Scotch: 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6

Scotch: 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 (Mieses / Schmidt Variation)

Definition

In the Scotch Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4), the sequence 4…Nf6 5.Nxc6 introduces the so-called Mieses or Schmidt Variation. White immediately captures the knight on c6, doubling Black’s pawns and forcing an asymmetrical pawn structure that shapes the entire middlegame.

Move Order and Basic Position

The critical position after 5.Nxc6 arises from:

• 1. e4 e5
• 2. Nf3 Nc6
• 3. d4 exd4
• 4. Nxd4 Nf6
• 5. Nxc6 bxc6

This diagram illustrates the result (White to move):
. Black’s queenside structure (pawns on c6 & c7) is doubled but holds the center, while White enjoys a lead in development and open lines for the pieces.

Strategic Themes

• Structural Imbalance. Black’s doubled c-pawns can become long-term targets; in compensation, Black gains the semi-open b-file and central pawn mass (…d7-d5).
• Piece Activity vs. Pawn Structure. White aims for rapid piece play—Qc2, Bd3, 0-0, Re1—before the pawn majority mobilises.
• Central Breaks. Key thrusts include 6.e5 for White (seizing space) and …d5 or …Bb4+ for Black (neutralising pressure).
• Endgame Prospects. Many lines simplify quickly; in endings, Black’s queenside weaknesses can become decisive if the minor pieces are exchanged.

Typical Plans

1. For White
   • Play 6.e5 followed by Bd3, 0-0, and f4 or Re1, attacking the e-file.
   • Target the c6 pawn with moves like Qe2, Nc3-a4-c5, or Bf4.
   • Exchange queens early when the c-pawns are still weak, steering for a superior endgame.
2. For Black
   • Counter in the center with …d5 (often after …Bb4+ and …Qe7) to free the position.
   • Exploit the semi-open b-file: …Rb8, …Bb4+, …Re8 with pressure on e4.
   • If White over-presses, liquidating into a minor-piece ending where the two bishops and central majority can compensate for the c-pawns.

Historical and Theoretical Significance

Jacques Mieses championed 5.Nxc6 at the end of the 19th century, using it against contemporaries such as Emanuel Lasker in Leipzig 1888. Early analysis by Carl Schmidt appeared in German periodicals, hence the dual name “Mieses / Schmidt.” In modern databases, the line is catalogued under ECO code C45.

Although less popular than the main line 5.Nb5, it remains a sound, surprise weapon. Engines rate the position approximately equal, but the different pawn structures lead to rich, unbalanced play.

Illustrative Games

• Mieses – Tarrasch, Nuremberg 1896 White demonstrates the classical plan of Qe2, Nc3, and Be3, eventually winning a c-pawn endgame.
• Kramnik – Shirov, Dortmund 1998 Black unleashes a timely …d5 break to equalise, showcasing accurate defence.
• Adams – Carlsen, Wijk aan Zee 2007 Carlsen, with the Black pieces, employs …Bb4+ and …Qe7, reaching a dynamic middlegame that ended peacefully after mass exchanges.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Jacques Mieses was so proud of the variation that he annotated nearly every occurrence in Deutsche Schachzeitung for over a decade.
• World Champion Anatoly Karpov briefly revived 5.Nxc6 in rapid events, citing its “pragmatic simplicity.”
• Because it quickly clarifies the pawn structure, many correspondence players prefer 5.Nxc6 to avoid the maze of theory in 5.Nb5.
• The doubled c-pawns have inspired nicknames like “The Siamese Twins” in club literature—connected, yet perpetually vulnerable.

Summary

Scotch 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 is a theoretically sound, strategically clear variation that trades immediate material balance (the knight pair) for a lasting structural target. Players who enjoy logical, plan-based positions with early simplifications will find it a practical alternative to the sharper main lines of the Scotch Game.