Let's see what are the main plans behind the Scotch Opening...

we start with 1. e4

to control the center (d5 square)

and allow the Bishop in f1 to be happy in the near future.

after 1. ...e5 we play 2. Nf3

We make the knight happy

and he is fighting for two central squares (e5 and d4)

after 2. ... Nc6 to protect the e5 pawn, we go 3. d4

again we are fighting for the center and threating to win e5 pawn

and we allow the Bishop in c1 to be happy in the near future.

after 3. ... exd4, we take with the knight 4. Nxd4.

where is black's central pawn?? it is gone!

but we still have e4 pawn, so we are winning the fight for the center!

we payed the price (we moved the knight twice in the opening), but we have a great control over the center

Best moves for black now are 4. ... Bc5 and 4. ... Nf6.

But at your level you won't face it very often, because players don't have much knowledge.

Let's see some of the continuations you may face more often... and how to punish them!

In this post we will see what happens if black trades knights.

Variant 1: 5. ... Nxd4

This will be common, but it is not great!

It allows our Queen to be happy in the center of the board

because black can't attack it with a knight or a bishop.

Can black try to prepare an attack to the Queen with the Bishop?

1.1 - getting ready to play Bc5?

Not really!

Black will lose a pawn and will be forced to find Qf6 not to lose the Rook!

1.2 - what about a direct attack with 6. ... c5?

Oh! This is a bad move too!

square d5 is weak because it can not be controled by a pawn in e6 or c6. So if we put a knight on d5, it will be a monster!
but we have other plans too: we will create pressure along E and D files, and also in the big diagonal a1-h8.

Qe3!

It may look strange, but:

it prevents black from playing d7-d5, because exd5 will be a check! (made by our queen)
it we will make our pieces very happy, for example:

we can develop the queenside:

- Knight goes happy to c3;

- Bishop goes happy to b2, after playing b3;

- with Long Castle, King is Protect and Rook is Happy in D file (whenever blacks move d7-d6, we can play e5! because if black plays dxe5 he loses the queen!)

and also the Kingside:

- Bishop goes to c4

- we will make a pawn storm in F, G and H file, and when the pawns disappear we will attack in those files with our rooks!

So, 5. ... c5 is a bad move.

What about 5. ... Qf6?

1.3 - Queen exchange?

blacks wants to get a happy knight in f6!

You can choose: "No, thank you!" or "Yes, thank you, but no happy knight!"

"No, thank you!" option

Just play the same plan we have against 6. ... c5.

We will have a fun attacking game and checkmate black!

or

"Yes, thank you, but no happy knight!" option

We play Be3! and if black exchanges queens, we get the Happy Piece and control the center.

happy pieces make live easier!

things can go wrong in different ways for black.

So, 5. ... Qf6 is also not great for black.

What about if black tries instead to be happy with 5. ... Nf6?

1.4 - Nf6 happy piece?

Not for long!

We conquer the center with e5, send the knight back home and keep put our pieces happy.

Happy pieces win games

Riyon_hangout

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