Chessy
Scotch Game: Lolli Variation as Black
The Scotch Game: Lolli Variation can turn sharp very quickly, and this lesson keeps the focus where it belongs: on the position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 Nxd4. You are Black, and White gets the move in a position where the details matter. The drill below lets you test whether you know the engine’s best answer, the common tries you are likely to meet, and which moves are already drifting into trouble.
Play the Scotch Game: Lolli Variation against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position says immediately
Stockfish rates this +0.59, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse, so your job is to stay accurate and make White prove the advantage. The database also shows that this exact position has been reached in 1,280,654 games, so you are not studying a rare corner case. White scores 55.9%, Black scores 39.7%, and draws are only 4.4%, which tells you that the side to move still has to handle the position carefully.
The move the engine wants
The engine’s best move here is Nxd4, and the listed continuation is Nxd4 exd4 Qxd4 Qf6. For a practical Black player, that is the main message of the lesson: meet White’s pressure with the most direct answer and keep your pieces coordinated. In this opening, if you hesitate, White’s initiative can become easier to play than it should be. The drill helps you rehearse the exact response until it feels natural.
What White usually tries
The most-played continuation is Nxd4, with 1,090,019 games and White scoring 56.0%. That is the line you are most likely to see, so it is worth being ready for it first. Other common tries are Nxe5, Bc4, Ng5, c3, and Nc3. The numbers show that White does not need to play perfectly to keep decent practical chances, so Black should treat every move as important.
Moves you should punish
The database flags three White moves as mistakes in this position. Bc4 is a mistake and loses about 1.0 pawns; the better move was Nxd4. Ng5 is a mistake and loses about 2.0 pawns; the better move was Nxd4. c3 is also a mistake and loses about 1.9 pawns; the better move was Nxd4. If White chooses one of these, do not drift — follow the engine’s logic and keep the game under control.
Results across 1,280,654 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nxd4 | 1,090,019 | 56.0% |
| Nxe5 | 118,750 | 58.8% |
| Bc4 | 35,888 | 52.8% |
| Ng5 | 24,715 | 48.6% |
| c3 | 7,891 | 43.9% |
| Nc3 | 746 | 45.7% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Scotch Game: Lolli Variation good for Black?
It is playable, but the position after the opening moves is not equal according to the engine. Stockfish gives +0.59, a small edge for White, so you should expect to work a little harder as Black. The drill is useful because it shows you how to meet White’s most natural attempts without panicking.
What is the best move for Black in this position?
The engine’s best move here is Nxd4. The continuation given is Nxd4 exd4 Qxd4 Qf6. In the lesson, focus on remembering that direct response and being ready for White’s most common follow-up choices.
Which White reply is most common?
The most-played continuation is Nxd4, with 1,090,019 games and White scoring 56.0%. That makes it the main line you need to know first. The other replies appear less often, but they still matter because some of them are already marked as mistakes.
Which White moves are considered mistakes here?
Bc4, Ng5, and c3 are listed as mistakes in this position. Bc4 loses about 1.0 pawns, Ng5 loses about 2.0 pawns, and c3 loses about 1.9 pawns. In each case, the better move was Nxd4.
How many games feature the Scotch Game: Lolli Variation?
Over 1 million Lichess games have reached the Scotch Game: Lolli Variation position. White wins 55.9%, Black wins 39.7%, with 4.4% draws — based on real rated games.