Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack

The Anderssen Attack arises from the Double Gambit Accepted of the Scotch Gambit. After 6...d5, White gives up the light-squared bishop with 7. Bxd5 Qxd5 and plays 8. Nc3. This exploits two lines at once. The knight attacks the queen, and the knight on e4 cannot be supported or withdrawn because the rook on e1 pins it to the black king on the open e-file. Black therefore has to move the queen, and White recovers the piece. The material balance that follows leaves Black a pawn ahead with the extra d4-pawn, while White has the lead in development and pressure down the e-file against the uncastled king.

The most common queen retreat is 8...Qh5, followed by 8...Qa5 and the more passive 8...Qd8. The named main line runs 8...Qa5 9. Nxe4 Be6 10. Bd2 Qd5 11. Bg5, with White developing with gain of tempo against the queen and pinning ideas on the black pieces. The engine rates the position after 8. Nc3 as level, and practical results are close to even, with White slightly ahead.