Why not the scotch?

I see that people in the openings database play the open Sicilian and play 3.d4, people play 3.d4 against the Philidor the most and 3.d4 in the Russian game is as popular as the Scotch.


Why don’t more people play the Scotch, why is it considered worse than the Italian? In The Italian you block your Knight on B1 and play d3 and c3, or you sac everything to attack your opponent and then lose. In the Scotch you often have the chance to castle queenside and play a pawnstorm. You can also just develop your kingside bishop and castle kingside and play normally



My Question, because I am unsure:
Is there a line that wins for black? Or a trap/Gambit? Because I play it all the time and I’m scared of Gambits.

There seems to be a preference these days for the 0-0, c3, d3, Re1, Nb1-d2-f1-g3 type set up even in the guioco as well.

A direct d4 that may lead to quick exchanges and less midgame flexibility.  For e.g. one wouldn't need much theory in the Scotch to play the 'inferior' 4 .., Nxd4 5. Qxd4 Qf6.

A beginner or intermediate may have expected a more 'romantic' game with fireworks or at least one where the tensions in the center were not released so quickly.  An endgame specialist might prefer this.

Or the mieses variation with a totally different look.

Either way 'normal' play does not often ensue.

Kasparov used to play the Scotch, so a lack of Scotch games might just be due to fashion. That's how it goes with openings: if a strong player plays them they get picked up at lower levels. Then again, it might also be a draw for white according to strong engines, which might also be a reason it's not played much at top level. Shouldn't concern us though, it's still a good opening.

In the Philidor and the open Sicilian, black has already played d6. If they want to play d5, which is their main break, then d6 was a waste of time for Black. However, Black often ends up playing d5 in the Sicilian to avoid a cramped game. With the Scotch, black can usually get d5 in in one move without playing d6. That being said, the Scotch is still a good opening though.

     Scotch is my preferred whisky, in particular Isle of Skye single malts.

Years ago, one of the students on my chess team asked me what my favorite opening was. I replied, "the Scotch opening." He said, "That's odd, I've never seen you play it." "Oh, I don't play it," I replied, making a twisting motion with my hand, "I open it."

It got a big laugh.

There's nothing wrong with the Scotch opening so if you like it then play it.

The fact that it is played less often will work to your advantage as fewer players will know the theory.

There's nothing at all wrong with the Scotch. It's a perfectly playable opening. If the world's elite grandmasters don't play it, so what? You won't be meeting them any time soon! It may be true that it's a little easier for Black to equalize against the Scotch than against the Ruy Lopez or Italian, but again, so what? There's plenty of room for you to outplay your opponent

Sounds fishy, like engine assistance

Ruy Lopez is the best 1. e4 opening.
It's funny though: if you play 1. d4, you can forget about all 1. e4 openings since you have the initiative...

If you play 1.e4 you are going to face so many openings that Black gets to choose it seems more reasonable to take your pick of only one of the e5 responses that white gets a choice in. Italian, Scotch, Spanish or King's Gambit as you will be trying to pick up all the theory for the other openings anyway. I go for the Italian for now. Not a fan of the other three.

I play the scotch whenever 2. Nc6, precisely because people don't know it as well at my (pathetic) level.

> I play the scotch whenever 2. Nc6

^^ FWIW this is probably a good reason to not play it, statistically speaking, tbh, I suck.   ie. YMMV

 

Dumb guys ask Stockfish what opening to play.

Stockfish replies "001011100110010011110" and they are happy that they had a definitive answer.

Stockfish:@IM pfren "How dare you, my mother was a calculator."

I remember when i started playing i used only the scotch now i play q h5 as black it can get kind of interesting but it basically leads to a stale position theres some action after some exchanges and im sure experienced players would draw everytime basically but it works to spice it up as black as white i never play it anymore and i use the spanish but sometimes i get sick of playing the spanish i dont know why maybe its a little too advanced i cant be bothered to learn the marshall and alot of my games just result with the rio gambit but qh5 for black in the scotch is kind of interesting 

 

Qh5 for Black in the Scotch is kind of illegal.

lmao i meant h4 i dont know why i do that embarrassing lol

I do believe that you can play most of the openings at a lower level and it will be fine. I have always played Scotch game, from 600 to 1500, and although opponents might know the theory better, I like it as it often lead to quick exchanges and maybe endgames. I think you have to pick an opening which goes with your style of play, Scotch will not have very complex positional positions compared to other openings but still works greatly.

Finally, concerning traps, I know like one trap with white, but I do not think black has really any trap, and even if they have, after falling into it 2 or 3 times, you won't be tricked again after it

The 4...Qh4 variation probably holds, but I think it's not practical at all to play: Several "only moves" and a king stuck in the center in exchange of one pawn.

Correspondence SIM Jonathan Tait has a thorough analysis in his recent book (a disreputable opening repertoire) and shows that Black may hold, but honestly I find his mainline depressing to defend.

Why not the scotch?

cuz im pfrens been drinking the ouzo ?...not sure.