CoursesNextProProProProProProProProProProProProProProProProProProProProProProPro
OPENING
Scotch Gambit
“Welcome. Let us begin.”
— Boris, your coach
25 lessons~3 hoursPlayed by Paul Morphy
Progress0 / 25
What you’ll learn
- Sacrifice the d-pawn (and sometimes c-pawn) for rapid development
- Every piece converges on the f7 square
- Bc4 + Qd5/Qb3 is the signature double-attack battery
- Ng5 + Qh5 creates crushing kingside pressure after Black castles
- Bxf7+ king-hunt sacrifices punish greedy knight moves
- Open lines reward the prepared attacker, preparation beats improvisation
Start the course
What is the Scotch Gambit
Bishop instead of knight on move 4
1
What is the Scotch Gambit
Bishop instead of knight on move 42
The Haxo Bxf7 Attack
Signature Scotch Gambit sacrificeMain Line with 4...Bc5
The most common responseMain Line with 4...Nf6
Entering the Max Lange AttackThe Göring Move Order
4.c3 instead of Bc4Castle or Attack
The core decision every Scotch Gambit game asksBlack Plays 4...Be7
Passive, but needs a clear refutationBlack Plays 4...d6
Solid but slowBlack Plays 4...Bb4+
Check with tempoBlack Declines with 4...d3
Pushing the pawn instead of takingBlack Plays 4...h6
Wasting a move in a sharp openingBlack Declines with 3...d6
Simplification trap punishes castlingKingside Attack: Ng5 + Qh5
The signature attacking patternThe Open e-File
Rook lift and central pressureThe Nakhmanson Gambit
A sharper sideline on move 6The Janowski Defense
When Black plays solidlyThe Anderssen Attack
Spectacular bishop sac with forced mateScotch Gambit Qd5 Trap
Punishing the Passive Be7Scotch Gambit Qb3 Trap
When Black Plays d3Scotch Gambit Fork on f7
When Black Castles Into ItScotch Gambit Mate in Two
When Black Retreats the BishopScotch Gambit King Hunt
Punishing 4...Na5Scotch Gambit Haxo Trap
Punishing 7...Ne5Göring Double Pawn Sacrifice
Left and Right AttackMorphy vs Dominguez, 1864
Paul Morphy vs P. Dominguez · 1864