ECO C45 · Scotch Game

Scotch Game: Gottschall Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Qd2 d5 8. Nb5 Bxe3 9. Qxe3 O-O 10. Nxc7 Rb8 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Nb4

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

13. cxb4−1.47

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Scotch Game: Gottschall Variation (C45), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Qd2 d5 8. Nb5 Bxe3 9. Qxe3 O-O 10. Nxc7 Rb8 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Nb4, Stockfish 18 recommends 13. cxb4 for White. Black is clearly better (−1.47).

Top engine moves

  1. −1.4713. cxb4 Qxb2 14. Bd3 Qxa1 15. O-O Qb2 16. Nd2 Bd7 17. Nc4 Qxb4
  2. −1.6713. Qd2 Re8+ 14. Be2 Bg4 15. f3 Nxd5 16. Qxd5 Rbd8 17. Qc4 Be6
  3. −2.5113. Qe2 Nxd5 14. Qe4 Nf4 15. g3 Nh3 16. Bd3 Qxf2+ 17. Kd1 g6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Scotch Game: Gottschall Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Qd2 d5 8. Nb5 Bxe3 9. Qxe3 O-O 10. Nxc7 Rb8 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Nb4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 13. cxb4 for White, continuing Qxb2 14. Bd3 Qxa1 15. O-O Qb2 16. Nd2 Bd7 17. Nc4 Qxb4. Black is clearly better (−1.47). The next best moves are 13. Qd2 (−1.67) and 13. Qe2 (−2.51).
Is the Scotch Game: Gottschall Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −1.47: 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: Gottschall Variation?
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+).