Scotch Variation, Schmid Defense
- 1.e4e5
- 2.Nf3Nc6
- 3.Nc3Nf6
- 4.d4exd4
- 5.Nxd4Nxe4
1,576 games
A Four Knights Scotch line in which Black plays 5...Nxe4, a fork trick that soon wins back the knight and leads to open, roughly balanced play.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Schmid Defense
The Schmid Defense, 5...Nxe4, is a fork trick that gives up a knight only temporarily. After the usual 6. Nxe4 Qe7, the e4 knight is pinned, and 7. Qe2 fails because it leaves the d4 knight hanging. White therefore typically plays 7. f3 or 7. Bd3, and Black regains the piece with 7...d5. The alternative 6. Nxc6 is played in over a quarter of games. Engines rate the position roughly balanced, and Black scores slightly better online.