Scandinavian Defense: Icelandic-Palme Gambit: Plans and Traps

Key ideas for both sides

White

Take with 4.dxe6, the top engine move, and develop with Nf3 and Qe2 to block the e-file.
Decline with 4.Nf3 and push d4 for a normal position after ...exd5.
Check with Qa4+ to disrupt Black's development, then return the queen to b3.
Castle quickly and avoid leaving the king in the center on the open e-file.

Black

Recapture with ...Bxe6 and develop the queen to e7 to pin White on the e-file.
Bring the knights to c6 and f6 quickly to hit d4 and e5.
Use ...Bf5 to hit the b1-h7 diagonal after White plays Qe2, as in the engine line.
If White declines with Nf3, recapture on d5 and develop with ...Bb4+ and castling.

Plans and pawn structure

If White accepts, Black is a pawn down but ahead in development, with the e-file wide open. White aims to block the e-file with Qe2, play d4, and castle. Black uses ...Qe7, ...Nc6 and ...Bf5 or ...Bb4+ to keep hitting the uncastled king. If White declines with Nf3, the position becomes balanced with an isolated d-pawn type fight. The gambit relies on active piece play, not long-term structure.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.35: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

+0.35 4.dxe6 Bxe6 5.Nf3 Qe7 6.Qe2 Nc6
+0.02 4.Nf3 exd5 5.d4 Bb4+ 6.Nc3 O-O
−0.07 4.Qa4+ Bd7 5.Qb3 exd5 6.cxd5 Bc5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

3,036 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 47.0%.

under 120044.9%

1200–159949.5%

1600–199946.4%

2000 and up44.7%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As White, take with 4.dxe6 and block the e-file with Qe2 after ...Qe7. Castle quickly and return the pawn if needed. As Black, develop fast with ...Nc6 and ...Bf5 and keep your pieces on the e-file before White's king gets to safety.

Questions

What are the moves of the Scandinavian Defense: Icelandic-Palme Gambit?

The Scandinavian Defense: Icelandic-Palme Gambit starts 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.c4 e6. Its ECO code is B01.

Is the Scandinavian Defense: Icelandic-Palme Gambit good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.35 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 3,036 lichess games from our sample, White scored 47.0%. A dangerous weapon for active Black players, and White should develop carefully and castle.

What is the main idea of the Scandinavian Defense: Icelandic-Palme Gambit?

Black offers the e-pawn to open the center and speed up development. White can take or decline, with Black aiming for fast pressure on the e-file.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is dxe6, with Nf3 and Qa4+ close behind. 4.dxe6 takes the gambit pawn and keeps material.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.

Scandinavian Defense: Icelandic-Palme Gambit