The Scotch Game, move by move

White opens the centre right away with d4. Direct and easy to learn. You play White. Opening code C45.

1. 1. e4 Takes the centre.
2. 1… e5 Black answers in kind.
3. 2. Nf3 Develops and attacks e5.
4. 2… Nc6 Defends e5.
5. 3. d4 Hits e5 a second time and opens the centre at once.
6. 3… exd4 Black takes, because holding e5 is hard.
7. 4. Nxd4 The knight takes back and stands proudly in the centre.
8. 4… Nf6 Develops and attacks e4.
9. 5. Nxc6 Trades knights so that b7 has to recapture and Black's pawns are split.
10. 5… bxc6 Taking toward the centre keeps more pawns in the middle.
11. 6. e5 Kicks the knight from f6 and gains space.
12. 6… Qe7 Pins the e5 pawn to White's king and attacks it.
13. 7. Qe2 Blocks the pin and defends e5.
14. 7… Nd5 The knight jumps to a strong central square.
15. 8. c4 Chases the knight away and takes more space.
16. 8… Nb6 The knight retreats. White has space; Black has the bishop pair and open lines.

The plan from here

Trade in the centre early, gain space with e5 and c4, and attack before Black is untangled.