FreeRepublic wrote on 05/19/18 at 00:41:04:

If White is going for the d2-d4 variations against both the Italian (Giuoco Piano) and the Two Knights then the Scottsih move order 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 is more precise. Black is almost forced to take on d4. That's not the case after 3.Bc4 Be7 4.d4 d6 5.Nc3 Nf6. Compare Tal-Filip, Astalos Mem 1963. White won (the line is easier for White anyway) but still it's nice to play Bf4 in one go instead of Tal's 9.Be3 and 11.Bf4.
The downside of the Scottish Gambit of course is making it impossible to play the Evans Gambit and 4.Ng5 against the Two Knights.


FreeRepublic wrote on 05/19/18 at 00:41:04:

Yes, but 3...Bb4+ is stronger now as 4.c3 (4.Bd2 is not to be feared) dxc3 5.Nxc3 Nc6 6.Nf3 forces a transposition to the main line of the Göring Gambit.

FreeRepublic wrote on 05/19/18 at 00:41:04:

Yes, but there are 2...Nc6 and 2...Bc5 to deal with. Also 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 might be even stronger than similar lines.
2...Nc6 3.Nf3 Be7 (the Hungarian) forces slow positional play, exploiting a small advantage. That's objectively good, but not the type of play White is aiming for when playing the Scottish Gambit.

FreeRepublic wrote on 05/19/18 at 00:41:04:

Again there is 3...Bb4+.

FreeRepublic wrote on 05/19/18 at 00:41:04:

And they might be more difficult to tackle.

FreeRepublic wrote on 05/19/18 at 00:41:04:

Given my lifelong dislike of the Petroff this is an important argument. I'd say White's best bet is 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 as Nf6 4.e5 Ne4 5.Qxd4 d5 6.exd6 Nxd6 7.Bf3 Nc6 8.Qd2 is an attractive and easy way to play. Not all lines of the Petroff are to be avoided and 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 exd4?! is one of them.

Spock68 wrote on 10/17/17 at 18:39:00:


Thanks! I missed that.

The piece for three pawns line is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.0-0 cxb2 7.Bxb2 Nf6 8.Ng5 0-0 9.e5 Nxe5!? 10.Bxe5 d5 if I remember correctly.

In that line White has no real hope of chopping off the d5-pawn because not only is it currently defended twice, but there are also tactics against the knight on g5.

However I think White can stop Black from getting in that piece-for-pawn sac in such favourable circumstances, by refraining from an immediate Nf3-g5.  White can try 8.e5 immediately or 8.a3 followed by Nc3.  The sac with ...Nxe5 doesn't work if Black has not castled yet, and if Black's knight gets chased away from f6, ...Nxe5, Bxe5 d5 can often be met by Bxd5.  Thus I tend to think of 6.0-0 and 6.bxc3 as being of roughly equal value.

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.c3 is the right move, instead of 5.0-0 d6 intending 6...Bg4.  Then White has to have something ready in the Giuoco Piano after 5...Nf6; I suggest that White is better off exploring the sidelines 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nbd2, 6.0-0 and/or 6.e5 rather than going into the defused main lines with 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 or 7.Bd2.  Vincent Moret recently advocated 7.Nc3 in his book My First Chess Opening Repertoire for White: A Turn-Key Package for Ambitious Beginners, which I think is fine for his intended audience, but I wouldn't expect it to hold up well above 2000 Elo standard.

You are right, I missed that 

The author agrees with MNb that 6.bc3: is the most promising continuation, with compensation, but Black is also not without chances after 6. ... Ba5 7.0-0 Bb6!

Did I also miss the other line I quoted?

Somehow I find it hard to navigate the book without a variation index (I have the Kindle version).

kylemeister wrote on 10/10/17 at 23:46:30:

Black can always reach a positipn in which he/she has three pawns for a knight; two of them dominate the centre, eg cxb2 7.Bxb2 Nf6 8.Ng5 O-O 9.e5 d5.
8.bxc3 is the road to a white advantage;  This is basically an improved Evans Gambit (no black pawn on d4).
It's a shame that the book doesn't contain this line.

I have the book and like it, but it seems the author misses two (more or less) important lines:

• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 ed4: 4.Bc4 Bb4+ I don't understand how he couldn't include this variation, since a gambit should be tested by its acceptance, and this seems one of the most logical ways to do that.
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 ed4: 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.e5 Ng4 6.0-0 Bc5 is a logical move in that position that was played a couple of 100 times

Does somebody know other sources I could consult on that?

Apart from these omissions I think it is a good and honest book!

The Scotch Gambit was covered briefly in an article in '50 Moves Magazine' about one and a half years ago. It was called 'Attacking Openings for White' if I recall correctly.