Scandinavian: the queen on a5

• At a glance

  Scandinavian: the queen on a5

  275 games, 58.2%: Fins's defense against 1.e4. The queen comes out early, the c8 bishop gets out in front of the pawns, and the game revolves around the d4 pawn.

  16 cards, one idea each. Swipe to move on.

• The big idea

  Your games: 439× · you score 57%

  Against 1.e4, Fins answers 1…d5 and recaptures with the queen.

• The big idea

  Your games: 211× · you score 61%

  After 3.Nc3, the queen goes to a5: she pins the knight as soon as d4 is pushed, and the c8 bishop comes out to f5 or g4 before …e6.

• The big idea

  275 games, 58.2%: this is his main defense with Black. His moves stay close to Stockfish's; the tricky points lie elsewhere, in the plans White picks against the a5 queen and the f5 bishop.

• The big idea

  Your games: 13× · you score 58%

  The thread of the course: …Bb4 and …Bxc3 in the main line, the h4 knight against the f5 bishop, the g4 and h4 pushes after 6.Ne5, the c4 bishop with 6.f3, the 4.b4 gambit, then 3.Nf3 and the …Bg4 pin.

• Principle

  The c8 bishop comes out before …e6

  Your games: 93× · you score 64%

  …Bf5 or …Bg4 first, …e6 afterwards: the bishop stays active instead of being shut in behind its pawns.

• Principle

  Trade the knight that threatens Nd5

  Your games: 27× · you score 78%

  With the bishop on d2, the c3 knight threatens Nd5 and a discovered attack on the a5 queen. …Bb4 and …Bxc3 remove that piece.

• Principle

  The d4 pawn is the target

  Your games: 13× · you score 54%

  After …Bxc3, the queen goes to b6 and the knight to c6. The defender of d4 is the f3 knight: …Bg4 aims to remove it.

• Principle

  The f5 bishop needs a retreat

  Your games: 7× · you score 57%

  Against Nh4 or g4, the bishop drops back to g6. It is traded only when that leaves Black a healthy structure.

• Principle

  After f3, the queen goes to b6

  Your games: 13× · you score 77%

  When White chases the g4 bishop with f3, the bishop retreats to d7 and the queen goes to b6, where she eyes b2 and d4.

• Imbalance

  Time against structure

  Your games: 203× · you score 61%

  The queen has already moved twice and White develops with tempo. In return, Black has a structure without weaknesses and a free c8 bishop.

• Imbalance

  Two bishops against a central pawn

  Your games: 19× · you score 76%

  After …Bxc3, White has the bishop pair. Black plays against d4, White's only central pawn.

• Imbalance

  Kingside space against a bishop

  Your games: 7× · you score 57%

  Against 6.Ne5 and g4, White gains space by pushing the pawns in front of the king. Black gets a well-placed bishop and targets.

• The trade-off

  What you gain

  • A structure without weaknesses: no backward pawn, no hole.
  • An active c8 bishop, out before …e6 can block it.
  • A clear target in the main line: the d4 pawn.
• The trade-off

  What you give up

  • The queen moves early, and White gains time against her.
  • White often keeps the bishop pair.
  • Against g4 and h4, the f5 bishop has to find the right retreat every move.
• That's all

  Your turn

  These ideas only stick once you play the moves. The chapters make you find the right ones.

  Start chapter 1

Card 1 of 16: Scandinavian: the queen on a5

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