Four Knights Game How to Play Scotch Variations


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This lesson will help you learn the Scotch Variations of the Four Knights Game. On this page, you can read information about the Scotch variations and see Video 3 on the Four Knights Game which will show you how to correctly play 2 proven lines of the Scotch variations of this opening.

I. Four Knights Game, Scotch Variations: Data


Before you see the video, please read the following. The Four Knights Game starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6. After the line 4.Bb5 Bb4, the Scotch variations of the Four Knights Game (they run via 4.d4) is the 2nd most common. There are 3 Scotch variations of the Four Knights Game (read and see below):

Four Knight Game Scotch variation

• Scotch variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4
• Scotch, variation 4... exd4: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4
• Scotch, Krause variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 Bb4 5.Nxe5

Within the Krause variation, there is a sharp line which is not shown in the video. You can learn this line using the following chess notation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 Bb4 5.Nxe5 Nxe4 6.Qg4 Nxc3 7.Qxg7 Rf8 8.a3 Nd4 9.axb4 Nxc2+ 10. Kd2 Nxa1 = The position is equal.

II. Four Knights Game, Scotch Variations: Video


Video 3 is below (it runs for 2:47), and it will show you how to correctly play 2 variations of the Four Knights Defense: Scotch, variation 4... exd4 and Scotch, Krause variation. To see the video Four Knights Game: How to Play Scotch Variations, just click the Play button below:




• If the opening video hasn't shown up, please wait a little.
• If the video stops, drag a little right the player's handle.
• If the video displays an error, try to start and play it later.