Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. d4/3...exd4/4. Nxd4/4...Bc5
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
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| Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 | |
Scotch Game, Classical Variation
[edit | edit source]Bc5 attacks White's central knight and puts indirect pressure on the f2 square if the knight moves.
White's three most common responses are to support the d4 knight with 5. Be3, which threatens to immediately win a piece with 6. Nxc6 dxc6 (with the threat of Nxd8 to win Black's queen) 7. Bxc5. Another role of White's bishop on e3 is to protect the weak f2 pawn. The other most common options are to exchange the central knight with 5. Nxc6 or retreat and win a tempo on Black's bishop with 5. Nb3.
5. Nf5 is another playable move to relocate the knight, but permits Black to harass it easily. 5. c3 is a playable defensive move but weak due to 5...Nf6, allowing strong pressure on both White's central pawn and knight, or 5...Qh4 6. Bd3 Nxd4 7. cxd4 Bxd4, losing a pawn.
References
[edit | edit source]
With 2...g6:
With other 2nd moves for Black:
Dutch defence