The Scotch?? OK...

Today, I am back with another opening analysis: The Scotch
So, what is the Scotch?? Take a look!!

White wants to trade, but is there anything special??
Don't talk about this:

Why trade??
Stop trading!! You have to be a tactical player!!
How to play the Scotch?? Hmm...

1. Play Bc4 instead of Nxd4!!

Trading makes the game simple. But we are tactical, so develop the Bishop can be a sharp threat to f7!!

Let's move to the next variations!! I won't talk about d6, because you just need to trade the Knight! Boring!

2. Black plays Bb4+, the best move!!

So after Bc4, Black plays Bb4+. Interesting!!
We can block with c3!! So that we can force them to trade!!

Now, how will you respond??

There are 2 main options. But before saying, I won't talk about Nxc3, too simple, not so tactical!
The 1st response is bxc3, which is popular!!
Now let's see how I analyze the Scotch by looking at the board!

I showed you 5 main variations!!
But wait... the 2nd response???
The answer is... O-O!!
And once again, let's spend our time looking at the board!

You can see, we can gain such a high advantage!! Our pieces are active!!
We have talked so much about Bb4+, what about...

3. Black plays Nf6??

When Black plays Nf6 after our 4. Bc4, we have 2 main options:
The 1st one is... e5!!
This move attacks the Knight on f6, but is it a lonely pawn??

Yep, our pieces are active!! We can gain advantage, unless we make mistakes!!

4. My thought!!

Should we play the Scotch?? Well, if Scotch fits your style, then you should play!! I hope that there won't be more tradings in the tactcal Scotch!!
Sadly, I usually meet player who love trading in the Scotch, which makes me become less interested in the Scotch. Plz make it great again!!