ECO C45 · Scotch Game

Scotch Game: Alekhine Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. e5

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

5… Nxe5−0.80

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Scotch Game: Alekhine Gambit (C45), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… Nxe5 for Black. Black is clearly better (−0.80).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.805… Nxe5 6. Qe2 Qe7 7. Bf4 d6 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. Nxc6 Qxe2+ 10. Bxe2
  2. 0.005… Qe7 6. f4 Ne4 7. Qf3 Qh4+ 8. g3 Nxg3 9. hxg3 Nxd4 10. Qg2
  3. +0.105… Nd5 6. Nf3 Nb6 7. Nc3 d5 8. exd6 Bxd6 9. Bg5 f6 10. Be3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Scotch Game: Alekhine Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… Nxe5 for Black, continuing 6. Qe2 Qe7 7. Bf4 d6 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. Nxc6 Qxe2+ 10. Bxe2. Black is clearly better (−0.80). The next best moves are 5… Qe7 (0.00) and 5… Nd5 (+0.10).
Is the Scotch Game: Alekhine Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.80: black is clearly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Scotch Game: Alekhine Gambit?
C45. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).