Scandinavian Defense


Overview

The Scandinavian Defense is a chess opening that is to counter 1.e4.



The idea: Black tries to challenge the center right from the first move, using his Queen pawn. The only good move for White is to take this pawn. Black then has a choice between

  1. Immediately taking it back with the Queen.
  2. Attacking it with the Knight.

The Scandinavian Defense is played mostly by many amateur players and rarely played at the master level.



The Scandinavian Defense can be divided into three major variations, depending on Black’s options.

The first choice Black has to make is whether or not to take the pawn on d5. If Black does not take and plays 2...Nf6 instead, we have our first major variation.

If Black takes it, White’s best move is to develop the Knight to c3 and attack the Queen on d5. Black’s next choice is simple: where to move the Queen to? One of the variations is to play 3...Qd6, and the main line is to move the Queen to a5.

Thus, the three major variations are:

  • The Modern Variation
  • The Gubinsky-Melts Defense
  • Main line: Mieses-Kotrč Variation

The idea behind the Modern Variation is to delay capturing on d5. By taking this pawn right ahead, Black’s Queen will become too exposed.

This variation is more cautious but not as active as the Mieses-Kotrč Variation.

The Gubinsky-Melts Defense is a different approach to the Scandinavian Defense. Although it is not as popular as the main line, it is an ambitious variation for Black, especially because it maintains the pressure on the open d-file.


In the main line of the Scandinavian Defense, Black moves the Queen to a5.

This is an active square for the Queen, because it will eventually come to pin the Knight on c3 once White completes development by moving the d-pawn.

It is a dangerous and tricky variation that many attacking players choose to employ in their games with the Black pieces.


What is the Scandinavian Defense?

The Scandinavian Defense is a chess opening that is played in the Open Games (against 1.e4).

In this variation, Black immediately strikes in the center with the move 1...d5.

You can see the moves below.


How to reach the Scandinavian Defense?

  1. First, White must move the King’s pawn two squares (1.e4).
  2. Then, Black immediately replies by moving the Queen’s pawn two squares (1...d5).

Take a look at the moves below:



Why Play The Scandinavian Defense?

The Scandinavian Defense is a creative and interesting option against 1.e4, the most popular first move for White in chess.

In this opening, Black immediately strikes in the center and goes for activity. Although it is not as popular as other moves (such as the main option 1...e5 or the Sicilian Defense), it is employed by many chess players, from amateurs to Grandmasters, and it is known to offer Black interesting chances.


Every move explained

Modern Variation

How To Reach It

The Modern Variation appears on the board after the following moves:

  1. e4 d5
  2. exd5 Nf6

Why play the Modern Variation?

The Modern Variation is based on a cautious idea.

Instead of taking on d5 and exposing the Queen right from the beginning of the game, Black decides to attack the pawn with the Knight, delaying its capture.

The idea is to capture the pawn with the Knight in a near future, since White would lose far too much time and sacrifice development in order to protect it.

White's Moves

Expand in the center with d4

One of the main ideas for White in the Scandinavian Defense, and particularly in this variation, is to take control over the center.

In order to do so, the best move is to play d2-d4, and White should do it right away.

Attack the Knight with c4

After taking over the center with d4, Black’s natural move according to his plan is to take on d5 with the Knight.

However, White should take this opportunity to expand further in the center and attack the Knight by pushing c2-c4.

Chase the Knight with c5

After attacking the Knight with c4, Black usually places the Knight on b6, which is the most natural square.

Then, White develops the Knight to f3 and Black pins it with Bg4.

This can be the perfect moment for White to chase Black’s Knight even further and play c4-c5, since Black cannot place the Knight on d5 - which would be the ideal square for it - and is forced to retreat it.

Black's moves

Take on d5 with the Knight

Naturally, the main plan for Black in this variation is simple: to avoid taking the pawn on d5 with the Queen but choosing to take it with the Knight, instead.

Black can usually do so right on the third move.

Pinning the Knight on f3 with the Bishop

As mentioned earlier, one of Black’s most effective ideas is to bring the Bishop out to g4, from where it can actively pin White’s Knight on f3 to the Queen.

This is an active plan that can seriously disturb White’s play.

Developing the dark-squared Bishop to g7

Another main plan for Black in this variation is to fianchetto his dark-squared Bishop on the Kingside. To do so, he must first push the g-pawn to g6 and proceed to develop the Bishop behind it, to g7.

This is a good plan to gain control over the large dark-squared diagonal.

Gubinsky-Melts Defense

How To Reach It

The Gubinsky-Melts Defense of the Scandinavian Defense appears on the board after the following moves.

  1. e4 d5
  2. exd5 Qxd5
  3. Nc3 Qd6

You can see the moves here.

Why play the Gubinsky-Melts Defense?

The Gubinsky-Melts Defense is the second most popular line in the Scandinavian Defense. It is an ambitious variation for Black with many tricky ideas.

The main idea of this line is to maintain the pressure on the d-file with the Queen, as opposed to what happens in the Mieses-Kotrč Variation, in which the Queen leaves this file.

Since the Scandinavian Defense is not one of the main options against 1.e4, many players don’t fully understand the differences and subtleties between the many variations of the Scandinavian for Black, and this may be exploited.

White's Moves

Expand in the center with d4

One of the main ideas for White in the Scandinavian Defense, as we’ve seen in the Modern Variation, is to take control over the center.

In order to do so, the best move is to play d2-d4, and White should do it right away.

Fianchetto the light-squared Bishop

A very particular plan of this variation for White is to develop the light-squared Bishop with a Kingside fianchetto, by first opening up the way with g2-g3 and following up with Bf1-g2.

This is a great positioning for the Bishop, as it can control the largest light-squared diagonal on the board.

Centralize the Knight by placing it on e5

One of the advantages of having the better central control is that it is easier for White to centralize his pieces.

Naturally, virtually any piece increases its value when placed in one of the central squares, and this is what White tries to do by immediately putting a Knight on the e5 square.

Black's moves

Pinning the Knight on f3 with the Bishop

One of Black’s most effective ideas so as to develop the light-squared Bishop is to place it on g4, as also happened in the Modern Variation.

This is an especially good placement for the Bishop as it pins the Knight on f3 and can seriously disturb White’s play.

Play c6 to control the d5 square

In the Scandinavian Defense, White has a space advantage and better central control, but this doesn’t mean that Black should not fight for the center in his own terms.

An essential idea in the Gubinsky-Melts Defense is to play the move c7-c6. This move increases control over the d5 square, which may be a great spot for Black’s Knight later on in the game.

This move also allows Black’s Queen to retreat to c7 if needed.

Castle Queenside

One of the particularities of this variation is that Black’s plan is to increase pressure on the d-file.

For this reason, it makes sense to castle Queenside, since the Rook can directly come to d8 and the King can be sheltered there.

Mieses-Kotrč Variation (main line)

How To Reach It

The Main Line of the Scandinavian Defense (Mieses-Kotrč Variation) appears on the board after the following moves:

  1. e4 d5
  2. exd5 Qxd5
  3. Nc3 Qa5

You can see the moves here.

Why play the main line of the Scandinavian Defense?

The main line of the Scandinavian Defense is, as its name indicates, the most widely played variation in this opening.

This variation is suitable for all kinds of players, as there are many different plans. Most of them are active and involve having the initiative, as the main idea is to counterattack in the center and eventually exploit the c3 Knight’s pin.

White's Moves

Expand in the center with d4

Again, one of the main ideas for White in the Scandinavian Defense, as we’ve seen in the two previous variations, is to take control over the center.

In order to do so, the best move is to play d2-d4, and White should take the chance to play it immediately.

Develop the Bishop to c4

In the main line of the Scandinavian Defense, the best place for White’s light-squared Bishop is c4.

Not only does it control important central squares from there, but it also targets the f7 pawn and brings White closer to completing development by castling Kingside.

Chase the Queen with Bd2

One of the downsides of the placement of Black’s Queen on a5 is that it can easily be attacked with useful and natural moves by White.

The most straightforward way of doing so is to place the dark-squared Bishop on d2, from where it can come to attack the Queen once the Knight leaves c3.

Black's moves

Create an escape for the Queen with c6

One of the main particularities of the Scandinavian Defense is that the Queen comes out early on in the game and becomes exposed. As we’ve seen earlier, one of White’s plans is to chase the Queen on a5. For this reason, it is of vital importance to create an escape plan.

The best way of doing so is by playing the move c7-c6, very typical of the Scandinavian. This move increases central control and opens up a hiding spot for the Queen on either c7 or d8.

Bring the Bishop out to f5

While in the previous variations we’ve looked at the Bishop seemed to always find its way to the g4 square, on the main line of the Scandinavian Black usually places the Bishop on f5.

There, it controls the important square e4 and can come to target the c2 pawn.

Settle the center with e6

After Black brings out the Bishop to f5, it is important to play the move e7-e6.

This move consolidates Black’s center, protects the Bishop on f5, and opens up the way for the dark-squared Bishop on f8 to be developed.




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