Italian Game: Scotch Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.O-O

ECO C56

The Italian Game: Scotch Gambit is a chess opening line in the Italian Game complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.O-O.

It is catalogued under code C56 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move O-O is chosen by White on move 5.

9 named continuations branch from this position, including the Anderssen Attack and the Canal Variation.

Named variations

• Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack — ECO C56
• Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Canal Variation — ECO C56
• Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Double Gambit Accepted — ECO C56
• Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Janowski Defense — ECO C56
• Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack — ECO C56
• Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack Accepted — ECO C56
• Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Nakhmanson Gambit — ECO C56
• Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Walbrodt-Baird Gambit — ECO C56
• Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, de Riviere Defense — ECO C56

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Scotch Gambit course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.