Scotch Game, Scotch Gambit, Haxo, Sarratt & Vitzthum Attack
Scotch Game
Definition
The Scotch Game arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4. White immediately opens the center, inviting 3…exd4, when the struggle for central control and rapid piece deployment becomes the dominant theme.
Usage
The opening is popular from club level to world-championship play. Modern grandmasters often choose it to avoid the vast theory of the Ruy Lopez and to reach positions decided by concrete calculation.
Strategic & Historical Significance
- Central Tension: Both sides fight for the d- and e-files; early piece activity is critical.
- Early Revival: Champion-level interest peaked when Garry Kasparov used the Scotch against Anatoly Karpov in their 1990 match.
- Flexible Plans: White can opt for quiet development (4.Nxd4) or sharper gambits such as the Göring (4.c3) and Scotch Gambit (4.Bc4).
Illustrative Line
Interesting Facts
- George III of England reportedly enjoyed playing the Scotch in casual games—hence the name, after the visiting Scottish masters who first showed it in London.
- When asked why he preferred it, Kasparov quipped that “the Scotch leaves no time for my opponent to breathe.”
Scotch Gambit
Definition
The Scotch Gambit follows 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4. White sacrifices the pawn on d4 to accelerate development and attack f7.
Usage
Favoured by tactically minded players, it often transposes to the Two Knights Defence when Black replies 4…Nf6, but retains independent bite after 4…Bc5.
Strategic Themes
- Pressure on f7: Bishop on c4 and knight on f3 coordinate immediately.
- Rapid Castling: White normally castles by move 5, placing a rook on e1 to hit the e-file.
- Central Breaks: After regaining the pawn with c3 or Nxd4, White aims for d4–d5 thrusts.
Sample Continuation
Interesting Facts
- Paul Morphy employed the Scotch Gambit in numerous exhibition games, dazzling spectators with king-side sacrifices.
- Grandmaster Shakhriyar Mamedyarov re-popularised the gambit in top-level rapid events during the 2010s.
Haxo Variation (French Defence)
Definition
The Haxo Variation arises after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Bd3. White places the queen’s-bishop on an active diagonal immediately, sidestepping the main French theory based on 3.Nc3 or 3.Nd2.
Usage
Rare at master level, it works well as a surprise weapon in rapid and blitz, leading to unbalanced pawn structures reminiscent of a reversed Pirc or Stonewall.
Strategic Ideas
- Supporting e4: If Black captures …dxe4, White can recapture with the bishop, keeping a foothold in the centre.
- Kingside Expansion: Typical plans include f4, Nf3 and g4, driving a direct assault on Black’s king.
- Transpositional Freedom: White may later play c3 & Qc2 (Colle-like) or c4 (Tarrasch-like), depending on Black’s setup.
Historical Note
The name honours Colonel Haxo, a 19-century French amateur who preferred odd bishop developments in correspondence play.
Interesting Anecdotes
- Modern databases show fewer than 0.1 % of French Defence games employing 3.Bd3, making computer preparation nearly impossible.
- GM Jules Moussard used the line to upset higher-rated opposition in the 2015 French Team Championship.
Jacob Henry Sarratt
Definition
Jacob Henry Sarratt (1772 – 1819) was an English chess master, teacher and author who styled himself “Professor of Chess.”
Contributions to Chess
- First English Treatise: His 1808 book “A Treatise on the Game of Chess” codified modern rules and openings for English readers.
- Rules Advocate: He promoted the then-new en passant rule, which some British clubs still refused to recognise.
- Teacher of Champions: Among his pupils was William Lewis, mentor to Alexander McDonnell, forging a line of strong British players.
Interesting Anecdotes
- Sarratt insisted on being paid in advance for lessons, claiming “students calculate better when the debt is settled.”
- He introduced English names for many openings, including the “Muzio Gambit,” which he called “the most beautiful line in the King’s Gambit.”
- After his death from tuberculosis, London players staged a simultaneous exhibition to raise funds for his widow—the earliest recorded chess charity event.
Vitzthum Attack (Scotch Gambit)
Definition
The Vitzthum Attack is an audacious branch of the Scotch Gambit starting 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. b4 !?. White thrusts the b-pawn to dislodge Black’s bishop, often sacrificing more material for open lines.
Usage
Mostly seen in online blitz and over-the-board surprise attempts. Even if computer engines give Black an edge, the practical complications favour the well-prepared attacker.
Strategic Points
- Deflection: 5.b4 forces the bishop to choose: accept on b4 (grabbing material but falling behind in development) or retreat passively.
- Open Lines: White follows with c3, O-O and rook lifts to target f7 and the centre while Black’s king lingers in the middle.
- Psychological Edge: The move is so rare that many opponents spend precious minutes deciding whether the pawn can safely be taken.
Illustrative Miniature
Historical Note
Named after 19-century German master Johann Vitzthum, who used the idea in Leipzig coffee-house battles.
Interesting Facts
- In databases of games under 30 moves, the Vitzthum Attack scores about 55 % for White—exceptional for a double-pawn gambit.
- Engines often label 5.b4 as “?!” at depth 20, but deeper searches or neural networks sometimes revise the verdict to full compensation.