For White· 3 lines

Scotch Game - 4...Qh4 - Steinitz Variation

Position after 12... Qxc7

Main line

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

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qh4
Here comes the Steinitz Variation! Black attacks our e4 pawn immediately with the queen, aggressive but risky.
5. Nc3
We protect the pawn and keep our c1-bishop free to develop.
5... Bb4
Black doubles down on attacking e4 by pinning our knight.
6. Be2
Let's calmly prepare to sacrifice the e-pawn. The piece activity we get back will be crushing.
6... Nf6
Black develops normally while keeping the queen aimed at our pawn.
7. O-O
We tuck our king away safely while Black's queen looks silly on h4.
7... Nxe4
Black grabs the pawn anyway, time to punish this greed!
8. Nd5 Bd6
Black's best shot at making this work, but the bishop isn't happy on d6.
9. g3 Qd8 10. Nb5 O-O 11. Nxd6 Nxd6 12. Nxc7
Perfect! We win back the pawn with the bishop pair and better pawns. Black's attack fizzled out and now we're the ones pressing.
12... Qxc7 13. Bf4

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 Qh4 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Be2 Nf6 7. O-O Nxe4 8. Nd5 Bd6 9. g3 Qd8 10. Nb5 O-O 11. Nxd6 Nxd6 12. Nxc7 Qxc7 13. Bf4
6...Qxe4
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qh4 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Be2 Qxe4 7. Nb5 Kd8 8. O-O
7...d6
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qh4 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Be2 Nf6 7. O-O d6 8. Nf3 Qh5 9. Nd5 Nxd5 10. exd5 Ne5 11. c3 Bc5 12. Bf4

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