- ECO code
- C45
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
- Family
- Scotch Game
- To move
- White
- Master games
- 374
- Average game length
- 44 moves
- Years covered
- 1875–2026
Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation is the opening filed under ECO code C45, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6. It belongs to the Scotch Game family and is known as the Schmidt Variation; in the resulting position it is White to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 374 games on this line — the 260th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1875 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 148 games. An average game here lasts 44 moves.
White wins 31% of those games, 45% end in a draw, and Black wins 24%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores worse here by 4 percentage points. Draws are more common here than usual, by 10 points.
From this position the most popular move is 5.Nxc6, played in 294 games, followed by 5.Nc3 (77) and 5.Bb5 (2). After 5.Nxc6 White scores 31% and Black 23%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Nepomniachtchi,I (44 games); on the Black side, Karjakin,Sergey (23).
Reading about an opening is not the same as knowing it. Play this line against the Katuranga bot, then let the engine mark your brilliant moves, mistakes and blunders in Analysis — the fastest way to find out which of these moves you actually understand.
Results in master games
- White 31% (117)
- Draws 45% (169)
- Black 24% (88)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.Nxc6 | 294 | 31/46/23 | — |
| 5.Nc3 | 77 | 31/47/22 | — |
| 5.Bb5 | 2 | 0/0/100 | — |
| 5.e5 | 1 | 100/0/0 | — |
How the position is reached
- King's Pawn Game · 1.e4 · 62,859 games
- King's Pawn Game · 1.e4 e5 · 24,632 games
- King's Knight Opening · 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 · 21,895 games
- King's Knight Opening: Normal Variation · 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 · 19,295 games
- Scotch Game · 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 · 970 games
- Scotch Game · 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 · 965 games
- Scotch Game · 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 · 810 games
Played most often by
As White
- Nepomniachtchi,I 44
- Nakamura,Hi 15
- Ivanchuk,V 12
As Black
- Karjakin,Sergey 23
- So,W 23
- Aronian,L 19
Games per decade
- 1870s 1
- 1880s 2
- 1890s 9
- 1900s 13
- 1910s 8
- 1920s 8
- 1930s 1
- 1970s 3
- 1980s 3
- 1990s 23
- 2000s 34
- 2010s 121
- 2020s 148
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pranesh,M | Keymer,Vincent | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Chess.com Open Playoffs |
| Nakamura,Hi | Lazavik,Denis | 1-0 | 2026 | SpeedChess Final 2025 |
| Robson,R | So,W | 0-1 | 2026 | American Cup Champ |
| So,W | Sargsyan,Shant | 1-0 | 2026 | Chess.com Open PlayIn4 |
| Lu Shanglei | Karjakin,Sergey | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Chess Stars 6.0 Rapid |
| Ibarra Jerez,JC | Caruana,F | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 9th Jun 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation?
It is the opening with ECO code C45, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6. It belongs to the Scotch Game family.
Is the Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation good for White or for Black?
In 374 master games on this line White wins 31%, 45% are drawn and Black wins 24%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is no worse than usual for White than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation?
5.Nxc6 — played in 294 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation?
On the White side Nepomniachtchi,I (44), Nakamura,Hi (15), Ivanchuk,V (12); on the Black side Karjakin,Sergey (23), So,W (23), Aronian,L (19).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
Try this line on the board
Play this opening against the Katuranga bot, then review the game — the engine marks every brilliant move, mistake and blunder.