Scotch GameC45

Schmidt Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6

Every move explained, never a dead end.

Both sides plans

White's plan

In the Schmidt, ...Nf6 attacks e4. Nxc6 followed by e5 gains time on the knight and fixes Black's c7-c6 pawns. After ...Qe7, Qe2 supports e5 and c4 drives the d5-knight away. Develop Nc3 and castle; c6 is the lasting target, not the black king.

Black's plan

...Nf6 forces White to defend e4. After Nxc6 bxc6 e5, the queen goes to e7 and the knight seeks d5 or d5-b6. The doubled pawns give Black the b-file and a flexible center in return. The freeing break is ...d6 followed by ...d5 once e5 is under enough pressure.

The line, move by move

1. e4e4 occupies the center.
... e5e5 occupies the center.
2. Nf3Nf3 develops the knight and controls d4 and e5.
... Nc6Nc6 develops the knight and controls d4 and e5.
3. d4d4 strikes at the center.
... exd4exd4 captures a pawn, occupies the center.
4. Nxd4Nxd4 captures a pawn.
... Nf6Nf6 develops the knight and controls e4 and d5.

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Other major variations

The complete Scotch Game guide See all 53 variations in the branch map