Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C45), reached after 8 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6.

Black rook — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Black bishop — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C45. ECO group C (C00–C99) covers open games (1.e4 e5) and the French Defence, including the Ruy Lopez, Italian, Scotch and King's Gambit. This particular variation is reached after 8 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6.

It belongs to the Scotch Game family. Within that family this is a sub-variation (the Schmidt Variation line).

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.d4 exd4, 4.Nxd4 Nf6. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.