1.e5 Nc6 2.d6 Nce7 3.Nf6 Nc3

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. d6

   Black plays too defensively here: they give us the whole center. The pawn on d5 forces the knight to retreat.

4. Nce7

   Let’s continue taking the center with the pawn to c4.

5. Nf6

   Let’s continue development with the knight to c3.

6. Nc3

   We have a lot of space, which is a considerable advantage.

1.e5 Nc6 2.d6 Nd4 3.exd4 Qxd4

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. d6

   Black plays too defensively here: they give us the whole center. The pawn on d5 forces the knight to retreat.

4. Nd4

   This is Black’s second most played move… It simply loses a central pawn. The knight takes the knight on d4.

5. exd4

   Now we win a free pawn: queen takes the pawn on d4.

6. Qxd4

   That was easy…

1.e5 Nc6 2.Nf6 Nxe4 3.Bc5 Bxf2+ 4.O-O Qxe4

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. Nf6

   Let’s simply play pawn takes pawn on e5.

4. Nxe4

   Now let’s develop our bishop to c4.

5. Bc5

   Black thinks they are attacking our f2-pawn, but we simply have queen to d5, threatening both mate on f7 and the knight on e4.

6. Bxf2+

   This only delays the inevitable. The king moves to f1.

7. O-O

   Black castled to stop the mate threat, but now we win a free knight: queen takes the knight on e4.

8. Qxe4

   We are a knight up.

1.e5 Nc6 2.f5 Nxe5 3.fxe4 Nc3

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. f5

   f5 is not a viable answer to the Scotch. This move loses immediately.

4. Nxe5

   We recapture the knight.

5. fxe4

   They take, and we attack the e4-pawn while developing our knight.

6. Nc3

   We have won the game right out of the opening; the e-pawn is going to be a big problem.

1.e5 Nc6 2.f5 fxe4 3.g6 gxh5 4.Nxd8 Kxd8 5.Nc3

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. f5

   f5 is not a viable answer to the Scotch. This move loses immediately.

4. fxe4

   Black gets revenge on the e-pawn.

5. g6

   Blocks the check.

6. gxh5

   Black takes the queen, but we recapture it right after.

7. Nxd8

   This move is etc...

8. Kxd8

   The king has lost castling rights, and Black’s development is difficult.

9. Nc3

   Black’s king has lost castling rights, and we have no development problems.

1.e5 Nc6 2.f5 fxe4 3.g6 dxc6 4.Qe7 Qxh8

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. f5

   f5 is not a viable answer to the Scotch. This move loses immediately.

4. fxe4

   Black gets revenge on the e-pawn.

5. g6

   Blocks the check.

6. dxc6

   White has a basic but effective tactic to take the rook.

7. Qe7

   The queen blocks the check.

8. Qxh8

   Goodbye rook.

1.e5 Nc6 2.d5 Qxd5 3.Bb4 Bxc3 4.Bxc3

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. d5

   d5 is a fairly good move for Black, even though it is not played very often.

4. Qxd5

   The right move here: we will need to play solidly.

5. Bb4

   Develops the bishop and pins the knight.

6. Bxc3

   They take, we recapture.

7. Bxc3

   The position is equal. Let’s play chess!

1.e5 Nc6 2.f5 Nf6 3.dxc6 Nd5 4.Nb6 Nc3

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. f5

   f5 is not a viable answer to the Scotch. This move loses immediately.

4. Nf6

   Black develops their knight and leaves the other one hanging; let’s take it.

5. dxc6

   Black recaptures; we simply push e.

6. Nd5

   Black brings their knight back to the best square.

7. Nb6

   Black brings the knight back to its best square. (That knight moves a lot!)

8. Nc3

   We have simply destroyed the center, and the engine gives us a 2-point advantage.

1.e5 Nc6 2.Nf6 Nxe4 3.Nc5 Ne6 4.Nc3

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. Nf6

   Let’s simply play pawn takes pawn on e5.

4. Nxe4

   Now let’s develop our bishop to c4.

5. Nc5

   Repositions the knight.

6. Ne6

   Repositions the knight.

7. Nc3

   We are better here; the engine gives us +1.

1.e5 Nc6 2.d5 Nxd4 3.exd4 Qxd4

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. d5

   d5 is a fairly good move for Black, even though it is not played very often.

4. Nxd4

   This move is a blunder; let’s take the knight.

5. exd4

   They recapture, and after queen takes, we have the center and an extra pawn. Life is good.

6. Qxd4

   Black is a pawn down and we have the center. Well played!

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nxd4 3.c5 Nf6 4.e5

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   We set a trap by offering d4 to Black.

4. Nxd4

   Queen takes d4.

5. c5

   Bad move by Black. Any queen move is good, but De3 keeps the activity.

6. Nf6

   Key point of the Scotch: hit Cf6 with e5. Let’s play e5.

7. e5

   Transposition into a line already studied.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nxd4 3.Qf6 Qe6 4.Qg6 Qxg2 5.Qg6 Bd2

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   We set a trap by offering d4 to Black.

4. Nxd4

   Queen takes d4.

5. Qf6

   Let’s refuse the exchange: e5 keeps the queen active.

6. Qe6

   Black’s blunder: Fc4 develops and attacks the queen.

7. Qg6

   Threats on c2 and g2, but it is a bluff: the captures lose. Let’s continue development with Cc3.

8. Qxg2

   Fd5 attacks the queen and saves the rook.

9. Qg6

   Fd2, preparing queenside castling.

10. Bd2

    Material is equal, but development is superior and the king will soon be safe.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nxd4 3.Qf6 Qe6 4.Qb6 Qf4

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   We set a trap by offering d4 to Black.

4. Nxd4

   Queen takes d4.

5. Qf6

   Let’s refuse the exchange: e5 keeps the queen active.

6. Qe6

   Black’s blunder: Fc4 develops and attacks the queen.

7. Qb6

   Black wants to exchange, but Df4 is better, threatening mate on f7.

8. Qf4

   Already a +2 advantage. While Black defends, let’s castle and develop our pieces.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nxd4 3.Qf6 Qb6 4.Qxd4 Bxd4

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   We set a trap by offering d4 to Black.

4. Nxd4

   Queen takes d4.

5. Qf6

   Let’s refuse the exchange: e5 keeps the queen active.

6. Qb6

   Black wants to trade queens. Let’s play Fe3 to continue development.

7. Qxd4

   Bishop takes d4.

8. Bxd4

   Center completely controlled.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nxd4 3.d6 Nf6 4.Be7 O-O 5.dxe5 Qe8 6.Be6 Rc8 7.Rb8 Rxb7 8.Ba4

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   We set a trap by offering d4 to Black.

4. Nxd4

   Queen takes d4.

5. d6

   Simple plan against passive play: Cc3, then develop the bishop and castle queenside.

6. Nf6

   Fg5, continuing the plan and pinning the knight.

7. Be7

   Queenside castling.

8. O-O

   Our rook shares the file with Black’s queen. Let’s open it with e5.

9. dxe5

   Queen takes e5, attacking Black’s queen with the rook.

10. Qe8

    Queen takes c7, winning a pawn.

11. Be6

    Key to winning: Fb5 attacks the queen.

12. Rc8

    Queen takes b7.

13. Rb8

    Bishop takes the queen on e8.

14. Rxb7

    Bishop to a4, with two extra pawns.

15. Ba4

    Two extra pawns.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nxd4 3.d6 Nf6 4.Be7 O-O 5.dxe5 Qe8 6.Be6 Qc8 7.Qxe7

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   We set a trap by offering d4 to Black.

4. Nxd4

   Queen takes d4.

5. d6

   Simple plan against passive play: Cc3, then develop the bishop and castle queenside.

6. Nf6

   Fg5, continuing the plan and pinning the knight.

7. Be7

   Queenside castling.

8. O-O

   Our rook shares the file with Black’s queen. Let’s open it with e5.

9. dxe5

   Queen takes e5, attacking Black’s queen with the rook.

10. Qe8

    Queen takes c7, winning a pawn.

11. Be6

    Key to winning: Fb5 attacks the queen.

12. Qc8

    Black retreats the queen and leaves the bishop undefended. Queen takes e7.

13. Qxe7

    Finito.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nxd4 3.Nf6 Qe7 4.Ng8 d6 5.Qd7 Qxd6 6.Qe6+ Be2

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   We set a trap by offering d4 to Black.

4. Nxd4

   Queen takes d4.

5. Nf6

   Decisive e5-pawn.

6. Qe7

   Black pins the pawn to protect the knight. Answer: Fe3, development and the pawn is freed.

7. Ng8

   Rapid development to castle: Cc3.

8. d6

   Black is lost. Cd5 attacks the queen and threatens the fork on c7.

9. Qd7

   Black is in danger. Pawn takes d6.

10. Qxd6

    Black defends c7. Let’s add an attacker: Ff4, pinning the queen to the pawn.

11. Qe6+

    Let’s simply block with the bishop on e2.

12. Be2

    Material is equal, but the advantage is decisive: +5 according to the evaluation.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nxd4 3.Nf6 Qe7 4.Ng8 d6 5.Qd7 Bxd6 6.Qxg7

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   We set a trap by offering d4 to Black.

4. Nxd4

   Queen takes d4.

5. Nf6

   Decisive e5-pawn.

6. Qe7

   Black pins the pawn to protect the knight. Answer: Fe3, development and the pawn is freed.

7. Ng8

   Rapid development to castle: Cc3.

8. d6

   Black is lost. Cd5 attacks the queen and threatens the fork on c7.

9. Qd7

   Black is in danger. Pawn takes d6.

10. Bxd6

    No good move for Black. Queen takes g7.

11. Qxg7

    Endgame: winning a rook and probably other pieces.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nxd4 3.Nf6 c5 4.Ng4 d5 5.Be6 Qd7 6.Kxd7 Kxd6 7.Qxa8

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   We set a trap by offering d4 to Black.

4. Nxd4

   Queen takes d4.

5. Nf6

   Decisive e5-pawn.

6. c5

   Queen to e3, renewed attack on the knight.

7. Ng4

   Black’s knight is so badly placed. Queen to e4 to attack it again.

8. d5

   Queen attacked. The e5-pawn captures en passant on d6, check.

9. Be6

   Bishop to b5, check. Black must defend with the queen, which we then win, followed by a pawn and a rook.

10. Qd7

    The bishop captures the queen on d7.

11. Kxd7

    The queen captures the pawn on b7.

12. Kxd6

    The queen captures the rook on a8.

13. Qxa8

    Total destruction.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nxd4 3.Nf6 c5 4.Nd5 Nb6 5.Be7 O-O 6.O-O-O

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   We set a trap by offering d4 to Black.

4. Nxd4

   Queen takes d4.

5. Nf6

   Decisive e5-pawn.

6. c5

   Queen to e3, renewed attack on the knight.

7. Nd5

   Queen to f3, pressure on the knight.

8. Nb6

   Development: knight to c3.

9. Be7

   Development: bishop to e3.

10. O-O

    Queenside castling.

11. O-O-O

    Clearly superior position: +2 to +3, equivalent to being a piece up.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nxd4 3.Nf6 c5 4.Nd5 Nb4 5.Nxc2+ d5 6.Qxd6+ Kxc2

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   We set a trap by offering d4 to Black.

4. Nxd4

   Queen takes d4.

5. Nf6

   Decisive e5-pawn.

6. c5

   Queen to e3, renewed attack on the knight.

7. Nd5

   Queen to f3, pressure on the knight.

8. Nb4

   Black threatens a fork on c2 winning the rook. But better than a fork: mate. Let’s play Fc4 to threaten f7. If they take the rook, we mate.

9. Nxc2+

   Check, the king retreats to d1.

10. d5

    E5 captures en passant on d6.

11. Qxd6+

    Check, the king captures the knight on c2.

12. Kxc2

    A piece up, better development, and a safe king.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nxd4 3.Nf6 c5 4.Nd5 Nc7 5.Bc4

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   We set a trap by offering d4 to Black.

4. Nxd4

   Queen takes d4.

5. Nf6

   Decisive e5-pawn.

6. c5

   Queen to e3, renewed attack on the knight.

7. Nd5

   Queen to f3, pressure on the knight.

8. Nc7

   As soon as possible, aim for mate on f7: with the knight moved away, let’s play Fc4.

9. Bc4

   Perfect! Either we mate, or we castle.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nxd4 3.Nf6 Ng8 4.d6 dxe5 5.Qe7 Qxe5+ 6.Bxe5

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   We set a trap by offering d4 to Black.

4. Nxd4

   Queen takes d4.

5. Nf6

   Decisive e5-pawn.

6. Ng8

   Let’s develop the knight to c3.

7. d6

   Let’s develop the bishop to f4 and prepare queenside castling.

8. dxe5

   Let’s recapture with the queen on e5 to give check.

9. Qe7

   Here almost everything is good, but the best is Cb5, adding pressure on c7. After the queen trade, the knight will go to c7 for a king-rook fork.

10. Qxe5+

    The bishop recaptures on e5, and we immediately threaten the Cc7 fork, which Black cannot prevent.

11. Bxe5

    The knight will arrive on c7. It will win a rook. The game is over.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nxd4 3.Nf6 Ng8 4.d6 dxe5 5.Be7 Nb5

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   We set a trap by offering d4 to Black.

4. Nxd4

   Queen takes d4.

5. Nf6

   Decisive e5-pawn.

6. Ng8

   Let’s develop the knight to c3.

7. d6

   Let’s develop the bishop to f4 and prepare queenside castling.

8. dxe5

   Let’s recapture with the queen on e5 to give check.

9. Be7

   Let’s add even more pressure on the c7-pawn with the knight to b5.

10. Nb5

    We are putting too much pressure on the c7-square.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nf6 3.bxc6 d5 4.cxd5 Be7 5.c4

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   Knight recaptures on d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Nf6

   Schmidt Variation: Cxc6.

5. bxc6

   Fd3 protects e4 and prepares castling.

6. d5

   Black puts pressure on e. Best move: exd5, removing the opponent’s doubled pawns.

7. cxd5

   Queenside castling to secure the king.

8. Be7

   Do not let Black control the center: c4.

9. c4

   Game played perfectly by both sides.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nf6 3.bxc6 Bc5 4.Nd5 g6 5.d6 Qa4 6.Bd7 O-O

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   Knight recaptures on d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Nf6

   Schmidt Variation: Cxc6.

5. bxc6

   Fd3 protects e4 and prepares castling.

6. Bc5

   e5 attacks the knight on f6 before castling.

7. Nd5

   Let’s play queen to g4, attacking the undefended g7-pawn.

8. g6

   Black defends g7. Fh6 prevents any castling.

9. d6

   Black’s push reveals an attack. Da4 threatens c6.

10. Qa4

    Black’s push exposes our queen. Da4, threatening c6.

11. Bd7

    Queenside castling, king safe unlike Black’s.

12. O-O

    Very bad position for Black.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nf6 3.bxc6 Bc5 4.Qe7 Nd5 5.O-O Bb6 6.Nb4 gxf6 7.Kxh7 Kg8 8.Kh7 Kg8 9.Qxe5 Qg5 10.Bxg5

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   Knight recaptures on d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Nf6

   Schmidt Variation: Cxc6.

5. bxc6

   Fd3 protects e4 and prepares castling.

6. Bc5

   e5 attacks the knight on f6 before castling.

7. Qe7

   Pawn attacked. Answer: queenside castling. If it is taken, Te1 pins the queen to the king.

8. Nd5

   Goal: bishop to c5. First step: Cd2. Black cannot take the central pawn because their queen would be pinned.

9. O-O

   Ce4 attacks Black’s bishop.

10. Bb6

    c4 attacks the knight, which has only one safe square.

11. Nb4

    Cf6, winning check.

12. gxf6

    Fxh7, a sacrifice to attack the vulnerable king.

13. Kxh7

    Dh5, check against the weakened king.

14. Kg8

    Remember the sequence: Dg4, check to the king.

15. Kh7

    Dh4, check.

16. Kg8

    Fh6, adding a piece to the attack.

17. Qxe5

    Dg4, check. The opposing queen must defend or it is mate.

18. Qg5

    Fg5, winning the queen.

19. Bxg5

    Winning the queen.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Nf6 3.dxc6 Kxd8 4.f3

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   In the Scotch Game, you must pose the problem immediately. Pawn to d4. Black must decide whether to take our pawn or defend their own.

3. exd4

   Knight recaptures on d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Nf6

   Schmidt Variation: Cxc6.

5. dxc6

   Absurd but common move: Dd8, canceling Black’s right to castle.

6. Kxd8

   f3 to stabilize the center.

7. f3

   Let’s develop and castle, an option Black no longer has.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Bc5 3.Nxd4 Bxd4 4.Qf6 Qb6 5.axb6 Ne7 6.O-O Bc4

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   Scotch: d4 poses the problem. Black must take or defend.

3. exd4

   Knight takes d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Bc5

   Fe3, defending the knight in the main line of the Scotch.

5. Nxd4

   Fxd4, exchange in the center.

6. Bxd4

   the queen captures the bishop on d4.

7. Qf6

   Refusing the exchange: e5 keeps the queen active.

8. Qb6

   Dxb6, queen trade.

9. axb6

   Let’s develop our knight to c3.

10. Ne7

    Queenside castling.

11. O-O

    Fc4, development.

12. Bc4

    Comfortable position with +1.5. Convert it into a win.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Bc5 3.Nf6 bxc6 4.Bxc5

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   Scotch: d4 poses the problem. Black must take or defend.

3. exd4

   Knight takes d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Bc5

   Fe3, defending the knight in the main line of the Scotch.

5. Nf6

   Cxc6 attacks the queen and wins the bishop on c5. Black cannot save both.

6. bxc6

   Fxc5, winning a free bishop.

7. Bxc5

   Destroyed.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Bc5 3.Qf6 Ngxe7 4.d6 O-O

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   Scotch: d4 poses the problem. Black must take or defend.

3. exd4

   Knight takes d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Bc5

   Fe3, defending the knight in the main line of the Scotch.

5. Qf6

   Black adds an attacker. Answer: c3, adding a defender.

6. Ngxe7

   Fc4, development.

7. d6

   Let’s castle to secure the king.

8. O-O

   Good position.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Bc5 3.Qf6 Ngxe7 4.O-O d6 5.Nxc6 dxc5 6.Be6 Qe7 7.Qxe6 Nd2

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   Scotch: d4 poses the problem. Black must take or defend.

3. exd4

   Knight takes d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Bc5

   Fe3, defending the knight in the main line of the Scotch.

5. Qf6

   Black adds an attacker. Answer: c3, adding a defender.

6. Ngxe7

   Fc4, development.

7. O-O

   If Black castles, so do we.

8. d6

   Cxc6, clearing the center.

9. Nxc6

   Fxc5, clearing the center.

10. dxc5

    Start of a kingside attack: f4, increasing pressure on Black’s queen.

11. Be6

    e5 attacks the queen.

12. Qe7

    Fxe6, bishop exchange.

13. Qxe6

    Cd2, development.

14. Nd2

    Good position.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Bc5 3.Qf6 Ngxe7 4.O-O d6 5.Nxc6 dxc5 6.Be6 Qg6 7.Bf5 Qxf5 8.Nd2

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   Scotch: d4 poses the problem. Black must take or defend.

3. exd4

   Knight takes d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Bc5

   Fe3, defending the knight in the main line of the Scotch.

5. Qf6

   Black adds an attacker. Answer: c3, adding a defender.

6. Ngxe7

   Fc4, development.

7. O-O

   If Black castles, so do we.

8. d6

   Cxc6, clearing the center.

9. Nxc6

   Fxc5, clearing the center.

10. dxc5

    Start of a kingside attack: f4, increasing pressure on Black’s queen.

11. Be6

    e5 attacks the queen.

12. Qg6

    Fd3, blocking the queen.

13. Bf5

    The bishop captures the bishop on f5.

14. Qxf5

    Knight to d2.

15. Nd2

    Slightly superior position.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Bc5 3.Qf6 Ngxe7 4.O-O Ne5 5.d6 f4

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   Scotch: d4 poses the problem. Black must take or defend.

3. exd4

   Knight takes d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Bc5

   Fe3, defending the knight in the main line of the Scotch.

5. Qf6

   Black adds an attacker. Answer: c3, adding a defender.

6. Ngxe7

   Fc4, development.

7. O-O

   If Black castles, so do we.

8. Ne5

   Black attacks the bishop. Retreat to e2, a safe square.

9. d6

   f4 attacks the knight on e5.

10. f4

    This push gives us the advantage over the opponent.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Bc5 3.Bb6 Nf6 4.O-O O-O-O

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   Scotch: d4 poses the problem. Black must take or defend.

3. exd4

   Knight takes d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Bc5

   Fe3, defending the knight in the main line of the Scotch.

5. Bb6

   Repositions the bishop.

6. Nf6

   Knight development.

7. O-O

   Castling.

8. O-O-O

   White is solid here. Let’s play chess 😉

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Bc5 3.Qf6 Ngxe7 4.Ne5 Be2

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   Scotch: d4 poses the problem. Black must take or defend.

3. exd4

   Knight takes d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Bc5

   Fe3, defending the knight in the main line of the Scotch.

5. Qf6

   Black adds an attacker. Answer: c3, adding a defender.

6. Ngxe7

   Fc4, development.

7. Ne5

   The knight takes good squares. Solid move.

8. Be2

   Let’s play chess ;)

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Qf6 3.Bc5 Bb6 4.Ngxe7 Be3

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   Scotch: d4, forcing Black to take or defend.

3. exd4

   Knight takes d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Qf6

   Db5 threatens the fork on c7, now undefended, giving a clear advantage.

5. Bc5

   Black threatens mate on f2, so we must deal with it immediately. Let’s simply play queen to e2.

6. Bb6

   Knight b1-c3, ready to jump to d5 to create a decisive fork on the queen, bishop, and c7-pawn.

7. Ngxe7

   Black has prevented our idea of knight to d5.

8. Be3

   Let’s continue development. Castle to put our king in safety and prepare the attack.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Qf6 3.Bc5 Bb6 4.a6 Qd8 5.cxb6 Kf8 6.Bf4

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   Scotch: d4, forcing Black to take or defend.

3. exd4

   Knight takes d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Qf6

   Db5 threatens the fork on c7, now undefended, giving a clear advantage.

5. Bc5

   Black threatens mate on f2, so we must deal with it immediately. Let’s simply play queen to e2.

6. Bb6

   Knight b1-c3, ready to jump to d5 to create a decisive fork on the queen, bishop, and c7-pawn.

7. a6

   Cd5, fork on the bishop, queen, and c7-pawn.

8. Qd8

   Cxb6, eliminating a key defender.

9. cxb6

   Knight to d6, check.

10. Kf8

    Ff4, development.

11. Bf4

    Material is equal, but the knight is dominant. Plan: castle, develop, then attack Black’s weakened position.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Qf6 3.Bb4+ Ba5 4.d6 O-O

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   Scotch: d4, forcing Black to take or defend.

3. exd4

   Knight takes d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Qf6

   Db5 threatens the fork on c7, now undefended, giving a clear advantage.

5. Bb4+

   We block the check with our knight.

6. Ba5

   We develop our bishop.

7. d6

   Kingside castling.

8. O-O

   A classic way to prepare the f-pawn push.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Qf6 3.Qd8 d6 4.a6 Nf6 5.bxc6 e5

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   Scotch: d4, forcing Black to take or defend.

3. exd4

   Knight takes d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Qf6

   Db5 threatens the fork on c7, now undefended, giving a clear advantage.

5. Qd8

   One of the most played moves in this position.

6. d6

   Let’s develop our knight.

7. a6

   Knight to d4, well placed despite the attack.

8. Nf6

   Let’s take advantage of Black’s delay: take and break their structure.

9. bxc6

   Let’s push the pawn to increase the pressure.

10. e5

    Favorable position: +1 and concrete threats against Black.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Qf6 3.Bc5 Nd4 4.Kd8 Qc4 5.d6 Nxa8

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   Scotch: d4, forcing Black to take or defend.

3. exd4

   Knight takes d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Qf6

   Db5 threatens the fork on c7, now undefended, giving a clear advantage.

5. Bc5

   Black threatens mate on f2, so we must deal with it immediately. Let’s simply play queen to e2.

6. Nd4

   Black attacks our queen with the knight, which is very bad.

7. Kd8

   King moves.

8. Qc4

   We move the queen out of attack.

9. d6

   Damage control.

10. Nxa8

    A rook up. Well played.

1.e5 Nc6 2.exd4 Qf6 3.Qd8 a6 4.Ke7 Qd6#

1. e5

   Knight to f3.

2. Nc6

   Scotch: d4, forcing Black to take or defend.

3. exd4

   Knight takes d4, setting a trap for Black.

4. Qf6

   Db5 threatens the fork on c7, now undefended, giving a clear advantage.

5. Qd8

   One of the most played moves in this position.

6. a6

   A big mistake.

7. Ke7

   King moves.

8. Qd6#

   Well played, it is already over.