Scotch Game, Lolli Attack & Napoleon Gambit
Scotch Game
Definition
The Scotch Game is an open chess opening that begins with the moves
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4.
White immediately challenges Black’s central pawn, aiming for rapid development and an early simplification of the centre. The opening received its name after a correspondence match played in 1824 between Edinburgh and London, where the Scots chose this line as one of their main weapons.
Main Branches (move order)
- 3…exd4 – the classical response, leading to the “Open” variations.
- 4. Nxd4 (Main line) – the position resembles an Open Game with symmetrical pawn structures.
- 4. Bc4 – the Scotch Gambit, sacrificing a pawn for quick piece activity.
- 4. c3 – the Göring Gambit, often reaching positions akin to a two-pawn sacrifice.
- 3…Nxd4?! – the dubious “Potter Variation,” tactically refuted by 4. Nxe5!.
- 3…Qf6 – Steinitz Variation, keeping the tension but exposing the queen early.
- 3…d6 or 3…Bc5 – solid sidelines that avoid open confrontation.
Strategic Ideas
- Central Majority: After 4.Nxd4, White often enjoys a pawn majority in the centre (pawns on e4 and d4) leading to space advantage.
- Piece Activity: Both sides develop quickly; the queens are sometimes exchanged early, resulting in long, maneuvering middlegames.
- Simplification: The Scotch is a frequent choice for players who like forcing but relatively simplified positions with reduced tactical risk compared to the Italian Game or Ruy Lopez.
Historical and Modern Use
The great champions of the 19th century—Steinitz, Anderssen, and Paul Morphy—experimented with the Scotch, but it was largely overshadowed by the more fashionable Ruy Lopez. Garry Kasparov revived it at the top level in 1990 against Anatoly Karpov, beginning a modern revival that continues today. Elite players such as Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, and Hikaru Nakamura still employ it as an occasional surprise weapon.
Illustrative Game
Kasparov – Karpov, World Championship (Game 20), Lyon 1990. Kasparov’s choice of the Scotch surprised Karpov and led to one of the most exciting games of the match.
Interesting Facts
- Because of its early queen exchanges, the Scotch is sometimes humorously dubbed “the grandmaster’s opening for draw seekers”—yet it has produced spectacular fighting games.
- Viswanathan Anand used the Scotch successfully in rapid and blitz formats, exploiting its forcing nature to avoid deep theoretical Ruy Lopez lines.
Lolli (Attack & Mate)
Definition
“Lolli” usually refers to two related concepts named after the 18th-century Italian priest and theoretician Giambattista Lolli (1698-1769):
- Lolli Attack – an aggressive variation of the Two Knights Defence beginning 1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6. White snatches a second pawn and hopes to exploit the exposed black king.
- Lolli Mate – a classic mating pattern where a queen on h7 (or h2) and a supporting pawn on f6 (or f3) deliver mate, the g- and h-pawns being immobilized.
Usage in Play
While the Lolli Attack is considered theoretically risky for White (Black obtains strong compensation for the sacrificed material after 7…bxc6 8.Be2 h6!), it is still a popular surprise weapon at club level because of its tactical richness.
The Lolli Mate, on the other hand, is a fundamental pattern taught to developing players; it can arise from numerous openings (French, Sicilian, King's Indian) whenever the f-pawn breaks through to f6/f3 supported by heavy pieces.
Strategic Themes
- Open e-file: In the Lolli Attack, removing the e-pawn opens lines for a rook on e1 to join the assault.
- Weak dark squares: White targets f7 and g7; Black’s knight on a5 and king on e8 can become precariously placed.
- Pawn wedge on f6: For the mating pattern, the pawn on f6 shackles Black’s king, cutting off flight squares and shielding the queen from capture.
Classic Example of Lolli Mate
White’s queen arrives on h7 with a pawn on f6, illustrating the textbook Lolli Mate.
Historical Note
Giambattista Lolli’s 1763 treatise “Osservazioni teorico-pratiche sopra il giuoco degli scacchi” (“Theoretical and Practical Observations on the Game of Chess”) codified many mating nets still studied today, including the Lolli and the related Boden, Anastasia, and Greco mates.
Anecdotes & Trivia
- Legend says Lolli once demonstrated the attack in a blindfold exhibition, baffling onlookers who believed such tactical calculation impossible without sight of the board.
- The mating diagram is so iconic that some puzzle books simply say “Finish with the standard Lolli Mate” rather than spelling out the moves!
Napoleon Gambit
Definition
The Napoleon Gambit is a rarely-played line of the Center Game reached after
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3.
With 3.Nf3 White sacrifices the d-pawn (temporarily) to accelerate development and target Black’s exposed e- and f-files. The opening is traditionally attributed to Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who is said to have used it during his military campaigns—though modern historians debate the accuracy of that claim.
Typical Continuation
- 3…Nc6 – safest, defending the extra pawn.
- 4.Bc4 (Napoleon’s idea) …Nf6 5.O-O with rapid development.
- 4.Nxd4 (immediate recapture) resembles a Scotch, but Black can try 4…Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 to hold the pawn lead.
- 3…d5?! – an over-ambitious try; after 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Nc3 White gains tempi on the queen.
- 3…Bb4+?! – check first, but 4.c3 dxc3 5.bxc3 again hands White a powerful centre.
Strategic Concepts
- Initiative vs. Material: White is willing to remain a pawn down for several moves in return for quick development and an open position.
- Flexible Recapture: White may delay taking the pawn on d4 to keep Black guessing; the recapture can come with Nxd4, Qxd4, or even c3.
- Central Tension: Much like the Scotch and Göring Gambit, central tension is maintained to create tactical motifs against f7 and along the e-file.
Famous Game
Amsterdam 1861, anonymous. Though objectively unsound, the gambit led to a thrilling queen-versus-rook ending that was ultimately drawn.
Assessment
Modern engines rate the Napoleon Gambit as dubious: accurate defence by Black yields an extra pawn and a solid position. Nonetheless, it remains a fun surprise weapon in blitz and rapid games where practical chances and psychological value often outweigh strict objectivity.
Interesting Tidbits
- Many books claim Napoleon defeated the astronomer Johann Schlüssel in 1809 with this gambit; in reality the score is apocryphal, probably fabricated by 19th-century writers seeking romantic stories of the Emperor’s prowess.
- Because 3.Nf3 parallels Scotch themes, some players call the line the “Pre-Scotch” or “Proto-Scotch.”
- On Chess.com and other platforms you’ll occasionally see streamers announce “Vive l’Empereur!” before playing 3.Nf3 to the delight of their chat.