How to Play the Scandinavian Defense Main Line

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On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com you can study how to correctly play the Scandinavian Defense Main Line which is 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5. Learn proven playing lines of the Scandinavian Defense chess opening proved by chess master games and confirmed by chess engine evaluations! Now it's time to closely look at what you see below...

I. Scandinavian Defense Main Line

Chess Opening Name: Scandinavian Defense (1.e4 d5)
Variation Name: Scandinavian Defense Main Line
Moves: 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5
ECO Code: B01
Popularity: 50%

The Main Line of the Scandinavian Defense is not an official variation of the Scandinavian (it is unofficial name), but it is the most popular playing line of the Scandinavian Defense (50% of all chess master games). By statistics, the chess masters play: 2.exd5 Qxd5 ~ 50%; 2.exd5 Nf6 ~ 40%; 2.exd5 c6, e6 ~ 5%. The Main Line of the Scandinavian Defense is the most popular play in the Scandinavian, and you should learn it first...

• See All Official Variations of the Scandinavian Defense

II. How to Play Scandinavian Defense Main Line

1.e4 d5 Scandinavian Defense
2.exd5 Qxd5 Scandinavian Defense Main Line
3.Nc3 ...
If 3.Nf3, then 3... Bg4 4.Be2 Nc6 (+0.25).


See three best moves to continue:
3... Qa5 ("classical"), Qd6 ("modern"), Qd8 ("old").
Learn 2 proven plays (variants) as shown below:

• Variant 1 of 2 (3... Qa5 "classical")

3... Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Bc4 Nf6 6.Nf3



6... Bg4 7.h3 Bh5 8.g4 Bg6


Study the best line to continue (by chess engine):
9.Bd2 Nbd7 10.Nd5 Qd8 11.Nf4 e6 (White is slightly better, +0.67)

• Variant 2 of 2 (3... Qd6 "modern")

1.e4 d5 Scandinavian Defense
2.exd5 Qxd5 Scandinavian Defense Main Line
3.Nc3 ...
If 3.Nf3, then 3... Bg4 4.Be2 Nc6 (+0.25).


3... Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 a6


6.g3 Bg4 7.Bg2 Nc6


Study the best line to continue (by chess engine):
8.0-0 0-0-0 9.h3 Bh5 10.Be3 e6 (=Equal, +0.46)

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On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com you have studied how to play the Main Line of the Scandinavian Defense chess opening. The Main Line of the Scandinavian runs as 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5. It is ECO code B01, and it covers 50% of all Scandinavian Defense games played by chess masters. You can learn more on playing the Main Line of the Scandinavian Defense by downloading and seeing the Scandinavian Defense PGN file on this site. Thank you!