Chess Openings Lab
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Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation

The Kingside Variation is 4...exd4 5.e5 Ng4, where Black's knight jumps to g4 instead of d5 or e4. The knight hits e5 and f2, and White plans to castle and use Re1 to defend e5 while Black looks for ...d6 to break the center.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.e5 Ng4
ECO
C44
Engine
+0.11 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
528 games in our lichess sample
White scores
58.0%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Castle and play Re1, then answer ...d6 with exd6 and Bg5, as in the engine line.
  • Qe2 defends e5 and prepares Bf4, but Black can break with ...f6.
  • Avoid Bd5: after ...Ncxe5, Nxe5 and ...Nxe5 Black is a pawn up.
  • Win back d4 with the knight only after the e5 pawn is safe.

Black

  • Develop ...Be7 first and then break with ...d6 against White's advanced e5 pawn.
  • Against Qe2, play ...Qe7 and then ...f6 to open lines on the kingside.
  • Use ...Ncxe5 when White's e5 pawn lacks defenders and the tactics work.
  • After exd6, take back with ...cxd6 or the bishop and put the knight on e5.

Plans and pawn structure

Black's knight on g4 forces White to watch e5 and f2. White castles, plays Re1 and Bg5, and the game opens after ...d6 and exd6. Black wants ...Nge5 and quick development, while White uses the open e-file and quick piece play to hit e7. In the Qe2 line, the pressure on e5 leads to ...f6 and open lines for both sides. The d4 pawn often falls to Nxd4 later.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.11: level. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.11 6.O-O Be7 7.Re1 d6 8.exd6 cxd6
  2. −0.18 6.Qe2 Qe7 7.Bf4 f6 8.exf6 Nxf6
  3. −0.88 6.Bd5 Ncxe5 7.Nxe5 Nxe5 8.Qxd4 d6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

528 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 58.0%.

under 120050.0%
1200–159956.3%
1600–199961.6%
2000 and up57.4%

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

How to play against it

As White, castle and play Re1 to defend e5 with the rook. Avoid Bd5, which loses a pawn after ...Ncxe5. As Black, break with ...d6 and develop quickly with ...Be7 and castling, and keep an eye on the e-file when White's rook arrives.

Questions

What are the moves of the Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation?

The Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.e5 Ng4. Its ECO code is C44.

Is the Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.11 at depth 20, which is level. In 528 lichess games from our sample, White scored 58.0%. A sharp line for both sides that rewards tactical awareness.

What is the main idea of the Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation?

Black's knight goes to g4 to attack e5 and f2. White castles and plays Re1, and Black breaks with ...d6.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is O-O, with Qe2 and Bd5 close behind. 6.O-O castles and prepares Re1 to defend e5.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.