For Black· 9 lines

Beat the Scotch: Schmidt - Scotch: Four Knights

After 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5, the symmetrical Bb4 pin and central d5 break, into the Ne2/Nf4/Nh5 endgame.

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Position after 12... Qxf6

Main line

The chapter's main line, with the comments from the course.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
White opens the center with d4, hitting our e5 pawn.
3... exd4
We grab it since refusing just gives White a free central advantage.
4. Nxd4
The knight recaptures, eyeing our pieces while keeping e4 secure.
4... Nf6
We develop the knight, launching the Schmidt setup.
5. Nc3
White brings up the other knight to defend e4, steering toward solid but drawish positions.
5... Bb4
Our bishop finds its best square, pinning the knight and threatening to snatch e4 after castling.
6. Nxc6
White has to trade since the pin was getting annoying and Bd3 needs to happen.
6... bxc6
We recapture toward the center, controlling d5 and opening the b-file for our rook.
7. Bd3
White develops the bishop to hold e4, and we can choose between immediate d5 or castling first.
7... d5
We hit the center right away to equalize fast.
8. exd5
White gives up the center since holding e4 was getting messy.
8... O-O
We castle first, hoping White gets greedy and grabs on c6 with their king still exposed.
9. O-O
White tucks their king away safely.
9... cxd5
We recapture and get active pieces while White keeps the cleaner pawn structure.
10. Bg5
White develops with tempo, threatening to wreck our kingside with Bxf6.
10... Be6
We complete development and guard the d5 pawn.
11. Qf3
White's main choice here since h3 doesn't make much sense without our Bg4 option.
11... h6
We force the trade, which helps connect our rooks after the queens come off.
12. Bxf6 Qxf6
Let's swap queens before White can mess with our pawn structure.
13. Qxf6 gxf6
Solid setup! Our bishops and central space make up for the doubled f-pawns.
14. Ne2
White prepares Nf4, eyeing our weak spots on f6 and h6.
14... c5
We grab space and threaten c4 next.
15. c3
White stops c4 while giving the d3 bishop an escape square.
15... Ba5
Still pressuring c3 from here. Time for Rab8 targeting the c-pawn, then double up with Rfc8.

Key lines

The free lines of this chapter, each one trainable move by move.

Main Line
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. exd5 O-O 9. O-O cxd5 10. Bg5 Be6 11. Qf3 h6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Qxf6 gxf6 14. Ne2 c5 15. c3 Ba5
6. f3
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. f3 O-O 7. Be3 d5 8. Nxc6 bxc6
6. Bg5
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 O-O 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. Bd3 d5 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 dxe4 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Bxe4 Qxc3
7. Bd2
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd2 Qe7 8. Bd3 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 Nxe4 10. O-O Nxc3 11. bxc3 d5 12. Re1 Be6
8. e5
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. e5 Ng4 9. O-O O-O 10. Bf4 f6 11. exf6 Qxf6 12. Bg3 Bd6
8. O-O
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. O-O O-O 9. exd5 cxd5 10. Bg5 Be6 11. Qf3 h6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Qxf6 gxf6 14. Ne2 c5 15. c3 Ba5
9. dxc6
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. exd5 O-O 9. dxc6 Bg4 10. f3 Re8+
10. h3
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. exd5 O-O 9. O-O cxd5 10. h3 c6 11. Qf3 Re8 12. Bf4 Nd7 13. Rfe1 Nc5 14. Rxe8+ Qxe8
11. Ne2
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. exd5 O-O 9. O-O cxd5 10. Bg5 Be6 11. Ne2 h6 12. Bh4 Bd6 13. Nd4 Bd7

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