My all time favorite opening; I love playing the Scotch.
3... exd4 4. Nf3xd4 Ng8f6
Black's response here should have been Qh4; at least, if he's a daredevil. Took me years to figure this out; response is Qd3 because Nc3 is countered by Bb4 and then white loses the pawn. Anyway, that didn't happen...
5. Nd4xc6
Takes; forces a takeback of course and it gives me an early advantage positionally.
5... dxc6
Merlot, I'm guessing, would rather save his pawn structure and risk an unsavory queen trade. Some players don't like to trade queens if they can help it...
6. Qd1xd8
But I do!
6... Ke8xd8 7. Bc1g5
An aggressive move; had this game been a little more recent I probably would have pushed e5 and then followed with f4 and then hope to castle queen-side. As it is, I don't mind trading since I've got a clear positional advantage.
7... h6 8. Bg5xf6 gxf6
Yet another positional advantage, since his pawn structure is pathetic.
9. Nb1c3 Bf8c5 10. O-O-O
Castle with check... I love it when you can get this!
