Scotch Game: Classical Variation
Chess opening · ECO C45 · 8 half-moves
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5
The Scotch Game: Classical Variation is reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5. It is White's move in the position shown.
It branches from the Scotch Game with 3… exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5.
How often it is played
The Scotch Game: Classical Variation and its variations appeared in 0.21% of games — 6,321 of 3,000,000 rated games sampled from Lichess in September 2026. That makes it number 177 of the openings listed here.
Results
White won 50%, 3.6% were drawn and Black won 46%. These are games between players of every strength and time control, so they say how the opening does in practice rather than how sound it is.
What the engine thinks
Stockfish, at depth 18, evaluates the position at +0.38 — a small edge for White. Positive numbers favour White; see reading the evaluation bar.
Similar openings
The most-played alternatives — what else could have been chosen around the move where this opening begins.
| Opening | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Scotch Game: Lolli Variation | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 Nxd4 | 0.40% |
| Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 | 0.38% |
| Italian Game | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 | 4.6% |
Main continuations
| Variation | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6 | 0.03% |
| Scotch Game: Potter Variation | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nb3 | 0.02% |
| Scotch Game: Blumenfeld Attack | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. Nb5 | 0.00% |
| Scotch Game: Paulsen Attack | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bb5 | 0.00% |
| Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Millennium Variation | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Qg6 | 0.00% |
| Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Blackburne Attack | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Qd2 | 0.00% |
| Scotch Game: Meitner Variation | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Nc2 | 0.00% |
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