Scandinavian Defense
ECO B01 · 1. e4 d5
The Scandinavian Defense, 1.e4 d5, immediately challenges White's e-pawn. After 2.exd5 Black either recaptures with the queen or plays 2...Nf6 to regain the pawn later.
Plans for White
White develops with tempo by attacking the queen with Nc3, then plays d4, Nf3, Bc4 or Bd2 and castles. The extra tempi can be used for an early initiative or a space advantage.
Plans for Black
In the main line 2...Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 (or ...Qd6, ...Qd8), Black develops with ...Nf6, ...c6, ...Bf5 or ...Bg4 and ...e6, reaching a solid Caro-Kann-like setup. In the Modern 2...Nf6 Black delays recapturing to avoid lost time with the queen.
Typical pawn structures
Black typically ends up with pawns on c6 and e6 against White's d4, with no pawn in the center for Black: a solid but slightly passive structure.
Who it suits
Players who want a simple, low-theory defense that forces White off main-line preparation from move one.
Common traps
Black's queen on a5 can be harassed: watch for Bd2 and Nd5 discovered attacks, and for Bb5+ pins when the c6 knight or pawn is missing.
Variations
- Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4
- Scandinavian Defense: Anderssen Counterattack — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 e5
- Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6
- Scandinavian Defense: Main Line — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5
- Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8
- Scandinavian Defense: Schiller-Pytel Variation — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 c6
- Scandinavian Defense: Zilbermints Gambit — 1. e4 d5 2. b4
- Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 c6
- Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5
- Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne Gambit — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 c6 3. dxc6 Nxc6
- Scandinavian Defense: Boehnke Gambit — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 e5 3. dxe6 Bxe6
- Scandinavian Defense: Gubinsky-Melts Defense — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6
- Scandinavian Defense: Icelandic-Palme Gambit — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 e6
- Scandinavian Defense: Kloosterboer Gambit — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 c6 3. dxc6 e5
- Scandinavian Defense: Marshall Variation — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5
- Scandinavian Defense: Panov Transfer — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 c6
- Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 g6
- Scandinavian Defense: Kádas Gambit — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 c6 4. dxc6 e5
- Scandinavian Defense: Kiel Variation — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. c4 Nb4
- Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 a6
- Scandinavian Defense: Classical Variation — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bf5
- Scandinavian Defense: Lasker Variation — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. h3
- Scandinavian Defense: Grünfeld Variation — 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bf5 6. Ne5 c6 7. g4