Scotch Game: Göring Gambit, Bardeleben Variation
The Bardeleben Variation of the Göring Gambit is 5.Bc4 Nf6 6.Nxc3 Bb4, where Black pins the c3 knight and threatens ...Nxe4. White is a pawn down and must act quickly, often with e5, while Black hopes to keep the extra pawn and castle.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Bc4 Nf6 6.Nxc3 Bb4
- ECO
- C44
- Engine
- +0.08 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 478 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 56.8%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Play e5 at once, as in the top engine line, and after ...d5 take exf6 to open the g-file.
- Castle and use Nd5 to hit the pinning bishop, then Re1 to pressure e7.
- Bg5 adds a pin on f6, but after ...h6 and ...Bxc3+ White's pawns weaken.
- Avoid leaving e4 loose: the pin on c3 means it is defended only by tactics.
Black
- Answer e5 with ...d5, forking bishop and pawn, then ...dxc4 and a queen trade.
- Take on e4 when White's pieces are not ready: the pin on c3 helps.
- Castle short against O-O, and retreat ...Be7 if Nd5 hits the bishop.
- Against Bg5, ...h6 and ...Bxc3+ leave White with doubled c-pawns and no knight to support e4.
Plans and pawn structure
Black is a pawn up with good development, so White must use the open lines. After e5 d5 exf6 dxc4 Qxd8+ Nxd8 fxg7 Rg8, the game becomes an endgame where White's g7 pawn is weak but annoying. In the castling line, White uses Nd5, Re1 and active bishops for pressure, while Black trades the pinned knight and holds the extra pawn with ...d6.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.08: level. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.08 7.e5 d5 8.exf6 dxc4 9.Qxd8+ Nxd8
- −0.14 7.O-O O-O 8.Nd5 Be7 9.Re1 d6
- −0.36 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 O-O
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
478 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 56.8%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As Black, meet e5 with ...d5 and know the queen trade line that follows exf6 and ...dxc4. Against slower moves, castle and play ...d6 to keep the extra pawn. As White, choose e5 or castling and do not drift, because Black's development is already good and every quiet move helps Black consolidate.
Questions
What are the moves of the Scotch Game: Göring Gambit, Bardeleben Variation?
The Scotch Game: Göring Gambit, Bardeleben Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Bc4 Nf6 6.Nxc3 Bb4. Its ECO code is C44.
Is the Scotch Game: Göring Gambit, Bardeleben Variation good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.08 at depth 20, which is level. In 478 lichess games from our sample, White scored 56.8%. A sound line for Black players who like simple development, and White needs precise moves to keep balance.
What is the main idea of the Scotch Game: Göring Gambit, Bardeleben Variation?
Black pins the c3 knight to win e4 or keep the extra pawn. White needs active moves, mostly e5, to turn development into concrete play.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is e5, with O-O and Bg5 close behind. 7.e5 kicks the knight and, after ...d5 and exf6, leads to a forcing queen trade.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.