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Scotch Game: Classical Variation, 5.Nxc6 Qf6

Rublevsky–Grischuk, WCh Candidates Elista 2007 · Nepomniachtchi–Batista, Capablanca Memorial Elite 2015 · 6:28 · ECO C45

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In this video

Game 1: Sergei Rublevsky (2680) vs Alexander Grischuk (2717)

WCh Candidates Elista 2007, 13 June 2007 · Black won (0-1) · 39 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 6.Qf3The first move after the opening line0:29
  2. 25.Qxc6Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here1:54
  3. 27...fxe6The queens come off2:06
  4. 35.Kc2The evaluation moves from −3.41 to −5.022:44
  5. 36...Nd2The evaluation moves from −5.69 to −6.702:52
  6. 39...Rb5Black wins after 39 moves3:06

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

Game 2: Ian Nepomniachtchi (2720) vs Lazaro Bruzon Batista (2677)

Capablanca Memorial Elite 2015, 23 June 2015 · White won (1-0) · 40 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 6.f4The first move after the opening line3:35
  2. 33...Bc8The evaluation moves from +0.66 to +2.81, and White stays more than two pawns ahead from here5:42
  3. 37...Rxf7The queens come off6:02
  4. 40.e5White wins after 40 moves6:15

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

About these games

After 5.Nxc6, Black does not recapture at once: 5...Qf6 threatens mate on f2, so White must deal with that before Black takes back on c6. The recapture decides the structure. ...bxc6 gives Black a half-open b-file and central pawns. ...dxc6 opens the d-file and frees the light-squared bishop. In return, White keeps a sound pawn majority on the kingside.

Rublevsky–Grischuk followed 6.Qf3 bxc6 7.Qg3 h5. Black used the bishops and the b-file after White castled long with 12.O-O-O. The score stayed near +0.26 after 15...Bxc3. Black then advanced the a-pawn, and by 20...a4 the evaluation was −0.99. The turning point was 25.Qxc6, met by 25...Rdb8 (−2.07). After 26.Qxe6 Rxb2+, the queens came off with 27...fxe6, and Black's b-pawn reached b2. Black's knight then took the h-, g-, d- and e-pawns, with the score at −5.61 after 35...Nc4. Black won after 39...Rb5.

Nepomniachtchi–Bruzon Batista went 6.f4 dxc6 7.Nc3 Nh6 8.f5, and both sides castled long. Instead of piece play on the queenside, White cramped Black's kingside with f5 and a g4–h4–h5 pawn advance. The position stayed balanced, at +0.79 after 30...gxh5. After 33...Bc8 the score jumped from +0.66 to +2.81, with White's h-pawn heading for h6. The queens came off with 37...Rxf7, leaving rook and knight against rook and bishop. White won after 40.e5.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Rublevsky vs Grischuk, WCh Candidates Elista 2007
  3. 3:15Game 2: Nepomniachtchi vs Bruzon Batista, Capablanca Memorial Elite 2015

The opening line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6

See every video from this position →