The Gottschall Variation is a variation of the Scotch Game, catalogued as ECO C45. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Qd2 d5 8. Nb5 Bxe3 9. Qxe3 O-O 10. Nxc7 Rb8 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Nb4, reaching the position shown below after 24 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d5. Development is level at two minor pieces each, and White is up two points of material. It is White to move after 12 moves. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted; the e-file file is fully open.
On the Scotch Game generally: An open game where White immediately challenges Black's center. Leads to active piece play.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
See all 37 Scotch Game variations →
The Gottschall Variation goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Qd2 d5 8. Nb5 Bxe3 9. Qxe3 O-O 10. Nxc7 Rb8 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Nb4. It is a variation of the Scotch Game and is catalogued as ECO C45.
The Gottschall Variation is ECO C45. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Scotch Game.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Qd2 d5 8. Nb5 Bxe3 9. Qxe3 O-O 10. Nxc7 Rb8 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Nb4 at -0.93 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for Black. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d5. Development is level at two minor pieces each, and White is up two points of material. It is White to move. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted; the e-file file is fully open.