Scotch Game: what should Black play?

In this position arising from the Scotch Game, Black must resolve the tension in the center while deciding how to develop the minor pieces. The most statistically reliable choices are b6 (eval +0.85) and the overwhelmingly popular Bg4 (eval +0.78), which accounts for 71.9% of games in the database. Selecting b6 allows Black to prepare queenside development and contest squares along the long diagonal while maintaining a solid pawn structure.

Practical Popularity and Pinning with Bg4

By far the most frequent continuation is Bg4, recorded in 46K games (71.9%). This active bishop sortie immediately attacks the f3 knight and targets White's kingside coordination. White scores 52.0% following this choice, with the engine illustrating play via Bg4 h3 Bxf3 Qxf3 Nd7 a4. Although this line surrenders the bishop pair, it clarifies Black's defensive setup and allows the pieces on the queenside to develop smoothly.

Positional Schemes with b6 and Nd7

For players seeking different structures, b6 offers an engine evaluation of +0.85 and restricts White to a 49.6% scoring rate across 5.2K recorded games. An illustrative engine continuation runs b6 Bd3 g6 Nc3 a5 h3, where Black shores up light-square control before committing kingside pawns. Alternatively, Nd7 is another solid choice seen in 11.9% of games (7.6K recorded) with an evaluation of +0.86, leading to Nd7 Nc3 g6 g4 Ngf6 h3 and yielding White a 48.7% score.

King's Fianchetto and Space-Gaining Tries

Black can also opt for immediate flank development via g6, seen in 8.1% of recorded games (5.2K games) with an engine evaluation of +0.87. Against this, White scores 50.5% after g6 Nc3 b6 Bd3 a5 h3. Finally, a5 also evaluates to +0.87 and proceeds with a5 Nc3 b6 h3 g6 Bd3, securing queenside space before pursuing piece harmony.