Chess Openings Lab
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Scotch Game: Potter Variation

The Potter Variation is the Classical Scotch with 5.Nb3, retreating the knight with tempo on the c5 bishop. White plans Nc3, a4 and a5 to chase the bishop and gain queenside space, while Black keeps the bishop on b6 or e7 and develops calmly.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nb3
ECO
C45
Engine
+0.27 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
856 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play Nc3, a4 and a5, as in the engine line, to push the b6 bishop around.
  • Pin with Bg5 once Black plays ...Nf6, tying the f6 knight to the defense of d5.
  • Against ...Be7, f4 grabs central space and prepares e5 to kick a knight on f6.
  • After ...Bb4+, block with c3 and fianchetto with g3 and Bg2 for a calm setup.

Black

  • Retreat ...Bb6 and answer a4 with ...a6 so the bishop has a7 as a home.
  • Develop ...Nf6 and ...d6, then castle short and bring a rook to e8.
  • Against f4, play ...a5 and ...d6 to hold e5 and gain queenside space.
  • Use ...Ne5 to target c4 and f3 when White's pieces leave those squares.

Plans and pawn structure

White's knight on b3 is less central but it hits c5 and supports a4-a5. Black's bishop goes to b6 and often ends on a7 after a5. White develops with Nc3, Bg5 and Qd2 or Be2 and castles, sometimes long. Black castles short and plays ...d6, a rook to e8 and ...Be6, looking for ...d5 to open the center. The space on the queenside and e4 are White's main trumps.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.27: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.27 5...Bb6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.a4 a6 8.Bg5
  2. +0.36 5...Be7 6.f4 a5 7.Nc3 d6 8.Bb5
  3. +0.40 5...Bb4+ 6.c3 Be7 7.g3 d6 8.Bg2

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

856 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.6%.

1200–159945.9%
1600–199956.2%
2000 and up49.5%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Romanishin Variation5...Bb4+ · rare

How to play against it

As Black, retreat ...Bb6 and meet a4 with ...a6 so a5 does not trap the bishop. Develop and castle before trying ...d5. As White, push a4 and a5 only after Nc3, and keep the e4 pawn defended against ...Nf6 and later pins.

Questions

What are the moves of the Scotch Game: Potter Variation?

The Scotch Game: Potter Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nb3. Its ECO code is C45.

Is the Scotch Game: Potter Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.27 at depth 20, which is level. In 856 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.6%. A calm, positional way to meet the Classical, suited to White players who prefer space over sharp tactics.

What is the main idea of the Scotch Game: Potter Variation?

White moves the knight to b3 to hit Black's bishop and plans a4-a5 for queenside space. Black keeps the bishop on b6 and develops normally.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Bb6, with Be7 and Bb4+ close behind. 5...Bb6 keeps the bishop on the a7-g1 diagonal, and Black answers a4 with ...a6.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.