Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit, Wuss Variation
The Wuss Variation of the Portuguese Gambit is 4.Be2, a quiet move that offers to trade the bishop on g4. White aims for easy development and a castled king, while Black should take the trade and then win back the d5 pawn with the queen.
- Moves
- 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Bg4 4.Be2
- ECO
- B01
- Engine
- +0.31 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 477 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 50.5%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- After ...Bxe2 recapture Qxe2 and follow with Nf3 and O-O, as the engine line shows, for smooth development.
- Put the dark-squared bishop on e3 to defend d4 and connect the rooks quickly.
- If Black skips the trade with ...Bf5, play c4 and later d5 to keep the extra pawn.
- Against ...Qd7, take on g4 and play c4, getting a big center and a lead in development.
Black
- Trade with ...Bxe2 at once, then recapture ...Qxd5 to restore the material balance.
- Continue ...e6 and ...Nc6, as in the engine line, putting pressure on d4 with queen and knight.
- Avoid ...Bf5: after c4, ...c6 and dxc6, White keeps a healthy extra pawn and space.
- Do not play ...Qd7: the trade on g4 and c4 leave the queen and knight misplaced.
Plans and pawn structure
After the trade on e2 and ...Qxd5, material is level and White has an isolated-looking d4 pawn without an e-pawn beside it. White develops with Nf3, O-O, Be3 and Nc3, which hits Black's queen and gains time. Black places the queen on d5 or a5, knights on c6 and f6, and puts rooks on d8 to press d4. White's plan is a central push with c4 or a kingside attack with the rooks on the e-file.
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 engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.31: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.31 4...Bxe2 5.Qxe2 Qxd5 6.Nf3 e6 7.O-O
- +1.72 4...Bf5 5.c4 c6 6.dxc6 Nxc6 7.d5
- +1.88 4...Qd7 5.Bxg4 Nxg4 6.c4 c6 7.Nc3
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
477 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.5%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As Black, simply play 4...Bxe2 and 5...Qxd5. That gets the pawn back at once and leaves a normal, level game. Do not try to keep the bishop with ...Bf5 or defend it with ...Qd7. Both lose time and let White hold d5 with c4.
Questions
What are the moves of the Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit, Wuss Variation?
The Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit, Wuss Variation starts 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Bg4 4.Be2. Its ECO code is B01.
Is the Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit, Wuss Variation good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.31 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 477 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.5%. A low-risk choice for White players who want a normal game, and a comfortable line for Black as long as Black trades bishops and recaptures on d5.
What is the main idea of the Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit, Wuss Variation?
White plays a safe developing move and offers a bishop trade. Black should take on e2 and win d5 back with the queen, reaching a level game where d4 is the main target.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is Bxe2, with Bf5 and Qd7 close behind. 4...Bxe2 removes White's bishop first so that ...Qxd5 regains the pawn without a tempo loss.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.