The Scotch Game - Chess Openings Explained

Jonathan Schrantz teaches the Scotch Game, an underestimated opening that releases tension in the center early. Besides two notable games, the Goering gambit and the Dubois-Reti defence are also covered.
2015.12.28
Magnus Carlsen vs Peter Leko, Pearl Spring Chess Tournament (2009): C45 Scotch game
Garry Kasparov vs Etienne Bacrot, Sarajevo (2000): C45 Scotch, Mieses variation

[@andrew19991]

2:27 Göring Gambit (4. c3) 5:37 Scotch Gambit (4. Bc4) 10:01 Main Line, 4... Bb4+ 12:33 Main Line, 4... Bc5; Magnus Carlsen vs. Peter Leko (2009) 31:02 Main Line, 4... Nf6; Garry Kasparov vs. Etienne Bacrot (2000)

[@FruityMcGee]

I love this channel.

[@xx_theartfuldodger_xx1105]

+Fruity McGee One of the best, if not thee best, chess channel.

[@radiomir190]

Pascal Michel i

[@menm8903]

Me noo

[@unknownchristian341]

Me too

[@bigbrother5024]

Great work, Jonathan! Explaining "side-lines" that are good for beginner/intermediate practical or blitz games is much more interesting than only seeing deep, engine-optimized GM lines that require perfect memorization.

[@rosiefay7283]

Granted, there are some lines where accurate play is critical. But except in cases like those, "perfect memorization" isn't required any more than in side lines, is it?

[@road_to_gm123]

I love how he gets less and less nervous as he talks ❤

[@REMOnZter]

Great lecture, looking forward to more of these :)

[@ldeans5620]

Thanks for the enjoyable and insightful presentation

[@reza6718]

thanks Jonathan your lectures are straight to the point and very informative. good joob

[@KidGalore]

Nice series, really like this opening. Compliments to Jonathan for talking slower and being more relaxed wich really helps to enjoy it more. Keep up the great lessons and continue to slow down the talking! Looking forward to the 2016 series.

[@delrioj17]

This was wonderful. Thank you for posting. Would love to see a video on the Queen's gambit and the related Albin Counter gambit.

[@edschillenger8356]

I kinda like this guy. He's straightforward, to the point and doesn't go off on tangents. I'll throw my hat into the ring and suggest maybe the Grunfeld?

[@Vaurikaise]

this truely is a great educational video on the scotch as it goes into a lot of opening and middlegame ideas instead of just focusing heavily on theory.

[@01theblackknight]

Whoo! I actually requested this one. Seeing this is an early Christmas present.

[@01theblackknight]

+Fabian Day I mean er... late Christmas present.

[@floppa7766]

Merry (belated) Christmas to you!

[@andrecamaraferreiradacosta8575]

Amazing Job!! Many thanks to this channel!!

[@technowey]

Thank you for another great video.

[@danielbarreto465]

thanks i been playing the scotch a lot. this gives me a lot of ideas. great video .

[@gabrielsantosm.3415]

Awesome lecture!

[@colinvandermeer]

Love this series

[@kamiodd2873]

It's 2020 :) thank you for teaching a newbie how to play this opening :). Love your content. Keep it coming

[@jerasong2196]

Wow glad to see I'm not the only one in 2020 watching this. Got to search this up when I got crushed by it haha

[@kratoskiller2314]

Immediately destroyed by the legend, Moist Cr1tikal.

[@spanishfly7709]

This is why I don't use the scotch opening yes you're going for diagonal lines to try to get to the king in the corner but it leaves you critically open like moistcritkal shows us.

[@classifier_6611]

The Throbbing Scotch variation

[@wooshifgay462]

@@spanishfly7709 not really, moistcritical won because his opponent sucked, and no it doesnt leave you open, gms play it all the time

[@djosephsss]

​​@@wooshifgay462scotch is refuted by gm moist cr1tikal sorry

[@sassytabasco]

​@@classifier_6611The throbbing gambit

[@ilyaibrahimovic9842]

"Some people like to be better for a long time" such a Finegold-like comment

[@jamesgray4654]

When you said "they mostly don't know what to do" that's so true! I intend to make it my main opening for awhile since it seems solid and has some life. Also gluttonously it's my word of the day

[@Stupidiusity]

I came here because as black, I keep getting rekt online by this opening.

[@resultsocialmedia]

I like how he said that the Knight was harrassing pieces. Its my new thing to say. LOL

[@khahamdebbarma2583]

It is so hard for me to defend against the scotch when I play as black

[@dimifisher7942]

My favourite opening, thanx!

[@Cactus--ox1ul]

"Some people don't like losing positions." Oh really?

[@tigercheetah9205]

@Harper Jos Grifith 🤣

[@alexandrem4876]

False I like it . Lose a queen early and win the game with en extra pawn

[@japphan]

I would love a video on the Dutch, especially the stonewall variation from Black's point of view.

[@lucafabi9218]

Most interesting, thank you!

[@MDawgProductions]

Great video

[@arnihockey]

Some say that driking scotch while playing this openings give you better chance, is it true?

[@donaldtheducktrump5097]

It makes you daring enough to sac the pawns

[@lamsimpson5215]

Your name LOL

[@eduardovasquez2689]

very true. the more scotch you drink, the more better you get. this is science

[@omkardeshpande818]

😢😢 just forget everything

[@grantdillon3420]

Dr Drunkenstein agrees

[@michiundgeraldunterwegs6343]

great video!

[@blakeperkins7928]

To anyone asking about the en passant move at 35:42: if exf6+ Kf7 (Black is now threatening to play Re8 next, putting white's queen in an absolute pin). After Qd3 (avoiding the pin), Re8+, and Kd1 black could then capture Nf6, but an even better move is Ne3+! with the idea of playing d5 (taking advantage of the bishop on a6 pinning the c4 pawn to the queen) and suffocating white on the queenside. There is another variation where instead of playing d5 black plays Bc8 but it is less intuitive (still worth looking into) either way black's idea is the same, take advantage of white's poorly placed king.

[@jamesfoy4062]

Please could you cover the Modern Scandinavian Defense, which is where you play Nf6 instead of Qxd5. Even though its not that popular could you go over it as a secret weapon to use?

[@knowledgeisthesuccesspath739]

no word for this channel and gj chess

[@sayafkhan748]

Thanks for the masterpiece. Yet missed one amazing trap in the Scotch with the knight jumping to g5 and sacrificing itself on f7

[@FerranCasarramona]

I have interest in Rui Lopez, the exchange variant. Congratulations for all those videos.

[@thegorn]

Ferran Casarramona *Ruy Lopez

[@kruksog]

Don't play the Ruy Lopez unless you're over 2000. It's a super theoretical, positional opening. If you're over 2000, well, I figure you can work the Ruy out on your own. Lots of GMs play it; watch their games.

[@articshreder3569]

Can the next be one the chigorin defense please?

[@stevieboy3153]

Can someone tell me what software they are using in these videos from sant louis chess club please?

[@kiranag8064]

thank you very much

[@juanricardogarciagarcia8106]

Agresiva apertura con múltiples variantes de cálculo,con explicación estratégica dinámica y práctica gracias dé Cd Juárez Chihuahua México

[@antoniobennazar5418]

thank you so much

[@ldeans5620]

All these great discussions make me want to visit St. Louis. Who would have thought?

[@same9322]

Why would i use this if i can use the wooden sheild?

[@Protostar9]

That is a master-level tactic not an opening

[@same9322]

@@Protostar9 oh i see

[@ElNightmareYT]

6. Nb5 is actually a very interesting line "Blumenfeld Attack", if your oponent doesn't know theory he can say byebye. I actually beat an IM thanks to that :)

[@saiashwin26]

Yeah, it’s a very tricky line. I don’t know why Schrantz completely dismissed it, pretty poor teaching there.

[@pankajnegi2397]

Loved it

[@bigmac329190]

Do one on the classical French. All I have seen is variations so far of it.

[@TakesTwoToTango]

There are a couple of openings I'd really like to see :). I REALLY like to fianchetto my bishops though... I'd love to see a video on the Pirc Defense!! Great video's, guys :)

[@augustseptember3778]

thx Jonathan

[@siavashs1925]

can some one explain why in the minute 35:42 white doesn't En Passant the pawn onF5?! I really want to know!

[@boudewijnoudemans1058]

probably because king to f7 and than rook to E8 pinning the queen to the king

[@loganblankenship7436]

the Steinitz variation with e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 d4 exd4 Nxd4 Qh4 is very interesting for black against the scotch. wish it would have got some attention

[@draganaivankovic345]

Can you do a lecture about modern scandinavian defense please?

[@jamescrozier1019]

At 35:46 when black moves F5 can't white take it with his e5 pawn en passant and check the king at the same time? Would this line be bad or good?

[@dexterhubbard7283]

ur amazing!!!.. any ideas for study plan???...

[@user-ri9qz9bh8m]

Sicilian, Kan variation please!

[@cnaudiyal]

I am beginner and have a question. At 21:15 minute, why not knight d5?

[@c3physics772]

Can you suggest me a good book for opening oriented planning and development of chess games

[@rekilfc8363]

The SLCC videos are great

[@jaxx4040]

I don't know if you will see this but, could you do a video on Rut Lopez Norwegian variation nightingale gambit

[@helllothere4604]

please make a video on BLACKMAR DIEMER GAMBIT: ACCEPTED AND DECLINED AND IT'S DEFFERENT VARIATION. thank you !

[@StefanosvanDijk]

Hey Jonathan. I am just a lowly 1200 player but at 40:32 what stops white from playing Rxg6? If Rook takes then Bxf5 forking rook and king. So you get two pawns for a rook exchange.

[@beaconite4249]

Stefanos Van Dijk I think black can answer with Re6 blocking the check. Then for white to get his rook back he has to give up his bishop with Bxe6 when black takes the white bishop with his king. So in the end white only gets 2 pawns for his bishop as well as trading a pair of rooks. I would guess that is probably not enough though on the bright side white does now have 2 passed pawns.:)

[@ch2263]

I'd be interested to see a video about the Traxler attack.

[@perkalov]

There are a few good ones around that will give you an idea on how to play Traxler countergambit.

[@parishfletcher5567]

can u please go into the Moeller attack for black ( variation of the Roy Lopez)

[@mansijeswani4678]

pls do the wade variation of french defence

[@psilohead]

How about the wing gambit in the Sicilian defense?

In 40:13, if you take the g6 pawn with the rook, rook takes back and then you take the f5 pawn with the bishop, forking king and rook and getting two pawns.

[@ernesthemingway9094]

Can someone explain why 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 it is bad for black to play Nxd4 ? I see this most often when I play the Scotch (I follow with 5. Qxd4). It's not one of the variations looked at in this video despite my games being replete with it. Thanks!

[@Veaseify]

+Ernest Hemingway There is no direct refutation but letting White have a centralised Queen that can't be chased away out of the opening is usually not a great idea. In fact this variation scores 70% for White according to the Chess 365 database....

[@Wi11daThri11]

HOLD UP! At 35:45, black can capture the just-moved f5 pawn with e5-to-f6 check -- winning for white. Someone please tell me if/how I'm wrong?

[@dg_eddie1242]

What would you recommend inreal?

[@haydengreen9984]

at 13:50 is QH4 possible too cause the next move is check and also winning knight

[@cruelpirate78]

perhaps you should have also mentioned the Qh4 line briefly

[@KingAlpen]

why does the intro music sound like the hardest grim beat never used

[@questingbragi8820]

King´s Indian Defense please, including a game of Tal or Stein! :)

[@chrischrysafis90]

At 35:44 after f5 why no exf en passant with check?

[@francoisb513]

I Asked me the same question. I think that sooner or later there will be Re8

[@antoniorubioaldehuela1168]

Chris Chrysafis you just leave the centre to blacks and that check is easy to defend

[@CannaHeaven]

@ 35:46 wouldn't an (en passant) e5xf6+ be the best move for white?

[@choseneball3526]

12:17 i almost died! he slid it in smooth, what a float what a goat

[@Noulis92]

at 35:45 should white just take the pawn, e5->f6 x and check? Is there anything black can do to respond? I believe it's a great move! If not, could you please explain why?

[@bogdananicescu6051]

Probably because black will play Kf7 with the immediate threat of Re8, winning the queen. So white doesn't have time to take the knight with cxd5. Anyway black could take back on f6 with his knight and the king seems safe on f7. Also black can get the e file later for the rook, so en passant seems very good but I am not so sure I like it right here.

[@perkalov]

a simple rule of thumb is that if you have a dodgy king, don't open up the centre if you can avoid it. In this case both have dodgy kings but white is worse of due to the queen being a on the same file (blacks queen penetrating the position and the black black-square bishop has some easy access via b4 and c5). It looks to become a possible mating attack if you hit ep in that situation.

[@amarmalage2025]

Please explain me the catalan opening.

[@Zaayir]

at 35:44, doesn't ...f5 lose a piece to exf6+ followed by capturing the black knight?

[@connormccartney1604]

exf6 then you lose queen

[@davisbulmeisters3232]

Can you please do one of following: Alapin/Smit mora line- e4c5 c3g6 d4cxd4 d5e5 (black) hyper accelarated dragon sideline- e4c5 Nf3g6 d4cxd4 Qxd4 Nf6 e5Nc6(black) Semi-slav Botvinik system (black) Semi-slav Meran(white) Albin contergambit(white) Queens indian(white)

[@matiasclavell7244]

35:45 after pawn e5 why kasparov didnt take it en passant + check?

[@jamescrozier1019]

I asked the same thing just now and decided to look for answers. Not sure why no one replied you good question

[@Learnnorwegiannow]

Chess is sometimes so challenging that I wish to change my hobby :-D

[@superolaf1998]

Alapin Sicilian, Alekhine's Defense, Nimzowitch defense?

[@olafvanderveen2277]

Alapin Sicilian orr Alekhine's defence please?

[@michaelmachos8969]

LOVE the Scotch!

[@d3ed0c]

at 40:10 isn't the pawn on g6 hanging? if Rxg6 Rxg6 Bxf5+

[@veruslupus]

Smith Mora gambit please.

[@wakathocka]

Hey, 1600 player here, could you elaborate on this maxim of yours "always play Qd8"? I'm guessing it's good but I'd like to see some games where it makes some impact. Thanks!

[@wakathocka]

@@A51838 I am/was at the time. I don't study often and didn't really get that it was a joke, I thought you were serious. Thanks for the reply four years later haha.

[@BrisLS1]

10:10 As White, I took the knight on D4, Black took back with his knight, I took back with the Queen, and then did not know what to do. I was stuck in the middle of the board with a Queen pointing at nothing and blocked by my own pawn on E4.

[@akerbeltz1233]

Where can I send a petition? I want you to explain a specific opening, but I don't know how to submit it.

[@colinvandermeer]

+Víctor Vela Just write it in the comments

[@hjvsloveisdead]

can i be so bold as to ask for an in depth look into the Catalan?...please

[@dominicbuob7674]

( I'm new to chess and do not go to a chess club) If I could play the Scotch Gambit very well. Why would I not play it in a rated game? The whole reason is too win so why would it be bad to play a way that the Cp thinks is not good? If you get rated after the pc would not every game be the same if you would want to reach max level?

[@dominicbuob7674]

Sorry if I'm ignorant and just say stupid things but I do not understand that

[@arsenalfanrichi]

The reason people shouldn't think like a computer is because computers base decisions on pure calculation, many many times more than that of the most astute grandmaster. Resulting in at times seemingly unplayable positions with linear possibilities already known by a computer but perplexing to a human observer. As A human doesn't possess the ability to calculate like this, a more philsophical and broad approach is reccommended.

[@dominicbuob7674]

Qqarsenalfanrichi okey thank you.

[@TremendousSax]

If black takes the e pawn and white plays Nb5, black can insert Bxe3. When the smoke clears black loses the right to castle but ends up with two minor pieces for a rook as the knight on a8 cannot return to safety.

[@00Mass00]

What if black at 24:03 did Nh4, that would make for some interesting issues for white.

[@solosaroman]

In scotch gambit you the not play knight at d2,you play knight at c3 allowing for black to double your pawns,but that pawns will block black queenside

[@coltonlybarger2551]

At 22:53 does bishop e4 kicking the queen and then bishop d4 trapping the queen and the only way out is to block with th knight and then you take on e5 with pawn not win a piece

[@thegorn]

Move 4 for white: Qxd4 - the Botez gambit

[@MagmaTeja]

King's Indian Defense next please :)

[@williamcampbell2001]

They did a great one on how to play against the Kings Indian defense

[@AxisofHonor25]

Suggestions: Kings Indian Attack, Rousseau gambit, Evans gambit accepted/declined

[@prussianblue14]

as far as i know the best is take only the second pawn but not the 3th. but even if you take a hard defense is immediately d6 threatening be6 if qb3 u play qd7 ka5 threatens. its hard for white breakthrough

[@lamsimpson5215]

at 35:42 after f5 why didn't he do exf6 en pessant winning the knight because the queen gives check???

[@drpwnursoxoff]

after exf6, king moves to f7, threatening to recapture the pawn. if you take the knight with cxd5, black plays Re8, pinning the queen to the king. white has no way to defend the pawn from being recaptured so at best it's a pawn trade, and the rook is still threatening to pin the queen.

[@averagejoe5016]

What is that flag next to Schrantz's name? I know this video was a long time ago so nobody will probably see this comment but if anybody does please let me know.

[@dragichav2810]

Paraguay 😁

[@averagejoe5016]

Drago Yordanov Interesting. Never would have thought Schrantz is from Paraguay.

[@marlonmerkel1134]

What if at 13:55 Qd5 and if Pxc6 ... Qxc5?

[@shawnwilson5401]

Scandi please