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Scotch Gambit report from your own games

Scotch Gambit report from your own games

Attack from the very first moves. See if your Bc4 compensation delivers checkmates.

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What we analyze in your Scotch Gambit games

Your attacking accuracy after Bc4

Your exploitation of the f7 weakness

Your development lead utilization

Your success in tactical complications

Your win rate when opponent defends accurately

Key Positions to Know

Critical concepts every Scotch Gambit player should understand

Bc4 Instead of Recapturing

After 3...exd4, White plays 4.Bc4 instead of 4.Nxd4. The d4 pawn is left en prise temporarily! White uses the tempo to develop the bishop aggressively toward f7. This sets up the famous Max Lange Attack and creates immediate tactical pressure before Black can consolidate.

The f7 Attack Pattern

After 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.e5!, White attacks the knight and threatens to win material. If 5...d5 6.Bb5, the c4 bishop pins the c6 knight while the e5 pawn creates a space advantage. White's rapid development creates concrete threats that Black must handle precisely.

The Max Lange Attack

In the Max Lange Attack (4.Bc4 Bc5 5.O-O Nf6 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+), White sacrifices a piece for a devastating attack. Black's king is exposed in the center and White's coordinated pieces create mating threats. This is the sharpest theoretical battleground in the Scotch Gambit.

Opening Statistics

Original research from 14,108 real amateur games — data you won't find anywhere else.

Avg. Game Length
65.7moves0.7
Underdog Wins
40.3%1.0%
Quick Finishes
5.5% avg
Endgame Reach
75.0%3.2%
White's Edge
+9.9%6.2%
Favors BlackEqualFavors White

At 1200-1400

📊Games last 66 moves on average — right around average for this bracket.

📊The lower-rated player wins 40.3% of games — about average for this bracket.

📊5.5% of games end before move 20 — most games get into the middlegame.

📊75.0% of games reach the endgame (40+ moves) — most games are decided in the middlegame.

📊White's edge is +9.9% — White has a clear advantage at this level.

How This Opening Changes as You Improve

RatingGamesWhite's EdgeAvg. Game LengthUnderdog WinsQuick FinishesEndgame Reach
800-10002,932
+7.5%52 /4 /44
60+136.7%8.7%66.0%
1000-12003,463
+3.6%50 /4 /46
6339.4%6.7%71.6%
1200-14002,971
+9.9%53 /3 /43
6640.3%5.5%75.0%
1400-16002,695
+9.9%53 /3 /43
6940.4%5.0%78.6%
1600-18002,047
+11.1%54 /3 /43
70-234.7%3.7%81.6%

Based on 14,108 games · Updated

Common Scotch Gambit patterns we detect

We automatically check if you fall for these specific traps.

About the Scotch Gambit

The Scotch Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4) is an aggressive variation of the Scotch Game where White forgoes recapturing the pawn to immediately develop the bishop and attack f7. It leads to open tactical positions where development and initiative trump material.

We analyze your attacking patterns, piece coordination, and compensation for the pawn. We identify where initiative is lost and material deficit becomes decisive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Scotch Gambit analysis

The Scotch Gambit arises after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4, where White develops the bishop to c4 instead of recapturing on d4. Unlike the Scotch Game (4.Nxd4), White allows the pawn to stay on d4 and aims for rapid development, open lines, and a kingside attack. The gambit is one of the oldest aggressive openings in chess history — Paul Morphy and Adolf Anderssen deployed it with devastating effect in the romantic era.
After 4.Bc4, White aims for e5 and Ng5 attacks with the Italian bishop targeting f7. The key plan involves O-O, Re1, and then crashing through with e5 if possible: after 4...Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4, White has a strong pawn center and the bishop pair with rapid development. White's pieces coordinate for a kingside attack: Nc3, Ng5 threats, and eventual Qe2 or Qb3 pressure against f7 create concrete winning chances before Black can complete queenside development.
The Max Lange Attack is the sharpest branch of the Scotch Gambit: after 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3 Nxc3 10.bxc3, White sacrifices a pawn for rapid development and attacking pressure. The Max Lange requires concrete calculation — both sides have exposed kings and active pieces early. White typically castles queenside (O-O-O) and launches a direct assault. Garry Kasparov revived interest in the Max Lange with precise new preparation in the 1990s.
Paul Morphy, widely regarded as the greatest player of the romantic era, used Scotch Gambit ideas regularly in his brilliancies against European masters. His fastest demolitions often began with rapid Nf3, Bc4, and either Ng5 or d4 gambits before opponents could castle. While Morphy's most famous game ("Opera Game") used the Philidor Defense, several of his Scotch Gambit miniatures demonstrate the same principle: superior development and piece activity override material consideration when the opponent cannot complete development safely.

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