Scotch Gambit

The Scotch Gambit is an older relative of the Göring Gambit, reached via the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4, or sometimes 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 or 2.d4 exd4 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.Nf3.   Instead of offering the gambit immediately with c2-c3, White plays Bc4 first, keeping open the option of recapturing the pawn on d4.  If Black is not careful he or she can be confused by the various transpositions and end up in a poor line of the Göring Gambit.  The move 4.Bc4 also covers the d5-square, which prevents Black from equalizing with 4...d5 (an effective counter to the immediate 4.c3).

The main drawback of White’s move-order is that the e4-pawn is unprotected, and Black’s most reliable responses involve targeting the e4-pawn with 4...Nf6 (transposing to the Two Knights’ Defense) and 4...Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 (transposing to the Giuoco Piano).  Black can also transpose into a line of the Hungarian Defense with 4...Be7.  On the other hand, this means that the Scotch Gambit is a good way for White to steer play towards a standard Italian Game while avoiding the solid lines in which Black plays to reinforce the pawn on e5 (for after both 1.e4 e5 2.d4 and 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4, Black has no good way to maintain the pawn on e5).  (Source: 50webs.com)

 

 1. e4, e5

2. Nf3, Nc6

3. d4, exd4

4. Bc4 ....

One of the main lines of the Scotch Gambit.

4. ....  Bc5

Black may continue 4..... Bb4, 5. c3 dxc3, 6. bxc3 c5, 7. Bxf7 Kxf7, 8. Qd5+ which favors White.

5. c3, dxc3

 

If 5..... Nf6, the game may continue 6. e5 Ne4, 7. Bd5 ...

 

6. Bxf7+, Kxf7

7. Qd5+  ....

7. .... Kg6

If 7..... Kf6, then 8. Bg5+ Kg6, 9. Qf5+ Kh5, 10. g4 mate.

8. Qf5 mate.