Scotch Game

1. e4White opens with e4, the most direct claim to the centre.
2. e5Black replies e5, mirroring and blocking further advance.
3. Nf3Nf3 develops with a threat: the knight attacks the e5 pawn.
4. Nc6Black defends with Nc6, the natural developing move.
5. d4d4! The Scotch. White opens the centre immediately rather than building up slowly with c3 or Bb5.
6. exd4Black captures on d4 — declining leaves White with a big centre for free.
7. Nxd4White recaptures with the knight, which now sits centralised on d4.
8. Bc5Bc5 develops with a purpose: the bishop pins down d4 and eyes f2.
9. Be3Be3 supports the knight and offers a trade of the active black bishop.
10. Qf6Black piles on with Qf6, adding a third attacker to d4 and covering f2 ideas.
11. c3c3 is the move that holds it all together — a third defender for the knight and a stable pawn centre.
12. Nge7Nge7 develops the last minor piece without blocking the queen on f6. Stockfish reads the position at about +0.3 for White: a normal, healthy opening edge.

The Mieses Variation, the modern main line and Kasparov's choice. White trades on c6 to saddle Black with doubled pawns, then plays e5 to gain space and harass the knight. Black gets the bishop pair and open lines as compensation. Stockfish reads the position after 6...Qe7 at about +0.35 — a small, lasting pull for White.

1. e4White plays e4.
2. e5Black plays e5.
3. Nf3Nf3 attacks the e5 pawn.
4. Nc6Nc6 defends it.
5. d4d4 — the Scotch break.
6. exd4Black captures on d4.
7. Nxd4White recaptures with the knight.
8. Nf6Black develops Nf6, attacking e4 instead of playing ...Bc5.
9. Nxc6Nxc6! White trades off the centralised knight to damage Black's pawn structure.
10. bxc6Black must recapture with the b-pawn, accepting doubled c-pawns.
11. e5e5 gains space and drives the knight away from f6.
12. Qe7Black plays Qe7, pinning down the e5 pawn and preparing to regroup. Engine assessment: roughly +0.35 for White.

The Scotch Gambit, leading into Max Lange territory. White declines to recapture on d4 and develops with Bc4 instead, betting on speed. Play becomes extremely sharp — this is a line where knowing the moves matters far more than understanding them. After 6...Ne4 the engine reads only +0.15, so the gambit is sound rather than winning.

1. e4White plays e4.
2. e5Black plays e5.
3. Nf3Nf3 hits e5.
4. Nc6Nc6 defends.
5. d4d4 opens the centre.
6. exd4Black takes on d4.
7. Bc4Bc4! Rather than recapturing, White develops and points the bishop at f7. The pawn on d4 can wait.
8. Nf6Black develops Nf6, the most testing move.
9. e5e5 kicks the knight before it can settle on f6.
10. d5d5! The critical counter — Black hits the bishop and opens lines rather than retreating.
11. Bb5Bb5 keeps the bishop active and pins the c6 knight.
12. Ne4Black plays Ne4 and the position explodes into tactics. Stockfish reads about +0.15 — objectively balanced, practically a minefield for both sides.

The Steinitz Variation. Black plays the crude-looking 4...Qh4, attacking e4 and d4 at the same time. It breaks the rule about early queen moves, but it is fully playable and forces White to know what to do. White gets the pieces out with tempo via Nb5, and after 6...Qxe4 the engine reads about +0.15 — level, with a wild game ahead.

1. e4White plays e4.
2. e5Black plays e5.
3. Nf3Nf3 attacks e5.
4. Nc6Nc6 defends.
5. d4d4 opens the position.
6. exd4Black captures on d4.
7. Nxd4White recaptures with the knight.
8. Qh4Qh4!? The queen jumps out to attack e4 and d4 simultaneously. Unusual, but it has real bite.
9. Nb5Nb5! White ignores the threats and develops with tempo — the knight heads for c7 and forces Black to react.
10. Bb4Bb4+ interposes with check, developing and disrupting White's castling plans.
11. Bd2Bd2 blocks the check and offers a trade of the active bishop.
12. Qxe4Black grabs on e4. Material is level and the position is chaotic; the engine reads it at about +0.15, which is to say anyone's game.