Scotch game: Why is taking the knight a bad idea?

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JackOfAllHobbies

JackOfAllHobbies
Diakonia

In your first example, you have traded off your only developed piece, and developed whites queen.

In your second example: 

One possible idea would be to play c4, Nc3 placing a firm hold on the center, especially d5.  

pfren

Second diagram: No answer... it's BLACK to play! You always act according to your opponent's moves, and here is no exception.

First diagram: 5...c5 is a typical beginner mistake. The pawn there shuts off c5 which could be used by the bishop, and leaves the d7 pawn backward, and the d5, d6 squares weak. White will play 6.Qd3 (Qe5+ isn't bad, but exchanging pieces helps the cramped side) and Black will suffer.

You can't find high level games where Black was willing to enter this stuff. Just a small sample:


Resignation was in order, since Black loses a ton of material- 15...Qxc3 fails to 16.Nc7 mate.

Sqod

More examples of unwisely attempting to use the c-pawn to drive off the centralized queen: 

(I omitted references and the continuations of the games.)






ChessOfPlayer

In the first game, gave gave yourself a bad position after you took the knight.  Taking the knight is the scotch is perfectly alright.  But I prefer bc5.  Don't take much heat into what the computer says.  I would rather take the knight than play Nf6.

pfren
ChessOfPlayer wrote:

In the first game, gave gave yourself a bad position after you took the knight.  Taking the knight is the scotch is perfectly alright.  But I prefer bc5.  Don't take much heat into what the computer says.  I would rather take the knight than play Nf6.

Courses for horses. I have always played 4...Nf6 (and started way before chess engines were available) and I always found the resulting positions easier to handle than after 4...Bc5.