ECO C44 · Scotch Game

Scotch Game: Vitzthum Attack

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. Qh5

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

6… Qe7−0.91

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Scotch Game: Vitzthum Attack (C44), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. Qh5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… Qe7 for Black. Black is clearly better (−0.91).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.916… Qe7 7. O-O d6 8. h3 Ne5 9. Bb3 Bd7 10. f4 Nc6 11. f5
  2. −0.716… Qf6 7. Nxf7 Bb4+ 8. c3 Nxf7 9. cxb4 Nxb4 10. Na3 d5 11. exd5
  3. −0.496… O-O 7. Nf3 d5 8. Qxd5 Qxd5 9. Bxd5 Nb4 10. Bb3 d3 11. c3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Scotch Game: Vitzthum Attack?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. Qh5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… Qe7 for Black, continuing 7. O-O d6 8. h3 Ne5 9. Bb3 Bd7 10. f4 Nc6 11. f5. Black is clearly better (−0.91). The next best moves are 6… Qf6 (−0.71) and 6… O-O (−0.49).
Is the Scotch Game: Vitzthum Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.91: 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: Vitzthum Attack?
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+).