Scotch Gambit, Sarratt Variation

The Sarratt Variation answers the Haxo Gambit (4...Bc5) with 5. Ng5, which adds a second attacker to f7 while Black's king knight is still on g8 and castling is unavailable as a defense. It is generally regarded as premature. Black is a pawn up, and the engine rates the position as roughly balanced, with 5...Nh6, 5...d5 and 5...Qe7 as its preferred replies.

The usual defense, 5...Nh6, covers f7 and is chosen in a clear majority of games. White's typical follow-up liquidates on f7 and exploits the loose bishop on c5: 6. Nxf7 Nxf7 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qh5+ g6 9. Qxc5. Material is then level, but White's queen has moved early and several tempi have been spent, while Black's king has lost the right to castle. The other main choices are 5...Ne5, which shields f7 by blocking the bishop's diagonal with a centralized knight, and the counterstrike 5...d5. White scores noticeably better against both of these than against 5...Nh6.