Chess Openings Lab
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Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit

The Portuguese Gambit is 2...Nf6 3.d4 Bg4, where Black ignores the d5 pawn and develops the light-squared bishop at once. Black wants fast piece play and pressure on d4, while White tries to keep the pawn and gain space with tempo against the bishop.

Moves
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Bg4
ECO
B01
Engine
+0.79 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,166 games in our lichess sample
White scores
48.9%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play f3 to question the bishop, then g4 and c4, as in the top engine line, grabbing space and keeping d5.
  • Check with Bb5+, and after ...c6 take dxc6 so the pin and trade leave Black with broken queenside pawns.
  • Develop the king's knight to e2 so the bishop on g4 has no pin and f3 stays free.
  • The common Be2 offers a bishop trade and aims for a calm game with an extra pawn or easy development.

Black

  • Win back d5 with ...Nxd5 or ...Qxd5 when White's pieces cannot hit the queen with tempo.
  • Open lines with ...e6 against the d5 pawn, as in the engine line after White plays g4 and c4.
  • Retreat ...Bf5 and ...Bg6 if White chases the bishop, keeping it on the b1-h7 diagonal toward c2.
  • Use ...c6 against Bb5+ and recapture on c6 with the knight to keep pieces active.

Plans and pawn structure

Everything depends on the d5 pawn. If White holds it with f3, g4 and c4, Black has open lines and a target on g4 and e3, but White has space and a material edge. If Black wins d5 back early, the game looks like a normal Scandinavian with Black's bishop already active. White's main plans are c4 to defend d5 and fast development with Nc3 and Nf3. Black wants ...e6, ...Bb4 or ...Bd6 and quick castling.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.79: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.79 4.f3 Bf5 5.g4 Bg6 6.c4 e6
  2. +0.71 4.Bb5+ c6 5.dxc6 Nxc6 6.Bxc6+ bxc6
  3. +0.48 4.Ne2 c6 5.dxc6 Nxc6 6.Nbc3 e6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,166 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 48.9%.

1200–159945.9%
1600–199948.8%
2000 and up49.3%

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

Where it goes next

  • Portuguese Gambit, Wuss Variation4.Be2 · 477 games
  • Portuguese Gambit, Classical Variation4.Nf3 · rare
  • Portuguese Gambit, Lusophobe Variation4.Bb5+ · rare
  • Portuguese Gambit, Melbourne Shuffle Variation4.f3 · rare

How to play against it

As White, take the space with f3 and g4 only if you are ready to keep developing with c4 and Nc3. The safer route is Be2 or Ne2, which avoids pins and keeps the extra pawn without weakening the king. Avoid lazy moves that let Black win d5 back with tempo on your queen.

Questions

What are the moves of the Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit?

The Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit starts 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Bg4. Its ECO code is B01.

Is the Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.79 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 1,166 lichess games from our sample, White scored 48.9%. Fun for Black players who want active pieces and early tactics, but White players who know f3 and g4 can keep a solid extra pawn.

What is the main idea of the Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit?

Black develops the bishop to g4 and lets White keep the d5 pawn for a while. White chooses between holding it with f3, g4 and c4 or returning to a calm game with Be2.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is f3, with Bb5+ and Ne2 close behind. 4.f3 chases the bishop at once, and after ...Bf5 and g4 White gains space while still guarding d5.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.