Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3

ECO C56

The Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack 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 Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3.

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

The defining move Nc3 is chosen by White on move 8.

One named continuation branches from this position: the Main Line.

Named variations

• Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack, Main Line — 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.