How to Play Scandinavian Defense Variation 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6

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On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com you can study how to correctly play the Scandinavian Defense variation 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6. It is based on a reliable chess opening book and a Scandinavian Defense chess game database 2019. Study best lines of the Scandinavian Defense proved by chess master play and confirmed by chess engine evaluations! Now it's time to closely look at what you see below to learn...

I. Scandinavian Defense Variation 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6

Chess Opening Name: Scandinavian Defense (1.e4 d5)
Variation Name: Scandinavian Defense Variation, 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6
ECO Code: B01
Popularity: 30%
Note: B01 starts with 1.e4 d5

• See All Variations of Scandinavian Defense

II. How to Play Scandinavian Defense Variation 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6

1.e4 d5 Scandinavian Defense
2.exd5 Nf6 Scandinavian Defense Variation, 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6


See four best moves to continue:
3.d4 3.Bb5+ 3.Nc3 3.Nf3
Learn 2 proven plays (variants) as shown below:

• Variant 1 of 2 (3.d4)

3.d4 Nxd5 4.c4 Nb6 5.Nf3 ...
If 5.c5, then 5... N6d7 6... e5.


5... g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.h3 0-0


Study the best line to continue (by chess engine):
8.Be3 Nc6 9.Qd2 e5 10.d5 Ne7 (White is slightly better, +0.65)

• Variant 2 of 2 (3.Bb5+)

Scandinavian Defense Variation, 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6


3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bc4 Bg4 5.f3 ...


5... Bc8 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.d4 Nb6 8.Bb3


Study the best line to continue (by chess engine):
8... a5 9.a3 a4 10.Ba2 Nbxd5 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 (=Equal, +0.15)

• Scandinavian Defence PGN File to Study Variations

On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com you have studied the Scandinavian Defense variation 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6. This variation of the Scandinavian Defense covers 30% of all Scandinavian games, and it is the second most common variation of the Scandinavian -- after the Main line (the Main line runs as 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5). The best 4 moves to meet the Scandinavian variation 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 are: 3.d4 3.Bb5+ 3.Nc3 3.Nf3. The ECO code of this variation is B01.

Scandinavian Defense | Lesson 44

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On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com you can study the Scandinavian Defense, a semi-open game chess opening, one of the oldest, solid, proved to be playable for Black, original with immediate attacking move of a center pawn, specific by possibility to engage the Black queen in an early stage... Center Counter Defense (Game)... 1.e4 d5... B01.

I. Scandinavian Defense Chess Opening: Data and Description

Chess Opening Name: Scandinavian Defense
Synonym: Center Counter Defense
Synonym: Center Counter Game
Moves: 1.e4 d5

Type: A Semi-Open Game opening (starts with 1.e4 other than e5)
ECO Code: B01
Note: B01 starts with 1.e4 d5
Note: ECO stands for Encyclopedia of Chess Openings



The Scandinavian Defense (also known as the Center Counter Defense) is one of the oldest chess openings, first recorded in 1475 and being mentioned by Lucena in 1497. The opening is very popular among chess beginners and is playable at the master level, but usually it is used as surprise weapon for Black opening.

The Scandinavian has been proved as playable for Black, allowing to challenge White's center and activate the Black queen. After 1.e4, Black at once goes for 1... d5. White may also activate many dangerous threats. The Scandinavian Defense chess opening games mostly run via 2 lines: 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 or 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6...

The Scandinavian Defense chess opening is a popular chess opening which is not difficult to learn.

II. Scandinavian Defense: Answering Statistics

The Scandinavian Defense starts as 1.e4 d5, and the most common answer for White is 2.exd5. The line 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 is called the Main line of the Scandinavian Defense chess opening (most frequent). The next data is the answering statistics for the Scandinavian Defense based on a big chessgame database:

• most common answer 2.exd5 ~ 95%;
of them: 2.exd5 Qxd5 ~ 50%;
of them: 2.exd5 Nf6 ~ 40%;
of them: 2.exd5 c6, e6 ~ 5%;
• other moves (2.Nc3, 2.e5, 2.d4) ~ 5%.

III. Scandinavian Defense: Variations and Lines

The Scandinavian Defense has 17 official variations, ECO code B01. The variations with many designated moves are being played rarely today; those variations with less moves are more common (for example, variation 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6). The following chapter will show you how to play the most common lines and variations.

IV. Scandinavian Defense: How to Play

The following links will help you learn how to correctly play the main lines and most common variations of the Scandinavian Defense for White and Black, move by move. Correctly playing the below variations are shown in pictures and proven lines, which were also checked by a chess engine evaluations:

• How to Play Scandinavian Defense Main Line, ... 2.exd5 Qxd5

• How to Play Scandinavian Defense, Var. 1.e4 d5 2.ed Nf6

• How to Play Scandinavian Gambit of Scandinavian Defense

Note: More how-to-play links will be added soon.

V. Scandinavian Defense Games: PGN File

Using the below link you can visit a web page on which you can download a Scandinavian Defense PGN file with real chess games. After downloading the PGN file, you can to open it with any PGN viewer to see, replay and learn games on this chess opening. The chess games were played by chess masters in the year 2019.

• Scandinavian Defense Chess Games PGN File 2019

To see all lessons for beginners and intermediates, click below:

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On the current website, this was chess opening Lesson 44 for beginners (mainly) and intermediate chess players. This is also the main page for the Scandinavian Defense chess opening on-site. Using the material and provided links above, you will likely be able to learn the Scandinavian Defense chess opening in a proper way on chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com.