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Scotch Game: Mieses Variation

ECO code
C45
Moves
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About this variation

After 4...Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5, White gains space and Black's knight must move. It is the main line of the Schmidt Variation.

The Mieses Variation of the Scotch is 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5. White trades knights and pushes the e-pawn, driving the knight on f6 away. After 6...Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. c4, the game reaches the main line, which has been played at the highest level.

White's main plans include gaining space with c4 and e5, developing quickly with Nd2 or Nc3, and using the better pawn structure. Black's pawns on c6 and a7 can become weak, and White often aims for an endgame where these weaknesses matter.

Black's typical ideas include ...Ba6 to pin the c4 pawn, ...g6 and ...Bg7 to pressure e5, and ...O-O-O in some lines. Black aims to use the open b-file and active bishops to create counterplay.

The Mieses leads to rich, unbalanced positions where both sides have chances. White has space and a better structure, while Black has active pieces and a strong pawn center after ...d6 or ...d5. Understanding the typical plans is more important than memorizing long lines.

This variation suits White players who like positional pressure and are comfortable in endgames. Black players should know the main line with 6...Qe7; 6...Nd5 is a quieter alternative.

Studying model games from top players is the best way to learn the typical plans. The Mieses is a good line for learning how to use space and how to play against weak pawns.

After 8. c4, Black's main options are 8...Ba6, pinning the c4 pawn, and 8...Nb6, retreating the knight to a safe square. Both are well tested, and both give Black active pieces in return for the weak queenside pawns.

It is one of the main lines of the Scotch Game.

Scotch Game: Mieses Variation statistics

The Scotch Game: Mieses Variation was reached in 29,444 master games (0.1% of all master games), and White scored 51% from there. On Lichess it comes up in <0.1% of games, most often among players rated 2201–2400 (<0.1%).

Master games

29,444

0.1% of games between players rated 2500+

Club games on Lichess

46,417

<0.1% of games between players rated up to 2400

White wins Draws Black wins

How often it comes up, by rating

  • 0–1000 <0.1%
  • 1001–1200 <0.1%
  • 1201–1400 <0.1%
  • 1401–1600 <0.1%
  • 1601–1800 <0.1%
  • 1801–2000 <0.1%
  • 2001–2200 <0.1%
  • 2201–2400 <0.1%

Most common next moves in master games

MoveGamesPlayedResults
6... Qe726,78591%
6... Nd52,1057.1%
6... Ne45261.8%
6... Ng816<0.1%
6... Ke712<0.1%

Famous players with the most games here

  • Wesley So 31 games
  • Hikaru Nakamura 25 games
  • Daniel Naroditsky 21 games
  • Garry Kasparov 16 games
  • Chessbrah 14 games
  • Magnus Carlsen 13 games

Master games from the Chessmont database (CC BY-SA 4.0). Club games from the Lichess open database.

Other Scotch Game variations