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Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation

ECO code
C45
Moves
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About this variation

Black plays 4...Nf6, attacking e4. After 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 the Mieses Variation leads to rich play.

The Schmidt Variation of the Scotch is 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6. Black attacks the e4 pawn and develops, putting pressure on White's center. It is one of the main replies to the Scotch and leads to sharp play.

White's main reply is 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5, the Mieses Variation, which pushes the knight away and gains space. 5. Nc3 is also played, defending e4 and transposing to the Scotch Four Knights. Each line has its own character.

Black's typical ideas include ...d5 to open the center and free the pieces, ...Bc5 or ...Bb4 to develop quickly, and ...O-O to castle. Black aims to use the open lines and the half-open b-file to create counterplay.

White's plans include e5 to gain space, quick development with Bd3 and O-O, and pressure on Black's weakened queenside pawns after Nxc6. White often aims for a small structural edge.

The Schmidt Variation suits Black players who like active development and open positions. White players should know the main lines with 5. Nxc6 and 5. Nc3, since these give White the best chances for an advantage.

Studying model games is the best way to learn the typical plans. The same ideas, such as the e5 push and the ...d5 break, appear in many other open games, so the time spent pays off widely.

After 5. Nc3, the game reaches the Scotch Four Knights, where 5...Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 is a common main line. White aims for a small edge thanks to Black's weakened queenside pawns, while Black gets open lines and active pieces. Black players who meet the Scotch with 4...Nf6 should know both the Mieses and the Four Knights, since both are common, although 5. Nxc6 is about three times as popular as 5. Nc3 in master games.

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

Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation statistics

The Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation was reached in 60,992 master games (0.3% 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

60,992

0.3% of games between players rated 2500+

Club games on Lichess

303.3K

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
5. Nxc646,35276%
5. Nc314,10423%
5. Bc41910.3%
5. Bb51290.2%
5. Bg5900.1%

Famous players with the most games here

  • Hikaru Nakamura 96 games
  • Wesley So 58 games
  • Dina Belenkaya 56 games
  • Daniel Naroditsky 51 games
  • Eric Rosen 42 games
  • Chessbrah 35 games

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

Other Scotch Game variations