I'm not the most experienced player out there, but I often play the Scotch, and played the Four Knights for a while a couple years back. I would reccomend the Scotch once you know the best lines:
If your opponent trades all the pieces on d4:
- Keep an eye on your queen, as your opponent can attack it with c5
- You can restrict your opponent's development with e5 if they try to develop their other knight, and if they move the knight to h5, then you can trap it with g4
- A trap I try is to move the queen to e5 with check if your opponent tries c5, and if they block with the bishop, take the free pawn on g7, then retreat your queen if they do Bf6. If your opponent blocks with the queen, trade queens, and develop your minor pieces, as you will have a stronger center and more active pieces
When you get to higher levels of play, or even your level now, opponents will start playing Bc5, and if you take their knight, they'll play Qf6, threatening checkmate, and when you defend the checkmate, they'll take your knight to avoid doubling their pawns. The correct response to Bc5 is Be3, adding another defender to d4. If they play Qf6, just play c3.
Of course, I didn't offer any advice on the Four Knights, as I don't have much experience with it, and I prefer the Scotch over the Four Knights as the correct line for it is 4. ... exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 and if all the trades are done, both sides will end up with doubled pawns, which can be hard to play with
I'm liking this two openings so I would like to choose any one between Scotch and Four Knight Scotch.
So I want to ask any experience player who had played or playing these openings, which one is better and why.
I'm around 1250+ rapid and I play vienna but I want to try different opening.
Thank You!