Scandinavian Defense
Challenge the center on move one. The theory is light, the plans are clear, and the 2...Qxd5 lines keep reaching the same pawn structure.
| First moves | 1.e4 d5 |
|---|---|
| ECO codes | B01 |
| Also known as | Center Counter Defense |
| Character | Direct, low-theory, solid |
| Best for | Players who want one reliable answer to 1.e4 without heavy study |
Tap a move to see it on the board. Open any line on the analysis board, or play it out against a bot from where it ends.
Related openings
Caro-Kann Defense
The solid answer to 1.e4 that keeps the light-squared bishop free. Think of it as the French Defense without the bad bishop.
French Defense
A solid answer to 1.e4. Black's plans revolve around one pawn break, ...c5, aimed at White's pawn on d4.
Italian Game
The classical way to open a chess game: develop, aim at f7, castle. The best first opening for most players.
The idea
Black trades the d-pawn for White's e-pawn at once, so White never gets the big pawn center that most openings aim for. In the lines the price is that the queen comes out early and gets chased, which costs time.
In return you get consistency. After , which White plays in about three games out of four on Lichess, you know the structure and your development scheme (//, , , or , , ), and the middlegames that follow are playable.
Where to put the queen
- : the classical main line and still the most popular retreat, keeping the queen active on the a5-e1 diagonal. Watch for b4 tricks, and for followed by a knight move from c3 that uncovers an attack on the queen.
- : the modern alternative, which many grandmaster games have shown to be quite playable. The queen supports ideas and stays out of reach of tricks, though and can still hit it.
- : the most modest. The queen goes back home, so the line is somewhat passive, but it is playable and gives Black a solid game with a Caro-Kann-like pawn structure.
The standard Scandinavian setup is worth learning as a unit: , , (or ), , , /, . Play or before , or the bishop ends up shut inside the pawn chain.
The gambit lines
After , White can try to hold the pawn with or , or give it back with , the main line. The Portuguese Gambit ( ) offers a pawn for fast development and leads to sharp play. Theory rates as a strong answer, but on Lichess at 2000+ Black scores about 53% with , against 46% with .
Frequently asked questions
Is the Scandinavian Defense good for beginners?
Yes. It is one of the best low-theory answers to . The lines keep reaching the same structure, and the "never bring your queen out early" rule bends here because the queen has good squares to retreat to.
Doesn't the early queen move lose time?
It does. After the queen has to move a second time, and White can sometimes gain more time by attacking it again. In return White's e-pawn is gone, so the extra time is harder to use than it would be with a strong center. Grandmaster practice shows the trade-off is acceptable. Anand got an excellent position with the Scandinavian against Kasparov in their 1995 world championship match, and Carlsen beat Caruana with it at the 2014 Olympiad.
Qa5, Qd6 or Qd8: which is best?
is the most popular. On Lichess at 2000+ it accounts for about half of Black's replies to , ahead of (30%) and (13%). avoids the and tricks against a queen on a5 and is less passive than . All three are playable, so pick one and learn its setup properly rather than switching.