Scandinavian Defence
Learn the Scandinavian Defence by playing 1...d5 move by move. Practise the Mieses-Kotrc 3...Qa5, the modern 3...Qd6, the solid 3...Qd8, and the sharp Portuguese and Icelandic gambits.
Best for: Club players · ECO B01 · First moves: 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5
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Position after the Scandinavian Defence setup
Common replies
Standard lines you'll meet most of the time. Begin with the recommended mieses-kotrc main line, then work through the rest.
Mieses-Kotrc Main Line
The core Scandinavian setup you can play against almost anything.
The classical Scandinavian. The queen sits actively on a5 while Black completes a Caro-Kann style setup with ...c6, ...Bf5 and ...e6. Reliable, easy to remember, and the perfect starting point.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5…
Modern 3...Qd6
The modern queen placement with fast queenside expansion.
The modern main line. The queen is safer on d6 than a5, supports ...e5 ideas, and stays out of the way of Nb5 and Bd2 tricks. Black expands with ...a6 and ...b5 on the queenside.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6…
Ilundain 3...Qd8
A no-weakness setup that is almost impossible to attack.
Black returns the queen home, losing time but leaving White nothing to attack. The setup is extremely solid and the plans are simple: develop, castle, and break with ...c5 at the right moment.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8…
Marshall Variation
A fianchetto setup that avoids all queen-move theory.
Black recaptures on d5 with the knight and fianchettoes, aiming for a King's Indian style setup without any of the theory. Solid, flexible, and very easy to learn.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5…
2...Nf6 Classical
Regaining the pawn with the knight and free development.
Black regains the pawn with the knight and develops classically with ...Bg4 and ...e6. The structure resembles a Queen's Gambit Declined with a healthy extra tempo of freedom.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nxd5…
3.Nf3 System
Punishing a slow move order with fast queenside castling.
White develops the knight before hitting the queen. Black uses the free tempo to pin with ...Bg4 and can castle queenside quickly for active play down the d-file.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nf3 Bg4…
Ilundain Fianchetto
A safe fianchetto structure with no queenside weaknesses.
After the queen returns to d8 Black fianchettoes and builds a compact King's Indian style position. Nothing to attack, easy plans, and a comfortable middlegame.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8…
Portuguese Declined
Reaching a comfortable game when White avoids the sharp lines.
White declines the complications with Be2, trading bishops and recovering the pawn quietly. Black regains the pawn on d5 and reaches a balanced position with easy development.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4…
Sharper options
More aggressive or off-beat lines. Add these once the main setup feels natural.
Icelandic Gambit
Trading a pawn for a lead in development and open lines.
Black sacrifices a pawn with ...e6 to blow open the centre and develop with tempo. White's extra pawn means little against the pressure on the e-file and the d4 square.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 e6…
Portuguese Variation
Provoking weaknesses with an early bishop sortie.
The dynamic 3...Bg4 pins nothing but provokes weaknesses. If White grabs space with f3 Black relocates the bishop and hits back on the queenside with ...b5 and ...a6.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4…
Mieses with ...Bg4
Inviting a pawn storm to create long-term light-square targets.
Black pins the knight instead of playing ...Bf5, provoking h3 and g4. The bishop retreats to g6 where it eyes the weakened light squares, and Black can castle long for a sharp game.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5…
Anderssen Counterattack
An early central counter-strike for rapid piece activity.
Black strikes with ...e5 straight away, giving up a pawn to activate every piece. White must be accurate to keep the extra material without falling behind in development.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5…
Blackburne-Kloosterboer
A double pawn sacrifice for overwhelming development.
Black offers a second pawn with ...c6, meeting dxc6 with ...Nxc6 and a huge lead in development. A dangerous practical gambit against unprepared opponents.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 c6…
Leonhardt Gambit
Accepting a wing gambit and consolidating the extra pawn.
White throws in b4 to deflect the queen and open the b-file. Black takes the pawn, retreats the queen to safety, and must develop precisely while White has open lines.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5…
Advanced hybrids
Structurally different lines for established players. Best learned after the main setup is automatic.
Gubinsky-Melts
Handling White's Ne5-c4 manoeuvre in the Modern Scandinavian.
Black plays ...c6 before ...Bf5 in the 3...Qd6 lines, meeting Ne5 with ...Nbd7 and a queen retreat to c7. Extremely resilient and a favourite of Scandinavian specialists.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6…
Qa5 Fianchetto
Combining queenside pressure with a long-diagonal fianchetto.
Black combines the active queen on a5 with a kingside fianchetto, pressuring d4 along the long diagonal. A flexible hybrid that keeps White guessing about the pawn breaks.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5…
Classical Long Castling
Castling long and playing for a direct attack as Black.
Black develops the bishop to g4, brings the knight to c6, and castles queenside for a kingside pawn storm. One of the most ambitious ways to play the Scandinavian.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5…
Modern with 5.Nb5
Meeting the annoying Nb5 sortie without any concessions.
White chases the queen with Nb5, and Black calmly retreats to d8 knowing the knight will have to come back. Black develops with ...Na6, ...c6 and ...Bf5 and stands solidly.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6…
Modern c4 Fianchetto
Attacking a big pawn centre from the flank.
White grabs space with c4 and Black responds in Grunfeld style, fianchettoing and pressuring the big centre from a distance. Rich, strategic positions with plenty of play.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5…
Kiel Variation
Neutralising early checks and regaining the pawn safely.
White checks on b5 before recapturing, and Black blocks with ...Bd7 to keep everything protected. Careful manoeuvring follows, with Black regaining the pawn in good order.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Bb5+ Bd7…
Learn more about the Scandinavian Defence
12 sections covering move order, plans, structures, who it suits, and more.
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Another defence for Black
King's Indian Defence
A hypermodern opening where Black allows White to build a broad pawn centre, then strikes back with ...e5 or ...c5. The fianchettoed bishop on g7 becomes a powerful long-range weapon.
Pair this with an opening for White
London System
A solid d4 opening where White develops the dark-squared bishop to f4 early, building a resilient pawn triangle on c3-d4-e3. Low on theory and high on plans, making it an ideal weapon at all levels.
Try next
Ruy Lopez
The king of 1.e4 openings - White develops the bishop to b5, pressuring the knight that defends e5. A cornerstone of top-level chess, it leads to deep strategic battles from slow manoeuvring to explosive attacks.
Practise the Scandinavian Defence against real opponents
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