Scandinavian Defense
The Scandinavian Defense starts 1.e4 d5, attacking the e4 pawn on move one. White usually takes with 2.exd5 and gains time on the recapturing queen with Nc3, while Black aims for quick development with ...Nf6, ...Bf5 or ...Bg4 and a compact ...c6 and ...e6 structure.
- Moves
- 1.e4 d5
- ECO
- B01
- Engine
- +0.57 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 202,144 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 51.2%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Take with 2.exd5, the engine's top choice, and hit the queen with Nc3 after ...Qxd5.
- Build a center with d4 and Nf3, then develop the bishops to d3 or c4 and castle.
- Against 2...Nf6, play d4 and develop quickly; holding the pawn with c4 invites Black's gambits.
- Use the extra tempo to chase the queen again with Bd2 or Nb5 ideas when it sits on a5.
Black
- Recapture with ...Qxd5 and retreat to a5, d6 or d8 after Nc3, keeping the queen safe.
- Play 2...Nf6 to regain the pawn with a piece instead of the queen.
- Develop the c8 bishop to f5 or g4 before ...e6, then play ...c6 for a firm center.
- Use ...g6 and ...Bg7, as in the engine line, to aim at d4.
Plans and pawn structure
After 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3, White is ahead in development and has the only central pawn after d4. White develops with Nf3, Bc4 or Bd3, castles and uses the space. Black builds a solid shell with ...c6, ...e6 and the bishop outside on f5 or g4, then aims for ...c5 or ...e5 to strike at d4. In the 2...Nf6 lines Black gets the pawn back with the knight and has a similar structure.
Where the engine's main line heads: White pawn d4, no e-pawns for White, no d-pawn for Black. White has a pawn on d4 and no e-pawn; Black has no d-pawn. White has more central space; Black's pieces are free and the d4 pawn is a target.
What the Scandinavian is about
After 1.e4 d5 Black attacks the e4 pawn at once. White usually takes with 2.exd5, and Black wins the pawn back either with the queen, 2...Qxd5, or with the knight, 2...Nf6. The queen recapture costs a tempo after Nc3, but Black gets a clear setup with no central pawn tension.
Across 202144 games White scored 51.2%. The engine's top move is 2.exd5, and its line 2...Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 g6 gives White a pleasant edge. Other moves such as 2.e5 and 2.d3 throw away the advantage.
Because the center opens on move two, the Scandinavian is mostly about development. The side that gets pieces out faster usually decides where the game goes.
The main variations
The Mieses-Kotroc Variation, 2...Qxd5, is the main line. After 3.Nc3 the queen must move.
- The Main Line, 3...Qa5, keeps the queen active and pins the c3 knight to some degree. Black scored well here, with White at 49.3%.
- The Valencian Variation, 3...Qd8, retreats all the way home. It is safe but passive.
- The Gubinsky-Melts Defense, 3...Qd6, is the engine's choice. The queen supports ...e5 and stays near the center.
The Modern Variation, 2...Nf6, regains the pawn with the knight. After 3.d4 Black can recapture with ...Nxd5 (the Marshall Variation) or play ...Bg4. If White holds the pawn with 3.c4, Black has gambits like the Icelandic-Palme, 3...e6, which score well in practice.
The gambit tries 2...e5 and 2...c6 are dubious; the engine gives White a clear edge in the Boehnke and Kloosterboer lines.
The Valencian, with the queen back on d8, is popular but passive. White scored 52.4% there and gets an easy game with d4, Nf3 and Bc4. The Main Line with ...Qa5 is the most active choice for Black.
Typical plans for White
White's first job is quick development with tempo: Nc3 hits the queen, d4 takes the center, Nf3 and a bishop on c4 or d3 follow, then castling. The d4 pawn gives White more space, and the open e-file can be used with a rook on e1.
- Against ...Qa5, Bd2 unpins the c3 knight and prepares Nd5 or Nb5 with gain of time.
- Against ...Bf5 or ...Bg4, use h3 or Ne5 to question the bishop.
- In the ...Nf6 lines, do not cling to the d5 pawn; play d4 and Nf3, and use c4 to chase a knight that lands on d5.
Typical plans for Black
Black plays for a compact, healthy structure. Typical moves are ...Nf6, ...c6, the bishop to f5 or g4, ...e6 and ...Nbd7. Then Black castles and plays ...c5 or ...e5 to challenge d4. In the ...Qd6 lines, ...g6 and ...Bg7 are common, aiming down the long diagonal.
- Keep the queen out of danger; one more tempo lost can be serious.
- Trade the c8 bishop for White's f3 knight when it releases pressure on d4.
- Use ...Nbd7 and ...e5 to free the game when White is slow.
A common setup for White is Nf3, Bc4, O-O and a rook on e1, with the knight jumping to e5 when it is safe. This keeps pressure on f7 and the e-file.
Mistakes club players make
- Black moving the queen too often. Every queen move after Nc3 adds to White's lead in development.
- White trying to keep the pawn after 2...Nf6. The c4 lines let Black gamble with ...e6 or ...c6, and White scored under 50% there.
- Black playing gambits that do not work. The Boehnke Gambit, 2...e5, and the Kloosterboer ideas give White a clear edge.
- White ignoring ...Bg4. The pin on f3 can make d4 weak if White is careless.
Who should play it
The Scandinavian suits Black players who want a fixed, easy structure and less theory than the Sicilian or Ruy Lopez. It forces White into specific positions from move two. The cost is a small but lasting edge for White, and players must be careful with the queen.
For White, the main line with 2.exd5 and 3.Nc3 is the simplest path to a good game.
Players who like the Scandinavian should learn one queen retreat well. The structures that follow repeat in many games, so understanding them pays off quickly.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.57: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.57 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6
- −0.05 2.e5 c5 3.c3 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6
- −0.20 2.d3 dxe4 3.dxe4 Qxd1+ 4.Kxd1 Nc6
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
202,144 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.2%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Variations of the Scandinavian Defense
- Mieses-Kotroc Variation2.exd5 · 48,741 games
- Tennison Gambit2.Nf3 · 17,680 games
- Zilbermints Gambit2.b4 · rare
- Grünfeld Defense2.Nc3 · rare
- Schiller-Pytel Variation, Modern Variation2.exd5 · rare
- Tennison Gambit, Brigg's Trap2.Nf3 · rare
How to play against it
As White, take on d5 and develop with tempo. Do not try to hold the extra pawn after 2...Nf6 with c4 unless you know the gambits. Watch for ...Bg4 pinning your f3 knight and pressuring d4.
Full guide: how to beat the Scandinavian Defense
Other lines with this name
The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.e4 d5 2.b3.
Questions
What are the moves of the Scandinavian Defense?
The Scandinavian Defense starts 1.e4 d5. Its ECO code is B01.
Is the Scandinavian Defense good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.57 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 202,144 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.2%. A practical choice for Black players who want a fixed structure and less theory, at the cost of a small but lasting edge for White.
What is the main idea of the Scandinavian Defense?
Black attacks e4 on the first move. After 2.exd5, Black regains the pawn with the queen or the f6 knight and builds a solid setup, accepting that White gains a tempo by attacking the queen.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is exd5, with e5 and d3 close behind. 2.exd5 accepts the challenge, and Nc3 next move will gain a tempo against the recapturing queen.
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.