The Scandinavian Defense: how to play it, and the traps to know

The Scandinavian Defense starts 1.e4 d5. Black hits the e4 pawn on move one, and after 2.exd5 the queen usually takes back at once. It breaks an old rule (do not bring the queen out early), but it works: Black gets a clear, simple structure, avoids the long theory of 1...e5 or the Sicilian, and knows what the position will look like from the first move.

Is the Scandinavian Defense good?

Yes, it is fully playable at every level, and Magnus Carlsen has used it against the best players in the world. Stockfish gives White a small edge, a little bigger than against 1...e5 or the Caro-Kann, because White gains a tempo by chasing the queen. In practice that tempo matters less than the fact that Black knows the plans well and White often does not.

Where does the queen go after 3.Nc3?

After 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3, the knight attacks the queen and Black must choose a square. The three serious ones are a5, d6 and d8. All three are close in value according to Stockfish: the choice is about style, not about soundness.

1. The main line: 3...Qa5

The queen goes to the side, where it is safe from the knights and still active: it eyes the c3 knight and the e1-a5 diagonal. The classic setup is ...Nf6, ...c6 and ...Bf5, then ...e6. The light-squared bishop comes out before the e6 pawn locks it in, and the c6 pawn gives the queen a way back to c7 or d8. White keeps a small edge with d4, Nf3, Bc4 and Bd2, but Black has a compact position without weaknesses.

2. The modern choice: 3...Qd6 (and 3...Qd8)

3...Qd6 has become very popular in recent years. The queen stays in the center, but it can be hit by a knight on b5 or a bishop on f4, so Black often plays ...c6 or ...a6 early to keep the knight out of b5. Stockfish likes ...c6 best. 3...Qd8 is the most solid retreat: nothing can attack the queen there, but Black has spent three moves on it, and White gets a free hand in the center.

3. The Modern Variation: 2...Nf6

Black can also take back on d5 with the knight instead of the queen. After 3.d4 Nxd5 4.Nf3 the bishop often comes to g4, Black plays ...e6 and ...Be7, and White builds a big center with c4, which pushes the knight back to b6. White has more space, Black a sound position: Stockfish gives the same small edge as in the queen lines. If White tries to keep the pawn with 3.c4, Black can gambit it with 3...c6: grabbing a second pawn with 4.dxc6 gives Black fast development, and the engine calls it equal.

A classic trap: 5...Bg4 against the bishop on c4

In the 3...Qd8 lines, after 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bc4, pinning the knight with 5...Bg4 looks natural. It is a mistake: 6.Ne5! breaks the pin and leaves the white queen hanging, but if Black takes it, 7.Bxf7 is checkmate. Even with the best defense, Black ends up with broken pawns and White is clearly better. The fix is simple: play ...e6 first, so the c4 bishop no longer sees f7.

Plans to remember

• Black: develop the light-squared bishop to f5 or g4 before playing ...e6, then castle. Watch c7: it is the target of every knight trick on b5.
• White: use the tempo you gained on the queen. Develop fast, take space with d4 (and c4 against the Modern), and look for chances to hit the queen again.
• Both sides: before pinning a knight or grabbing a pawn, check f7 and c7. Most quick losses in the Scandinavian come from those two squares.

• Three mistakes to avoid and three more to punish when you play the Scandinavian at 1500-1700 Elo

Frequently asked questions

More chess openings

• Caro-Kann Defense (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5)
• Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4)
• London System (1.d4 d5 2.Bf4)
• Scotch Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4)
• Vienna Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nc3)