Scotch Game (2… Nc6 3. d4)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
The Scotch Game is a chess opening classified as ECO C44, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4. Black is to move. 2 named lines continue from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 261,784 times by this move order. White won 53%, 4% were drawn and Black won 43%. The most popular continuation is 3… exd4 (77% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.07 (Stockfish, depth 65; best line 3… exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Nxc6)
- ECO
- C44
- Moves
- 5 plies
- FEN
r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq - 0 3- PGN
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 125,959 | |
| 1500-1999 | 120,652 | |
| 2000+ | 15,173 | |
| All | 261,784 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 3… exd4 Scotch Game (3. d4 exd4) | 200,749 (77%) | |
| 3… d6 | 20,063 (8%) | |
| 3… Nf6 | 10,155 (4%) | |
| 3… f6 | 5,676 (2%) | |
| 3… d5 | 5,626 (2%) | |
| 3… Nxd4 Lolli Variation (3. d4 Nxd4) | 4,960 (2%) | |
| 3… Bd6 | 4,426 (2%) | |
| 3… Bb4+ | 2,914 (1%) |
Master games
857 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 75%, draw 8%, Black 17%). The strongest:
- GM Magnus Carlsen (2831) – GM Luca Jr Moroni (2545) 1/2-1/2 · Titled Tue 14th Jan Early · 2025-01-14
- GM Aryan Tari (2628) – GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2738) 1/2-1/2 · Candidates Rapid 2024 · 2024-04-16
- IM Matvey Galchenko (2440) – GM Rudik Makarian (2556) 0-1 · Titled Tue 1st Sep 2026 · 2026-09-01
- IM Ernesto J. Fernandez Guillen (2467) – IM Thomas Beerdsen (2520) 1/2-1/2 · Titled Tue 27th Jun Early · 2023-06-27
- IM Irina Bulmaga (2424) – GM Luca Jr Moroni (2560) 0-1 · 14th Dolomiti Open 2023 · 2023-06-12
Highest-rated Lichess games
- Nana_jede_cevape (2891) – NM Andrey11976 (2793) 0-1 · 2026-09-05 · 180 + 0s
- Nana_jede_cevape (2879) – NM Andrey11976 (2804) 0-1 · 2026-09-05 · 180 + 0s
- kuhmft (2855) – vistagusta (2827) 0-1 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
King's Knight Opening: Normal Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
Continuations
- Scotch Game (3. d4 exd4) C44 · 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4
- Scotch Game: Lolli Variation (3. d4 Nxd4) C44 · 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 Nxd4
More Scotch Game lines (all)
- Scotch Game: Benima Defense C44
- Scotch Game: Cochrane Variation C44
- Scotch Game: Cochrane-Shumov Defense C44
- Scotch Game: Göring Gambit C44
- Scotch Game: Göring Gambit, Bardeleben Variation C44
- Scotch Game: Göring Gambit, Double Pawn Sacrifice C44
- Scotch Game: Göring Gambit, Main Line C44
- Scotch Game: Hanneken Variation C44
- Scotch Game: Haxo Gambit C44
- Scotch Game: Lolli Variation (4… exd4 5. Qxd4) C44
- Scotch Game: Napoleon Gambit C44
- Scotch Game: Relfsson Gambit C44
Opening names and moves from the Lichess openings dataset; statistics from the Lichess open database, 2026-09 (CC0), sample of 12.6 million games, bots excluded; evaluations from Lichess cloud analysis (all CC0). Master games from The Week in Chess #920–#1664 by Mark Crowther, used with permission.