ECO C44 · Scotch Game

Scotch Game: Napoleon Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 Nxd4 4. Nxd4 exd4 5. Bc4

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

5… Nf6+0.39

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Scotch Game: Napoleon Gambit (C44), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 Nxd4 4. Nxd4 exd4 5. Bc4, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… Nf6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.39).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.395… Nf6 6. O-O Nxe4 7. Qh5 Qf6 8. Qe2 Qe5 9. f3 d5 10. Bb5+
  2. +0.465… d5 6. Bxd5 Nf6 7. Qxd4 Be7 8. Qd3 Nxd5 9. exd5 O-O 10. Nc3
  3. +0.495… Bb4+ 6. c3 dxc3 7. O-O Ne7 8. Qb3 d5 9. exd5 Bd6 10. Nxc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Scotch Game: Napoleon Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 Nxd4 4. Nxd4 exd4 5. Bc4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… Nf6 for Black, continuing 6. O-O Nxe4 7. Qh5 Qf6 8. Qe2 Qe5 9. f3 d5 10. Bb5+. White is slightly better (+0.39). The next best moves are 5… d5 (+0.46) and 5… Bb4+ (+0.49).
Is the Scotch Game: Napoleon Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.39: white is slightly 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: Napoleon Gambit?
C44. 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+).