For White· 5 lines

Scotch Game - 3...d6 or f6 - Alternative Moves

Position after 9. O-O-O+

Main line

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

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 d6
The most common slip-up here. The e5 pawn stays safe, but we get a smooth edge with no risk.
4. dxe5 dxe5
We trade on e5 and Black keeps things balanced, but here comes the twist.
5. Qxd8+
Queen takes d8 check, here's why it works: the knight on c6 is pinned, protecting e5, so it can't capture our queen.
5... Kxd8
Perfect! The king stays trapped in the center without castling. We develop fast, castle long (usually with tempo), connect our rooks, and squeeze Black slowly.
6. Bc4
Purposeful development, eyeing f7 and clearing the path for long castling. Black's king blocks the c8 bishop, making his development clunky.
6... f6
Black shores up e5, but the position stays unpleasant.
7. Be3
The right move order here. We need the bishop out before bringing the knight.
7... a6
Black plays a waiting move but there's no time for this luxury.
8. Nc3 Bb4 9. O-O-O+
Castling with check! We grab tempo while the rook activates on the d-file. Nd5 comes next and Black's setup falls apart. This shows exactly why 3...d6 hands us an easy Scotch.

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

Main Line
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 d6 4. dxe5 dxe5 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6. Bc4 f6 7. Be3 a6 8. Nc3 Bb4 9. O-O-O+
4...Nxe5
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 d6 4. dxe5 Nxe5 5. Nxe5 dxe5 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. f3 Bc5 8. Nc3 Bd7 9. Bd2 Nf6 10. O-O-O h6 11. g4
6...Ke8
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 d6 4. dxe5 dxe5 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6. Bc4 Ke8
7. Nc3
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 d6 4. dxe5 dxe5 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6. Bc4 f6 7. Nc3 Bb4 8. Bd2
7...Bd6
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 d6 4. dxe5 dxe5 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6. Bc4 f6 7. Be3 Bd6 8. Nc3 a6 9. O-O-O

The trainer plays the opponent's moves and waits for yours, line by line. Free to start.