Here's a game I played starting out with the Scotch game, a personal favourite. In the scotch game, every move I make ( as white ) makes me feel like I force black to play a certain move, because if he doesn't, I'll win some pieces. By knowing what moves he has to do, and by forcing him to do so, the scotch game let's the rythem beat to your liking.

 Here's a sample game between two 1350 or something.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sure, black could of played much better in this game, but I think that this shows how effective the Scotch game can be. It pretty much forces the opponent to follow strict moves for the first 6 or so moves in order to not fall behind later on. Black is forced to play white's gameplan.

 

PS: If anyone sees a MAJOR flaw in blacks gameplay, please post... but be reasonable, these were just 1350s playing so, no Kasparov-depth analysis needed. Just want to make sure that I didn't miss something big. 

4...Nxd4? is weak.Correct is 4...Bc5  5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7  etc...

4...Nf6 is also a good move.

ericmittens wrote: 4...Nf6 is also a good move.

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Yes the Mieses variation, also correct although i prefer 4Bc5

Can you show me how 4. ...Nf6 is good, because I don't see it

Develops a piece and attacks e4 pawn, if white takes your knight don t worry on the doubled pawns..black has counterplay

Qh4 is just crazy!  Not a blunder, but not good.

Qh4 is definitely playable, but I'd say Bc5 is the most popular move and it's also the move that made me give up playing the scotch...and subsequently stopped me from switching to 1.e4!

 

 

I play the scotch a fair amount and Bc5 is definitely my least favorite move to play against... in my experience Bc5 is best

opinions, everybody has em and... well you know the rest.

4.Nxd4 is not in main line, although lots of low rated folks play it. Black players should choose between 4... Nf6 or 4... Bc5.

Qh4 is called the Steinitz Variation, but it is very rare. In the mainline white sacrifices a pawn for development.

I personally prefer Bc5, since this bishop becames very powerful in this diagonal.

I don`t think 7.e5 was a good move. You should develop a piece instead (like  7.Be2 in order to castle).

Buy IM Andrew Martin's Foxy Openings dvd on the Scotch Game.  After watching this video, I will never play 1... e5 again.

polosportply,