
| h6 | 1,783,354 | 56.8% |
| d6 | 987,082 | 50.9% |
| Bb4+ | 632,588 | 54.8% |
| Be7 | 533,372 | 54.3% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Scotch Gambit sound?
Yes. Stockfish evaluates the position at +0.07 — essentially equal — which reflects a clean piece-activity-for-pawn trade, not an error. White scores 55.6% across 8.6 million Lichess games.
What's the engine's best defence against the Scotch Gambit?
Nf6, followed by e5, Ne4, Qe2. It drives the Bc4 back and forces White to prove the compensation. Most players choose Bc5 or h6 instead, both of which score worse for Black.
How does the Scotch Gambit differ from the Scotch Game?
The Scotch Game (3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4) recaptures immediately and heads into a solid positional battle. The Scotch Gambit (4.Bc4) skips the recapture, keeps the game open, and targets f7 — faster and sharper.
Is the Scotch Gambit good for beginners?
Excellent choice. The ideas are concrete (piece development, f7 pressure, fast attacks) and the positions teach initiative better than quieter openings. White wins over half of all Lichess games with it.
What is Stockfish's evaluation of the Scotch Gambit?
At depth 16, Stockfish rates the Scotch Gambit as a balanced position (+0.07) from White's perspective. This is the computer's assessment of the position after the main opening moves.