Scandinavian Defense
ECO: B01For blacke4offbeat
Overview
Black immediately contests the center with 1...d5. Simple to learn and surprisingly resilient, but the early queen development requires care.
Key Ideas
- Recapture the d5 pawn with the queen (or the knight in the modern line).
- Reroute the queen quickly to a safe square — typically a5 or d6.
- Develop pieces actively despite the early queen sortie.
- Aim for a sound, simplified middlegame.
Main Lines
Line 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
h8
g
f
e
d
c
b
a
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 c6
Line 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
h8
g
f
e
d
c
b
a
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 a6
Line 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
h8
g
f
e
d
c
b
a
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Nb6
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Forces simplifications
- Limited theory
- Surprises opponents
Cons
- Early queen development
- White gets free tempi if you misplay
Practice the Scandinavian Defense against our bots
Pick a bot that plays the Scandinavian Defense and learn it by playing it.
Start practicing →Bots Who Play the Scandinavian Defense
You'll play White — the bot plays the Scandinavian Defense at you.
Related Openings
- Sicilian Defense(B20)
- French Defense(C00)
- Caro-Kann(B10)
- Open Games (1...e5)(C20)