Chess Openings Lab
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Scotch Game: Steinitz Variation

The Steinitz Variation of the Scotch Game is 4...Qh4, where Black's queen jumps out at once to attack the e4 pawn. Black wants to win that pawn or force White into awkward defense, while White wants to use the extra development time and chase the queen.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qh4
ECO
C45
Engine
+0.78 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
365 games in our lichess sample
White scores
40.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 5.Nc3 defends e4 with a piece and invites ...Bb4; after Be2 White can give up e4 for fast development.
  • In the engine line, Nb5 after ...Qxe4 hits c7, and Black's king must step to d8 after the trade on c3.
  • 5.Nb5 is a direct option: it eyes c7 and after ...Bb4+ c3 the bishop has to retreat to a5.
  • Watch f2: the queen on h4 already aims there, so do not move the f1 bishop and the knight carelessly at the same time.

Black

  • Answer 5.Nc3 with ...Bb4, pinning the knight so that e4 is loose and can be taken with the queen.
  • After winning e4, be ready for Nb5 against c7; the engine line answers with ...Bxc3+ and ...Kd8.
  • Against 5.Nf3 take on e4 with check and continue with ...Bb4+, ...Be7 and ...Nf6 to finish development.
  • Develop the g8 knight early so the queen has support and your king can castle.

Plans and pawn structure

This is a fight between a pawn and development. If Black grabs e4, White pushes with Nb5, quick castling and rooks to the e-file, hoping to punish the king that often lands on d8. Black wants to trade pieces, castle or tuck the king, and keep the extra pawn. If White holds e4 instead, Black's early queen becomes a target for g3 or Nf3 and the game turns into normal development where White is a little better.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.78: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.78 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Be2 Qxe4 7.Nb5 Bxc3+
  2. +0.34 5.Nb5 Bb4+ 6.c3 Ba5 7.Nd2 a6
  3. +0.08 5.Nf3 Qxe4+ 6.Be2 Bb4+ 7.c3 Be7

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

365 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 40.8%.

under 120047.2%
1200–159943.1%
1600–199938.2%
2000 and up39.0%

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

Where it goes next

  • Modern Defense5.Nc3 · 255 games
  • Braune Variation5.Be3 · rare
  • Fraser Variation5.Nf3 · rare
  • Rosenthal Variation5.Nb5 · rare
  • Paulsen Variation5.Nf5 · rare

How to play against it

With White, 5.Nc3 is the practical choice: develop, then decide between keeping e4 with Qd3 ideas or giving it with Be2. Do not panic about f2, but do not ignore it. In this sample White scored only 40.8%, so take the queen sortie seriously and play concrete moves.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qh4 5.Nc3.

Questions

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

The Scotch Game: Steinitz Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qh4. Its ECO code is C45.

Is the Scotch Game: Steinitz Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.78 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 365 lichess games from our sample, White scored 40.8%. A practical weapon for Black players who like early tactics, but it asks Black to defend an uncastled king accurately afterward.

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

Black attacks e4 with the queen on move four. White usually defends with Nc3 and then offers that pawn for a lead in development, using Nb5 to hit c7 and keep Black's king in the center.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nc3, with Nb5 and Nf3 close behind. 5.Nc3 brings a piece to defend e4 and prepares to meet ...Bb4 with Be2 and active play.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.