Scandinavian Defense
Queen comes out early but stays active. Simple to learn.
The Scandinavian Defense is a Black opening against 1.e4, defined by 1.e4 d5. Black attacks the e4 pawn at once; after 2.exd5, Black recaptures with the queen (2...Qxd5) or later with the knight (2...Nf6). Black gives up a tempo with the queen in return for easy development and a structure without weaknesses.
- ECO code
- B01
- Moves
- 1.e4 d5
- Style
- Tactical
- Recommended level
- Beginner
- Played by
- Sergei Tiviakov, Bent Larsen
The idea: hit e4 on move one
With 1...d5, Black does not wait: the pawn attacks e4 before White can support it with d4. White can defend it with 2.Nc3 or push it with 2.e5, but the natural reply, and by far the most common, is the exchange 2.exd5.
After the trade, each side has lost a center pawn: White keeps the d-pawn, Black the e-pawn. Black's structure has no weaknesses, the lines are open and Black's pieces come out easily.
The Scandinavian sets the terms of the game: where 1...e5 or 1...c5 leave White a wide choice of systems, it decides the type of position by move two.
The price: the queen comes out early
After 2...Qxd5, Black's queen stands in the center, and 3.Nc3 attacks it while developing a piece. The queen has to move a second time: White gains a tempo, a full move of development.
That tempo is the real price of the Scandinavian. It is acceptable because Black has no pawn weaknesses, the pieces develop quickly and the queen finds a safe square on a5, d6 or d8.
The rule to remember: one tempo lost, not two. Every extra queen move forced by a White piece makes the lag worse.
The queen is exposed in the center and will be attacked
The c8 bishop comes out before ...e6
Unlike the French Defense, the Scandinavian does not lock in the light-squared bishop: the d7 pawn is gone and the c8-h3 diagonal is open. The rule is simple: develop this bishop to f5 or g4 before playing ...e6, which would close its path.
On f5 it controls the b1-h7 diagonal; on g4 it pins the f3 knight to the queen on d1 and can trade it to weaken d4.
An active bishop can also become a target. In the Grünfeld Variation (6.Ne5 c6 7.g4), White chases it with pawns; on g4, h3 asks the same question (Lasker Variation, 5...Bg4 6.h3). And the b7 pawn, without its defender, needs some attention.
Key idea: develop the bishop before playing e6
Four ways to play after 2.exd5
Black recaptures with the queen (2...Qxd5, the Mieses-Kotroc Variation) and picks its square after 3.Nc3, or delays the recapture with 2...Nf6. Each choice leads to a different kind of game.
3...Qa5, the Main Line
The queen leaves the center for an active square. After d4, it pins the c3 knight to the White king. Black follows up with ...Nf6, ...Bf5 or ...Bg4, then ...c6 and ...e6.
3...Qd6, the Gubinsky-Melts Defense
The queen stays central and eyes e5, but it offers a target to Nb5, Bf4 or Ne4. Black often plays ...a6 to take b5 away from the knight, as in the Bronstein Variation (4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 a6).
3...Qd8, the Valencian Variation
The most cautious retreat: back on its home square, the queen can no longer be harassed. In return, Black is furthest behind in development and relies on solid play with ...Nf6, ...c6 and the development of the c8 bishop.
2...Nf6, recapture later
Black develops the knight first. After 3.d4, the Modern Variation, Black recaptures with 3...Nxd5 without exposing the queen, or plays the Portuguese Gambit 3...Bg4. Against 3.c4, which tries to keep the pawn, you need to know the Panov Transfer (3...c6) or the Icelandic-Palme Gambit (3...e6).
The Main Line structure
In the Main Line, Black puts pawns on c6 and e6, with the f5 bishop in front of the chain. White has a single center pawn left, on d4. It is almost the structure of the Classical Variation of the Caro-Kann Defense, and the same plans apply.
The d4 pawn gives White more space and the e5 square for a knight, on top of the lead in development. The half-open e-file also helps against a Black king left in the center.
Black has no weaknesses: the c6 and e6 pawns control d5, the queen on a5 bears down on c3 and the f5 bishop is active. The goal is to finish development without losing more time, then go after d4.
Plans for both sides
In the Main Line position, each side has two main ideas.
White
- Plant a knight on e5 Supported by d4, the knight on e5 eyes f7 and d7, and often prepares g4 to chase the f5 bishop.
- Castle long and open the center With Qe2 and O-O-O, a rook lands behind d4; the d4-d5 push can then open lines toward the Black king.
Black
- Target the c3 knight ...Bb4 adds a piece against c3, already attacked by the queen on a5. With ...Nbd7 and short castling, Black's development is complete.
- Hit d4 with ...c5 Once the king is safe, ...c5 attacks White's last center pawn. If it goes, White's extra space goes with it.
The trap to know
With 3.Nf3 instead of 3.Nc3, the queen stays on d5. After 3...Bg4 4.Be2 Nc6 5.d4 Bxf3 6.Bxf3, the f3 bishop attacks it, and 6...Qxd4?? seems to win a pawn: the queen is defended by the c6 knight, and 7.Qxd4 Nxd4 would leave Black a pawn up.
Your turn, with White: find the move that wins Black's queen.
Hint What is the only defender of the queen on d4? Can you remove it with check?
Explanation
7.Bxc6+ removes the defender with check. After 7...bxc6, 8.Qxd4 wins the queen; 7...Kd8 changes nothing (8.Qxd4+), and 7...Qd7 loses even faster to 8.Qxd7#. Black's right reflex: after 6.Bxf3, retreat the queen and leave d4 alone, or play 5...O-O-O earlier so that a rook backs up the capture on d4.
Common mistakes by Black
These mistakes come up often in club games, right from the first moves.
- Moving the queen again without need: every extra queen move hands White a tempo. 3...Qe5+?! is the typical example: after 4.Be2, Nf3 or d4 chases it again.
- Playing ...e6 before developing the c8 bishop: it stays locked behind the pawns, and the Scandinavian loses its main edge over the French Defense.
- Forgetting ...c6 with the queen on a5: with a White bishop on d2, a Nd5 or Nb5 jump uncovers an attack on the queen, and the knight also eyes c7.
- Leaving the king in the center: the e-file is half-open for White, and White's lead in development makes sacrifices dangerous. Castle as soon as the c8 bishop and the knights are out.
What the games say
| Rating | Games | White wins | Draws | Black wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000–1399 | 77,114,355 | 50% | 4% | 46% |
| 1400–1799 | 114,486,994 | 49% | 4% | 47% |
| 1800–2199 | 67,995,374 | 48% | 5% | 47% |
| 2200+ | 5,375,418 | 48% | 7% | 45% |
| Moves | Games | Share of games, in % |
|---|---|---|
| 2.exd5 | 41,783,149 | 54 |
| 2.e5 | 14,354,531 | 19 |
| 2.Nc3 | 5,542,440 | 7 |
| 2.Nf3 | 4,678,073 | 6 |
| Other moves | 10,756,162 | 14 |
| Moves | Games | Share of games, in % |
|---|---|---|
| 2.exd5 | 82,012,913 | 72 |
| 2.e5 | 16,111,166 | 14 |
| 2.Nf3 | 6,514,884 | 6 |
| 2.Nc3 | 3,375,595 | 3 |
| Other moves | 6,472,436 | 6 |
| Moves | Games | Share of games, in % |
|---|---|---|
| 2.exd5 | 53,627,366 | 79 |
| 2.e5 | 5,652,736 | 8 |
| 2.Nf3 | 3,579,121 | 5 |
| 2.Nc3 | 2,569,593 | 4 |
| Other moves | 2,566,558 | 4 |
| Moves | Games | Share of games, in % |
|---|---|---|
| 2.exd5 | 4,486,699 | 83 |
| 2.Nc3 | 324,727 | 6 |
| 2.e5 | 225,157 | 4 |
| 2.Nf3 | 156,098 | 3 |
| Other moves | 182,737 | 3 |
264,972,141 blitz, rapid and classical games played on Lichess (Lichess opening explorer, October 4, 2026). Lichess ratings, not FIDE Elo.
Practice
This page explains the opening. The lesson makes you play it: you play the moves, the coach comments on each one and offers three levels of hints.
Interactive lesson
Scandinavian Defense
About 6 min · 2 variations · You play Black
Welcome to the Scandinavian Defense! This ancient opening immediately challenges White's center with 1...d5. Black accepts a slightly exposed queen in exchange for rapid development and clear piece play!
The lesson's route
1.e4 d5 · common moves, then the opponent chooses
- Main line 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bd2 c6 · 6 moves to play
- Modern Variation 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Nxd5 4.c4 Nb6 5.Nf3 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 · 5 moves to play
- Qd6 Variation 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 a6 6.Be2 Nc6 · 4 moves to play
Frequently asked questions
Is the Scandinavian Defense good for beginners?
Yes. It sets the terms from move one and the plans are simple: put the queen on a safe square, develop the c8 bishop before ...e6, play ...c6 and castle. You only have to accept a small lag in development.
Should I play 2...Qxd5 or 2...Nf6?
2...Qxd5 is the most direct recapture and the easiest to learn. 2...Nf6 avoids the Nc3 tempo against the queen, but you need to know the answers to 3.c4, which tries to keep the pawn.
What should I play if White does not take on d5?
Against 2.e5, develop the bishop to f5, then play ...e6 and ...c5: you get an Advance Variation of the French Defense with the c8 bishop already out. Against 2.Nc3, 2...d4 or 2...dxe4 are the usual replies.
Scandinavian or Caro-Kann: which should I choose?
Both often reach the same structure, pawns on c6 and e6 and the bishop on f5 or g4. The Caro-Kann Defense prepares ...d5 with ...c6 and loses no time with the queen, but leaves White several systems, such as the Advance Variation or the Exchange Variation. The Scandinavian Defense settles the type of game on move one.